The 7 Best Car Vacuums of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
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The Rigid Cordless Hand Vacuum is our top pick
People / Dera Burreson
Nothing beats the feeling of a clean car. But do you find that the vacuums at the car wash are hard to maneuver and don’t always give you the clean you want? Purchasing a handheld vacuum for your car not only makes it easier to get a high-quality clean, but you also have an on-demand device to clean messes as they come without having to go all the way to the car wash.
Depending on where you live and whether or not you have pets, you may find that it’s difficult to get a thorough clean, no matter what kind of products you use. We asked the team at MAV’s Mobile Detailing, a New York-based car detailing service, what tips they have for getting that pro-grade clean on your car’s interior. “It’s best to start off the vacuuming process working from high to low, such as starting with the center console and seats. After that, you can move onto the floor mats and foot wells,” they said, “If you’re struggling with getting into the nooks of your car, pick up a flexible crevice tool from your local hardware store. You might also find a car cleaning accessories kit to go along with your vacuum.”
Now that you have tips and tricks from the experts, how do you pick the best vacuum to get the job done? We put 20 different models to the test in our lab and in our own cars to find the best cordless and corded car vacuums. We considered each car vacuum for ease of setup, effectiveness, maneuverability, portability, ease of emptying, noise level, and value.
Best Overall: Ridgid Cordless Hand Vacuum
Pros
This vacuum has strong suction power to tackle the messiest of car interiors.
It comes with four different extensions for more precise cleaning.
This model has a large tank capacity so you won’t have to empty the tank in the middle of cleaning.
Cons
This handheld vacuum is on the bulkier side, so it isn’t as easy to store as other vacuums we tested.
The charger is sold separately so it isn’t ready to use upon purchase.
This handheld vacuum won our vote for best overall because it has a seal of approval from the pros. “Our go-to vacuum is the Ridgid ProPack due to its high suction power and onboard storage,” says the team at MAV’s Mobile Detailing. If you feel like you can’t seem to find a handheld vacuum that’s strong enough to efficiently clean your car’s interior, you just may have met your match in this one. The Ridgid Propack is designed for the messiest of cars. The tank has a generous capacity so you don’t have to worry about constantly emptying it while cleaning. It has an ergonomic design that allows you to comfortably hold the vacuum for long periods without getting tired. Additionally, the push-to-release tank makes it easy to dispose of any debris and keep the tank itself nice and clean. The filter is also washable, so you can keep it in pristine shape for years of use.
While it is great for tough messes, it is on the bulkier side and doesn’t store as easily as some of the others we tested — don’t expect to be able to tuck this away neatly under a car seat. Also, while it is battery-operated, the battery and charger are sold separately, so you’ll need to make an additional purchase before this vacuum is ready to use. But considering its strength, extensions, and canister capacity, this would be a great addition to your arsenal of cleaning products if you want something that can easily tackle a messy car at a professional level.
Type: Portable compact | Cordless: Yes | Dirt Canister: 1.5 pints
How It's Held Up
After six months of additional testing, our love of the Ridgid Handheld Vacuum didn’t wane. The battery life and suction power stayed as strong as the day we took it out of the box, and the vacuum easily picked up the rock salt that littered our car mats during the winter. If we could change anything about this vacuum, it would be to make it slightly quieter, as the noise level is a bit loud in small enclosed spaces (like a car). All in all, we recommend checking out this small-but-mighty vacuum cleaner if you’re looking for a sturdy tool to deeply clean small spaces.
Best Overall, Runner-Up: Black+Decker Flex Cordless Handheld Vacuum
Pros
This vacuum has powerful suction, so you can clean your car’s interior in just a few minutes.
It has a lightweight and portable design that allows you to easily maneuver around your car without too much hassle.
The pop-out door and washable filter make it easy to dump debris in the trash and clean the filter with minimal fuss.
Cons
This vacuum is fairly loud when powered on, which is not great if you want to be able to listen to music or hear your surroundings while you’re cleaning.
Earning perfect scores in nearly all our tests, the Black+Decker Flex Max is built for cleaning cars. The handheld vacuum comes pre-assembled and charged, so you don't have to do anything to set it up. The cordless design runs on a lithium-ion battery and promises to last for 15 minutes on a full charge. And thanks to the powerful suction, it only took us eight minutes to vacuum out our entire car.
The suction power didn't falter the entire time, which was impressive considering how lightweight and portable it is. With a four-foot hose, a pet hair attachment, and a crevice tool, this vacuum gets into all the nooks and crannies of car seats, dashboards, and floors. Not even pet hair withstood the strength of this one — a statement we can’t say for every handheld vacuum. The decently sized dirt canister is easy to empty, thanks to a simple pop-out door, and the washable filter was a breeze to clean. One thing to note is that the Flex Max is relatively loud, so don’t plan on being able to listen to music or have a conversation while it’s running. Aside from this, the main reason it didn’t win our vote for best overall was because the Ridgid Propack performed just as well and is nearly half the price. However, if you’re in a pinch and need something ready to use upon purchase (the Ridgid Propack’s charger is sold separately), this one is a great option.
Type: Portable compact | Cordless: Yes | Dirt Canister: 0.5 liters
Best Budget: ANKO DC 12V 120W High Power Portable Handheld Car Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
This vacuum’s strong suction picks up everything from dirt to leaves.
It’s easy to maneuver around tight corners and edges of your car.
The 15-foot cord allows you to move around your car freely without feeling constrained.
Cons
The charging cord only plugs into a cigarette lighter, so if you want to use it in the house as well you’ll need a power adapter.
While the main device is great, the attachments that are supposed to be optimized for harder-to-reach areas don’t work very well.
On a budget? The Anko DC gets the job done without breaking the bank. This handheld vacuum comes pre-assembled and weighs less than a pound and a half. While it's not cordless, it has a 15-foot power cord, so it has a good reach, and you'll never have to worry about it running out of batteries.
Just a heads up, it only plugs into a car lighter socket, so you'll need an adapter if you want to plug it into a wall outlet. We thought that this vacuum was easy to maneuver and picked up dirt and dry leaves very nicely. While the attachments weren't very useful, the main component does great work and maneuvers easily around tight corners and edges. Considering the compact design, the canister can hold quite a bit, so we could clean the entire car without having to empty it. The noise level wasn't bad, either.
Type: Handheld | Cordless: No | Dirt Canister: 0.5 liters
Best for Detailing: Dewalt 20-Volt Cordless Handheld Vacuum
Pros
This handheld vacuum has powerful suction for the toughest messes, from pet hair to rocks to leaves.
Once the battery (purchased separately) is installed, you can clean the entire interior of a vehicle on one charge.
It includes a HEPA filter for increased filtration of dust and allergens.
Cons
This model is on the heavier side, so it’s a bit of a hassle to cart around your vehicle.
The battery is sold separately, which is an added expense to an already pricey vacuum.
For detailing, we recommend the Dewalt 20V Max. This powerful cordless vacuum comes pre-assembled, though you'll have to buy the battery separately. It promises to run for over 20 minutes on a full charge and was still going strong after 15 minutes when we finished cleaning the car. Sucking up Cheerios and clumps of hair took only one pass, and the crevice tool was perfect for getting between the seats. It also has a HEPA filter and a larger-than-average dirt canister.
Weighing a little over seven pounds, we noticed it felt heavy after a few minutes. Still, we found it generally easy to maneuver. The only other thing to note is that it's pretty loud, but about what you'd expect for such a powerful tool. After testing for two months, we were pretty impressed with its battery life despite being cordless and needing a regular charge. We were able to vacuum the entire car and even take a quick pass over the stairs inside the house during a 10-minute timespan, in which this device never lost its charge. This vacuum is priced higher than most handhelds, but ultimately, we think it's worth it.
Type: Handheld | Cordless: Yes | Dirt Canister: 0.7 liters
How It's Held Up
We continued to test the Dewalt vacuum over six months and, thanks to its impressive suction, found ourselves reaching for this vacuum over a cordless stick vacuum when we really needed a deep clean. The suction remained as powerful as it was the first time we used it, making this one of the best vacuums in our cleaning arsenal.
Best for Quick Cleans: Dirt Devil SD30025B Scorpion Plus Corded Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
The 15-foot cord makes this vacuum easy to move around your car while still staying plugged into power.
This vacuum is very lightweight at just three pounds.
Cons
The vacuum itself is fairly loud, so you won’t be able to listen to music or have a conversation while it’s in use.
For quick cleans, reach for the Dirt Devil Scorpion+. This handheld vacuum has a 15-foot power cord, plus a beater bar head and a crevice tool for tackling various surfaces and textures. We were happy to see that it picked up loose Cheerios and Goldfish crackers in just one pass. And since it's just three pounds, maneuvering it doesn't require much effort, which is a game changer for targeting hard-to-reach areas. After a few months of testing, we often found ourselves reaching for the nifty roller brush attachment since it easily sucks up debris in tighter spots, like under seats and the space between your seat and the center console.
The main drawback of this vacuum is that it’s pretty loud, so you won't be able to hear other people talking while it's running. Once we figured out where the release button was (it wasn't clearly labeled, which was irritating), we thought emptying the dirt canister was a piece of cake. For quick cleanups at a reasonable price, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Scorpion+.
Type: Handheld | Cordless: No | Dirt Canister: 0.45 liters
How It's Held Up
Overall, this handheld vacuum’s quality stayed pretty consistent throughout our test. The body of the vacuum showed no signs of wear and tear, and we loved how easy it was to empty the canister and clean the filter. We did have one big qualm with the motorized roller brush, which became tangled with hair that jammed the rolling mechanism and stopped the brush head from working properly. But, if you’re not planning on using the vacuum to pick up lots of pet hair, then we still think this one is a good option for the price.
Best Battery Life: RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Multi-Surface Handheld Vacuum Kit Model
Pros
This model’s long battery life allowed for three full cleaning sessions without having to recharge.
The canister lid easily pops up, so you can empty any debris without too much mess.
The small and compact design allows you to tuck it away without taking up too much space in your car.
Cons
This vacuum struggled to pick up debris on fabric, so this would be a better choice to use on a leather interior.
Although it’s small, it’s very loud, so can’t have a conversation or listen to the radio while using it.
This handheld vacuum by RYOBI is great if you’re looking for something that you don’t have to charge very often. Although it is small and lightweight, we were impressed at how long one charge lasted us — we were able to clean an SUV three times without having to charge it again! We really appreciated its thoughtful design too — the sleek and compact shape makes it easy to tuck in your trunk neatly, and the easily unlatched canister allows you to empty any debris without too much fuss.
While we did love its long battery life, we did notice that it struggled with suction on cloth textures. While it managed to suck up debris on hard surfaces and leather, it hardly picked up anything when it transitioned to fabric. It is loud, so you won’t be able to listen to the radio or have a conversation while it’s running. If you have a larger car with leather interiors that needs a longer battery life for a full clean, this is a great option for you.
Type: Handheld | Cordless: Yes | Dirt Canister: 2.5 cups
How It's Held Up
Over six months of testing, the RYOBI's performance didn’t falter. The battery remained strong and long-lasting, and we reached for it whenever our seats required a deep clean (toddler spills require constant cleanup, and this vacuum was the right tool to tackle the job). The RYOBI charges quickly and feels super lightweight in hand. We stored it in our garage for easy access, and the vacuum stayed in mint condition.
Best Cordless: Baseus A2 Pro Car Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
It’s compact and easy to store under your car’s seat or in a trunk.
It has strong suction but is still quiet, so you can hear your surroundings while cleaning.
The battery life is excellent with the Baseus A2, so you can clean your whole car without running out of charge.
Cons
It works best when the canister doesn’t get too full, so depending on the size of your car, you may need to empty it throughout use.
If you’re looking for something small and easy to store, you’ll love this cordless handheld vac by Baseus. It won our vote for best cordless because of its long and strong battery life. For the sake of the test, we followed the manufacturer’s instructions by charging it for 3.5 hours, the recommended time for a full charge. It managed to clean the whole vehicle on that one charge and had strong suction throughout, effectively picking up everything from pet hair to food crumbs to crumbled leaves and gravel. This vacuum is nice and quiet, so you can have a conversation while you’re cleaning. It also comes with a two-in-one nozzle attachment that allows you to get in hard-to-reach areas like cupholders, between seats, and textured floorboards.
We also appreciated the USB charging cable, which makes it easy to charge it anywhere, at any time. We charged the vacuum in the car and the house, and both worked. The pill-shaped device also makes it nice and compact — whether you want to store it under a seat or the trunk of your car, it’s easy to tuck away when you aren’t using it without taking up too much space. The one thing that we did notice during testing was that it worked best when it didn’t get too full — keeping this in mind, we did empty it a few times throughout cleaning. But with that being said, it is easy to empty the dustbin. All you have to do is twist and pull, and it pops off the main body so you can dump any collected debris into the garbage.
Type: Handheld | Cordless: Yes | Dirt Canister: 0.12 liters
How It's Held Up
The Baseus became our go-to vacuum for picking up small messes in the home and the car over six months of testing. The battery continued to hold charge just as well as it did on first use. We remained so impressed with the performance of the Baseus vacuum that we recommended it to friends who obsess over their car’s cleanliness. We think that this small vacuum is a great choice for anyone looking for a convenient way to pick up messes in tight places.
Best with Cord: Auto Joe 12-Volt Corded Car Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
It comes with helpful attachments, like a brush and nozzle extension, so you can get a thorough clean in hard-to-reach areas.
This vacuum comes with a carrying case for easy storage.
The motor is relatively quiet, so you can hear things going on around you.
Cons
It doesn’t work as well on cloth interiors, so you may have to spend extra time going over those surfaces.
Although this vacuum is cord-operated, it still has lots of features that make it a great addition to your car cleaning arsenal. Thanks to the three removable cleaning attachments, this vacuum has all the features you need to clean every nook and cranny of your car thoroughly. Another nice detail we appreciated was the tiny soft bristle brush you can use to clean the inside of the detachable canister’s filter. Whether you’re picking up dust from your cup holders, leaves from grooved floorboards, or crumbs between the cracks of seats, the customizable attachments allow you to pick up debris in hard-to-reach places where it’s most likely to collect. The cord is easily plugged into your car’s cigarette lighter, and although this lightweight vacuum has strong suction, it’s relatively quiet. It packs neatly into a soft-shell zip-up carrying case that, while it wouldn’t fit under a seat, tucks away nicely in your trunk.
One thing to note is that it doesn’t perform as well on cloth interiors. While we were still able to clean them, we found that we had to keep going over certain areas, which was frustrating. If you have cloth interiors, you may want to consider opting for another vacuum. But the Auto Joe comes with lots of bells and whistles, allows for a precise clean, and is very affordable.
Type: Handheld | Cordless: No | Dirt Canister: Not listed
How It's Held Up
Over six months of testing, the Sun Joe was as good as new. The cleaning attachments worked just as well to remove crumbs between seats, and the suction remained just as strong as it was during our first use. We kept this vacuum in the trunk of our car and found the USB power cord to be convenient to plug into the power outlet in the backseat of our car whenever our mats could use a touch-up. We still wish that we had the option to use this vacuum cordlessly, but it’s such a great value for its quality that we can’t complain.
Other Car Vacuums We Tried
Black+Decker Furbuster Handheld Vacuum: We did appreciate how effective this vacuum was at getting up things like dirt, crumbs, and even sticky pet hair off cloth seats and hard surfaces in the car’s interior. Its charge lasted long enough to effectively clean the entire car and even move onto other pieces of furniture in the house. It was also very easy to clean the device itself — there’s a quick-release button that opens the canister so you can empty it into the trash with no fuss. However, this one didn’t make the cut in our eyes for a couple of reasons — not only was it hard to maneuver in the car due to its cumbersome shape, but it also didn’t perform as well on cloth upholstery. When we passed it over cloth car seats, it hardly picked up any dirt or pet hair. If you have a car with a leather interior, this would do just fine for you, but if you have cloth seats or want something more compact, it’s best to save your money and get something else.
RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Hand Vacuum: This one has excellent suction and customizable attachments that get you a very thorough clean — one of our favorites was the rolling brush, which is ideal for carpet floorboards to tackle the dirt that nestles deep between their fibers. With that being said, it didn’t win a spot on our list because it is fairly cumbersome, and while it does have some nice attachments, it still isn’t able to get in all the nooks and crannies you’d need, like between the center console and front car seats. Also, the battery didn’t last to fully clean either car we tested in (a 2022 Ford Escape and 2019 Ford F-150 for reference), so we had to stop and recharge, which wasn’t ideal. However, a slightly different model made our list and has an incredible battery life, so we recommend that version instead.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Car Vacuum
Size and Weight
The first thing to consider when buying a car vacuum is the size. You want something compact enough to fit into all the nooks and crannies of your vehicle. If it's small enough to store in your car or truck, even better. Your car vacuum should also be relatively lightweight and easy to maneuver with one hand since you'll be holding it up rather than pushing it like an upright model.
Cordless vs. Corded
There are a few types of car vacuums: handheld, compact models with hoses, and stick vacuums. After you narrow it down to your preferred type, you'll want to consider whether you want a corded or cordless model. Cordless handheld vacs are a popular option, as they're generally small and lightweight. There are also cordless compact models with hoses, allowing you to reach into tight spaces at various angles. A stick vac (cordless or corded) can also work, especially if it has a handheld configuration.
Mint Cleaning co-founder Monika Scott is a fan of corded models, as they won't die on you mid-way through. Though you won't have to worry about the battery dying, you will want to make sure the cord is long enough — 15 to 18 feet should suffice. Battery-powered vacuums are more portable, but they may only run for about 20 minutes before needing to be recharged.
Attachments
Scott also says to look for something with various attachments, like a crevice tool and a pet hair remover — both helpful features for those hard-to-reach areas. Crevice tools are the most useful for cleaning cars, as they allow you to get into all the nooks and crannies of your vehicle. A pet hair tool can also come in handy for dog owners, and some handheld vacuums — like the Dirt Devil Scorpion+ Hand Vacuum — have beater bar heads, which are nice for cleaning the floor and trunk of your vehicle.
Price
Car vacuums are available at a range of prices, so consider your budget before shopping around. Handheld models are typically more affordable than standard upright models, though they can still range anywhere from $25 to $150 or more.
How We Tested
Our editors selected 36 best-selling car vacuums to try first-hand. We began by testing the car vacuums in our PEOPLE-Tested lab, and then took them home and used them again in our cars to see how they did against real-life messes. We thoroughly tested each vacuum, rating them on the following qualities:
Setup: We began by unboxing the vacuums and reading over any included instructions. If the vacuum required charging before use, we made sure to charge it according to directions. We took note of how each included attachment looked right out of the box and photographed the different pieces to compare their condition before and after our tests.
Performance: Perhaps the most important thing we looked for was the performance of each vacuum, which included the vacuum’s ability to pick up debris off car mats, carpets, and seats — from Cheerios and pet hair to leaves and gravel. If the vacuum was cordless, we took note of how long the battery life lasted in between charges. We used these vacuums in a variety of cars, from four-door sedans to SUVs, to see how well they maneuvered around different interior designs and how long batteries lasted depending on the car’s size.
Durability: We continued to test the best-performing car vacuums over six months, taking notes about each vacuum’s performance after two months and then again after six months of use. We compared each vacuum’s battery life, suction power, and overall performance throughout our long-term testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which car vacuum has the strongest suction?
Based on our tests, the Dewalt Max Cordless Hand Vacuum seemed to have the strongest suction. It sucks in air at a volume of 46 CFM (cubic feet per minute) and can pick up large, heavy debris ranging from Cheerios to drywall particles to small nails. The Black+Decker 20V Flex Max was a close second in terms of the best suction power.
Are bagless or bagged car vacuums better?
Many of today's vacuums are bagless, especially handheld models used for cleaning cars. This means they have dirt canisters you empty instead of replacing the bag. Many folks find bagless vacuums convenient and cost-effective, as you don't have to buy replacement bags. All of our recommended car vacuums are bagless.
Are expensive car vacuums worth it?
Pricier car vacuums can definitely be worth the investment. For instance, the Dewalt 20V Max was one of the most expensive models we tried, and it had the strongest suction power, plus a HEPA filter. Having said that, many budget-friendly handheld vacuums we tested worked well enough. They may not last as long or get every last particle on the first pass, but they get the job done.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Olivia Avitt is a freelance writer for PEOPLE who specializes in thorough, honest product reviews. For this roundup, she compiled the nine vacuums on this list based on our detailed lab and real-life testing. She also consulted Monika Scott and the team at MAV’s Mobile Detailing for tips on how to get an expert-level clean in your car and what products they use during their jobs and recommend. This story was recently updated by shopping writer Cai Cramer with new long-term insights after testers used the car vacuums over six months.
Meet Our Experts
Monika Scott is the co-founder of Mint Cleaning, a professional cleaning service with its own line of cleaning products.
MAV’s Mobile Detailing is a New York-based car detailing service.
What Is People Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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