Keep your small space clean and tidy with the best vacuums for apartment living.
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Leave Dirt in the Dust with the 5 Best Vacuums for Apartments
Updated Jan. 03, 2024
To be honest, our top picks for the best vacuum for apartments really suck—but that’s exactly what we want them to do! (Especially if you’re hoping to get your deposit back at some point.) And because renters aren’t usually blessed with tons of storage space, they’re also compact enough to fit in your studio or one-bedroom unit while still being efficient at picking up dirt, pet hair and the occasional spill. The best vacuum for apartment living has a lot of boxes to check, but fortunately, we found plenty up to the task.
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Best Overall Vacuum for an Apartment
Eureka WhirlWind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner
Neither carpet nor hardwood nor upholstery is a match for the powerful Eureka WhirlWind vacuum cleaner. The 960-watt motor is similar to most other upright vacuums, generating more than enough force to pick up whatever you need while weighing in at only 8 pounds. Its 16-foot cord has a convenient cord rewind feature for easy storage.
This best vaccum for apartment living has washable components and a 1.2-liter dust cup, keeping things compact, yet effective. More than 17,000 Amazon customers have given it a five-star rating, and many pointed out that it’s never lost suction power.
Pros
- Works on various surfaces
- Has a powerful motor
- Has a 1.2-liter dust cup
- Includes a two-in-one integrated crevice tool
Cons
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Only has a one-year warranty
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Best Budget Vacuum for an Apartment
Bissell Featherweight Stick Vacuum
Fun fact: I actually use the Bissell featherweight stick vacuum in my apartment, so allow me to tell you why you shouldn’t balk at this budget-friendly option. This lightweight stick vacuum works on bare floors, thick carpets and stairs with ease. When you’re done, simply empty the dust into the trash—no bag needed!
Technically, with this best vacuum for apartment living, you’re actually getting three vacuums for the price of one. (And a low price at that!) The detachable parts allow it to become a handheld vacuum to clean furniture and countertops. For lofts and duplexes, it becomes a stair vacuum that gets deep into each step’s crevices. Like the more than 62,000 five-star Amazon reviewers, I’m also wondering why this powerful vacuum is so cheap. It’s almost too good to be true. Psst—we also recommend this Eyevac stationary vacuum to make dust pans and lingering pet hair a thing of the past.
Pros
- Won’t break the bank
- Three vacuums in one
- Bagless
Cons
- Holds less than 1 liter
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Best Robot Vacuum for an Apartment
Eufy by Anker BoostIQ RoboVac
The BoostIQ RoboVac from eufy by Anker performs just as well as some of the name brand robot vacuums, but at a fraction of the price. Its slimmer stature measures in at 2.85 inches in height, so this smart vacuum can go under dressers, TV stands and bed frames to clean those hard-to-reach spaces. Vacuuming for up to 100 minutes per charge, it has an infrared sensor for avoiding obstacles and drop-sensing technology to avoid tumbling down stairs. A common theme among the nearly 51,000 reviews on Amazon is how quiet this robot vacuum is, which is a must-have quality if you want to clean up without disrupting your roommates.
Pros
- Features infrared and drop-sensing technology
- Far more affordable than other robot vacuums
- Comes in black and white colors
- Quiet
Cons
- Doesn’t work on high-pile carpets
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Best Cordless Vacuum for an Apartment
Black+Decker Powerseries Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum
Electrical outlets can sometimes be a precious commodity in apartments, which is why we like the Black+Decker Powerseries Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum. The angled floorhead and front-facing dust bin leave no corner untouched while LED floorhead lights illuminate where you’re cleaning. Three-speed control gives you peace of mind that it will work on heavy rugs, carpets and bare floors alike. Pet owners will be happy to know it comes with an anti-tangle brush bar and rubber bristles to remove even the most stubborn pet hairs.
Pros
- Has a 55-minute battery runtime
- Has a patented brush bar with rubber bristles
- Converts to a handheld vacuum
- Includes a charger, wall mount and crevice attachment
Cons
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Filter can be difficult to access for cleaning
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Best Upright Vacuum for an Apartment
Dirt Devil Endura Reach
If you’re looking for a traditional upright vacuum for small apartments, you can’t do much better than the Dirt Devil Endura Reach. Weighing in at 9 pounds with an 11-inch width, this bagless vacuum cleaner matches its small size with a mighty 120-volt motor to pick up all types of messes. The 10-foot wand is handy for cleaning shelves or ceiling fans, and the easily accessible filter can be rinsed to ensure you never lose suction power. This best vacuum for apartment layouts includes a 2-in-1 dust brush/crevice tool to get the deep clean you crave.
Pros
- Powerful performance on carpets and hard floors
- Cord is 20 feet long
- Has a 10-foot wand
- Filter is easy to clean
Cons
- Customers say it’s loud when cleaning carpets
What to Consider When Buying a Vacuum for an Apartment
The first thing to keep in mind when buying a vacuum for an apartment is the size of the apparatus, especially if you’re living in a smaller studio with little to no closet space. You’ll also want to consider how much noise the vacuum makes, how long the cord can reach (unless you get a cordless one) and the vacuum’s capacity for how much dust and debris it can hold.
Finally, you’ll want to consider motor power. Generally, the more watts or voltage a vacuum motor has, the better. You’ll want at least 120 volts to keep your apartment clean.
Types of Vacuums
Vacuums are like apples—there are different varieties, and each has something different to offer.
- Upright vacuums: These are your traditional vacuums that, as their name implies, sit upright. They’re generally bigger and use a cord, so they’re not the best for cleaning under sofas or bed frames.
- Cordless vacuums: As you might guess, these vacuums don’t need to be plugged in when in use, and are usually small enough to reach under tight spaces.
- Robot vacuums: The newest entrant to the vacuum scene, robot vacuums are controlled via remote or app, and programmed to clean your floors at regular intervals (or whenever you ask them to). If you go for this type of vacuum, look for one with infrared and drop-sense technology so your robot doesn’t hurt itself.
- Stick vacuums: These can be cord or cordless vacuums that are small in stature and, most times, have detachable parts so they can be used as a hand or stair vacuum.
How We Found the Best Vacuum for an Apartment
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject-matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
Where should I put a vacuum if I don’t have a closet?
If you don’t have a vacuum with a wall mount, we recommend putting your vacuum in a corner that’s not often used and out of the way of pets and children.
Are stick vacuums good for apartments?
A stick vacuum can be a smart option for small apartments, so long as it has a powerful motor that can pick up dust and debris from all floor surfaces. Look for something with around 120 volts.
Originally Published: March 17, 2023
