Pushing round a heavy vacuum can get tiring, particularly if in case you have a big house or have to hold it up or down stairs. Your vacuum doesn’t need to be a burden, although — the perfect light-weight vacuums are much less strenuous to function but ship simply as a lot cleansing energy as their outsized counterparts.
Consultants Say
“Once you push and pull a vacuum, it locations stress in your higher physique and in your decrease again as a result of the burden of the machine is way away out of your heart of gravity and core.” —Dr. Milica McDowell, physician of bodily remedy and vice chairman of operations at Gait Happens
We’ve examined greater than 350 of the perfect vacuum cleaners, and there are a number of standout choices that weigh lower than 10 kilos, making them simpler to handle. We additionally spoke with a bodily therapist about how you can choose cleansing instruments if in case you have mobility limitations or situations like arthritis. Maintain scrolling to buy the perfect light-weight vacuums we suggest to your house.
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Simple to hold round and function
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Laser dust detection works nicely on arduous flooring
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Spectacular runtime for a cordless mannequin
At simply over 5 kilos, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim is the model’s lightest cordless vacuum, but it nonetheless delivers the cleansing energy you’d anticipate from a Dyson vacuum. We love how straightforward it’s to hold round and maneuver throughout the ground, and it does a terrific job selecting up most particles — the one space the place it struggled a bit was massive items of canine kibble. This vacuum is especially nice if in case you have plenty of arduous flooring, as its dust detection laser lights up mud and pet hair, making certain you don’t miss any spots.
One other key characteristic of this Dyson mannequin is its on/off energy button, which is simpler to function than the model’s basic trigger-style controls. It could run for as much as an hour on its low suction setting, and its LCD display screen has a count-down timer that allows you to know precisely how a lot runtime is left.
Kind: Cordless stick | Weight: 5.2 kilos | Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.8 x 49.1 inches | Bin Quantity: 0.1 gallons
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Light-weight for an upright vacuum
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Swivel steering makes it straightforward to maneuver
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Efficient for choosing up pet hair
Upright vacuums could be fairly hefty, however the Shark Navigator Freestyle weighs in at simply 7.5 kilos. Regardless of its smaller-than-average measurement, we discovered that this cordless upright vacuum nonetheless does a terrific job selecting up particles from each arduous flooring and carpeting, and it was notably efficient at cleansing up pet hair.
Along with being light-weight, this Shark vacuum has swivel steering that makes it straightforward to maneuver round obstacles, and since it’s battery-powered, you may transfer from room to room with out stopping to seek out an outlet. We have been capable of clear for round quarter-hour per cost, and the dustbin is fast and straightforward to empty whenever you’re completed.
Kind: Cordless upright | Weight: 7.5 kilos | Dimensions: 9.6 x 10.5 x 46 inches | Bin Quantity: 0.64 quarts
Consultants Say
“Light-weight vacuums are additionally good for folks with smaller areas, as you may make extra passes in a smaller room with a extra compact machine.” —Dr. McDowell
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Cleans up moist and dry messes
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Low upkeep because of self-cleaning operate
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Self-propelled steering is simple to make use of
Moist-dry vacuums are all the trend proper now, and our favourite light-weight possibility is the Bissell TurboClean, which weighs simply over 8 kilos. This unit vacuums and mops flooring concurrently utilizing contemporary water and cleansing resolution, and we cherished that its self-propelled design makes it practically easy to push. The TurboClean did a terrific job selecting up each moist messes and dry particles, however it did battle a bit with bigger chunks of particles.
It’s possible you’ll have to empty this vacuum’s soiled water tank mid-clean, because it’s not the largest, however we discovered that the unit was straightforward to take care of because of its self-cleaning characteristic. Plus, not solely is it efficient and straightforward to make use of, however this wet-dry vacuum can also be well-priced, costing a whole bunch lower than many different choices.
Kind: Moist-dry vacuum | Weight: 8.37 kilos | Dimensions: 11 x 9.84 x4 5.27 inches | Bin Quantity: 17 ounces
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Good suction, even on lowest setting
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Cleans for greater than 25 minutes per cost
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Contains HEPA filter
The Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum is one other the most effective vacuums we’ve examined, and it weighs just below 7 kilos. In contrast to many cordless vacuums, this mannequin carried out nicely even on its lowest setting — we by no means wanted to extend the suction whereas selecting up all kinds of particles. It additionally lasted for greater than 25 minutes per cost, providing you with loads of time to wash throughout your own home.
This cordless vacuum is simple to maneuver, and it boasts a HEPA filter to assist entice allergens and mud. It has a novel design that may stand upright whereas charging, however it doesn’t have a wall-mounted charging dock — as a substitute, you need to plug it in by hand whenever you end cleansing.
Kind: Cordless stick | Weight: 6.89 kilos | Dimensions: 10.24 x 7.09 x 46.09 inches | Bin Quantity: 0.34 quarts
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True to its identify, the Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum is sort of compact, weighing just below 6 kilos, and in contrast to different cordless vacuums, it might stand upright by itself, which is handy when you’ll want to pause cleansing. Throughout testing, we have been impressed with its skill to choose up particles, and it did an particularly good job eradicating pet hair from carpeting with out getting its brushroll all snarled.
Due to its light-weight design and swiveling head, the Featherweight is simple to drive round obstacles and even underneath furnishings. You even have the choice to show off its brushroll, if desired. Nevertheless, its runtime is shorter than most, maxing out at 20 minutes on its low suction setting, so it’s not a great choose for bigger properties.
Kind: Cordless stick | Weight: 5.8 kilos | Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 44 inches | Bin Quantity: 0.45 liters
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Highly effective suction for low worth
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Shiny headlights for extra thorough cleansing
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Stands upright by itself
If you need a robust vacuum at a low worth, the Black and Decker Powerseries+ is among the greatest cordless vacuums we’ve examined. At 8 kilos, it’s barely heavier than different cordless fashions, however it delivers really spectacular suction that’s capable of clear up all varieties of particles, together with dust, mud, grass, hair, and extra. Its floorhead swivels simply to wash round furnishings and different obstacles, and it has brilliant LED headlights that assist illuminate particles that you simply might need missed.
This mannequin has a freestanding design, so that you don’t need to lean it up in opposition to one thing whenever you cease cleansing, and its dustbin is simple to empty. Nevertheless, it’s louder than different cordless vacuums and solely lasts for round 18 minutes on low suction. Nonetheless, it’s arduous to beat the cleansing efficiency for such a low worth.
Kind: Cordless stick | Weight: 8.3 kilos | Dimensions: 9.84 x 6.77 x 43.5 inches | Bin Quantity: Not listed
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Efficient throughout several types of flooring
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Canister rolls easily whereas cleansing
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On-board accent storage
This canister vacuum from Kenmore is a compact, light-weight possibility that’s efficient throughout arduous flooring and carpeting alike, simply selecting up particles like sand, mud, and uncooked pasta. It weighs lower than 10 kilos, and in testing, we discovered that its canister rolls easily alongside behind you, even when it is on carpeting. Plus, since you solely need to push the vacuum’s wand, it’s not practically as tiring to make use of as an upright vacuum.
In contrast to many canister vacuums, this mannequin has a bagless design, which means you gained’t need to buy alternative baggage. You’ll be able to wash out the canister as wanted, and the vacuum’s equipment, which embrace a dusting brush, crevice software, and pet brush, can all be saved on board so that they’re straightforward to entry when wanted.
Kind: Bagless canister | Weight: 9.5 kilos | Dimensions: 11.4 x 12.2 x 28.8 inches | Bin Quantity: Not listed
Professional Tip!
“Individuals who may benefit from a light-weight vacuum embrace the older inhabitants who’ve mobility, endurance, and energy deficiencies, in addition to folks with bodily impairments akin to an damage or power ache.” —Dr. Devin Trachman, bodily therapist and clinic director at Physical Therapy Central
What to Know About Light-weight Vacuums
Vacuum Sorts
A number of varieties of vacuums fall into the light-weight class, weighing lower than 10 kilos:
- Upright: Whereas upright vacuums are sometimes heavy, some extra compact choices are value contemplating to your house. These vacuums are likely to carry out the perfect on carpeting, and so they are available in each corded and cordless designs, relying on what you like.
- Canister: For those who battle to push an upright vacuum, a canister vacuum could also be extra manageable. You merely need to push the vacuum’s wand and floorhead, and the physique of the vacuum rolls alongside behind you, so that you don’t need to help its weight.
- Cordless stick: These widespread vacuums are among the lightest out there at present, and so they’re typically extremely versatile. They typically include a wide range of attachments for above-floor cleansing, and lots of can be utilized as handheld vacuums, too. Simply take into account that their cordless nature means they’ve restricted runtime, so that they’re not preferrred for lengthy cleansing classes.
- Moist-dry: The most recent craze within the vacuum world, wet-dry vacuums choose up dry particles whereas concurrently mopping your flooring. They’re nice if in case you have principally arduous flooring in your house, however they will’t be used on carpeting.
Ergonomics
Weight isn’t the one issue that impacts how straightforward — or difficult — a vacuum is to make use of. An ergonomic design may help to scale back pressure, even when the vacuum is barely heavier. “Different issues I inform my sufferers to think about when vacuum buying embrace ergonomic design akin to a deal with that enables for impartial wrist placement, adjustable top choices, and attachment items that may additional promote good positioning to keep away from extreme bending or reaching,” says Dr. Trachman.
Different options chances are you’ll need to search for embrace a swiveling head, which makes vacuums simpler to maneuver, or a self-propelled design that strikes ahead by itself.
Suction Energy
A vacuum’s suction energy additionally performs a job in its ease of operation, so search for a mannequin with a number of suction settings, when potential. “Larger suction means you will take much less passes to wash an space, however you will expertise extra drive wanted to maneuver the vacuum,” explains Dr. McDowell.
For those who’re struggling to push your vacuum, chances are you’ll need to strive reducing its suction energy and making a number of passes to choose up particles.
Worth Vary
Light-weight vacuums can vary in worth from $100 to $600 or extra. Essentially the most reasonably priced possibility we suggest is the Black and Decker Powerseries+ Stick Vacuum, which retails for lower than $100, whereas our most premium choose is the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, which is $650 at full worth. Nevertheless, there are many choices in between these two that can match any funds.
Folks / Dera Burreson
Behind the Scenes
We’ve executed firsthand testing on greater than 350 vacuums — sure, actually — together with fashions of all sizes and styles. The PEOPLE Examined staff has reviewed every part from basic upright vacuums to high-tech robotic vacuums, and we parsed by way of all our testing outcomes to seek out the top-performing vacuums underneath 10 kilos for this record. Listed below are among the components we have a look at whereas testing:
- Setup: Whereas placing collectively every vacuum, we think about how straightforward it’s to assemble, if the instructions are clear, and if any particular instruments are wanted.
- Efficiency: We put vacuums by way of a collection of checks to evaluate their cleansing efficiency on a wide range of flooring varieties. We arrange impediment programs utilizing supplies like dust, grass, mud, cereal, pet meals, and hair, and we measured how lengthy it took every vacuum to choose up all of the particles.
- Maneuverability: Throughout testing, we be aware how straightforward it’s to drive every vacuum across the flooring, maneuvering round obstacles and underneath furnishings. We search for options like swiveling floorheads and self-propelled designs, which frequently make vacuums simpler to function.
- Emptying: After our cleansing checks, we empty the vacuum’s dustbin, noting its measurement and the way straightforward it’s to wash out.
- Noise Stage: We additionally measured every vacuum’s noise stage with a decibel reader and famous whether or not it was potential to carry a dialog over it.
After testing, we rating every vacuum on a scale of 1 to 5 in every class, and winners are chosen primarily based on a mean of scores. All of the vacuums featured on this article have been high performers of their respective classes.
Folks / Dera Burreson
Why Belief PEOPLE?
Camryn Rabideau is a contract author and product reviewer specializing in house, kitchen, and pet merchandise. In her over six years of expertise as a product tester, she’s reviewed dozens of vacuums firsthand, in addition to many different cleansing merchandise. Her work seems in publications akin to PEOPLE, The Spruce, and Properties & Gardens. Whereas placing collectively this text, she reviewed testing insights from the PEOPLE Examined staff, searching for vacuums underneath 10 kilos which might be straightforward to hold and function. She additionally spoke with two bodily therapists for extra recommendations on deciding on a light-weight vacuum to scale back pressure whereas cleansing.
What Is PEOPLE Examined?
We created the PEOPLE Examined seal of approval that will help you discover the perfect merchandise to your life. We use our distinctive methodology to check merchandise in three labs throughout the nation and with our community of house testers to find out their effectiveness, sturdiness, ease of use, and a lot extra. Primarily based on the outcomes, we price and suggest merchandise so you’ll find the correct one to your wants.
However we don’t cease there: We additionally recurrently re-review the classes during which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Examined seal of approval — as a result of the perfect product of at present may not be the perfect of tomorrow. And by the best way, corporations can by no means purchase our suggestion: Their merchandise should earn it, truthful and sq..
Briefly, PEOPLE Examined gives suggestions you may belief — each day, each buy.
