Home & Kitchen / Floor care
Last updated: Written by: Rafael Rocha

The 5 Best Vacuums for Apartments

Five compact vacuums for apartment floors and upholstery, compared by storage space, floor-head options and reach.

Our top 5 vacuums for apartments

Swipe to compare price, rating and best use →

BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES+ 20V MAX Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with LED Floor Lights, Bagless, Lightweight, Cordless Vacuum Cleaners for Home, Up to 44 Minutes, Powerful Suction, Gray (BHFEA520J) product image from Amazon

01 — BLACK+DECKER

Best for apartments and users who prefer cordless floor cleaning

POWERSERIES+ BHFEA520J

4.2/5Amazon
$119.00In Stock

Automatic suction adjustment and a self-standing body simplify daily mixed-floor cleanup. A limitation is the stated maximum runtime depends on conditions and settings.

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Best for

Apartments and users who prefer cordless floor cleaning

Skip if

The stated maximum runtime depends on conditions and settings.

Reasons to buy

+Apartments and users who prefer cordless floor cleaning

+Weight: 8.4 lb

+Runtime: Up to 44 min

Reasons to avoid

−The stated maximum runtime depends on conditions and settings

−Dust bin or bag needs emptying

Weight
8.4 lb
Runtime
Up to 44 min
Modes
Stick and handheld
Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Upright Vacuum, Nordic Blue, SV2002 | Multi-Surface Cleaning, Lightweight, Easy Maintenance, Large Dust Cup, 2-Speed Brushroll, LED Headlights product image from Amazon

02 — Shark

Best for quick floor cleanup without managing a power cord

Freestyle Max SV2002

4.2/5Amazon
$199.99In Stock

Freestyle Max keeps the familiar upright shape without a wall cord. It is a good fit for someone who mostly pushes a vacuum across carpets and hard floors and wants a simple floor-focused machine. The shape is also its limitation: you cannot pull off a handheld motor unit to clean stairs, sofas or car seats as you can with the stick models here.

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Best for

Quick floor cleanup without managing a power cord

Skip if

It lacks the separate handheld flexibility of a convertible stick vacuum.

Reasons to buy

+Weight: Under 7 lb

+Cordless

+Storage: Charging dock

Reasons to avoid

−It lacks the separate handheld flexibility of a convertible stick vacuum

−Dust bin or bag needs emptying

Weight
Under 7 lb
Brushroll speeds
Two
Storage
Charging dock
Bissell 2033M Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum and Electric Broom with Crevice Tool for Hard Floors and Carpets, Black product image from Amazon

03 — Bissell

Best for hard floors, low-pile rugs and quick apartment cleanup

Bissell Featherweight Stick

4.4/5Amazon
$39.98In Stock

Featherweight is for the apartment owner who wants to grab a light stick for crumbs, hair and dust before they spread. Its compact storage and low price are more useful than a large dust bin in a small space. I would not ask it to replace a full machine for a multi-room home with rugs; check the floor nozzle for the finish and expect more frequent emptying.

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Best for

Hard floors, low-pile rugs and quick apartment cleanup

Skip if

Its simple cleaning head is not a substitute for a powered deep-carpet brush.

Reasons to buy

+Weight: Under 4 lb

+Power: Corded

+Modes: Stick, handheld and stair

Reasons to avoid

−Its simple cleaning head is not a substitute for a powered deep-carpet brush

−Wired connection limits placement

Weight
Under 4 lb
Power
Corded
Modes
Stick, handheld and stair
Eureka Vacuum Cleaners for Home,Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight, NEU10AE4 | Senior-Friendly 7.7 lb Pet Hair Upright Vacuum, Carpet & Hard Floor, Brush, Crevice Tool, Washable Filter, Green product image from Amazon

04 — Eureka

Best for smaller homes needing an inexpensive full-floor vacuum

Eureka AirSpeed NEU10AE4

4.3/5Amazon
$69.99In Stock

Eureka AirSpeed is the lower-priced upright option for someone who cannot justify the Navigator's cost. Its compact upright body is easier to budget for than a premium multi-tool system, but I would confirm the included hard-floor tool or brush control before putting it on finished boards. A low purchase price is not helpful if the head scatters grit or is awkward around furniture.

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Best for

Smaller homes needing an inexpensive full-floor vacuum

Skip if

The cord and upright body still need careful handling on stairs.

Reasons to buy

+Smaller homes needing an inexpensive full-floor vacuum

+Weight: 7.7 lb

+Cleaning path: 10.5 in

Reasons to avoid

−The cord and upright body still need careful handling on stairs

−Replacement filters add ongoing maintenance

Weight
7.7 lb
Cleaning path
10.5 in
Tools
Crevice and dusting
Shark Rocket Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum, Lightweight, Bordeaux, HV322 | Carpet, Area Rug & Hard Floor Cleaning, Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair, XL Dust Cup, LED Headlights, Crevice & Upholstery Tool​ product image from Amazon

05 — Shark

Best alternate corded stick

Shark Rocket Pet Plus HV322

4.4/5Amazon
$199.99In Stock

The Rocket Pet Plus is a corded stick for pet owners who want lighter handling than a full upright without managing battery runtime. I would compare the exact upholstery tool, floorhead and dust-cup size with the Shark cordless model. A lighter body is useful on stairs, but a smaller cup may fill quickly in a multi-pet home.

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Best for

Stairs and smaller rooms where a corded stick appeals

Skip if

You need the largest bin for broad carpet cleaning.

Reasons to buy

+Lighter corded format with pet-oriented tools

+Weight: Under 10 lb

+Dust cup: 0.68 qt

Reasons to avoid

−Smaller cup and cord management

−Wired connection limits placement

Weight
Under 10 lb
Dust cup
0.68 qt
Storage
Hand unit clips to wand base
Price information

Amazon price and availability checked Oct 18, 2026, 12:03 AM Lisbon time. Prices and availability are subject to change; the information shown on Amazon.com at purchase applies.

Our process

How we picked.

We compare five relevant products for different needs, using documented specifications, clear use cases and practical trade-offs. Our goal is to make the differences clear and help you choose with confidence.

  • 01
    Relevance

    Each product must fit the guide’s intended use, audience and requirements.

  • 02
    Specifications

    We compare the key product details that meaningfully affect the buying decision.

  • 03
    Use case and fit

    We compare the intended use, configuration and practical fit of every selected product.

  • 04
    Strengths and limitations

    We explain where each option performs best and the compromises to consider.

Read our full methodology →

Good questions

FAQ — Vacuums for Apartments

01What vacuum works in a small apartment with mixed floors?+

A compact stick saves storage space, but check brushroll control for hard floors and the attachments needed for upholstery. Cord length or battery runtime should cover your actual rooms.

02Is a cordless vacuum always better for an apartment?+

It avoids cable handling, but a corded model can offer continuous use without battery charging; storage and flooring should guide the choice.

03How do POWERSERIES+ BHFEA520J and Freestyle Max SV2002 differ for vacuums for apartments?+

Automatic suction adjustment and a self-standing body simplify daily mixed-floor cleanup. A limitation is the stated maximum runtime depends on conditions and settings. Freestyle Max keeps the familiar upright shape without a wall cord. It is a good fit for someone who mostly pushes a vacuum across carpets and hard floors and wants a simple floor-focused machine.

04Is Bissell Featherweight Stick suitable for vacuums for apartments?+

Featherweight is for the apartment owner who wants to grab a light stick for crumbs, hair and dust before they spread. Its compact storage and low price are more useful than a large dust bin in a small space.

05What is the main trade-off with Eureka AirSpeed NEU10AE4 for vacuums for apartments?+

Eureka AirSpeed is the lower-priced upright option for someone who cannot justify the Navigator's cost. Its compact upright body is easier to budget for than a premium multi-tool system, but I would confirm the included hard-floor tool or brush control before putting it on finished boards.

The short answer

Start with the POWERSERIES+ BHFEA520J.

It is our first pick for this guide’s exact scope. Choose another option when its stated use case or trade-off better matches yours.

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