10 Best Vacuum Cleaners for Apartment Living & Small Spaces

Loud music, mysterious odors, and intimate knowledge of your neighbor’s comings and goings are all trademarks of apartment life. Thin walls let noise travel nearly unfiltered between units. 

Neighbors who live below or above you get to know more about you than your boss. If you want to keep them happy, or at least civil, you would be wise to monitor your sound level. 

This can include things you normally don’t think twice about such as vacuum cleaners. Running a super-powerful, overly loud machine early in the morning or late at night can put you on your neighbor’s bad side fast. 

Another problem with many vacuums is the size factor. Bulky cleaners will take up valuable real estate that you already don’t have much of in the first place.

Plus, they’re awfully heavy. Who wants to pull a muscle while trying to clean up Fido’s hair? You need a vacuum that’s relatively quiet, compact, and lightweight. We’re here to help you pick the perfect one. In this guide, you’ll find some of the best vacuums for apartments.

The Best Vacuums for Apartments: Buying Guide

Apartment living has its perks, but a large closet isn’t one of them. That means every inch counts when you’re storing all your glorious stuff. 

A vacuum cleaner shouldn’t take away from that storage—at least not too much. An ideal vacuum will be compact and suck up debris like a boss. 

This guide will show you what features to look for so you can pick the best vacuum for your small space according to weight, size, and suction. 

Weight

What’s the point of having a high-performing vacuum if you don’t have a good place to store it? Apartments are notorious for having small closets. 

You’ll need a cleaner that is as compact as it is lightweight. It shouldn’t be any heavier than ten pounds. 

The best ones will be less than five. Opt for a brand that carries a vacuum that looks more like a stick than a bulky powerhouse.

Size

If your closets are already filled to maximum capacity and you have zero desire to toss anything, then you need a very small vacuum cleaner.

We’re talking so little that it could fit in a small briefcase if needed. Today’s cleaners look more like frisbees than vacuums.

But don’t let the fact that it could fit on your nightstand fool you. The best robotic vacuums are just as powerful as they are tiny. Opt for a brand that automatically recharges and has an infrared-sensor for dodging obstacles

Suction

You don’t have to sacrifice weight and size for a dirt-sucking beast. Some brands make lightweight, compact stick vacuums that draw up everything from pet litter to Cheerios.

Choose a vacuum that is powerful enough to lift dirt, dust, and pet hair but not so strong as to pull the rug up at the same time.

Top 10 Best Vacuums for Apartments

1. Eureka PowerSpeed Lightweight Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Extra-large dust cup: Weighing in at ten pounds, this lightweight beauty lifts dirt without breaking your back. The noise level isn’t loud so it’s an excellent option for apartment dwellers whose units are separated by thin walls. 

If you have pets, you’ll appreciate that it does a good job of cleaning up their hair. Navigating your space will be a cinch as this vacuum transitions well from carpet to rugs to wood floors. Plus, the tank is easy to clean and the controls are easy to work.

The downside is that when you pull out the top handle to clip the nozzle the machine does fall due to its lightness. Prevent this from being an issue by rolling it or carrying it around.

2. Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum

Maneuvers well: Bissell created a powerful dustbuster that features a long handle making it perfect for sucking up little crumbs. It picks up dog hair and snacks left behind by little ones quite well. 

This bagless cleaner turns into a handheld vacuum to cover hard to reach places like tight corners. The crevice tool makes it super easy to clean between couch cushions. It’s easy to move around, push, and swivel. Plus, the filter is very easy to change and clean.

On the other hand, the suction gets weak with continued cleaning. Keep this from being an issue by dumping the filter after you vacuum each room.

3. Eufy Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Quiet: Eufy’s robot vacuum will help get your floors sparkly clean in no time. Pet hair, dirt, and dust get pulled up with ease when this cleaner is on the loose. 

Its beautiful sleek build will easily fit under most furniture to suck dirt from places you normally ignore. The compact size means you won’t have to struggle to find a spot for it in your already jam-packed closets.

The downside is that it may not work as well on carpet. Consider using it only on smooth surfaces such as tile, hardwood, or linoleum floors.

4. Moosoo Vacuum 4 in 1 Powerful Suction Stick Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

HEPA filtration system: Moosoo’s vacuum is so lightweight that you can clean the ceiling with it. Cobwebs are real. Knock them out with this upper arm friendly machine. 

The main machine weighs only 3.3 pounds so if you can lift a can of Crisco shortening or a box of wine, you can hoist this up too. Swivel legs make it easy to maneuver around the legs of your kitchen table and other tight spots in your apartment.

The downside is that it’s a bit loud. You can always wear earplugs if it bothers you. Also, you may want to wait until a decent time in the afternoon to vacuum to avoid offending your neighbors.

5. Roomie Tec Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Battery-powered:  Roomie Tec’s two-in-one vacuum gives you the flexibility to clean your apartment and car with the same device. Use it as one unit to knock out dust, dirt, and pet hair. 

Use it as a handheld device to clean window sills or your ride. The suction isn’t overpowering. It’ll pick up light items without sucking up your rugs.

On the other hand, it doesn't hold a charge well. But, if your apartment only takes 10-15 minutes to vacuum this may not be an issue. If it is, re-charge the battery and pick up where you left off later.

6. Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Suctions well: From pet hair to beach sand, Dyson’s vacuum draws up all manner of debris. It’s smart too. This cleaner switches modes all by itself as it goes from carpet to wood floors. 

It will even tell you how much time you have left to vacuum until the battery dies. With a head that’s less bulky and smaller than other vacuums, you’ll be able to easily get around tight spaces in your apartment.

7. Dirt Devil Vibe 3-in-1 Vacuum Cleaner

Good cord length: Dirt Devil’s stick vacuum is good for small areas making it ideal for apartments or studios. It has a spinning roll that you can turn off or on according to the kind of floor you are cleaning. 

Also, you’ll find that it’s lightweight and compact making it super easy to store. This vacuum picks up small amounts of pet hair, crumbs, and dirt.

8. Orfeld Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner 

Low sound: Orfeld’s ultra-quiet vacuum cleaner will score you some extra brownie points with your neighbors. This cordless machine is wonderful for small living spaces. 

The dirt cup is big enough to easily cover a one or two-bedroom apartment. Plus, the cup is easy to dump. 

Another perk is that the battery stays charged for a while so you can knock out your entire space without worrying about losing power. The suction is great and there’s a light on the bottom so you can easily see small crumbs. 

The downside is that the carpet attachment head is very floppy and it makes it slightly challenging to steer. Stop this from being an issue by not going over the floor too quickly or trying to make sharp turns.

9. Shark Navigator Freestyle Stick Cordless Vacuum

Powerful motorized brush: Shark’s freestyle, stick vacuum works beautifully. It delivers great suction power and keeps a charge forever. Also, it’s light and maneuvers well around furniture.

You’ll appreciate that it’s convenient to take apart and empty. You can easily put it back together, remove and clean the filter, and recharge it. 

10. Jashen V16 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Easy to mount on a wall: Jashen features a button to switch the power from low to medium and high. This simple control is better than what you’ll find with some other brands. The high mode is powerful enough to clean the carpet and sofa. 

Its LED panel has a filter cleaning alert, which ensures long-lasting suction without clogging. This lightweight, cordless vacuum is easy to store in small spaces.