The 7 Best Car Vacuums of 2023, According to Lab Testing

The Bottom Line

Overall, the best car vacuum is the BLACK+DECKER BDH2020FL GEN 2 FLEX VAC because of its superior suction power and long, flexible hose that makes it easy for you to clean even the tightest nooks and crannies in your car. It’s also easy to clean, so just keep it charged so it’s ready to clean when you are.

Our Testing Process

To find the best car vacuums, we put 20 car vacuums to the test at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa. Using a pre-determined methodology, ten testers evaluated each vacuum based on seven categories: effectiveness, maneuverability, ease of emptying, portability, noise level, setup, and value. Testers did not know the prices of the units while they tested.

To determine effectiveness, testers vacuumed Cheerios, sand, and hair off of soft and hard surfaces. They took note of how many passes it took with the vacuum to clean up each mess. While testing, maneuverability was also determined based on how easy it was to navigate the vacuum from floors to cushions to cubbies of the car.

After cleaning, ease of emptying was based on how easy it was to remove a dust cup or bag from the unit. If it had a brush roll, however, testers evaluated if there was any hair caught on the rollers. Portability was then evaluated based on the unit’s weight, whether or not the cord was adequate, and whether or not it was challenging to move it from one spot to another.

Noise levels can range anywhere from 56 to 80 dB, so vacuums were evaluated on whether or not they stayed at 65 dB, even at their highest setting. Testers determined if they could comfortably hold a conversation above the noise.

Setup was determined based on whether or not the vacuum arrived assembled and how easy it was to assemble if necessary. They also took note of how clear the included instructions were, as well as if all the attachments could easily store on the vacuum.

After testing, testers were given the retail price of each pick. They then determined the overall value of the product, keeping in mind if the price was appropriate and if they would recommend it.

What to Know About Car Vacuums Before Shopping

Dimensions

Since car vacuums will likely stay in your car and only be used on your vehicle, you don’t want them to be too large. While there’s no magic size when it comes to buying a car vacuum, you do want to make sure it’s compact enough so you can vacuum all surfaces, especially when you add on any attachments.

Bin Capacity

Whether you have pets, small children, or both, you’ll want a bin capacity that suits your specific needs.

“A car vacuum’s features always involve a trade-off of some sort,” says Myers, and this is evident when it comes to bin capacity. “A vacuum with large bin capacity means the vacuum will weigh more but a smaller bin has to be emptied more frequently,” says Myers.

Accessories

When it comes to the best car vacuums, you’ll want to consider how you want to use them and where you need to clean. Whether you’re cleaning the seats or want to get into smaller compartments, attachments will help make the unit the most effective for you.

“It’s best to choose a car vac with accessories that will allow you to reach into the nooks and crannies of your car,” Huang says.

He recommends an extension hose, brushes, and crevice nozzle tools as being some of the more helpful ones. “[It’s a] plus if you can store these accessories in the car vac itself.”

Cord Length

The longer the cord, the more room you have to maneuver the vacuum in the car. Keep your car’s size in mind when purchasing a corded car vac. The best car vacuums for SUVs should have a lengthy cord, but even if you have a smaller car, you might like the extra cord length for ease of movement around seats.

Battery Life

The longer the battery life, the more time you have to vacuum your car. But don’t expect to be able to vacuum for hours.

“The charge of [most] cordless car vacs usually lasts around 12 to 15 minutes,” says Huang. “It may not be enough time to clean your whole car, especially if you have a big vehicle. They are more suitable for spot cleaning if you or your passenger accidentally make a mess in your car.”

Weight

A car vacuum will be a smaller unit than traditional vacuums, though you’ll still want to be mindful of the weight.

“In general, heavier vacuums provide more suction power and greater bin capacity, which is a plus; but if the vacuum is so heavy that you can’t easily maneuver it, the vacuum itself will end up gathering dust,” says Myers.

Other Car Vacuums We Tested

Shark WV401PK WandVac Power Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum

Our tester found the Shark WV401PK WandVac Power Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum to be effective on solid pieces of dirt and debris, but it didn’t fare so well with hair and sand. It also has a small dirt cup, so there’s not much time to work before you have to empty it.

Sun Joe AJV1000 Cordless 8.4-Volt Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

According to one tester, the Sun Joe AJV1000 Cordless 8.4-Volt Handheld Vacuum Cleaner was not effective at picking up debris. It took a number of passes to pick up all the Cheerios, which also took three empties of the tiny dust bin. As far as lighter dirt like sand and hair, it was more effective at blowing it all around the car rather than cleaning it up.

The Hoover ONEPWR Dust Chaser Cordless Handheld Vacuum

Our tester found the Hoover ONEPWR Dust Chaser Cordless Handheld Vacuum easy to maneuver on the car seats and mats, but its long and heavy design made it difficult to clean out the tighter spots. The tester would have tried out the attachments, but the Hoover stopped working after about two minutes of use.

Your Questions, Answered

How do I vacuum my car like a pro?

For starters, find a vacuum that is not too complicated.

“Our vacuums must be easy to use,” says Hoblet. “We make this happen by using lightweight hoses with the right attachments to get between seats, in tight spaces, etc., as well as attachments that can handle surface areas like seats and carpet.”

While Hoblet says even the best car vacuums for home use won’t have hoses as long as the ones the pros use, "You still want to think about the ability to easily maneuver around your vehicle and reach all the places that can accumulate dirt and grime.

How do you deep clean a car interior?

If you want to skip a trip to the car washer, the first thing you should do is grab a garbage bag and remove all large debris, like discarded napkins, paper cups, and any other items that can’t be picked up by a vacuum.

Then, remove the floor mats and hose them off or vacuum thoroughly. Wipe down surfaces with a microfiber cloth to remove dust, and use a soft brush to clean air vents. Use glass cleaner for the windows. Vacuum the floor and seats, using any attachments on your car vac to remove dirt and crumbs that have gotten stuck in tight spots.

“If you want to buckle down to clean your car’s interior, you’ll want a sturdier car vacuum with a bigger bin capacity and a cord,” says Huang. “This will allow you to clean without recharging the batteries or emptying the bin.”

Does more volts or wattage mean better suction?

According to Huang, higher volts and wattage do not necessarily equate to better suction. He notes that volt refers to battery power while wattage refers to electricity consumption while the vacuum is in use.

“A vacuum with more powerful suction will require more electricity (higher wattage) or a more powerful battery, which is why people often think a vacuum with higher wattage has better suction,” he says.

Huang notes that a better indicator of suction power is air watts (AW), which is a measurement used by vacuum manufacturers. Typically, the higher the AW, the better the suction.

“The downside is this is not an internationally defined unit of measurement, so you cannot directly compare one car vac’s AW to another one’s AW,” he says.

Who We Are

Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, New York, covering all things home and lifestyle for Better Homes & Gardens. To compile this list of best car vacuums, Barbara analyzed lab insights from our testing site in Des Moines, Iowa, She also consulted Jennifer Myers, director of marketing at Kunes Auto & RV Group, Kevin Huang, founder and CEO of Ambient Home, and Phil Hoblet, vice president of category management at Driven Brands, the parent company of Take 5 Car Wash.

What is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.