The 6 best car vacuum cleaners for at-home and on-the-go cleaning

It’s incredible how quickly your car can get dirty. As you drive, mud, pet hair, crumbs from your kid’s snacks, and other debris can build up throughout your car’s interior, and turn it into quite a mess.

That’s where a car vacuum cleaner comes in handy. The best car vacuum cleaners are small and portable but still pack big cleaning performance in a tiny package. This makes cleaning up the interior of your car a breeze.

Whether you’re looking for a small and portable model with a battery, or a heavy-duty corded model with more powerful suction, we’ve got you covered. Read on and take a look at our list of the best car vacs for 2023.

Read more: Find the best cordless lawn mower for your garden

Our picks for the best car vacuum cleaners

Best cordless car vacuum cleaner

Black+Decker 16-Volt Max Cordless Lithium DustBuster Hand Vacuum

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$59 at Home Depot

Top wet vacuum cleaner for car

Hart 6-Gallon 5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet-Dry Vacuum

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$89 at Walmart

Best for cleaning hard-to-reach places

Black+Decker Car Pivot Bagless Handheld Vacuum

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$78 at Wayfair

Lightweight vacuum that's tough on pet hair

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ Cordless Handheld Vacuum

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$79 at The Home Depot

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Best cordless car vacuum cleaner

Black+Decker 16-Volt Max Cordless Lithium DustBuster Hand Vacuum

$59

$59 at Home Depot

Specifications

• Weight: 4.8 pounds

• Running time: 15 minutes

• Dimensions: 7 H x 5.3 W x 17.5 D in

• Power source: Batteries, charger

• Charge time: 4 hours 

Pros & Cons

• Long-lasting lithium-ion battery

• Lightweight and portable design

• Energy efficient with fast recharge

• Loud during operation

• Uses a proprietary charging stand

Cordless car vacuums are typically easier to maneuver into tight spaces, especially since you don’t have to worry about tripping over a cord. This model from Black + Decker is a fantastic choice if you want a cordless car vac that still has plenty of suction and cleaning power.

It uses a powerful lithium-ion battery pack that charges in four hours or less. It also packs a punch with powerful suction power that can go anywhere. It has advanced features like a 180-degree rotating nozzle, which makes it easier to dig into nooks and crannies to clean your car.

The bagless dirt bowl and filter are easy to remove and clean, too. This model also comes with multiple attachments, including a flip-up brush and crevice tool. These make it easy to clean up dust, pet hair, dirt, and other debris everywhere in your car. It’s got an overall product rating of 4.4 stars from 1,316 reviewers.

Top wet vacuum cleaner for car

Hart 6-Gallon 5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet-Dry Vacuum

$89

$89 at Walmart

Specifications

• Weight: 12 pounds

• Running time: As long as it's plugged in

• Tank size: 6 Gallon

• Power source: Corded electric

• Charge time: N/A

Pros & Cons

• Excellent for liquid spills

• Includes car cleaning accessory kit and storage

• Generous 6-gallon capacity

• Not easily portable

• Dust bags sold separately

If you want to deep clean your car regularly, a wet-dry vacuum like this model from Hart is a fantastic investment. It’s got a powerful motor that develops up to five peak horsepower. A generous 6-gallon tank gives you plenty of capacity while cleaning, too.

With this vacuum, you can easily clean up liquid spills, or vacuum up soap and water after deep-cleaning your carpet’s interior. This Hart Wet-Dry Vacuum even comes with a special 10-piece car cleaning kit. This includes all the attachments you need to thoroughly detail your own vehicle at home.

Best for cleaning hard-to-reach places

Black+Decker Car Pivot Bagless Handheld Vacuum

$78

$78 at Wayfair

Specifications

• Weight: 3.4 pounds

• Running time: As long as plugged in

• Dimensions: 13.5 H x 7 W x 6.1 D in

• Power source: Corded V DC

• Charge time: N/A

Pros & Cons

• Lightweight for long cleaning sessions

• Pivoting head and flexible hose for easy cleaning

• Long 12-foot cord plugs into 12v power outlet

• Cannot be plugged into a wall socket

• Included storage case is a bit flimsy

The best car vacuum cleaners are purpose-built to help you clean hard-to-reach cracks and corners that normal vacuums can’t reach. This product from Black + Decker has a pivoting head that makes cleaning nooks and crannies a total breeze. It also has a hose attachment that’s long and flexible, making it even easier to get deep into your car’s upholstery. 

You can easily clean out crumbs, dirt, mud, fur and dander and everything else that builds up in your vehicle over time. And with its bagless design, you’ll never have to worry about running out of dust bags. It’s also packed into a convenient carrying case for on-the-go use.

Lightweight vacuum that's tough on pet hair

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ Cordless Handheld Vacuum

$79

$79 at The Home Depot

Specifications

• Weight: 3.4 pounds

• Running time: 15 minutes

• Dimensions: 4.3 H x 3.8 W x 20 D in

• Power source: Cordless, charger

• Charge time: Not available on site

Pros & Cons

• Generous capacity for picking up pet fur

• Includes three cleaning attachments

• Lightweight design for ease of use

• Long recharge time

• No included storage for cleaning attachments

If you’ve got pets, your car can become coated in fur and dander in no time at all, especially when it’s shedding season. This handheld vacuum from Shark is the best automobile vacuum for cleaning up after your furry friends. It’s got a powerful motor that provides 15 minutes of suction. The extra-large dust cup can handle dried mud, pet hair, dander — and everything else your pup brings into your car.

This cordless vacuum uses a unique design that creates two cyclonic air streams. This makes it suitable for the toughest jobs. It also comes with three cleaning attachments that are meant to pick up pet hair quickly and efficiently. Their CleanTouch technology also makes it easy to empty the dust cup without making a mess.

Best portable vacuum to keep in car

Shark WANDVAC Cord-Free Handheld Vacuum

$79

$79 at Walmart

Specifications

• Weight: 1.4 pounds

• Running time: less than 10 minutes

• Dimensions: 2.4 H x 2.5 W x 16.5 D in

• Power source: Cordless, charger

• Charge time: 2.5 hours

Pros & Cons

• Extremely small, slim, and sleek design

• Lightweight with fantastic ergonomics

• Tapered nozzle for enhanced debris pickup

• Small dust bowl capacity

• Short battery life

Keeping a portable vacuum cleaner in your car lets you clean up spills and dirt immediately, ensuring your vehicle stays nice and clean. This battery-powered model from Shark is an excellent choice for on-the-go cleaning.

It’s exceptionally small and slim. You can keep it in the front seat of your vehicle or even the glove box, and use it to clean up at a moment’s notice. It weighs in at just 1.4 pounds, but the high-speed brushless motor packs a serious punch for such a small package.

Most affordable car vacuum

HD Car Vacuum Cleaner

$18

$18 at Walmart

Specifications

• Weight: 0.88 pounds

• Running time: 15 minutes

• Dimensions: 14.2 H x 5.1 W x 4.5 D in

• Power source: Cordless, charger

• Charge time: 3 - 5 hours

Pros & Cons

• Handles both wet and dry spills

• Washable dust cup and filter

• LED lights help you spot debris while vacuuming

• Small and less ergonomic than some competitors

• Lacks multiple power settings

If you just want a simple, effective, and affordable car vac, this model from HD Car is the best car vacuum cleaner for you. It offers exceptional suction power for up to 15 minutes and weighs less than one pound, and can even be used for both wet and dry spills.

It comes with both a brush attachment and a slim nozzle attachment and is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. The included cord can be used to charge the vacuum or even power it directly from your 12v vehicle socket, and the cord measures 16.4 feet. This gives you plenty of space to maneuver all around your car while you clean.

How to choose the right car vacuum

When it comes to choosing a car vacuum that’s best for you, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind:

Corded vs. cordless: Generally speaking, a corded car vac will provide more power, and can usually be either powered by a 12v socket in your car, or a wall socket. However, cordless models still provide great suction and are more portable and easier to maneuver.

Suction power: More suction power means that a vacuum will have an easier time picking up debris from your vehicle. As a rule, bigger is better when it comes to motors and suction power!

Dust bowl capacity: Most car vacuums use a “dust bowl” and filter instead of a dust bag. The size of the dust bowl determines how much debris you can vacuum before you need to empty it. For big vehicles and “deep cleans,” a large dust bowl capacity is usually better.

Size and weight: The smaller and lighter your vacuum is, the easier it will be to use, and the longer you can clean your car without getting tired. However, larger models will usually have a bigger motor and more cleaning power, so that’s a trade-off to keep in mind.

Our choice for the best car vacuum

No matter which model you choose, you can’t go wrong by choosing from our list of top car vacuum cleaners. But if we had to choose just two top products, we’d go with the following:

• Black+Decker 16-Volt Max Cordless Lithium DustBuster Hand Vacuum Our top overall pick for a cordless car vacuum, this model has plenty of cleaning power, a generously-sized dust bowl, and all the attachments you need to keep your car clean. It’s sure to satisfy all of your on-the-go vacuuming needs!

• Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ Cordless Handheld Vacuum Since it’s designed specifically to clean up pet hair, this vacuum from Shark packs a bit more suction and cleaning power, and it’s a good upgrade pick if you want a bit more performance and a larger dust cup capacity.

Prices updated on 07/25/2023. We are not responsible for any changes on the prices mentioned above.