When you spill cereal on the kitchen counter or notice that your pet left a pile of fur on the living room sofa, there's only one cleaning tool for the job: a handheld vacuum. Lightweight yet powerful, a good handheld vacuum can tackle those small messes—and fit into the smallest of spaces—all over your home. Ahead, we've rounded up some of the best handheld vacuums, according to top cleaning issues. Maybe you're plagued by pet fur, you have a small apartment with lots of little crevices, or you want the best option for cleaning your car's interior. No matter your cleaning concern, you'll find your new favorite handheld vacuum on this list. 

The Hoover OnePwr handheld vacuum is powered by a strong, rechargeable lithium-ion battery that makes it well equipped to tackle messes of all sizes. It also comes with a crevice tool that gets into hard-to-reach areas. Reviewers say that its powerful suction and long-lasting battery life come in handy for picking up pet hair and cleaning carpeted stairs and car seats. "This is the strongest handheld cordless vacuum I have ever used," one shopper wrote. "I have a dog who sheds a bit and it sucks up everything," another added. "I like that it's small and compact but also has some serious power." 

Calling all cat and dog owners: This is the handheld vacuum you've been waiting for. It was designed with a powerful motor and a flexible nozzle to pick up pet fur wherever you find it—on the sofa, along the stairs, and even in the car. Bissell makes a similar model branded specifically for pet fur, but this 4.7-star-rated version has a longer 18-foot cord for even more mobility and comes with various attachments for easy hair pickup. "Definitely buy this for pet hair," one Amazon reviewer shared. "This has been amazing at getting my tuxedo cat's hair off of every textile she passes by. It only took a couple of passes to clean up her favorite soft velvet seat, which has been a nightmare with other hand vacs."

If this model is sold out during your next Amazon visit, you can also grab it at bissell.com for the same price. 

Priced at $30, the Dirt Devil Scorpion Handheld Vacuum is the most budget-friendly pick on the list. Thanks to its powerful motor, it's able to maneuver between small and tough messes wherever they arise. The handheld vacuum has a 16-foot cord and a 0.45-liter dirt cup, and it comes with a 2.5-foot hose for big jobs and a built-in crevice tool for tight spaces. According to reviewers, it doesn't falter even when it sucks up items like cat litter and pebbles. "This is easily the best handheld vacuum in the industry," one reviewer raved. "Outstanding suction, good design, ease of use, ease of cleaning, and light weight make it my 'go-to' vacuum."

Under the couch? Check. In between kitchen appliances? Check. Behind the toilet? Check. This handheld vacuum with an expandable crevice tool gets into all of those hard-to-reach spots around the house. Powered by a 20-volt lithium-ion battery, this top-rated handheld vacuum offers two speed settings, high suction power, and a 75-milliliter dustbin to make sure that you get every last crumb, speck, and mite. "The wand is telescopic so you don't have to bend and stretch for corners and high places," one Amazon customer shared. "The battery lasts and lasts and you can use the wand without the attachment to get in corners and crevices. I'd recommend this to senior citizens, busy pet parents, or just someone who wants to clean quickly and efficiently."

Less than 3 inches wide and 17 inches long, this slender handheld vacuum was designed for tiny homes and cramped apartments. It won't take up much space, and the crevice attachment is ideal for cleaning along baseboards and in corners. Earning a 4.6-star rating from Amazon shoppers, this handheld vacuum is a favorite for its strong suction power and fast-charging battery. "This vac goes above and beyond," according to one customer. "The battery lasts and lasts, the suction is incredible, and the docking station is brilliant. We like it so much we bought a second one so we can have one of these suckers on both levels of our home. 

Looking for a portable handheld vacuum that works both inside the house, the garage, and the woodshop? Opt for this versatile vacuum with a carrying handle. The flexible hose extends up to 4 feet long, but when you're not using the crevice tool, it wraps neatly around the appliance to save space. Not to mention it also has two speed levels and a convenient button-release emptying system. "I am very surprised [by] the suction power," one reviewer shared, while another said that it's "lightweight and very portable." 

With its two-in-one crevice tool and dust brush, this handheld vacuum from Bissell easily glides into every nook and cranny of your car to lift dirt, crumbs, sand, and pet hair. Its cordless, sleek design makes it travel-friendly, while its rechargeable lithium-ion battery ensures long-lasting, powerful suction. "I went to test it out in the car and I love it so far," one reviewer wrote, adding that the suction works so well, it sucked up a gum wrapper. 

When life throws you a mess, you'll want the Homasy Handheld Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum handy. Thanks to its various attachments, this highly rated vacuum can tackle dry and liquid messes. It offers 30 minutes of run-time on a fully charged battery and works well on carpets, furniture, and cars, according to Amazon shoppers. "The reason why I purchased this item was to eliminate the use of paper towels in my household," explained one five-star reviewer. "The suction is strong, and it picks up liquid to the point where the surface is dried."

Since this vacuum is designed to pick up pet hair, it's got the right equipment to clean your carpets. In fact, it comes with an extra-large dust cap for big messes and two handy brush tools that can easily get in between your rug's fibers. Its powerful suction capabilities come from its dual air stream design, which makes it great for picking up just about any mess on carpets and rugs. And, as the name suggests, pet fur is no problem for this vacuum. "It gets the hair up in just a couple passes," said a reviewer who tried out the Shark vacuum after professional cleaners couldn't remove all of the dog hair from their stairs. 

This Black+Decker Dustbuster is a tried-and-true option for wooden floors, according to hundreds of Amazon shoppers. In their reviews, they highlight that it has the right amount of suction for dry messes like crumbs, pet hair, dust bunnies, and more. Its rotating nozzle and extending crevice tool get into every corner of your space as its cyclonic action technology provides a steady and powerful suction. "Since our entire house is wood floors with a couple of area rugs, most of the hair forms into little dust balls that hang out in the living room and on the stairs," one shopper wrote. "Same with the dry food bits that end up all around their eating area; just one minute with the vacuum and it's spotless."

This vacuum from Iris USA acts as a more portable version of your favorite vacuum cleaner with its strong suction power and cyclone stream technology. It also has a built-in agitator that shakes dust mites, allergens, and dead skin cells from couches and mattresses. Plus, the vacuum's color-changing design informs you when you've successfully vacuumed up all of the dirt, hair, crumbs, and dust from your furniture, so you can rest assured that you're performing a hygienic clean. Many reviewers noted that the corded handheld vacuum is best suited for small jobs with fine particles. "I can't believe how much dust I vacuumed out the first time," one Amazon shopper said. "I have vacuumed my mattresses and sofa every month since I got it."