Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
A practical cordless vacuum (20000 Pa, 2-in-1 handheld), best for everyday convenience cleaning rather than replacing a corded deep-clean machine.
How Much Suction Does a Cordless Vacuum Need? (AW, Pa & kPa)
Suction numbers are the most confusing part of buying a cordless vacuum, partly because brands use different units. Here is what Air Watts, Pa and kPa actually mean, and how much suction you really need.
The units, explained
Air Watts (AW) measure the useful cleaning power of the airflow and are usually quoted by premium brands. Pascals (Pa) and kilopascals (kPa, where 1 kPa is 1,000 Pa) measure sealed suction pressure and are common on budget models. They are not directly comparable to each other, and none of them is the motor's input wattage (W), which only tells you power consumed, not cleaning power.
How much you need
Hard floors need relatively little suction, so most models cope easily on eco mode. Low to medium carpet benefits from more. Deep, high-pile carpet and embedded pet hair are where high suction (and a motorised anti-tangle head) earn their keep. If you mostly have hard floors, do not pay a premium for the highest suction figure.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
A practical cordless vacuum (50 kPa, 70 minutes), best for everyday convenience cleaning rather than replacing a corded deep-clean machine.
#3 
Gtech AirRAM MK2
A practical cordless vacuum (40 minutes), best for everyday convenience cleaning rather than replacing a corded deep-clean machine.
#4 
Ultenic Cordless Vacuum
A practical cordless vacuum (60 kPa, 65 minutes), best for everyday convenience cleaning rather than replacing a corded deep-clean machine.
#5 
Shark
A practical cordless vacuum (10 minutes, 2-in-1 handheld), best for everyday convenience cleaning rather than replacing a corded deep-clean machine.
#6 
RELIDOL Handheld Vacuum
A practical cordless vacuum (2-in-1 handheld), best for everyday convenience cleaning rather than replacing a corded deep-clean machine.
Frequently asked questions
Is 20,000 Pa good?
On budget models, higher Pa generally means stronger sealed suction, but Pa figures are not directly comparable to Air Watts and can be measured differently between brands. Treat them as a rough guide within the same brand, and weigh the floor head and run time too.
Why do brands use different units?
There is no single mandatory standard for vacuum suction marketing, so premium brands tend to quote Air Watts while budget brands quote Pa or kPa. Compare like with like where you can.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Handheld Vacuum Cleaner (our score 9.6/10) - A practical cordless vacuum (20000 Pa, 2-in-1 handheld), best for everyday convenience cleaning rather than replacing a corded deep-clean machine..