12 Best Lightweight Vacuum Cleaners UK 2020 – An Expert Buyers Guide

With a different type of vacuum cleaner for every type of person, or so it seems, there really is no one size fits all.

Even when we break down the categories to feature only the best lightweight vacuums, there are many different kinds. It isn’t enough to merely research what the best vacuum is, nor what the best lightweight vacuum is.

To make sure you buy the best vacuum for your needs, we have to further dive into, and divide, lightweight vacuums by category.

So, read on and see what lightweight vacuum makes the cut.

If you don’t want to read the entire article and are just here for the “best of” list, then here is a summary of the vacuums that made the grade. All available on Amazon.co.uk.

Top 5 Best Lightweight Vacuum Cleaners UK

• Top Choice – AirRam MK2 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
• Best For Elderly – Morphy Richards Supervac 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
• Best Budget – VYTRONIX CYL01 Powerful Compact Cyclonic Bagless Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner
• Best Lightweight Upright – Whirlwind Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
• Best Lightweight Bagged – Amazonbasics Powerful Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

1. Top Choice – AirRam MK2 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

The second best selling lightweight vacuum is this high-end Gtech AirRam. It lacks the versatility of the VonHaus, but you get excellent performance. That performance does come at a price, however.

If your needs are simple and you don’t need a vacuum that does anything besides clean the floors in your home, then you will be delighted with how well this works. It is an upright cleaner that is lightweight and manoeuvrable.

The weight is focused at the bottom of the vacuum cleaner so getting it around is very easy. It’s heavier than most stick style lightweight vacuums, but it isn’t a stick. It’s sort of in-between a stick and an upright.

It’s cordless so you get the added convenience of not needing to focus on where the sockets are when cleaning up. And it can be brought out to the car or another area outside the home that needs cleaning.

The motor is powered by a strong 22V battery which gives an impressive 40 minutes of runtime. More than enough time to handle most clean-ups. The suction is strong, but still gentle on rugs.

I like the way the bin collects dust and debris since it compresses it into a tight ball giving the .8 litre bin more capacity. And it is easy to empty.

Unfortunately, the downside to this hoover is the lack of attachments. Cleaning your curtains or upholstery will require a handheld vacuum since there is no way to use this vacuum to clean those areas.

2. Best For Elderly – Morphy Richards Supervac 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

A vacuum designed to help the elderly can’t just be lightweight, it has to be easy to use. I recommend a cordless variety since dealing with a cord can be a hassle. And dangerous.

It’s easy to use and it’s got a foldable handle that makes the whole thing shorter and easier to handle.

That makes it convenient, but it is also a very good vacuum with some nice powerful features. A 32V battery is one of the strongest I have seen when dealing with cordless vacuums.

With a 50 minute run time and 2 different power modes, you won’t need to rush to finish the hoovering. Elderly have trouble moving quickly, so it gives a lot of peace of mind to know that they can vacuum at their own pace.

It can be converted into a slim stick vacuum to get above head areas as well as a handheld mini vacuum for hoovering up counters or sofas. Stairs can easily be cleaned without needing to lift a heavy vacuum with you.

A battery indicator light is a nice extra feature.

In all, I would say this lightweight vacuum is ideal for the elderly with all the functions that make it so easy for them to use.

3. Best Budget – VYTRONIX CYL01 Powerful Compact Cyclonic Bagless Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner

This is a top choice in my list of the best vacuum cleaners under £100 and I love it. It’s under £50 and provides a very reasonable clean for that price point. Yes, more expensive ones are better but for the price, you can’t argue.

It’s lightweight at a little over 4kg but the only problem is that it can have a tendency to tip over because of the low profile of the hose. If you’re careful it’s fine but if you double back on the vacuum it can tip and you have to right it again.

It’s not a big deal but something to be aware of.

Works on carpets and hard floors providing a reasonable clean on both floor types.

A fine budget choice and a great choice of lightweight canister vacuum.

4. Best Lightweight Upright – Whirlwind Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Being lightweight is not the only thing that makes this Hoover easy to use. It has some nice features that make this a very popular vacuum on Amazon.co.uk.

It can easily navigate any room and makes quick work out of the job too. The wide face nozzle catches a large radius so you aren’t going over the same spot multiple times.

The extendable hose can get areas over your head or the stairs. Though it may only be good on shorter staircases since it only reaches 2.5 meters. You may need to perch the vacuum on one or two of the lower stairs on larger stairways.

The dust canister is a generous 2.5-litre capacity and is very easy to empty. One-touch and it pops out and another push of a button opens it over your bin, keeping hands dust free.

The onboard attachments are conveniently stored. You get a crevice tool and 2 in 1 dusting brush.

It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles featured on the Vax, but it is as lightweight at around 5 kg.

The price tag is also considerably lighter. At less than half the price of the Vax, you may not get all the accoutrements, but you do get a solid lightweight vacuum that won’t break the bank or your back.

5. Best Lightweight Bagged – Amazonbasics Powerful Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

This is a very nice little bagged vacuum cleaner, first off it’s a budget model but it is nice and lightweight at only 3.5kg, that lightness means it doesn’t have the most powerful pick-up but it’s honestly good enough, especially for the weight and price.

the cord is surprisingly short at 5m, which I know sounds like a lot but when some vacuums have a 10m cord this is on the shorter side so you’ll be plugging in and out of every room, which if that sounds like a hassle you’ll want to consider a cordless vacuum instead.

It does a great job on hard floors with superb pick-up and on carpets, you’ll need to turn the power down and open the vents but unless you’re dealing with pet hair it does a good job. All the dust and fluff will get sucked up no problem.

What’s surprising for the low price is that you’ve got a HEPA filter which works to catch all the tiny particles of dust that linger in the air making your home fresher after each vacuuming.

​If you want the convenience of bagged vacuuming in a lightweight vacuum, this is the best choice for you.

Advantages of a Lightweight Vacuum

Having a lightweight vacuum is more advantageous to having a really heavy one. But, the reasons for wanting it to be light varies.

Easy to Use

Elderly buyers love that they can maintain their independence due to the fact that they can still clean their own home.

People with disabilities or back injuries also get a massive benefit from the fact that there are some high-quality lightweight vacuums out there.

Even able-bodied people that are not interested in using their vacuum to replace a personal trainer appreciate that it is much less effort to use a lightweight vacuum. The benefits are fairly obvious that lighter is better.

Storage

Seeing as how the vacuum is lightweight, that usually means it has a low profile. This means that storing your vacuum in an easy to access spot is easier to do than with a big, clunky machine. And that usually means you will be more likely to get the cleaning done.

A lightweight vacuum can be hung from behind a door, in a cabinet or anywhere else in arm’s reach. They take up less space and are also easier to pick up and go.

Quiet

This isn’t true across the board, but generally speaking, a lightweight vacuum has a smaller motor that is not as noisy as it’s full-sized counterparts.

Cordless battery operated stick vacuums are especially quiet since the motor is made differently.

It’s not unusual for a typical lightweight vacuum to be under 75 dB in noise production. Of course, your mileage may vary on this point. If you need a quiet vacuum then make sure you read the specs before buying.

Low Price

As with the quiet feature, this is not always true, but generally, a smaller vacuum also costs less. You can get a nice price on a very good vacuum.

Usually, when you want a second vacuum to have for smaller jobs, you don’t have to pay what you would for a full-sized or traditional vacuum.

If you have a small space, or your cleaning needs are light, there is no need to spend as much as you would for a high-end vacuum with all the most modern features.

Must-Have Features of a Lightweight Vacuum

I covered what the benefits are to using a lightweight vacuum, but here are some of the must-have items. Let’s go through some cleaning scenarios so you can see what features you would need for different cleaning solutions.

Deep Pile Carpet

Lightweight vacuum cleaners are ideal for cleaning deep pile rugs. They have a more gentle suction while still able to get deep down dust from the carpet.

Look for vacuums that either don’t have a rotating brush or ones where you can swap out the floor head. Rotating brushes can damage your deep pile rug. Same for high powered suction vacuums.

Some lightweight vacuums are lacking in a good filtration system. People with deep pile carpets should look for models with good filters since there is more dust associated with thick carpets.

Pet Hair

There are many vacuums made specifically for dealing with pet hair and mess, so lightweight vacuums are no exception. Look for a vacuum that has either a turbo brush attachment or a rotating beater brush floor head.

Powerful suction also helps, but the best vacuums for pet hair have those brushes to pick up all the hair.

Specialized attachments are also a good thing to have. Cleaning up after pets is a challenge so the more options your vacuum gives you, the better.

When cleaning up after pets, you will likely have a lot more dust and debris going into the canister. Many lightweight vacuums have a small dustbin. Unless you don’t mind emptying the bin frequently, look for a model with a larger capacity bin.

Long Battery Life

Not all lightweight vacuums are cordless so this only applies to the rechargeable vacuums. You will want to get an idea of how long it takes to give a god hovering with your current vacuum before buying a lightweight cordless model.

Note the time and make sure the model you are looking into has enough battery time to properly clean your area.

Multi-use

Take advantage of the fact that most of these lightweight vacuums are 2 in 1 models. What that means is that they can operate as a traditional vacuum or come apart to make a handheld portable vacuum.

It’s not enough to just be lightweight enough to carry around if you have stairs to clean. If it can’t come apart then cleaning the stairs can be awkward.

If it isn’t a 2 in 1 that can be used as a mini vacuum, then make sure it has a hose attachment to get the stairs or your car. A good lightweight vacuum that is a one-trick pony won’t give you much value if it can only excel at one function.

Car or Boat Use

If you need a vacuum to be used to clean up something like your car, boat or cabin, then there are a few things to look for that will make it easier.

As I just mentioned, a vacuum that can be used as a traditional or handheld vacuum is the best way to go in general. When you’re looking to clean up somewhere besides your flat, then having it become a convertible vacuum is essential.

If your vacuum can be turned into a handheld with the touch of a button then you can carry it around. If it is small enough, it can be stored in your boat or camper where there is limited space.

Cordless is the way to go when it comes to having a vacuum that can be used to clean up alternative spaces like a car or camper. Most times you need to clean up there is no socket available. Having a cordless vacuum gives you options.

These are some things to consider when you are evaluating your needs for a lightweight vacuum. Of course, not every cleaning scenario is covered here. This buying guide for lightweight vacuums should be a good start to get you in the right direction, however.

Other Lightweight Vacuum Cleaners Reviewed

Basic Stick Vacuum Cleaner

The most popular lightweight vacuum for sale on Amazon.co.uk is the Vonhaus 2 in 1 model vacuum. The price is right and you get a wonderful little vacuum with convenient features.

If you read through the must-have list for lightweight vacuums, then you may notice that this model ticks a lot of those boxes. This makes it a good all-around vacuum for just about anybody’s needs.

It converts easily into a handheld portable vacuum. It still retains all the advantages of an upright stick vacuum just in a smaller package.

The tube is removed to make it small and easy to carry around, so the body does not change at all. You lose none of the suction power at all.

With a 600-watt motor, the suction is very powerful. Again, this also holds when it is in handheld mode. This makes it very good for pet hair even though it doesn’t have a rotating brush. And it also does well on deep pile rugs since it doesn’t have the brush.

The 1.3-litre canister is quite large for a lightweight stick vacuum. If you have pets or lots of carpets you won’t be emptying the bin too often.

It has a nice crevice attachment with a hideaway brush. Tuck the brush away for use in the crevices of your sofa, but flip it back out to get the floor of your car.

With the kind of versatility you get from this handy lightweight vacuum, the price tag is quite shockingly low. Buy two and keep one for the home and one for everything else that needs tidying up!

Air Stretch Pet Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner

What are the criteria for an upright vacuum to be considered lightweight? In my opinion, it should be 5 kg or under. And that is not something you find too often with upright vacuums.

The Vax Air Stretch is a great, powerful vacuum that is great for carpet, hard flooring and pet hair. And at 4.9 kg it falls right within my own arbitrary parameters!

Not only does it feature multi-cyclonic technology to handle large and fine dust, but it comes with a turbo brush attachment with a hose. That helps get the furniture, pet beds and anywhere else you wouldn’t reach with a traditional upright vacuum.

It is very agile with a swivel base to get around the tightest areas. It’s lightweight enough to carry onto the stairs if you wish, however, the extendable hose means you can leave it on the floor and clean the stairs without lifting it. This also helps cleaning areas over your head like the drapes or cobwebs in the corners.

The downside is that it is corded. Many people like rechargeable lightweight vacuums for the added convenience of being cordless. With a 13 metre long cord, finding a socket is not usually an issue, though.

It’s a smart-looking machine that is money well spent. At the same cost as a heavy upright or clunky cylinder vacuum, you get much more convenience for a much lower price with this lightweight economical vacuum.

IF250UK DuoClean with Flexology

http://amzn.to/2FeHQrU

Whether you have pets, children or simply a house that requires a lot of upkeep, you need a great vacuum. Not just the best lightweight cordless vacuum, but one that is going to deliver the goods.

This cordless Shark DuoClean certainly delivers.

It’s an excellent vacuum in its own right, made even better by the fact that it weighs in at a paltry 4 kg and a 44 minute run time thanks to 2 lithium-ion batteries.

The DuoClean technology is a double roller system that beats up deep debris and funnels all the dirt right into the nozzle. It works wonderfully against pet hair and deep down debris in your carpets.

Even if you don’t have pets or kids, if your floors require a good cleaning then this is a highly efficient way to get it done. Whether you are dealing with high pile carpets or hard floors.

The flexible wands help get under furniture and it’s so lightweight that it is easy to navigate tight corners or around obstacles.

It converts into a handy little handheld vacuum with all the same power as it has in full vacuum mode. This makes it ideal for use in the car or stairs. Or for quick spot cleans in a pinch.

Since it folds in half it has a very small profile and can be stored just about anywhere. It isn’t the quietest cordless vacuum on the market. I suppose it is designed that way to let you know it’s working hard with you to get your home cleaned!

Sprint LightweightVacuum Cleaner

Very similar in design to the Gtech AirRam, the Hoover Sprint is a hybrid between a stick vacuum and an upright. The main difference is in the battery life. You get a solid 50 minutes with the Sprint since there is the option to shut off the rotating brush.

Other nice features include a battery life indicator light. You can’t get caught unaware mid vacuum from the battery dying out on you when you can easily see how much life is left. Even a little detail like the canister cover being transparent so you can see if it is full is a nice touch.

The battery is a very strong 21V to power the cyclonic suction. This makes it ideal on just about any surface. Perfect for floors and carpets. It’s wide head also hoovers up a large area in one pass making clean up go much faster.

The rotating brush is good at beating the deep-down dirt out of the carpet, yet it is still gentle on hard floors.

All in all, if your cleaning needs are simple, you just want a good vacuum with a long runtime, then you will want to consider the Sprint. If you have more demanding cleaning needs, you may not meet them since there are no attachments. Just as I recommended with the AirRam, you will need to buy an accompanying handheld vacuum if you have upholstery or stairs to clean.

Folding 2-in-1 Upright and Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

This Ovation cordless lightweight vacuum is very similar in design and function to the Morphey Richards. It is lightweight and easy to use.

It also bends at the middle to get under furniture without the need to bend over and strain your back. It folds two ways in fact, so it can fold back down upon itself and store in a small space.

It doesn’t give you quite the runtime, hence its runner-up status, but at 30 minutes, that is still more than can be hoped for with some cordless models. There is a battery indicator light which helps take the guesswork about how much time your battery has left.

Bright LED lights make it easy to see if you have gotten all the dirt up. Also, the floor head is very wide making quick work of even large areas. Two speed controls also help preserve the battery. Use it on low for your average clean up and give it a turbo boost for when extra power is needed.

The handheld is also easy to use and can be enhanced with the crevice tool or upholstery brush.

The Ovation is a very versatile machine and quite a bargain at the price. Elderly and less able among us definitely will see the benefits of the features of this handy lightweight hoover.

HomeLife Handheld/Upright Hepa Vacuum

Good things come in small packages, as well as cheap!

You may have never heard of this Lloytron lightweight vacuum, but if you are on a budget, you will certainly appreciate it.

For a low price, you get a handy 2 in 1 convertible vacuum that can handle most of your average cleaning needs. It works well as an upright with a 600 watt motor for good suction.

That power comes at the expense of having a cord, however. If you don’t mind using a corded variety then you are rewarded by good suction, at least.

The handheld version has a crevice tool to get into the nooks and crannies of your furniture or stairs.

A nice bonus is to have a good HEPA filter on such a budget-friendly vacuum. Allergy sufferers don’t have to struggle through a clean up with dust making its way back into the air just for the sake of saving some money.

It’s also nice and quiet. Much more quiet than other vacuums with the same size motor.

There isn’t too much else to say about this cheap vacuum. If you aren’t expecting Dyson quality engineering and just want an economical way to keep your house tidy then I would say this fits the bill.

4 in 1 Corded Vacuum

If you are on a budget but want a good vacuum with a lot of convenient features, then you should look into the new stick hoover on the market.

The Aobosi name might not roll off the tongue but it is an extremely lightweight vacuum. The lightest of the vacuums that I have reviewed. And it has some nice features that you wouldn’t expect for the price.

For one, it is a stick vacuum that has a telescopic tube wand. This can help when you need to get up close to something without the vacuum getting unwieldy. Then it can scope out and get you to the hard to reach areas above your head.

The handheld version has a hose attachment which is ideal for getting into hard to reach areas without contorting yourself. This is a very handy addition when cleaning your car or getting into corners.

It includes a crevice tool, a round brush with soft bristles and a T-brush.

And it also features a washable HEPA filter for allergy sufferers or pet owners.

This may not be the highest-tech hoover you are likely to own, but it is a great budget option for people who still want all the bells and whistles, just at a great price.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for lightweight then you’re probably going to want to stay away from the big three brands, Shark, Dyson and Miele, they all make superb cleaning machines, but the great suction comes at the price of a bigger motor so they’re not the most lightweight.

That is unless you go for their cordless stick vacuums, or even corded stick vacuums, the Dyson V11, for instance, is a great choice but my god it’s expensive, maybe it’ll make the list in a few years. The shark also has lift-away technology to lift the body away, but the whole vacuum cleaner is 10kg so I thought it wasn’t quite light enough to make the list. Regardless, I hope this made buying a new vacuum that little bit easier so you can find the perfect balance of cleaning power and weight.

I’ve not got any robot vacuum cleaners here because I thought they were a different category, and an article on the best robot vacuums is inbound so stay tuned!

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