I tested a whole bunch of vacuums, and these are the best lightweight options

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I tested a whole bunch of vacuums, and these are the best lightweight options Features By Ruth Hamilton published 27 November 2025

Light in weight, but these vacs still pack a punch

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(Image credit: Future)

If you're cleaning in nooks and crannies or up and down stairs, you'll appreciate a lightweight vacuum that's easy to maneuver. I'm TechRadar's Homes Editor for floorcare, and I've tested vacuum cleaners of all shapes, sizes, and weights, including a recent mega group test to find the best cordless vacuum on the market.

Based on my experiences, my #1 lightweight vacuum recommendation is the Shark Detect Pro. This vac is almost absurdly light and very compact – in handheld mode it's teeny-tiny. Unfortunately, Shark rather unhelpfully seems to be discontinuing it, so it's hard to get hold of, although I have found one listing in the US. (Note, too: Shark has lots of similarly-named vacuums, so beware impostors.)

Which brings me to my second lightweight recommendation: Dreame R20. It's a smidge heavier than the Detect Pro but still impressively light – thanks in part to a featherweight carbon fiber wand. It's also extremely nimble and easy to maneuver, and delivers better cleaning than the Detect Pro, too.

Before I get into more detail about these two lightweight vacuums, a quick note about buying. We're in the midst of the Black Friday sales, and there are especially strong vacuum deals. Take a look at the best prices below.

Today's best deals

For more bargains, head to my round-up of the best Black Friday vacuum deals.

US dealSave US$152Dreame R20 cordless: was US$299.99 now US$147.99 at Amazon

There's over $150 off the Dreame R20 in the US, which is a 51% mark-down on sticker price, and a new lowest-ever price for this vacuum. The R20 is an excellent all-rounder that'll suit most people's needs – it's lightweight and nimble, with useful automatic suction adjustment and plenty of well-designed detail tools.

View DealUK dealSave £52.85Dreame R20 cordless: was £239 now £186.15 at Amazon

There's over £50 off the R20 cordless, which takes it to a new lowest-ever price. This vacuums is lightweight and comfortable to use, with effective cleaning and useful extra features, such as automatic suction adjustment. A very impressive all-rounder, for a very affordable price.

View DealUS dealSave US$66Shark Detect Pro: was US$290 now US$224 at Walmart

There's $66 off the Detect Pro at Walmart, which is a very decent discount. It looks like Shark might be discontinuing the Detect Pro, because I can't find it available anywhere else – so it might be worth snapping it up while you can.

View Deal

Shark Detect Pro and Dreame R20: what you need to know

The Detect Pro is extremely lightweight and svelte, even for a cordless stick vacuum. It's also very comfortable to use, thanks to a rubberized grip and shaping on the handle. With the wands and main floorheads attached, the Detect Pro and R20 are a very similar weight, but in handheld mode the Detect Pro is much lighter. That's partly due to a smaller dust cup (beware: it really is rather small, and will need regular emptying).

You'll switch the Shark Detect Pro on and off using a one-press button on the main part of the machine – it's not reachable from the handle, so you'll have to have your other hand free at all times, which can be a little annoying.

This vacuum achieved decent scores in my cleaning tests on medium-pile carpet and hard floors, although it struggled with pet hair and deep-pile carpet. As a very general rule of thumb, the heavier the vacuum, the more suction it tends to have, and I wouldn't recommend either of these lightweight vacs to homes with tough cleaning challenges – my best vacuum ranking has plenty of alternatives.

(Image credit: Future)

Moving on to the Dreame R20. This vacuum earned the best overall score in my group test, and is a very strong all-rounder. It lacks the padding and shaping that made the Detect Pro such a dream (no pun intended) to use, but on the plus side you won't need to keep a hand free to turn it on and off, because there's a trigger. Dreame has also added a button to lock the machine for continual running when needed.

The cleaning performance was good too, earning decent scores across the board in my suction tests. I was especially impressed with how well the mini motorized tool cleared pet hair from a velvet cushion. A potential bonus is the addition of a second, soft head that'll buff and clean hard flooring without risking potential scratches.

(Image credit: Future)Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell - Column 0

Shark Detect Pro

Dreame R20

Weight (w/ wand and main floorhead):

6 lbs / 2.72kg

6.04 lbs / 2.74kg

Weight (no attachments):

2.82 lbs / 1.28kg

3.84 lbs / 1.74kg

Main floorhead width:

10.43 in / 26.5cm

10.16 in / 25.8cm

Bin capacity:

0.4L

0.6 L

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. TOPICS Black Friday Ruth HamiltonSocial Links NavigationHomes Editor

Ruth is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in air (vacuum cleaners, fans, air purifiers), and hair (hair dryers, straighteners and stylers). She has been in consumer journalism since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and wellness gadgets, with stints on Tom's Guide and T3.

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