Having a pool is a luxury, but also a big responsibility. You need to devote time to regular maintenance and cleaning. Of course, that requires the proper tools.
Pools need to be vacuumed often. If you’re in the market for one of the best handheld pool vacuums, we have 10 recommendations for a range of purposes. With this list, you’ll find one that suits you and your pool best.
- Water tech P30 motor
- Great for spacious pools
- Debris capture ability
- Cordless design
- Two head options
- 45-minute run time
- Quick release chamber
- Extra-large dirt chamber
- Small but mighty
- Versatile use
- Two brush heads
- Telescoping pole
- Alternating suction and discharge
- 1200 watt motor
- Range of attachments
- Cleans stains
- Nylon net bag
- Bottom brushes
- Connects to the garden hose
- Fine mesh bag
- Easy to transport
- Works with any garden hose
- Captures small particles
- Cleans quickly
- Removable flapper
- Adjustable hose
- Works on a variety of materials
- Picks up small particles like sand & silt
- Long run time
- Traps dirt well
Is a Handheld Pool Cleaner Worth It?
We think so. They’re not super expensive, but they can often do a better job. Rather than a robotic vacuum or a self-cleaning system, you’re in control of the specific dirt you pick up to make sure you’ve gotten every last spec.
How to Choose the Best Handheld Pool Vacuum
When shopping for a handheld pool vacuum, there are important factors to consider to make sure you’re choosing one that will tick all your boxes.
Weight
Since you’re going to be operating this by hand, you need to make sure that the weight is suitable for you. If it’s too heavy, it will be hard to operate.
Power Source
Handheld pool vacuums are available with a range of power sources. Some are battery powered, some are attached to a garden hose, some use suction from the pool, and some are manual. Make sure you have the appropriate setup for the vacuum you’re considering.
Pool Type
Not all pool vacuums are suitable for every pool type. Whether you have an above-ground pool, in-ground pool, jacuzzi, kiddie pool or something else, you’ll need to check if the vacuum is suitable for your pool.
Budget
Pool vacuums are available in a huge range of prices. Some are less than $20 and others are nearly $1000! So you should narrow down your budget first and look for something within your desired price range.
Type of Debris
Last but not least, consider what type of debris the pool vacuum cleans up. If you have a lot of sand or algae, for example, you’ll need to choose one that can tackle this kind of mess.
The Best Handheld Pool Vacuums of 2021
We’ve waded through many pool vacuums on the market and narrowed it down to the best handheld options. With hours of research into customer reviews, expert advice and product descriptions, we’re confident you’ll find something perfect for your pool.
Here are the best handheld pool vacuums on the market.
1. Pool Blaster Max Pool-Cleaner
Long cords can get in the way when you’re trying to do the laborious task of cleaning your pool. This Pool Blaster Max cleaner is completely cordless so you can maneuver it with ease.
Just because it’s cordless doesn’t mean it has poor battery life. Between four-hour charges, you’ll get 60 minutes of hose-free cleaning time. This is a pretty impressive setup, in our opinion.
Why We Love It
Water Tech P30 Motor
The Water Tech P30 motor helps with great suction power. It’s been designed for quick and efficient debris cleanup in literally any size pool.
Great for Spacious Pools
While handheld pool vacuums can often be on the smaller side, this one is designed for any size pools. The 10.5-inch vacuum head and brush are designed to clean large or small pools quickly. Get the job done and dive right back in the water!
Debris Capture Ability
This vacuum can catch a lot of debris. The large debris chamber and strong suction means that every bit of dirt and gunk in your pool can be sucked up. This includes acorns, twigs and leaves, as well as sand, silt and pollen, thanks to the bag and filter feature.
Keep In Mind
Short Lifetime
Some customers had this vacuum for many years, while others said theirs only lasted a few months. Check the warranty for reassurance and keep in mind that it doesn’t seem to have the longest lifespan.
Sends Debris Back Into the Pool
The opening valve is a common sore spot for some customers. They found that the vacuum would occasionally spit the debris out of the chamber and back into the pool.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 5.5 pounds |
| Power Source | Battery powered, rechargeable |
| Pool Type | Any |
| Type of Debris | Acorns, twigs, leaves, dirt and sand |
| Price | High |
2. Pool Blaster Catfish Ultra Cleaner
If you have a lot of sand in your pool that’s making each swim a little unpleasant, then we recommend this vacuum cleaner. The Pool Blaster Catfish Ultra is designed to capture a range of debris. This includes acorns, twigs, leaves, dirt and sand.
Is your pool in need of a deep clean? With this well-loved product, you’ll be super impressed with the results.
Why We Love It
Cordless Design
We love the cordless design on this pool vacuum. You can simply charge up the battery and then use it without any wires or cords getting in your way.
Two Head Options
You can use the 10.5-inch head to quickly clean the whole floor area of the pool. Or you can take it off and use the vacuum with the nozzle. This is great for getting into tight corners and hard to reach places.
45-Minute Run Time
The long run time gives you enough flexibility to deep clean the whole pool before needing to put the vacuum back to charge.
Keep In Mind
Telescoping Handle Not Included
Unfortunately, the telescoping handle isn’t included. So if you have a bigger pool and would benefit from the telescoping handle, you’ll need to buy it separately.
Needs to Be Emptied Often
The debris tank can quickly fill up which means you may need to empty it a few times while cleaning. This is especially useful if picking up large bits of dirt like leaves and twigs.
Additional Specs
| Weight | N/A |
| Power Source | Battery powered, rechargeable |
| Pool Type | Any |
| Type of Debris | Acorns, twigs, leaves, dirt and sand |
| Price | High |
3. Pool Blaster Water Tech Pulse Cleaner
This handheld electric pool vacuum runs on a lithium ion battery. With the 45-minute life between charges, it gives you plenty of time to deep clean your pool.
It looks like a traditional upright canister vacuum. The long pole is included so you just need to submerge it in the water, turn it on, and vacuum like you do with your indoor floors!
You can also just use the smaller handheld section for cleaning in more detail. This is great for the pool steps or shallow hot tubs.
Why We Love It
Quick Release Chamber
The debris chamber has a dual-cam lever connection which makes it super easy to empty between cleanings. It’s important to keep the tank emptied as this improves suction power.
XL Dirt Chamber
The extra large dirt chamber provides tons of room for all kinds of dirt and debris that you’ll find in your pool. This includes acorns, twigs, leaves, sand and more.
Small but Mighty
You may be a bit surprised when this arrives as the head is quite small. But customers actually ended up loving that as it helped with hard-to-reach spots, like behind pool stairs. While it may take a while to cover the whole pool ground, it does a fantastic job.
Keep In Mind
Problems Removing From the Water
One of the biggest issues with this device is when you remove it from the water. If you don’t quickly move it over the ground or grass, then the debris easily falls back into the pool. This is inconvenient, but isn’t a huge drawback for the most satisfied customers. Just a character quirk to the vacuum!
Takes a While
While the small head can be an advantage, it also means it takes a while to vacuum the pool. Therefore, we do recommend this for smaller pools. Otherwise, you’ll be vacuuming for a while!
Additional Specs
| Weight | N/A |
| Power Source | Battery powered, rechargeable |
| Pool Type | Any (but best for smaller pools) |
| Type of Debris | Acorns, twigs, leaves, dirt and sand |
| Price | High |
4. Intex Rechargeable Handheld Vacuum
This vacuum has strong built-in rechargeable batteries that help to give it a powerful suction ability. You can easily charge this up with a USB port, too. When it’s been taken out of the pool, it automatically turns off which gives you peace of mind.
The long pole gives you flexibility and room to get into every inch of your pool. You can be sure that no dirt and debris is left behind.
Why We Love It
Versatile Use
You can use this across a range of pools and spas. It’s suitable with all pure spas and any above ground pools up to 18 feet in diameter.
Two Brush Heads
This comes with two interchangeable brush heads. One is great for the bottom of the pool since it has a flat triangular shape. The other is smaller, like a vacuum nozzle attachment. It’s ideal for going up the sides and into corners.
Telescoping Pole
This comes with a long 94-inch telescoping aluminum pole. The length makes it great for larger pools, since you can now reach the middle without problems. On the other hand, the aluminum is nice and sturdy, so it will last a while.
Keep In Mind
Low Suction
This pool vacuum does not have the highest suction power around. If your pool is under a tree, for example, and is subject to a lot of big debris, then you may need something a bit more powerful.
Also, watch out, as some customers reported that the head falls off sometimes and spits debris back into the water.
Not Durable
The motor for this isn’t durable. Many customers reported theirs died after a few weeks. Charging it up seemed to make no difference. We recommend checking the warranty before purchasing to make sure this kind of damage is covered.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 7.09 pounds |
| Power Source | Battery powered, rechargeable |
| Pool Type | Above ground pools and spas, up to 18’ in diameter |
| Type of Debris | General dirt and debris |
| Price | Medium |
5. Oase Pondovac Classic Pond Vacuum Cleaner
Algae can ruin your pool, make it look unsightly and be very dangerous to swim in (1). Whether you have algae in your pond or pool, we recommend getting rid of the problem with the Oase Pondovac Classic.
The vacuum comes with a range of nozzle attachments. These are really useful at getting rid of all sorts of dirt, including string algae.
Why We Love It
Alternating Suction and Discharge
This vacuum has a single chamber suction system. It automatically alternates between suction and draining which means you don’t need to do it manually. When the chamber is full, it automatically empties it.
1200 Watt Motor
This vacuum has a powerful 1200-watt motor which has a maximum suction height of six feet. If your pool is deeper than that, you may need to choose a different type of vacuum cleaner. However, the strong suction and flexibility makes cleaning ponds and pools quick and easy.
Range of Attachments
The wide range of attachments make cleaning specific messes easier than ever before. Whether you’re cleaning algae from a pond or debris from a pool, the attachments can help.
Keep In Mind
Automatic Drainage
While this is a pro, it can also be a drawback. If the tank is full while you’re still vacuuming, and the automatic drainage turns on, it can spill all the dirt back into your pool. Yuck!
Clogs Easily
The filter can easily get clogged, especially with larger debris like stones and pebbles. If you have pebbles around your pond area, then you may be in trouble with this product.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 23.5 pounds |
| Power Source | Power cord |
| Pool Type | Ponds and pools |
| Type of Debris | Algae, sludge and other soft debris |
| Price | High |
6. PoolWhale Portable Pool Vacuum
This budget-friendly vacuum is designed for above-ground pools, as well as spas, ponds and fountains. So give your backyard water features a deep clean with this handy vacuum.
All you need to do is connect it to your garden hose, submerge it under the water and you’re good to go. The pressure from the hose will create suction to pull in dirt and debris into the attached bag.
Why We Love It
It Cleans Stains
True, the water pressure picks up and collects dirt and debris. But the suction can also help remove stains from the bottom of your pool.
Nylon Net Bag
The large nylon net bag has a fine mesh design to contain all types of dirt, even fine pieces of dirt and debris. It even has a buckle to secure the bag to the device.
Bottom Brushes
The bottom head of the vacuum has brushes to help with attracting dirt and debris. The two pulleys help to pull up dirt quickly, saving you time and energy.
Keep In Mind
Fills Your Pool
With any item that uses a hose to suction up dirt, you run the risk of filling up your pool even more. The water from the hose can quickly increase the water level in your pool or hot tub.
Flimsy Pole
The pole’s material is flimsy and cheap. This makes it hard to maneuver and push the vacuum around the pool’s floor.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 1.2 pounds |
| Power Source | Garden hose |
| Pool Type | Above ground pool, spa, hot tub and fountain |
| Type of Debris | General dirt, including small pieces |
| Price | Low |
7. Pool Supply Town Vacuum Cleaner
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a pool vacuum cleaner, you don’t have to.
Of course, the more money you spend, the higher quality the product. But this affordable vacuum cleaner still has fantastic reviews!
It’s designed for all kinds of bodies of water.
This includes above-ground and inflatable pools, spas, hot tubs, ponds, and waterfalls.
Keep in Mind
Why We Love It
Connects to the Garden Hose
This has good suction power since it uses the pressure from your garden hose to work. The water pressure will create a venturi effect which draws debris from the pool into the collection bag. There’s no electric power required or a pump-filter.
Fine Mesh Bag
The fine mesh bag is double layered which we love. The structure means it’s great for picking up small particles like sand, pebbles, leaves, dirt as well as bigger bits of debris.
Easy to Transport
Because of the lightweight and portable design, it’s super easy to take this to a range of water bodies across your backyard. Whether you’re cleaning your pond, hot tub or above ground pool, it’s simple to clean up all messes with this device.
Keep In Mind
Maybe Too Lightweight
While the lightweight design is a pro point because it makes it easy to transport, it’s also a drawback. The water pressure from your garden hose will be pretty strong. But with the lightweight vacuum, this often means the pole becomes bent or the bag floats upwards.
Poor Durability
Because of the low price, the quality is quite cheap. So keep in mind that it’s not the most durable product and may not last longer than a year.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 12 ounces |
| Power Source | Garden hose |
| Pool Type | Above ground pool, hot tub, pond, waterfall |
| Type of Debris | General dirt, including small pieces |
| Price | Low |
8. Hydrotools Pool and Spa Venturi Vacuum
You don’t need to invest money in the most high end product if you’re just cleaning out your kiddie pools.
This vacuum is perfect for small pools. However, because it uses pressure from the garden hose, it may fill up the pool a bit. So we recommend emptying some water beforehand so you don’t cause an overflow.
As well as kiddie pools, you can use this for larger above-ground pools, too.
Why We Love It
Works With Any Garden Hose
Setting up this pool vacuum is super easy. You can attach it to any garden hose, submerge it in water, turn the water on and then watch the Venturi effect begin. This will cause pressure and create suction to pull up dirt and debris.
Captures Small Particles
The fine mesh bag is really useful for capturing and trapping small particles, like sand, dirt and stones. You can remove the bag to clean it out afterwards.
Cleans Quickly
One huge advantage among customers was how quickly they cleaned their pool with this vacuum. A large above ground pool only took 30 minutes, with smaller ones taking as little as five minutes.
Keep In Mind
Flimsy Pole
The included pole is pretty flimsy. Many people noticed that it broke off or bent during use, creating a pretty frustrating cleaning routine.
Not for Large Pools
While you can use this for average above ground pool sizes, it’s not intended for large pools or in ground pools.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 1.2 pounds |
| Power Source | Garden hose |
| Pool Type | Above ground and kiddie pools |
| Type of Debris | General dirt and debris, including small pieces |
| Price | Low |
9. XtremepowerUS Climb Wall Pool Cleaner
If you’re after a heavy-duty vacuum, then this climb wall pool cleaner is one to consider. It has a horsepower of one, so long as you plug it into a 1 HP pump.
From there on, it will do a great job at deep cleaning your pool.
You can use this with in-ground and above-ground pools.
The coolest thing about it is that it climbs the walls of your pool and cleans them as well, which can often be ignored with handheld cleaners.
Keep in Mind
Why We Love It
Removable Flapper
The removable flapper makes it easier than ever to clean out the hose. Now, you can easily remove debris from inside to prevent clogs. Just unscrew the piffle plate, pull it out, remove the flapper and pull out any debris.
Adjustable Hose
You can adjust the hose length by adding or removing extra hose sections. This cleaner is designed for reaching all ends of the pool. That way, you can achieve a deep clean without a huge hassle.
Works on a Variety of Materials
This vacuum cleans and removes stains on a variety of floor materials. This will work on concrete, tile, vinyl, and fiberglass pools.
Keep In Mind
Subject to Erosion
The vacuum is subject to erosion from typical pool chemicals. Therefore, you must clean the vacuum after every use and never store it in the pool. Make sure it dries thoroughly between uses.
Not for Leaves
This product can clean a lot of different messes, but not leaves. So if that’s the main source of mess in your pool, we recommend a different product.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 12 pounds |
| Power Source | Connects to a pool pump |
| Pool Type | In ground and above ground |
| Type of Debris | Algae, dirt and dust |
| Price | High |
10. Water Tech Pool Blaster Aqua Broom
Do you want a pool vacuum that can do more than just vacuum your in-ground pool? Well this is one to consider. It’s made for spas, hot tubs, in ground pools, above ground pools and soft sided pools. So no matter what you have, this Aqua Broom can help deliver a deep clean!
Why We Love It
Deep Clean
Besides the general dirt and debris, this device can also get small particles like sand and silt. You’ll be super impressed by its accuracy and attention to detail.
Long Run Time
On one charge, this device can run up to three hours. That’s ages! So if you have a lot of things to vacuum, then this can do a range of tasks in one charge.
Traps Dirt Well
This vacuum traps dirt better than a lot of other pool vacuums. It won’t spit it back into the pool, so you’re safe from that gross regurgitation that some pool vacuums do.
Keep In Mind
Turn-On Design Faulty
While the design is really simple — you just turn the head to switch the power on — it can be hard to do so. Some people struggle to do it at all, whereas others found it too easy. They may accidentally nudge it on when they are charging or assembling it. Plus, if you twist it too far, you can pull the whole head off!
Suction Deteriorates
When you first go to use this product, the suction is good. But the more dirt and debris you collect, the worse the suction gets until you empty it again.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 2.8 pounds |
| Power Source | Rechargeable battery |
| Pool Type | Any |
| Type of Debris | Dirt, debris, sand, slit |
| Price | Medium |
| Product | Best | Weight | Power Source | Pool Type | Type of Debris |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pool Blaster Max | Cordless | 5.5 lbs | Battery powered, rechargeable | Any | Acorns, twigs, leaves, dirt & sand |
| Pool Blaster Catfish | For Sand | N/A | Battery powered, rechargeable | Any | Acorns, twigs, leaves, dirt & sand |
| Pool Blaster Water | Electric | N/A | Battery powered, rechargeable | Any (but best for smaller pools) | Acorns, twigs, leaves, dirt & sand |
| Intex Rechargeable | Battery | 7.09 lbs | Battery powered, rechargeable | Above ground pools & spas, up to 18’ in diameter | General dirt & debris |
| Oase Pondovac Classic | For Algae | 23.5 lbs | Power cord | Ponds & pools | Algae, sludge & other soft debris |
| PoolWhale Portable | Above Ground | 1.2 lbs | Garden hose | Above ground pool, spa, hot tub & fountain | General dirt, including small pieces |
| Pool Supply Town | Budget | 12 oz | Garden hose | Above ground pool, hot tub, pond, waterfall | General dirt, including small pieces |
| Hydrotools Pool and Spa | For Kiddie Pools | 1.2 lbs | Garden hose | Above ground & kiddie pools | General dirt & debris, including small pieces |
| XtremepowerUS Climb Wall | Heavy Duty | 12 lbs | Connects to a pool pump | In ground & above ground | Algae, dirt & dust |
| Water Tech Pool Blaster | Versatile | 2.8 lbs | Rechargeable battery | Any | Dirt, debris, sand, slit |
How Often Should You Run a Pool Vacuum?
We recommend vacuuming your pool once a week, or any time you notice a lot of dirt or build-up. Maintenance is key to a great pool experience.
Time to Swim Again
With these best handheld pool vacuums, your pool will be clean and free of debris. Time to jump in and enjoy a swim once again!
When shopping for a handheld pool vacuum, remember to consider the top details. This includes how heavy the vacuum is, what kind of power source it uses, what type of pool it’s for and what type of debris it can clean.
Last but not least, check the price. Handheld pool vacuums are available in a range of prices, so you’ll find something to suit your budget.
