Best Vacuums for Dorm Rooms

Dorm LifeWhen you have a college student moving into a dorm, you are going to want them to have a proper vacuum for cleaning up messes (yes, many students DO actually vacuum…haha!)

It’s funny because many times, a lot of the college students end up inheriting the old family vacuum. While this is fine to save money, many times this isn’t an option, and it’s actually best to have a more slim  and light-weight model to work with in a dorm room. This is both cheaper and more fitting for a dorm.

When it’s all said and done, the very best vacuum for a dorm room is…

an electric broom like this one.


Tips For Finding The Best Vacuums For Dorm Rooms

There are definitely some great “dorm room” vacuums out there (you can see all the top-rated dorm vacuums here). When you are considering what vacuum to buy, you should definitely be looking at reviews online. If you see many customers saying for instance that a certain model of vacuum falls apart easily or doesn’t work properly, then you’re going to want to stay away from that model. One bad review doesn’t hold much weight, but a trend speaks for itself. On the flip side, you want to pay attention to good reviews as well.

Above all, be sure to read reviews from real users to get a good feel of the vacuum BEFORE you purchase it.

Below are the current best-rated vacuum cleaners for dorm rooms and small spaces (like apartments). They each have a lot of reviews and feedback from real users so feel free to click thru and read what others have to say.


See what vacuums any other family or friends have used, and that can be a big help. If this situation presents itself to you, then you can go with advice that you trust here. Of course, it has to be recent advice and not from 20 years ago. Chances are, that model will no longer be available!

You also want to see what roommate situation is going to occur when your son or daughter moves into the dorm. Sometimes they might not have a roommate, and other times there is even more than one. The roommate might bring a vacuum and already have one. This can save you money on the purchase, or you might find out you would rather pack one with your kid anyway.

You can also think in terms of Swiffers or Sweepers to help add something that might not be already supplied by the roommate.

(note: this cordless Swiffer vacuum is GREAT for hardwood/non-carpeted floors)

The best idea for a dorm is a vacuum that is handheld. Even better, a wet/dry handheld (think of all the spills that happen in dorm rooms!) Of course this piece of advice alone doesn’t make your decision because there are many different brands and models of all sizes and weights in this category as well as different price points.

It should be a no-brainer that you’re getting a bagless vacuum, but just in case you accidentally get wrapped up in the decision and fail to see this, it needs to be pointed out. You want to make things as easy and simple on your college student as possible. When considering the best vacuums for dorm rooms, everything involved in using the vacuum should be user-friendly and quick and easy.

In a dorm room, there is not much open space but instead space where you have to go around different things. This can present tight corners and little nooks where you need a smaller head on a vacuum to reach properly. Either that, or you need a big vacuum with a hose attachment. Now, it’s been mentioned that you don’t want a big vacuum so there is not going to be a hose attachment. How do you solve this problem? Well, many of the stick models shed parts and become a dust vacuum that can pick stuff up in corners. However, on top of this, you’re not going to want to have to crawl around everywhere on the floor. Therefore, you need to also make sure when the vacuum is fully put together and functional that the head is small enough or has a swivel to where it can fit itself in tight corners. That makes it to where you only have to condense down to dust vac on occasions.


Cordless vacuums present really portable and space-saving options. However, they cost a little more. Still, depending on the specific situation, this can be a great option for your kid. Since you’re covering such a small space, it doesn’t have to hold its charge long, but that doesn’t mean you want to get a cheap model. You still want a quality model that is long-lasting.

When choosing the best vacuums for dorm rooms, you want to think about all the tips that have been mentioned in this article. While it may seem like it is easy to choose a vacuum, you don’t want to forget the things mentioned here that many people often forget about. You want a vacuum that your college student is going to be comfortable with and that can withstand a little abuse. It needs to be something that will easily be used properly as well.

More Dorm Room Accessories

Here are some more fun and useful products for your dorm room.


Still undecided about which vacuum to get for that dorm room?

Click here to see the top-rated vacuums that college students really want

photo by: borman818