Expert Buyer’s Guide to the 9 Best RV Vacuums in 2022

Last Updated on February 21, 2022 by Chris and Lindsay

If you’re trying to keep your RV tidy while traveling and are looking for the best RV vacuums on the market, we’ve got you covered! In this post, we’ll share what to look for in a vacuum and provide you with our top recommendations – including the one we purchased ourselves!

Do you really need to add an RV vacuum to all the RV must-haves you’re already stowing away in your tiny home on the road? Probably not. With life on the road, there are always workarounds.

But is it incredibly convenient, time-saving and affordable to own one of the best RV vacuums? Absolutely.

In this post, we’ll walk you through some of the things you may want to consider when shopping for a great vacuum for your RV.

We’ll also give you our top recommendations and let you know how we came to the decision to make the purchase that we did to keep our camper clean.

Whether you have dogs, children or enjoy camping along the beach, desert or pretty much anywhere without pavement then you’re going to want to consider purchasing a vacuum.

How big and powerful and which other bells and whistles are going to depend on your personal preference. But owning a vacuum for your RV is a great decision to help keep you clean and comfortable.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This post may contain links to products we think you’ll like. If you purchase any of the products through the links below we’ll receive a small commission. As full-time RVers, we know our RV products well and only recommend those that we either own or would consider owning ourselves.

Our Honesty Disclaimer: In the course of living in our RV full time for over 4 years we have thoroughly researched all of these products before making the choice on our own. So we’ll give you honest information that allows you to make the best decision for which product is right for you.

Best Product // Our Top Picks at a Glance

The 9 Best RV Vacuums

The best RV vacuum is the one that meets your needs. Whether you want one that targets pet hair, is easy to store, easy to use and/or has different types of extras like HEPA filtration, motorized brush or a crevice tool for hard-to-reach places, we’ve got the best RV vacuum option for you on this list!

These are our top recommendations for keeping your RV as clean and organized as possible while you live on the road!

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BEST OVERALL: Shark CH951 UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Handheld Vacuum

As parents of 2 very furry dogs, we love that this vacuum cleaner comes with a motorized pet power brush that is self-cleaning, eliminating the chance of pet hair wrapping around the brush roll.

We really like that it also comes with handy tools to help you clean hard-to-reach and smaller spaces, which is great for those tight corners found in RVs! Each attachment serves its own purpose in helping you vacuum throw rugs or carpet, bare floors or crevasses.

On the downside, you are never really sure when the vacuum will run out of power and it can take up to 6 hours to fully recharge. We’re also not fans of this generation model that requires the separate purchase of a charging dock.

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RUNNER UP: Shark Rocket Ultra-Light with TruePet HV292

We really like that the Shark Rocket comes with fantastic attachments like the 12” crevice tool, true pet motorized brush, dusting brush and an extended reach stretch hose. It also comes with a washable filter, you will never have to replace it for the life of the vacuum.

On the downside, we’re not fans of vacuums that come with a power cord simply because power in an RV is precious. It only requires 400 watts of power, which should work from an inverter with most RV power systems.

But the 15-foot power cord is definitely a drawback to the simplicity of RV living. Otherwise, the unlimited suction power is a great feature for a small to mid-sized travel trailer or motorhome.

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BEST PREMIUM VACUUM: Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

We also like that there are variable suction speeds so you can crank up the suction for harder-to-reach areas or when dealing with pet fur. And the Dyson V8 Animal is great because you can transform it from a stick vacuum to a handheld vacuum providing you the best of both worlds.

On the downside, recharging may take up to 4 hours so you’ll likely want to recharge between jobs so you’re not stuck without vacuum power anytime down the road.

And while this vacuum is the most expensive on our list, it’s worth it to know you have one of the most powerful and best vacuum cleaners on the market!

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RUNNER UP STICK VACUUM: Tineco A10 Hero Cordless Stick/Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

When you’re finished cleaning just set the Tineco A10 in its convenient docking station to charge. The station also organizes the accessories that come with the vacuum.

On the downside, if you use it on the higher power mode you will only get around 7 minutes of cleaning done between charges. And it may take up to 3 hours to fully recharge.

But this is a great alternative to the pricier Dyson V8 Animal as it virtually does the same thing for almost half the price!

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BUDGET STICK VACUUM: Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum

Even though it’s small and very budget-friendly it still packs an incredibly large punch when it comes to cleaning up stubborn messes and because it is small it’s great for smaller campers.

Of course, we also love the price point with this vacuum. But the lower cost does come with some downsides.

The biggest negative is that it does require a 110V AC power source to fire up. But it runs on only 240 watts, which should work with most RV powers systems that have a decent battery bank and inverter.

We also don’t like that the power cord is only 15 feet in length. This can be an inconvenience if you have to plug it directly into your inverter or have a larger travel trailer or motorhome.

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BUDGET HANDHELD VACUUM: Black + decker 20V Max Handheld Vacuum

We like that you get about as much suction as you can get in a compact-sized vacuum at this lower price point. It may not be the best overall. But for those full-time RVers on a strict budget, this is not a bad deal at all.

On the downside, some of the plastic pieces can break fairly easily. And moreover, it seems like Black & Decker planned to have replaceable batteries for seamless vacuuming. You can easily remove the vacuum battery. But they fail to sell the replacement battery!

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RUNNER UP BUDGET HANDHELD: Shark WANDVAC Handheld Vacuum

It also comes with two great tools; the duster crevice tool to clean up messes in hard-to-reach places and the multi-surface pet tool to clean carpet and suck up pet hair.

When you’re done cleaning just set the vacuum in its convenient charging dock and it’ll be ready to tackle any future messes in no time!

But on the downside, it has a very short battery life (under 10 minutes) and it does not hold much dirt so you will have to empty it on a regular basis.

Still, for the low price and compact size, this is a great pick for those RVers who don’t want their vacuum to take up much storage space.

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BEST BUILT-IN VACUUM: Dirt Devil Central Vacuum

We really like that it comes with a 7’ to 35’ expandable hose and plenty of tools to help you clean your RV efficiently and with a large 1 gallon collection container you won’t have to empty the contents often.

On the downside, the installation is going to be a bit tricky depending on your RV setup. And you will need to keep extra vacuum bags on hand. You’re also going to need a 110V power source to run this system.

But owners rave about how easy it is to use and if you’re in the market for a built-in vacuum system, this is the best you’ll find for your RV!

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BEST UPRIGHT VACUUM: Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum

We are also fans of the fact that it has a fantastic HEPA filtration system with anti-allergen complete seal technology that captures 99.9% of dust, so if you have allergies then this vacuum is a must-have!

On the downside, of course, is the 110V power requirement and the bulky size and weight of the vacuum itself. But if you think you need an RV vacuum as powerful as this, you can’t go wrong with this option from Shark.

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What to consider when shopping for an RV Vacuum

Shopping for anything these days can be difficult. But finding the best RV vacuum should be relatively simple if you know what features you want.

Without spending too much time describing the obvious benefits of owning a vacuum system for your RV, let’s get into the things you’ll want to consider when it comes to different features of a vacuum.

After all, not all of our RV living needs are the same so there’s a best RV vacuum for every situation!

Types of RV Vacuums

The first thing you’re going to want to consider is what type of RV vacuum cleaner do you want. To figure this out, there are really just 4 options (with variations).

Central Vacuum System

A central vacuum system is one in which the vacuum unit is installed within the walls of the RV as a semi-permanent structure. There is a ducting system of hoses that transports dirt and dust to a central collection container.

Depending on the complexity of the central vacuum system, you may have hoses and accessories that will allow you to reach difficult places.

This is a more expensive vacuum cleaner option. But it gives you the flexibility of being able to clean your RV room by room without carrying or stowing away parts.

Upright/Canister Vacuums

An upright or canister vacuum is the traditional vacuum that you may already own and use around your home. These are bulkier than handheld vacuums, but they also tend to have more suction power and are typically easy to empty.

But they will require a 110V power source and a fair amount of space for storage.

Sweeper or Stick Vacuum

A sweeper or stick vacuum is as it sounds. These are modified upright vacuums that take up much less space but also offer reduced suction power.

Benefits of these include taking up less storage space. Plus you have the option of finding either a cordless vacuum or one with a power cord.

An added benefit is that you do not have to bend over to reach most floor spaces and there are a variety of accessories that will help you with pet hair, upholstery and crevices.

Handheld Vacuums

Handheld vacuums are perhaps the best option for RV owners because they take up little space, are battery powered and typically contain accessories that allow you to reach virtually any space in your RV.

As the name suggests, these are compact and lightweight vacuums that stow away easily. Some drawbacks to handheld vacuums is that they do not have as much suction power as other vacuums, tend to have short battery life and you often have to sweep an area first because it is difficult to vacuum an entire floor with one.

But these are by far our favorite and most recommended vacuums for RV owners.

Size/Portability

As we’ve referenced already, different vacuums take up different amounts of space in your RV. Regardless of what type of RV you own and how much space you think you have, you know that storage space is a premium.

If vacuuming is that important to you then you can afford a larger more powerful model. But if you value a compact vacuum that is easy to stow and grab then keep portability in mind.

Collection capacity

Depending on how frequently you use your vacuum you may or may not be concerned about it’s collection capacity. Clearly the smaller the vacuum the less collection capacity you will find.

But you don’t necessarily have to invest in a larger canister vacuum either. We’d recommend you find the vacuum that fits your other needs first and focus on remembering to empty the canister after every use.

Ease of use

Ease of use is important when you’re juggling so many other aspects of RV life. And while most RV vacuum options are relatively simple and easy to use, some do come with bells and whistles.

Filters need to be cleaned and replaced. Adapter accessories and hoses need to be installed and later stored. Batteries need to be maintained.

There are lots of different factors that can impact your purchase decision when it comes to ease of use. For us, when it comes to selecting an RV vacuum cleaner the simpler the better.

We prefer a cordless hand vacuum nearly every day of the week.

Power consumption/Power Source

When you live in an RV power source and consumption must constantly be on your mind. This is particularly important for RV vacuums, as they can draw a lot of power.

If you decide to purchase an RV vacuum with a power cord you will need to remember that you must either be plugged into 120v shore power or you must have a battery bank and inverter large enough to support the high power needs of the vacuum.

This is perfectly fine if you spend most of your time in formal campgrounds. But if you tend to camp off-grid and are mindful of your power consumption, you’re likely going to want to look for an RV vacuum that is battery-powered so that you can charge it when you have a reliable 120v power source or an inverter.

Noise level

This isn’t a huge factor as vacuum cleaners are known for not being quiet (Rumba aside!). But if noise levels are a concern you’re going to want to look into how loud or quiet the vacuum is.

Personally we do not generally notice the difference in noise levels between different vacuums. But you may.

Cordless / Corded (Battery Life) 

Our most important factor in our personal purchase preference was in having a cordless handheld vacuum with as much battery life as was reasonable. If you do not opt for a battery-powered RV vacuum then this factor will not apply.

However, if you do go cordless (stick or handheld) then battery life is important.

One of the worst things that can happen when it comes to cleaning your RV is to be in the middle of cleaning up a big mess only to have the battery die on you! We tend to charge our vacuum battery at every opportunity after using it.

That way we know it is alway charged. We also try to clean up a little bit every few days so that our vacuum is not needed for big jobs all of the time.

Suction

Like noise level, suction power is a factor that may or may not be important to you as most vacuums these days offer relatively the same suction, within reasonable variance.

Unless you have lots of carpet in your RV, or you lean toward owning a wet and dry vacuum, suction is likely not going to vary that much between RV vacuum cleaner options.

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