This Compact Dorm Vacuum Is Perfect for “Storing in Tight Places” (Students Love It!)

See all the dorm must-haves — from mattress toppers to storage — that real college students swear by for making your space cozy and functional. Check out the full list of Dorm Therapy Awards 2025 winners!

Even if you keep your dorm organized, your room is likely going to get a lot messier than you think — especially the floors! When you have limited square footage, your dorm floor becomes extra seating, a place to stretch out, and even a place to eat your snacks and meals. So you’ll definitely want to see students’ recommendations for the best dorm vacuum to make sure you clean up the messes of daily life.

Buying a vacuum isn’t the most exciting part of your dorm shopping trip, but it is a necessary one. Thankfully, it also doesn’t need to be a big investment, as evidenced by this affordable, versatile option that was the top pick for students. 

Dorm Therapy is dedicated to helping students at every point of their college experience, and that includes shopping for their dorms! We’re a website powered by real college student contributors (who have recently experienced dorm living) and experienced editors, creating service-first content about navigating life at school and sharing vetted product recommendations for dorms and college apartments.

We went straight to the source to determine our winners for the Dorm Therapy Awards 2025, surveying more than 360 college students and recent grads to learn about their absolute favorite products they used in their dorms. 

For the winning vacuum, we first looked at how many students recommended specific models. We then took into account the average ratings of the most recommended vacuums; students rated their recommendations on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being a product they loved and would “definitely recommend.” This vacuum was recommended by most students and got a pretty good rating, making it our clear winner. 

Versatility is key for this winning vacuum that scored a 7.9 average rating. It functions as both a vacuum and handheld duster when you need to get into smaller spaces. You can use it on low-pile carpet, hard floors, and countertops, and the small crevice tool lets you get into very tight spots. 

This vacuum is extremely light, weighing two pounds, and it has a long power cord as well as a large dirt tank. One thing to keep in mind with this vacuum is that it might not be able to take on higher-pile rugs, which a lot of students like to have in their rooms, so take that into consideration as you finalize your dorm list.  

• “My vacuum worked very well, can turn into a handheld vacuum, doesn’t need too much space, and was very durable.” —Ashleigh M., Loyola University Chicago, Class of 2028
• “Breaks down super small for travel. Not the best suction power, but amazing for the price. Perfect for a small carpeted area to maintain.” —Allison T., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Class of 2026
• “So small and compact, but was really good at picking up dirt.” —Camila Q., Louisiana State University, Class of 2027
• “Affordable, gets the job done, easy storage.” —Madison G., Liberty University, Class of 2027
• “Good quality and small for storing in tight places. Comes apart into a handheld vacuum too. Picks up a lot, don’t have to empty it very often. Not the best for huge messes or dog hair but great for a small dorm room or apartment to use once a week.” —Brianna F., Roger Williams University, Class of 2027