The best pool vacuums, compared.
Top pick: VIVOHOME handheld pool vacuum, yellow – Highest score on the yellow ASIN: 4.3 from 893 reviews, 4,200 litres per hour, a pole to 278 cm, and an explicit saltwater exclusion. The blue twin shares the parent rating. Best value: PoolyPoly 1818 pool hoover, blue – About £59.99, with 4.2 from 303 reviews and a stated 1.5 litre filter, about £20 under the yellow VIVOHOME. The outlet must stay under water. Updated October 2026.
A pool vacuum lifts debris that has settled on the floor of a pool, spa, or hot tub. On amazon.co.uk these twelve listings are three tools: a garden-hose jet with a mesh bag, a cordless handheld on a pole, and a battery floor robot. Skimmer kits and cabled wall-climbing robots are a different purchase and are not in this set. What matters is suction that holds fine dirt, a bag you can empty without dumping silt back, a runtime that covers your pool, and a floor the machine is allowed to run on. SPATA says to use electric cleaners when nobody is in the water. A vacuum does not replace brushing, filtration, or a water test. The [pool vacuum buying guide](/hub/pool-care/pool-vacuum/sub/pool-vacuum-buying-guide) is the type decision before you use this table. A garden-hose jet uses mains water to create suction into a bag. It has no motor, and those listings state that it does not need the pool pump. A cordless handheld is a battery stick you steer. A cordless floor robot drives the bottom by itself. Manual skimmer vacuums, pressure-side cleaners, and cabled low-voltage robots that climb walls are not in this set.
A pool vacuum lifts debris that has settled on the floor of a pool, spa, or hot tub.
42 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +21,800 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Will you hold the pole?
The yellow VIVOHOME VH1715-YL is a cordless stick at about £79.99, with a stated 40 W motor, 4,200 litres per hour, and up to 60 minutes from an 18 V pack printed as 20,000 mAh. The aluminium pole runs from 90 cm to 278 cm, the dry weight is 3 kg, and the charge time is 1.5 hours. Three 180-mesh bags are described for leaves, twigs, insects, stones and sand, and one 300-mesh bag is described for fine dirt and algae. The listing says it is not suitable for saltwater. The amazon.co.uk score is 4.3 from 893 reviews, the largest line in this set, and praise centres on sand, quiet running and 10 ft pools. One UK review reports no suction on algae and an overheating shutdown, so the mesh choice does not make algae a solved job. This is the top pick on these scores because that review base sits on a stated flow and a pole you can aim.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You will steer a pole over sand on a freshwater pool, including a 10 ft above-ground pool.
Less suitable: A saltwater pool, or a floor you want cleaned while you are not holding the pole.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it be used in a saltwater pool?
The listing says it is not suitable for saltwater pools. It states a 40 W motor, 4,200 litres per hour, 50 dB, and up to 60 minutes.
Which bag is for fine dirt?
Three 180-mesh bags are described for leaves, twigs, insects, stones, and sand. One 300-mesh bag is described for fine dirt and algae.
What is the review score?
4.3 out of 5 from 893 reviews. Praise centres on sand, quiet running, and 10 ft pools. One UK review reports no suction on algae and an overheating shutdown.
The blue VIVOHOME VH1715-BL is listed at about £79.83 and prints the same 40 W, 4,200 litres per hour, 90–278 cm pole, 1.5 hour charge and 60-minute run as the yellow stick. This file prints the battery as 2,000 mAh, while the yellow file prints 20,000 mAh, and neither file explains the gap. The care line says to dry the charging port before charging, and saltwater is stated as not suitable. The score line is 4.3 from 893, the same figures as the yellow listing, and the opening UK review texts match, so treat them as a shared parent rating. Praise in that shared set centres on sand and quiet running. The algae miss and the overheating shutdown sit on the same shared notes. Buying the blue row does not buy a second, independent panel of 893 reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the blue colour of this stick and you will dry the port before every charge.
Less suitable: A saltwater pool, or a buyer who thinks the blue row is a second set of 893 reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
Why is the battery figure different from the yellow VIVOHOME?
This listing prints 2,000 mAh. The yellow ASIN prints 20,000 mAh. Both print five lithium-ion batteries, 18 V, 4,200 litres per hour, and 60 minutes. The files do not explain the gap.
What must you do before charging?
The care line says to dry the charging port before charging. Saltwater use is stated as not suitable.
Are the reviews a separate set?
The score line is 4.3 from 893, the same figures as the yellow listing, and the opening UK review texts match. Treat them as a shared parent rating, not a second panel.
The blue PoolyPoly 1818-BL is a cordless handheld at about £59.99, with a 2,600 mAh pack, a stated run of about 60 minutes and a 1.5 hour charge. The filter is stated as 1.5 litres: the basket alone for large waste, or the basket plus a fine filter for small waste. The body is 79.5 cm and can be used without the telescopic handle in shallow water, and that handle runs from 66 cm to 141 cm. The bullets say the water outlet must stay submerged while you use it. The amazon.co.uk score is 4.2 from 303 reviews. Praise includes steel-framed pools and about an hour from a charge. Complaints include fine dirt falling back in, a fragile filter, and at least one unit with no suction on arrival. Saltwater is not stated. At about £20 under the VIVOHOME stick, with a large review count, this is the best value in the set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a steered cordless vacuum under £60 for a steel-framed pool, and you will keep the outlet under water.
Less suitable: A saltwater pool, or a job where the outlet would sit in air.
Specifications
Common questions
How do the two filters differ?
The listing says use the basket alone for large waste, and the basket plus a filter for small waste. Capacity is stated as 1.5 litres.
What has to be under water?
The bullets say to submerge the water outlet while using it. In shallow water the 79.5 cm body can be used without the telescopic handle.
What do the reviews repeat?
The score is 4.2 from 303. Praise includes steel-framed pools and about an hour of charge. Complaints include fine dirt falling back in, a fragile filter, and at least one unit with no suction on arrival.
The black PoolyPoly 1818-SL is listed at the same about £59.99 as the blue 1818-BL, with the same 2,600 mAh pack, 1.5 litre filter, about 60 minutes and a 1.5 hour charge. The body is 79.5 cm and the included handle is 66–141 cm. The listing says a longer standard handle is not included if you need more reach. The score line is 4.2 from 303, matching the blue sibling, and the opening reviews match, including dirt falling back through the filter and fragile gauze. The water outlet still has to stay under water. Saltwater is not stated. The black row is a colour of the same vacuum, not a second test of 303 owners.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the black 1818 and your pool is within a 141 cm handle.
Less suitable: A deeper pool that needs a longer pole than 141 cm, or a saltwater pool.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the black model a different specification?
The highlight says black and the model number is 1818-SL. Battery, filter capacity, handle length, price, and the 4.2 from 303 score match the blue 1818-BL file.
Can a longer pole be fitted?
The listing says the included handle is 66–141 cm, and that a standard handle of a suitable length is not included if you need more reach.
What should you not assume from the stars?
The score line matches the blue sibling and the opening reviews match. Reviewers describe dirt falling back through the filter and fragile gauze. Saltwater use is not stated.
The black PoolyPoly 1814 is the same model number at the same about £59.99, with the highlight stating the colour black. Battery energy is 1,600 mAh, the stated run is about 90 minutes, and the charge is 2 hours, as on the blue 1814. The printed dimensions differ: 15 x 10 x 49 cm on this file, against 15 x 8.1 x 165 cm on the blue file, so the two rows do not describe one measured length. The score is 4.2 from 129 reviews. The opening UK review texts match the blue listing, including hot-tub use and debris falling back on lift-out. A pool pump is not stated. Saltwater is not stated. Choose the colour you want, and do not treat 129 as a fresh test of a different vacuum.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the black 1814 for a spa and you have read the blue row as the same vacuum.
Less suitable: A buyer who needs one agreed pole length, or a pool floor beyond a small spa.
Specifications
Common questions
How is the black listing different?
The highlight says black. Battery energy is 1,600 mAh and the price is about £59.99, as on the blue 1814. Printed dimensions differ: 15 x 10 x 49 cm here, against 15 x 8.1 x 165 cm on the blue file.
What is the score?
4.2 out of 5 from 129 reviews. The opening UK review texts match the blue listing, including hot-tub use and debris falling back on lift-out.
Is a pool pump required?
The listing describes a rechargeable cordless vacuum. A pump is not stated. It asks for at least 30 cm of water before the sensor starts the motor.
The blue PoolyPoly 1814 is a 1.4 kg cordless stick at about £59.99, listed for spas, hot tubs and small pools, with a stated run of about 90 minutes from a 1,600 mAh pack and a 2 hour charge. A sensor starts the motor once the head is under at least 30 cm of water, and it stops when you lift it out. The box description includes a triangular head, a long head and a suction nozzle for sides and stairs. Flow is not stated. The amazon.co.uk score is 4.2 from 128 reviews. Praise covers suction in a hot tub and a filter you can rinse under a tap. A repeated snag is debris falling back into the water as the head comes out, and one review found the handle short. Saltwater is not stated, and the 30 cm start depth is a real limit in a shallow paddling shelf.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are cleaning a hot tub or spa where 30 cm of water over the head is realistic.
Less suitable: A large pool floor, or a shallow shelf that never reaches 30 cm.
Specifications
Common questions
When does it switch on?
The listing says a sensor starts it once it is under at least 30 cm of water, and that it stops when it is lifted out. No tools are required for assembly.
What heads are included?
A triangular head, a long head, and a suction nozzle, described for sides and stairs. The highlight limits the job to spas, hot tubs, and small pools.
What do UK reviews flag?
The score is 4.2 from 128. Praise is suction in a hot tub and easy rinsing. A repeated snag is debris falling back into the pool as the head is lifted.
The Yohonk Psn-005 is a manual water-powered kit at about £24.99, with a dry weight of 910 g and no battery stated. The power-source field says no power source is required, and the highlight says water-powered, with no electricity. The box lists a head of about 18.5 by 6 cm, five pole sections of 40 cm, a reusable mesh bag and one cleaning cloth. A garden-hose fitting is not spelled out in the bullets. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.2 from 2 reviews. Both UK texts are positive and mention leaves, sand and an above-ground pool. Criticisms are not stated, and two reviews are too few to treat 4.2 as a settled result. Saltwater, runtime and flow are not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light manual kit for leaves in an above-ground pool and you can accept a two-review file.
Less suitable: A sand job you want backed by more than two UK reviews, or a pool with no tap you can connect.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it use electricity?
The power-source field says no power source is required. The highlight says water-powered, with no electricity. A garden-hose fitting is not spelled out in the bullets.
What is in the box?
The bullets list the vacuum head, five 40 cm pole sections, a reusable mesh bag, and one cleaning cloth. The head is about 18.5 by 6 cm.
How many reviews are in the file?
The score line is 4.2 from 2. Both UK texts are positive and mention leaves, sand, and an above-ground pool. Criticisms are not stated.
The LATERN hose jet is the cheapest row here at about £11.99 and 360 g, with suction described as coming from a standard garden hose and with no pump-filter system and no electric power. The power-source field says hand powered, which sits next to the hose bullets rather than replacing them. The box includes a vacuum head, a skimmer head, an aluminium-alloy pole and a nylon mesh bag, and the pole section count is not stated. The title mentions sand and silt. UK reviews disagree: some say sand is collected, others say fine grains pass the nylon bag. The score is 3.5 from 172 reviews. Repeated complaints are a hose that will not stay on, weak suction and a flimsy feel. Saltwater is not stated. At this price you are paying for a leaf pass that still depends on the connector staying seated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the lowest price for leaves and a skimmer head, and you can reseat a hose connector.
Less suitable: Fine sand you need held in the bag, or a tap with poor pressure.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it need electricity or the pool pump?
The bullets say suction comes from a standard garden hose, with no pump-filter system and no electric power. The power-source field says hand powered.
Will the bag hold sand?
The title mentions sand and silt. UK reviews disagree: some say sand is collected, others say fine grains pass the nylon bag.
What is the score, and what fails?
3.5 out of 5 from 172 reviews. Repeated complaints are a hose that will not stay on, weak suction, and a flimsy feel.
The POOLPURE RPC-100A is a cordless floor robot listed at about £149.00, with a dry weight of 3.8 kg and a stated run of 100 minutes from an 11.1 V, 5,000 mAh pack. You set it on a flat bottom and it drives itself. The listing describes a floating handle and claims IPX8, and it states a 90 m² ceiling for flat above-ground pools. The amazon.co.uk score is 3.4 from 100 reviews. Reviewers who are pleased talk about time saved on a flat above-ground floor. The same notes repeat a speed that throws dirt up, wheels that snap, and a switch that cuts out. Saltwater is not stated, and the listing excludes slopes and heavy wrinkles, so the 90 m² line is not a promise for a sagging liner. There is no wall-cleaning claim.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have a flat, firm floor and you want a robot to drive the bottom while you stay out of the water.
Less suitable: A sloped or heavily wrinkled liner, or a wall and waterline you need cleaned in the same pass.
Specifications
Common questions
Will it run on a sloped pool?
The listing says it is for flat-bottom pools and is not suitable for sloped floors or heavy wrinkles. A stated area of 90 m² is for flat above-ground pools.
How long does the listing say it runs?
The title states 100 minutes from a 5,000 mAh pack. Charging is given as 3 hours in the specification and as 2.5–3 hours in the bullets. It claims IPX8.
What do the reviews repeat?
The listing score is 3.4 from 100. Reviewers praise time saved on flat above-ground floors. Repeated complaints are speed that throws dirt up, wheels snapping, and a switch that cuts out.
The POOLPURE AquaGuard SE II is the about £139.00 floor robot in this set, listed at 3.8 kg with an 11.1 V, 5,000 mAh pack and a stated 100-minute run. The bullets add a steering-wheel mode or a fixed-wheel mode, and the specification says assembly is not required. It still claims a 90 m² flat floor and excludes slopes and heavy wrinkles, with an IPX8 claim on the robot. The amazon.co.uk line is 3.4 from 60 reviews. One UK text describes a 16 ft by 8 ft pool cleaned well. Another describes a wheel that broke on first use, followed by a charging failure. Saltwater is not stated. The lower price does not remove the early mechanical notes that sit next to the 3.4.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the cheaper of these flat-floor robots and your liner is already flat and firm.
Less suitable: A first robot where you want the larger 100-review file, or any floor the listing calls sloped or heavily wrinkled.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this one need tools to set up?
The specification says assembly is not required and the installation type is robotic. The listing still excludes sloped floors and heavy wrinkles.
What is the amazon.co.uk score?
The raw listing line is 3.4 out of 5 from 60 reviews. UK texts include a 16 ft by 8 ft pool cleaned well, and a wheel that broke on first use followed by a charging failure.
Is saltwater use stated?
Saltwater is not stated. The waterproof claim on the listing is IPX8, and the battery is given as 11.1 V.
The green POOLPURE RPC100A is listed at about £149.00, the same shelf price as the white RPC-100A, with a stated 100-minute run and the same flat-floor exclusion. The title adds the colour green and detachable wheels. Voltage is not stated on this file, and the charge time is printed as 2.5–3 hours. The amazon.co.uk score is 2.8 from 13 reviews. Two UK texts say it cleaned a 24 by 12 ft above-ground pool in two runs, and that the battery time could be longer. Other notes in the short set describe units that stop within a day, broken wheel axles, and a path that turns back early on a small round pool. Fine sand is said to need a brush. Saltwater is not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already accept a short review file and your pool is a flat rectangle that can take two runs.
Less suitable: A small round pool, or a buy you want supported by more than 13 reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
How does the green listing differ on paper?
The title adds the colour green and detachable wheels. Model number RPC100A, 3.8 kg, and the flat-floor note match the other POOLPURE robots. Voltage is not stated on this file.
What is the score?
2.8 out of 5 from 13 reviews. Two UK texts say it cleans a 24 by 12 ft above-ground pool in two runs, and that battery time could be longer.
What failures show up in the short review set?
Reviews describe units that stop within a day, broken wheel axles, and a path that turns back early on small round pools. Fine sand is said to need a brush.
The Solkraes UK-068-1 is a garden-hose jet vacuum at about £21.99, listed at 900 g, and the bullets say it uses the Venturi effect on a standard garden hose with no pool pump and no electric vacuum. The included parts are five pole sections, a leaf bag, a brush and a towel, and the use line names above-ground pools, inflatable pools, spas, hot tubs, garden ponds and fountains. Each pole section is 40 cm. The listing has no customer-review line and no review texts, so praised and criticised points are not stated, and the score on this row is 0. The printed dimensions of 10 x 10 x 10 mm cannot describe the assembled pole. Saltwater, runtime and flow are not stated. You are buying the hose method at about £21.99 with no amazon.co.uk star line to read.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a hose-powered leaf tool and you will judge it without a star rating.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants UK review texts before spending, or a pool with no outdoor tap.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it need the pool pump?
The listing says it connects to a standard garden hose and uses the Venturi effect. It says no pump and no electric vacuum are required.
Where does it say it can be used?
Above-ground pools, inflatable pools, spas, hot tubs, garden ponds, and fountains. Pole sections are five times 40 cm.
Is there a star rating?
The listing has no customer-review line and no review texts. Praised and criticised points are not stated.
Twelve amazon.co.uk listings were scored on 19 October 2026 from the listing fields and the UK review notes on those pages. This was not a lab test. Runtime, flow, mesh and area figures are listing claims. A shared star line on a colour pair is one parent rating, not two panels. The four weights below sum to 100.
Amazon evidence
30%Star rating and review count on amazon.co.uk. A line with no reviews scores nothing on this block. Two reviews cannot carry it. A shared parent rating is not counted twice.
Listing fit
35%A stated flow, a pole length, a filter you can match to sand or leaves, and a floor sentence you can match to a real pool all score. A flat-only exclusion scores when it is printed. Conflicting battery figures, and a saltwater ban, are recorded rather than smoothed over.
Review outcome
20%UK notes that describe sand or leaves actually collected score. Dirt thrown back, a hose that falls off, a wheel off, a cut-out, and no suction on arrival are deducted.
Value
15%Shelf price in GBP against a listing you can still use. The lowest price does not win this block when the star line is 3.5 with weak suction, or when the file has two reviews or none. The best value is the strongest price against a large review sample on a steered cordless vacuum, not the cheapest hose and not the dearer twin of the top pick.
Choose the type before the model. A hose jet needs tap pressure and is aimed at leaves. A cordless stick is what you steer onto sand, steps, or a spa. A floor robot is only for a flat floor you will not walk. Prices on 19 October 2026 run from about £11.99 to £149. Charge, submerge, pass, and empty sit on the [how to use a pool vacuum](/hub/pool-care/pool-vacuum/sub/pool-vacuum-how-to-use) page. This guide stays with the choice.
A pool vacuum lifts debris that has settled on the floor of a pool, spa, or hot tub. In this UK set the amazon.co.uk listings are three different tools. A garden-hose jet uses mains water to create suction into a bag. It has no motor, and those listings state that it does not need the pool pump. A cordless handheld is a battery stick you steer. A cordless floor robot drives the bottom by itself.
POOLPURE states flat bottoms only, not slopes or heavy wrinkles, and a stated area of 90 m² for a flat floor. A hopper or a badly wrinkled liner is a handheld job. The same listings do not claim wall cleaning. Expecting walls from this set is a different purchase.
Leaves suit a coarse bag. Sand needs a finer mesh. LATERN reviewers say fine grains can pass the nylon bag. UK notes on the POOLPURE robots repeat a speed that throws dirt up. Driving too fast and stirring silt is the opposite of a clean floor.
VIVOHOME says to dry the charging port before charging. SPATA says electric cleaners are used when the pool is unoccupied. Chargers stay dry. Lithium packs do not go in the household bin. Stop using a unit that burns, trips, or cracks.
Hose jet if you have tap pressure and mostly leaves. Cordless handheld if you need to steer onto sand, steps, or a small spa. Cordless floor robot only for a flat floor you do not want to walk. A suction-side head needs the pool pump and a skimmer. These listings do not. POOLPURE states flat bottoms only, not slopes or heavy wrinkles, and a stated area of 90 m². A hopper or a badly wrinkled liner is a handheld job. The Yohonk, Solkraes and LATERN are the hose side of this set.
Leaves suit a coarse bag. Sand needs a finer mesh. VIVOHOME includes three 180-mesh bags and one 300-mesh bag. LATERN reviewers say fine grains pass the nylon bag. The PoolyPoly 1818 states a 1.5 litre filter you can run as a basket or as a basket plus a fine filter. Check battery voltage, stated runtime and charge time, or a standard garden hose. A local hosepipe ban makes a Venturi head useless until the ban ends. VIVOHOME states it is not for saltwater.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want leaves and sand off a flat vinyl floor without a skimmer connection, and you will steer a pole. The yellow VIVOHOME at about £79.99 states 4,200 litres per hour, a pole of 90–278 cm, and 180-mesh plus 300-mesh bags. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 893 reviews. The listing excludes saltwater.
You need a short, light head in a spa, and 30 cm of water over the head is realistic. The blue PoolyPoly 1814 at about £59.99 starts at that depth, states about 90 minutes, and weighs 1.4 kg. The score is 4.2 from 128 reviews. Debris can fall back when you lift the head out.
The floor is already flat and firm, and you want a robot to drive the bottom while you stay out of the water. The POOLPURE RPC-100A at about £149 states 100 minutes and a 90 m² flat-floor ceiling. It is 3.4 from 100 reviews. Slopes, heavy wrinkles, and walls are outside the listing.
The top pick is the yellow VIVOHOME handheld at about £79.99. The two VIVOHOME rows tie on 86. The yellow file prints the battery as 20,000 mAh and states the saltwater exclusion. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 893 reviews, with a stated flow of 4,200 litres per hour and a pole of 90–278 cm. One UK review reports no suction on algae and an overheating shutdown. The blue VIVOHOME keeps the same parent rating and is not a second award. The best value is the blue PoolyPoly 1818 at about £59.99, because 303 reviews and a stated 1.5 litre filter sit about £20 under that stick. The outlet must stay under water. The £11.99 LATERN is cheaper and scores lower because the 3.5 line includes weak suction. Two Yohonk reviews are not a value sample.
VIVOHOME handheld pool vacuum, yellow
Highest score on the yellow ASIN: 4.3 from 893 reviews, 4,200 litres per hour, a pole to 278 cm, and an explicit saltwater exclusion. The blue twin shares the parent rating.
PoolyPoly 1818 pool hoover, blue
About £59.99, with 4.2 from 303 reviews and a stated 1.5 litre filter, about £20 under the yellow VIVOHOME. The outlet must stay under water.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources from the research digest, read with the amazon.co.uk rows on 19 October 2026. Listing prices, stars and review counts are from those rows, not from a later scrape.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listing lines checked on 19 October 2026. We did not run a lab test.
