Styling and grooming a beard can be a ton of fun. Cleaning up stubble from the bathroom counter after you’ve shaved or trimmed? Less so. If you like using a trimmer to keep your beard neat or to give yourself a stubble shave, you’re probably familiar with the mess it leaves behind. It’s the worst. And that’s why we love vacuum beard trimmers. The best vacuum beard trimmer will suck up the hair that you’ve cut off instead of spraying it around, and that’s simply incredible. Not to overdo this, but making the switch to one can be life-transforming.
Just ask our wives.
If you’re like us and love any power tool or piece of equipment that has extra features, you’ll love the vacuum beard trimmers on our list. I mean, a beard trimmer that has a VACUUM attached to it? A literal vacuum!
And, further… imagine all the time and effort you could save, if all the other contraptions in your life had a vacuum attached to them?
That’s why we’ve researched this list of the top vacuum beard trimmers (as well as a couple of vacuum hair trimmers). Here we’ll share which trimmers made the cut and why, to see who “sucks” the best.
Ready? Let’s jump in.
Best Vacuum Trimmers: Quick Overview
Here’s a quick look at our favorite vacuum beard trimmers. We have A LOT to say about them—and we will in a bit—but first, here’s a fast summary of what makes each one unique:
Best Overall—Philips Norelco BeardTrimmer 7300: A durable, easy-to-use beard trimmer with a vacuum that captures hair trimmings beautifully, and offers a wide range of trimming options. Sharp blades and a powerful motor make it a nice choice for coarse beards.
Best Entry-Level—Remington MB6850 Vacuum Beard Trimmer: An accessible entry-level trimmer that presents a nice alternative to Philips, with a nice mini-trimmer add-on. It can handle most beard trimming jobs, especially for beards that aren’t too coarse.
Best Cordless Hair Trimmer—Remington Hc6550 Cordless Vacuum Haircut Kit: A large cordless vacuum trimmer designed for cutting hair, but that can also help with beards. It has a large vacuum compartment that can handle a lot of hair, and it comes with a large kit for those dedicated to doing all of their grooming at home.
Best for Short Beards—Philips Norelco Vacuum BeardTrimmer 7200: A comfortable, well-made vacuum beard trimmer with a slightly shorter cutting length range, that’s better suited for men with shorter beards.
Best Corded Trimmer—Remington HKVAC2000A: A corded vacuum trimmer that works on both hair and beards. Since it’s not cordless, it’s very powerful and reliable, and it comes with a decent range of comb guards.
Best Accessories—Remington VPG6530 4-in-1: Another entry-level trimmer option that comes with a lot of special accessories for refining your facial hair, including a close-cutting foil shaver.
Gents, we are reader supported. If you click on a link we may shave a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Vacuum Beard Trimmers: Our Full Reviews
Let’s get into the details, starting with our favorite trimmer and working our way down. Don’t let the order influence you too much, though—each one of these trimmers can be worthwhile in its own right, and you just need to find the one that can work for you.
The Philips Norelco BeardTrimmer 7300
- Integrated vacuum system – vacuum system captures cut hairs for mess-free trimming
- 18 secured length settings from 1/32 inch up to 23/32 inch (1mm up to 18mm)
- 1/64 inch (.5mm) stubble setting
Last update on 2022-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Philips is considered by many to be one of the top brands when it comes to household electric grooming products, and we think that The Philips Norelco BeardTrimmer 7300 lives up to the Philips hype.
We’d consider this trimmer a premium option, that is designed primarily for tough beards. To us, what makes it stand out is that it feels very well-constructed and sturdy, with a powerful motor and a few speed settings that could potentially tackle even very tough beards. There is even a turbo setting that could be helpful if you hit a particularly tough spot.
The blades are made of a self-sharpening metal that saves you the need for regular oiling. We think they’re very sharp and smooth, and we find that they’re gentle on the skin while still cutting effectively. Their default length is set to cut hair as short as 0.5 mm, which one could argue is nearly clean-shaven (although Philips calls it a “stubble trimmer”).
The length is easy to change up via an adjustable comb guard—yup, just one! As you’ll soon learn, that’s not particularly common. There are 18 length settings, from 1 mm to 18 mm, which you may find is sufficient for a wide range of approaches to grooming, from general beard grooming to major changes.
As for suction, this is our big winner. We notice almost no stubble in the sink after using it, which is a big relief. The compartment that holds the hair isn’t particularly large—it may be enough for the average quick shave, but if you’re trimming down longer hair, you might need to empty it frequently.
The battery performance is phenomenal when compared to other models: just an hour of charging could potentially give you 75 minutes of use time. Even if you forget to charge it, it’s made to work when plugged in or with a quick charge. Nice!
The Remington MB6850 Vacuum Stubble and Beard Trimmer
- Powerful Vacuum System – Captures up to 95% of trimmed hairs*
- Full Size Precision Trimmer – For facial hair, sideburns, and neckline. Easy detailing and edging
- Washable Blades – Remove the blades for easy cleaning and maintenance
Last update on 2022-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our favorite entry-level trimmer is the Remington MB6850 Vacuum Stubble and Beard Trimmer. We think of it as the best vacuum beard trimmer for minimalists, since it’s a nice option that doesn’t come with a ton of accessories. If the idea of extra combs and add-ons seem overwhelming and unnecessary, this might be the trimmer for you.
We find the stainless-steel blades on this trimmer are quite decent. Perhaps they’re not as sharp as the blades from Philips, but unless your beard is incredibly coarse or unwieldy, we think they’ll still do a nice job.
The trimmer itself isn’t too large or unwieldy, so it could be a comfortable size for taking care of most beards. It comes with a single adjustable comb that has 11 length settings, going from 2 mm to 18 mm. We think it’s plenty for someone who enjoys a basic trim or more involved shaping, but it might not suffice for men who like a lot of control or creating very graduated tapers and fades.
If you skip the adjustable comb, the blades themselves could potentially give you a nice stubble shave.
Now, we did say it doesn’t come with a ton of accessories, but there is one more add-on, and we happen to like it a lot: it’s a tiny blade attachment that we think makes grooming under the nose or the sideburns a little easier. It can be nice to have the larger blades for quickly taking care of facial hair, with the smaller blades for those final touches.
The suction on this beard trimmer is the only drawback. It will probably capture most of your stubble (Remington says it’ll catch 95% of hair), but we noticed that if we’re not careful about the angle at which we hold it, sometimes the vacuum can really struggle to suck up anything. Your mileage may vary, but we thought you should know.
To achieve a full charge, you’ll need to charge it for about two hours, which is a little longer than many of the other vacuum trimmers on the list. This results in a 90-minute run time, which can be enough for weeks of trimming if you’re quick about it. You can also just plug it in and use it that way if you ever forget to charge.
The Remington Hc6550 Cordless Vacuum Haircut Kit
Remington Hc6550 Cordless Vacuum Haircut Kit, Vacuum Beard Trimmer, Hair Clippers for Men, 18Piece*
- Titanium-Coated Blades – The expertly ground blade edges provide the ultimate haircut experience as they cut through even the thickest hair with ease
- 18-Piece Kit – The all-inclusive kit has everything you need for a proper haircut: length-adjusting and tapering combs, barber scissors, blade oil, and more.Do not store in temperatures above 140ºF
- Lithium Power – The advanced chemistry of lithium power provides up to 60 minutes of runtime after a 4-hour charge. The clipper operates cordless or corded, XXL Vacuum Bin – The powerful vacuum ensures trimmed hair is captured in the expanded bin for easy disposal
Last update on 2022-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Remington Hc6550 Cordless Vacuum Haircut Kit is another great cordless trimmer option, and unlike our pick from Philips, it’s geared more towards haircutting than beards. Even so, we think it could help you shape your facial hair nicely. We’d recommend buying this trimmer if you need multiple functionalities in a portable, cordless design.
The base trimmer, without any guards, can cut fairly close (some sources say it’s a 0.4 mm length, which sounds about right to us, but we were unable to verify it). We think it’s better for refining edges than all-over shaving, but it could still work, especially if you’re dealing with short stubble.
The only potential issue here is that the base trimmer is pretty long and large. It might take you a little more effort when you try to clean up the mustache area or other hard-to-reach spots.
It also comes with 11 comb guards that go from 1.5 mm to 25 mm, which could potentially give you a lot of versatility whether you’re shaping your beard or trimming your hair. We don’t think it’s quite as convenient as the adjustable settings on the Philips trimmers on our list, but men who are used to relying on comb guards with other trimmers probably won’t mind.
There are a few other nice accessories in the kit, like hair cutting scissors, hair clips, blade oil, and a carrying case.
The vacuum compartment is very large compared to other models we’ve seen, which makes sense since this trimmer is designed for haircuts, which often involve dealing with longer hair. If you’re just doing small trims, this can be pretty beneficial, since you might be able to get away with less frequent emptying.
We think the suction itself is pretty average—the Philips Norelco 7300 feels a little more powerful to us, and we think that this trimmer doesn’t catch quite as many hairs. It’s still a lot less messy than using a traditional trimmer, although you may still find yourself needing to wipe the counter down.
According to Remington, this trimmer should offer an hour of cordless use after about 4 hours of charging. We think that a 1-hour runtime can be enough for a few big and involved grooming sessions, as well as for many ultra-quick all-over trims. That said, your mileage may vary since this also depends on your personal approach to grooming.
It’s a lot of charging time compared to the usage time, but if you’re good at remembering to charge your electronics, it shouldn’t be an issue. If you do forget, at least it’s designed to also work while plugged in!
The Philips Norelco Vacuum Beard Trimmer Series 7200
- The integrated vacuum system catches up to 90% of cut hair for less mess. The high-velocity motor and fan system creates powerful suction to lift and capture hairs
- With innovative lift & trim technology, the trimmer effectively lifts and guides hairs for a more efficient cut
- The self-sharpening steel blades are designed to effectively cut each hair perfectly, preventing skin irritation, and are double sharpened to cut more hairs in every pass for faster trimming
Last update on 2022-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Philips is a brand that tends to make a few variations on the same basic product while maintaining the core features. The Philips Norelco Vacuum Beard Trimmer 7200 is the next level down from the 7300, but it boasts the same basic elements that we really like about the 7300. We’d still consider it a premium product.
The main difference is that this trimmer is geared towards shorter facial hair and stubble styles, with cutting length from 0.5 mm with the naked blades and up to 10 mm with the adjustable comb. If you keep your facial hair neat and tight or you like a near-clean shaven look, this might be the perfect vacuum beard trimmer for you.
We like that it’s built with the same type of low-maintenance, self-sharpening blades, and we find that they do a good job of cutting through coarse hair. Adjusting the length of the comb is done with a wheel built into the razor, which we find to be very easy and convenient.
We also like the added precision trimmer attachment, which is a little smaller than the main beard trimmer attachment. It’s a little smaller, and we think that it’s perfect for refining our mustache or refining our facial hair outline.
However, there are no additional speed settings or a turbo option for really tough spots. Most guys probably don’t need them, but if you’ve used trimmers with turbo settings before and found they were helpful, we would advise you go with the more upscale 7300 model.
We find that the suction power on this trimmer is comparable to the suction in the 7300, which means we find it to be very effective and able to catch most of our stubble. To us, however, the actual compartment that holds the shaved hair seems a little small. You may find you have to empty it out pretty often as you shave, which can be a bit of a hassle.
Finally, we think the battery is of excellent quality, with 80 minutes of cordless use time after just a 1-hour charge. It can also be used when plugged in.
The Remington HKVAC2000A Vacuum Haircut Kit
Sale 
Remington HKVAC2000A Vacuum Haircut Kit, Vacuum Beard Trimmer, Hair Clippers for Men (18 pieces)*
- Voltage 110 120 VAC. corded
- How does this haircut clipper work? The precision ground blades work through hair fast while the high speed fan creates a powerful airflow that collects all the trimmed hairs for easy cleanup.Do not use liquid cleaners on the cutters or harsh or corrosive chemicals on the units main body
- 16 Piece Kit: The all encompassing kit includes 6 length altering combs, right and left tapers, a styling comb, barber scissors, a cleaning brush, a blade guard, 3 sectioning clips, an oil bottle, and an extra large storage pouch. These accessories join the dependable hair clippers to give you all the tools you need for a great haircut
Last update on 2022-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Remington HKVAC2000A Vacuum Haircut Kit is a very accessible vacuum beard trimmer from Remington, and it could potentially be a nice, less premium alternative to the Hc6550. We think it could be a great option for men who prefer the reliability of a corded trimmer, but still want the multi-cutting capabilities of a kit.
The tool itself is very powerful, with excellent suction and a large chamber that could easily hold most of the trimmed hair from the average grooming session. The blades are made of stainless steel, which tends to be pretty sharp and low-maintenance, although the kit also comes with oil which will help preserve the blades. The default setting on the blades, without combs, is pretty short although we wouldn’t call it a “bald” shave.
Like the Hc6550, this kit also comes with a few other add-ons that can make trimming hair easier, like 8 comb guards, scissors, and more. The combs themselves cut from 3 mm to 25 mm, but with fewer in-between sizes compared to our other pick from Remington. If you like doing a lot of tapering and getting precise results, it may not be enough, but we think it could work for most of our reader’s grooming needs.
The Remington VPG6530 4-in-1
This is Remington’s take on a vacuum trimmer that’s exclusively meant for the beard. It’s another entry-level option that can be a nice alternative to the more premium Philips Norelco trimmers, with some really nice accessories for a full facial hair grooming session.
As a facial hair trimmer, it can definitely do the job. The blades are made of stainless steel advertised as being self-sharpening, although we don’t think they’re quite as powerful or sharp as the blades from Philips. We’d still recommend oiling them, and we also think they may not suffice for very coarse beards. If you have a medium or soft beard, it might be enough!
We do admit that we find the way to adjust the length settings to be a little odd. It comes with one adjustable comb guard and four individual combs. The adjustable comb cuts from 2 mm to 16 mm, while the individual combs cut from 1.5 mm to 9 mm. It’s kind of strange to us that there’s overlap in numbers.
That said, we find that the combs can work really well. The adjustable comb can be a little finicky, though, and something about its build can sometimes result in uneven cutting. That’s just our experience, though—we know some men will find that it works just fine with their particular style.
It also includes a few more attachments you can use instead of the main trimmer head. They include a tiny nose and ear trimmer that looks like a very small regular trimmer—this means you will probably have to be quite careful when trimming nose hair since it’s a little more aggressive than the round nose trimmer attachments most men are used to.
There’s also a small foil shave which we absolutely love for getting a really clean shave along the neckline, and a detail trimmer for fixing your facial hair outline. All-in-all, we think these are well-chosen accessories, although men who don’t need all this extra stuff might prefer the Remington MB6850.
Finally, the battery is designed to run for an hour when it’s fully charged, although that means keeping it plugged in for 4-6 hours the first time you use it. While we do think it’s good enough, it’s definitely the least impressive battery on our list, especially considering you can’t use it while it’s plugged in.
How to Pick the Right Beard Trimmer for You
Vacuum trimmers are a pretty niche grooming tool, and yet, there are still a lot of factors that make different designs really different from each other. Here are some things you might want to consider when searching for the best vacuum beard trimmer for you.
Usage Purpose
There aren’t many trimmers out there that can do it all. Take a moment to consider what kind of grooming you tend to do most often, and make sure to choose a trimmer that’s designed specifically to do what you want.
Daily stubble shaves. If you want a trimmer that’ll give you a 5 o’clock shadow, a vacuum beard trimmer can be an excellent choice that’ll make that daily trim super easy. We think that the Philips Norelco 7200 and Remington VPG6530 4-in-1 are both excellent trimmers for the job.
The great thing about vacuum beard trimmers is that they’re almost always adjustable, so you can use them to get that ultra-short stubble look even if you don’t trim them very frequently (and there are dedicated stubble trimmers, too, if that’s what you’re interested in). Adjust the combs to gradually cut down your facial hair effectively, until you reach a length where the blade without any combs will do the trick.
Beard shaping and grooming. Vacuum beard trimmers can also handle your shaping needs if you like rocking a beard and you just want to keep it looking clean and groomed. Look for a trimmer that comes with combs or length settings that fit with the length you usually like for your beard. Additionally, a close-cutting blade will help you line up and remove excess hair from the cheeks and neckline.
For a shorter beard, a trimmer like the Philips Norelco 7200 can suffice, and its precision trimmer attachments will even help you create a really crisp outline. You’ll probably do better with our best overall pick, the Philips 7300, if you’re grooming a longer beard.
Beard and haircuts. Some vacuum trimmers, like the Remington Hc6550 and HKVAC2000A, actually come with comb guards that are specifically intended for cutting hair. These trimmers can still help you shave down or shape your beard, but where they really shine is as hair clipping tools.
If you’re the kind of guy who does it all by himself at home, you may enjoy these large, more versatile trimmers. They also have larger vacuum compartments to effectively suck up those longer hairs, and they come with haircutting scissors and other useful add-ons.
Clean shave. If you’re after a close clean shave, a vacuum beard trimmer simply isn’t the right product for you. We’ve not seen a single quality vacuum trimmer on the market that’s able to cut as closely as a manual razor or an electric shaver with foils or rotary blades. If you spot one, feel free to leave a comment and tell us about it!
Blades
When putting together our reviews, the only way to judge blade quality is just to consider how smoothly and easily the trimmer managers to cut. A great set of trimmers with a very sharp blade will give a great trim, and when shaving closely, it won’t tug on the hair or irritate the skin.
In general, we’ve noticed that self-sharpening blades often perform better and manage to retain their sharpness for longer.
This is especially important if you have a coarse beard! Men with soft or medium textured facial hair will find that most beard trimmers can cut through their hair smoothly, but those with a coarser beard may want to choose a trimmer with very high-performing blades, like the Philips Norelco 7300 or 7200 trimmers.
Battery
Most of the vacuum trimmers on our list, with the exception of the Remington HKVAC2000A, are designed for cordless use. In general, the corded designs have a better motor and more reliable performance, although they’re a little less pleasant to use on yourself.
That’s why we focused on cordless trimmers! You won’t get tangled up in the cord while using them, and if you charge them in advance, they’re also quite portable.
We always recommend paying attention to both how long it’ll take your trimmer to reach full charge, and for how long it’ll work when fully charged. Most of the vacuum trimmers we’ve reviewed have a running time of more than an hour when fully charged, which is usually plenty for the average guy using them at home.
As for how long it’ll take to charge, consider what kind of person you are. If you aren’t great about keeping your electronics charged, you may want to choose a trimmer with features like a quick charge function or corded—thankfully, most of the trimmers on our list offer at least one or the other.
Suction
How well your vacuum trimmer sucks (sorry, we couldn’t help it!) depends on two factors: the power of the motor operating the vacuum and the size of the compartment that holds the sucked-up stubble. A poor vacuum defeats the purpose of buying such a beard trimmer, so it’s a basic function to look for.
Note that you should also consider your shave frequency and the lengths of hair you’ll be dealing with. If you shave all-over on a daily basis, a smaller compartment but strong suction will suffice, while if you make big cuts, you’ll need a compartment that can handle that.
Other Accessories
Some of the trimmers on our list (especially the ones from Remington) come with a lot of accessories, while the more deluxe options from Philips actually come with less.
It can seem odd at first, but it actually makes sense! Philips engineers adjustable trimmers, so you don’t need as many combs to adjust the length. You don’t feel like you get as much in the kit, but in practice, they’re probably more serviceable for the average guy.
On the other hand, Remington trimmers usually come with a lot of combs, which we don’t find to be more convenient, although we know some guys like the more old-school approach to comb guards.
The other benefit to the larger kits is that they usually come with additional attachments that have other utilities. If you like using speciality trimmers or shavers to really refine the look of your facial hair, or you want bonus accessories like nose trimmers or scissors, they can be fantastic.
Tips for Using a Vacuum Beard Trimmer
For the most part, using a vacuum beard trimmer isn’t too different from using other trimmers. Even so, we do have a few suggestions to help you rock the best-looking beard possible.
Get clean. It’s always better to trim clean hair, especially if you’re trimming down to a stubble beard. Give your beard a good wash either in the shower or at the sink, using warm water and a nice cleanser (you can even make your own beard wash). The water will actually help to soften your hair, to help the trim go more smoothly.
Dry your beard. Next, dry your face and facial hair with a nice, soft towel. If your hair is too damp, the vacuum beard trimmer might get clogged up a little too easily.
Be gradual. Now you’re ready to trim. The best approach to trimming down a beard is to take things gradually, by setting your trimmer to cut at a longer length first. Even if you’re planning to go from a long, magnificent beard to a 5 o’clock shadow, you’ll still want to do this, since your vacuum trimmer will struggle to cut long hair if it’s set to a very short length.
Empty as necessary. Pay attention to the vacuum compartment, and empty it out if you notice that it’s full or if your trimmer doesn’t seem to suck up hair anymore. If you’re just tidying up 2-4 days of growth, you won’t need to worry about this.
Take things shorter. Gradually adjust the combs on your razor shorter and shorter, as you progress in trimming down your beard. You can opt for a simple, even all-over trim, or you can approach it like a sculptor and take your time shaping your beard—there’s no wrong way to do it!
Tidy up. Finally, remove the comb guards from your trimmer or pull out a detail trimmer, and tidy up the outline of your beard. Focus on creating a nice line at the cheeks, sideburns, mustache, and neck.
How to Clean a Vacuum Beard Trimmer
If you decide to buy a vacuum beard trimmer, it’s important to know how to keep it clean. When your trimmer starts to get clogged up, the vacuum effect will start to malfunction, and the blades themselves may have issues as well. Thankfully, keeping a vacuum trimmer clean is pretty easy!
Disassemble. Trimmers from different brands may have different assembly requirements. Consult the manual to make sure you open or remove your compartment correctly, without accidentally breaking anything.
Remove the hair. Next, tip out the excess hair into a garbage or compost bin. There may still be a bit of hair residue left in the container, so you can brush it out with a dry brush (some razors will come with one).
With most vacuum trimmers, you can also rinse out the vacuum compartment, but double-check to make sure it’s true for yours.
Clean the blades. Then, also take a moment to wipe down the blades with a dry brush or to rinse them under the tap. If you really want to go above and beyond, use a cleaning spray that will both sanitize and lubricate them, for better long-term performance.
Be careful to make sure the body of the trimmer or any of its electrical components don’t get wet.
Dry and reassemble. If you’ve used water, let the trimmer air dry somewhere safe. Then, carefully replace all of the parts, and store the trimmer somewhere safe until the next time you need to use it. If necessary, you can also apply a drop of blade oil to the underside of the blades in order to protect them and enhance the glide for your next shave.
Keep it up. Get into the habit of cleaning your trimmer and emptying out the compartment after every use. This is the best way to guarantee that your vacuum trimmer will keep working beautifully for a lot longer, saving you the need to buy a replacement.
Suck It Up
Stubble on the bathroom counter can destroy lives.
OK, no, that’s too much. But it is a huge hassle, and it can be incredibly frustrating, and if you’re living with a fussy partner, it can also be a relationship-ender.
Okay, maybe that, too, is a little dramatic, but we can’t deny that having a vacuum trimmer can really improve your quality of life if you don’t enjoy that post-trim clean-up.
We hope we’ve helped you find the right vacuum beard trimmer for you. We wish you a future of mess-free trimming! Be good, have fun, and happy vacuuming!
Michael Morris is the head writer here at Rough and Tumble Gentleman. He's got a ducktail beard and loves Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He's married to the woman of his dreams and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
