A vacuum cleaner operable to separate debris from an air stream. The vacuum cleaner includes a first cyclonic separator and a second cyclonic separator having an inlet configured to receive the air stream from the first cyclonic separator. The inlet of the second cyclonic separator directs the air steam in an inlet flow direction from an upper end of the first housing toward a lower end of the first housing and along a longitudinal axis into the second cyclonic separator. The inlet of the second cyclonic separator has an inlet cross-sectional area for flow of the air stream measured normal to the longitudinal axis that decreases in the inlet flow direction.