A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes a suction motor. The surface cleaning apparatus may be battery powered and/or may have a power requirement of 200 Watts or less. A cyclone chamber is provided in the air flow path and has an air outlet which is covered by a screen. In one embodiment, there is an absence of a vortex finder. In another embodiment, a vortex finder that extends into the cyclone chamber less than the height of the cyclone inlet and optionally less than the height of the cyclone inlet may be provided.