A surface cleaning apparatus, which in one embodiment is a hand held vacuum cleaner, comprises a cyclone and a suction motor wherein the cyclone air outlet and the suction motor inlet are positioned towards the same end of the surface cleaning apparatus whereby air exiting the cyclone travels laterally and then axially to the suction motor inlet. A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone and a suction motor wherein the suction motor is positioned rearward of the cyclone and the cyclone air outlet is positioned at a lower end of the cyclone whereby air exiting the cyclone travels laterally and then axially towards the suction motor inlet.