A hand vacuum cleaner has an air treatment stage positioned below an inlet conduit. A pistol grip handle is provided at the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner. An arm member extends from the inlet conduit linearly rearwardly to the upper end of the pistol grip handle. A housing is provided at a lower end of the pistol grip handle. All operating components of the hand vacuum cleaner are located between a lower end of the housing and the inlet conduit.