While we've tested all kinds of the best vacuums, including premium splurge models that retail for an eye-watering $800 or more, we've found that $100 to $200 can get you a solid and reliable vacuum. Suction power and ease of use are the most important factors for any type of vacuum, and those after the best cheap vacuum can rest easy knowing we've tested various budget-friendly models that are up to the task. Though we use the word "cheap" throughout, we're referring to the best value vacuums — the most performance and utility you can get for the least amount of money. Though they may lack some of the exciting bells and whistles like advanced particle detection, auto-adjusting suction or LED displays, our picks for the best cheap vacuums deliver an effective clean, and that's what really matters.
Out of the best cheap vacuums we've tested, our long-standing favorite cheap vacuum is the Bissell Cleanview Swivel Pet Vacuum, a classic upright that gets the job done quickly. For an affordable cordless option, the Oraimo Cordless Vacuum packs decent cleaning performance in a lightweight and easy-to-maneuver body, with OK battery life for quick clean-ups. It's great to grab for quick clean ups, or smaller homes.
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Our picks for the best cheap vacuums:
Best upright: Bissell Cleanview Swivel Pet Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best cordless: Oraimo Cordless Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best for pet hair: Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Vacuum Cleaner - See at Amazon
Best robot: Shark Ion Robot Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best handheld: Black+Decker Dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best upgrade, upright: Shark Navigator Deluxe Liftaway - See at Amazon
Best upgrade, cordless: Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Stick - See at Amazon
Best upright
The Bissell Cleanview Swivel Vacuum is a bit large but powerful and operates smoothly. It comes with attachments to pick up pet hair and clean hard-to-reach spots.
- Powerful suction
- Large and hygienic dust bin
- Convenient foot controls
- A bit heavy and clunky
- Loud
Bissell's Cleanview Swivel Vacuum is your classic corded upright vacuum. As restrictive as the cords can be on these vacuums, Bissell builds in many thoughtful design features to compensate for the inconvenience.
The large, square cleaner head has a brush roll that effectively lifts and removes small and large debris, passing all of our cleaning tests with flying colors. From whole Cheerios to fine flour, the vacuum sucked up all the particles cleanly and quickly. It worked well with pet hair as well.
It has five settings for different floor types, which you must bend down and adjust at the top of the cleaner head. But turning on the vacuum is as easy as pressing a lever at the base with your foot. There's also a separate foot pedal to tilt the vacuum and allow it to swivel in different directions.
The 0.26-gallon dust bin is generous and easy to remove by clicking the release button at the top. The contents empty out at the bottom so you'll have minimal or no direct contact with all the dirt and dust. The bin has a handle on top to easily carry the vacuum up and down stairs or to different rooms.
The vacuum is already a great deal for its consistent, powerful suction and easy maneuverability. Even better, it comes with a few attachments, which you affix to the 6-foot-long hose to clean upholstery or get into crevices. We might still prefer a cordless handheld vacuum for these cleaning tasks, but it's nice to have the option here. We love that the attachments are stored directly on the vacuum, so you'll never lose them.
Read our guide to the best upright vacuums for more recommendations.
Best cordless
For less than $150, the Oraimo cordless offered decent cleaning performance, HEPA-filtration, and it's self-standing, but there are a few tradeoffs.
- Ease-of-use
- Versatility with attachments
- Satisfactory cleaning performance
- HEPA filtration
- Extra filters
- Short battery life
- ECO mode performance was weak
- Short height
- Dustbin latch tricky to open
The Oraimo Cordless Vacuum Cleaner made it clear very early in that it has a lot to offer and at a very affordable price. In addition to three cleaning modes, a lightweight design, versatile attachments and LED headlights, it's also self-standing for maximum convenience.
Oraimo says the vacuum has a runtime of up to 45 minutes on Eco, but we found that the vacuum cleaned with more thorough results on standard, with a runtime of a little over 20 minutes. Boost mode, which offers the most power and suction, is good for carpets but offers a drastically shortened runtime. Despite the shorter runtime, the battery can recharge in just 2.5 hours; industry standard is closer to four hours.
It's lightweight and very easy to maneuver, so even a young child can take the Oraimo for a spin. It easily picked up substances like cat litter, cereal, coffee, and hair but took extra passes for super fine debris like flour. It works best on hard floors and low to medium-pile rugs but was ineffective on a shag design. It also easily converts into a handheld for above-floor cleaning, with a crevice and dusting brush, too.
The Oraimo utilizes HEPA filtration, meaning that it captures 99.99% of particles, and comes with three extra filters. The floorhead is a soft foam-roller design that also resisted hair wrap and was gentle on hard floors. The dustbin latch was a little tight to open, but once released, debris easily slid out.
Read our Oraimo Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review for more information and our guide to the best cordless vacuum for the rest of our top picks.
Best for pet hair
While there are cheaper options out there, the Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Vacuum Cleaner is the most affordable vacuum that still does an outstanding job of collecting pet hair.
- Picked up all of the pet hair in all of our tests
- Great on hardwood
- Features a retractable cord
- Powerful suction
- Messy debris disposal
The Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Vacuum Cleaner (model 2254) is similar to our best corded pick, the Bissell CleanView Swivel (model 2252.) The differences are the 2254 has a retractable power cord and a pet hair corner tool for sucking up fur that's collected deep in corners. It's about $20 more expensive.
We tested the Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet specifically for our guide to the best vacuums for pet hair, and it excelled. It picked up all of the pet hair on carpeting, hardwood, and on upholstered furniture without the brush getting tangled.
The Bissell 2254 did especially well on hardwood, though it struggled to collect flour on every surface.
We particularly liked how easy it is to maneuver thanks to the swivel head. Using just one hand, we could move it to the spot we wanted. The retractable cord stayed out of our way as we cleaned, and we tackled messes in elevated areas effortlessly with the detachable hose.
Unfortunately, we struggled to empty the dustbin without sending debris outside the trash can. Before releasing it, make sure you position the dustbin's trapdoor mechanism within your trash can.
See more of the best vacuums for pet hair.
Best robot
The Shark Ion is the best vacuum under $300 we've tested. While it doesn't feature mapping and no-go zones, its cleaning performance rivals high-end models, and the battery life is impressive.
- Cleaned really well on carpeting and hardwood
- Long battery life and quick charging
- Quiet operation
- No zoned cleaning or no-go zones
- Poor corner cleaning
For a basic robot vacuum that does exactly what you want need it to do — clean — the Shark Ion impressed us with its performance both on carpets and hard floors. Even better, the Shark Ion can frequently be found on sale for around $150, a true steal for these automatic devices.
At this price point however, don't expect upgrades like smart home mapping, obstacle avoidance auto-adjusting suction, and auto-empty stations. The Shark Ion is a bump-and-roll style robot vacuum. It can be scheduled via the Shark app as to when it runs, but you will not be able to clean by room or set no-go zones. It does have an extremely long lasting battery, lasting up to three hours on the low setting, which was more than enough time to cover our testing area.
If you're willing to stretch your budget up to an additional $100, the eufy L60 incorporates smart home mapping and also offering pretty reliable performance too. Read our Eufy L60 robot vacuum review for more.
See our guide to the best robot vacuums for more recommendations.
Best handheld
The Black+Decker Dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum (model HHVI315JO42) is the most affordable and best handheld vacuum we tested. It performs well on carpet, hardwood, and in the car.
- Cleaned well on all surfaces
- Large dustbin (for a handheld)
- Lightweight and quieter than most models
- No battery charge indicator light
- Short run time
Among the best handheld vacuums, the Black+Decker Dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum (model HHVI315JO42) was both the most affordable and our overall top pick.
It was one of the best at cleaning on every surface in our tests, especially hardwood. While most of the vacs struggled with flour and Cheerios, the Dustbuster was the best at picking up both of these materials.
The Dustbuster couldn't be easier to use. It only weighs about 2 pounds, is well-balanced, and operates using two buttons: an on/off button and a dustbin-release button. Once you release the dustbin, you pull out the filter to empty debris. The filter is washable in soap and warm water.
The Black+Decker handheld vac was quieter than most of the models we tested, but it was still about as loud as a noisy restaurant.
Our guide to the best handheld vacuums has more recommendations.
Best upgrade, upright
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe features a detachable pod for cleaning surfaces other than your floor; it also includes a HEPA filter for allergens and swivel steering for easy maneuverability.
- Detachable dust bin
- Useful wand attachments
- Inexpensive
- Swivel head is not as effective at picking up debris as other upright vacuums
The Shark Navigator has a loyal user following and is one of Shark's most long-standing designs. The Navigator employs Shark's signature Lift-Away functionality where the dust-bin and motor separate from the base to be carried like a pod. It brings extra versatility to an upright design for above-floor cleaning tasks, from stairs to upholstery and everywhere in between.
For general cleaning, the Navigator performed well at pulling up the dust bunnies, but its size and weight may make it cumbersome to maneuver and swivel for some. During testing, however, it also failed to pick up large quantities of our test material — which included flour, sugar, and kibble — and streaks of flour were left on the carpet and hardwood. Everything was suctioned up, but it did take multiple passes. There's also a brushroll shut-off feature that can be engaged when cleaning on hard floors, and the vacuum is HEPA rated.
The Shark Navigator is frequently sold across various retailers with subtle differences, but we tested the NV360 model. It retails for $200, but is often on sale for far less.
Our guide to the best Shark vacuums compares its top performing models.
Best upgrade, cordless
Levoit's cordless stick vacuum offers great performance for the price. It can clean for up to 50 minutes, has two power settings, and has a special ability to store upright.
- Lightweight and easy to handle with powerful performance on hard floors and low/medium-pile rugs
- Budget-friendly price point
- Stands on its own without a dock
- Comes with multiple attachments
- Tangle-free brush head design perfect for pet fur and hair
- Short battery life on Turbo mode
- Not HEPA-rated
- The LED light could illuminate a farther reach
Hovering at the $200 mark and frequently on sale, the Levoit LVAC-200 is effective at cleaning everyday messes and pet hair from a variety of surfaces. It's exceptionally lightweight (just over six pounds) and features user-friendly design elements like the ability to stand on its own and LED headlights. For a value-price cleaner, it doesn't feel cheap.
In our cleaning tests, it easily picked up flour, sugar, and rice on carpets and hard floors. Larger debris like cereal took a few extra passes but was eventually suctioned up. Even better, we didn't encounter hair tangling or clogging in the brush roll, which incorporates a rubber fin style on the brushroll to send strands directly into the dustbin. The accompanying pet tool and crevice tool were great for cleaning upholstery and along floorboards, respectively.
The Levoit LVAC-200 has three power settings to toggle through with a press of a button and offers up to 50 minutes of cleaning time when used on its lowest power setting. We preferred cleaning on the medium setting, which averaged about 25 minutes, while Turbo mode, which is great for carpets, lasted about 16 minutes.
The vacuum uses a five-part filtration system, which includes a metal filter, pre-motor filters, and a post-motor filter. The system captures 99.9% of 0.3-micron particles, but it is not HEPA-rated.
Read our full Levoit LVAC-200 review for more information.
What to look for in the best cheap vacuum
Not all cheap vacuums are created equal. Often, shoddy construction results in your vacuum parts or motor breaking down within months of use. Here are some features to look for in a vacuum, even if you're being budget-conscious:
Motor: The motor is the most important contributor to suction and, thus, cleaning ability. Edward Chudleigh, a former Dyson engineer of 11 years, recommends a brushless motor: "Brushless motors are very efficient and translate much more of the available power from the battery to cleaning the floor. The trouble with brushed motors is that there is more friction in the system, which eats some of the battery power and, among other things, makes the machine less efficient."
Brush roll: The size, placement, and type of brush on the vacuum affect how much dust is swept up and also whether the brushes can dig into various surfaces to lift up dirt and debris.
Filter: Look for HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, which are allergy-friendly. They trap and remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, dirt, mold, bacteria, and other airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns.
Battery life (if applicable): Cheaper cordless vacuums may not have as long a battery life as more expensive competitors. You may need to charge your battery more often or consider buying a replacement backup battery to keep on hand for longer cleaning jobs.
Cord and hose length (if applicable): Long cords and hoses reduce the need to hunt around the house for an open outlet. The average cord length of an upright vacuum is 25-30 feet.
Warranty: Even budget vacuums should come with at least one year of warranty on parts and labor. All our best cheap vacuum picks come with 1-3 years of warranty. Make sure to register your vacuum online to speed up the warranty process later.
How we test the best cheap vacuums
Vacuuming Performance : We tested each of the vacuums against five materials (flour, ground coffee, cat litter, whole Cheerios, and dog hair) on three different surfaces (carpet/rug, hardwood, and tile). We scattered half a cup of each material on each surface — resulting in 15 tests for each vacuum — and rated each vacuum on its ability to suck up the material powerfully, cleanly, and thoroughly. Our robot vacuum testing also included corner cleaning and obstacle avoidance. If the vacuum came with attachments, we also tested the attachments on appropriate surfaces (e.g., crevice tool on furniture cushions and car seats) and rated their effectiveness.
Comfort and ease of use: We noted the ergonomics of each vacuum: how tiring it is to hold, how easy it is to maneuver, and the effort required to activate the power button. We also noted whether it could fit under low spaces and any additional helpful features like a headlight to illuminate your cleaning path.
Disposal method: We evaluated the cleanliness and ease of emptying the dustbin after a cleaning session. How is the bin opened? Do we have to reach inside and touch dirt and dust that didn't empty out completely?
Battery life: If the vacuum is cordless, we used it until its battery died and compared the actual battery life to the advertised battery life.
Storage: We noted how the vacuum breaks down into multiple parts and whether it comes with a wall mount or docking station.
Warranty and customer service: We registered each vacuum, noted warranty terms, and spoke to customer service reps to evaluate the ease of registration and quality of service.
Cheap vacuum FAQs
How long does a cheap vacuum last?
According to data from Consumer Reports, vacuum cleaners can last for a median of 8 years.
However, it depends on how often you use your vacuum and how well you maintain it. Cheap vacuum motors may not have the same longevity as those of more premium options, costing you more in the long run if you find yourself replacing them sooner than you planned.
What is the average price of a vacuum cleaner?
We've tested $50 vacuums all the way up to $1,000 plus options, so the landscape can vary widely. For a cheap vacuum, we set the parameters as under $200 for an upright or cordless and under $250 for a robot vacuum.
When is the best time to buy a vacuum?
Vacuum cleaners go on sale frequently throughout the year, especially around the holidays and major shopping events like Prime Day. Typical discounts range from about 25% to 50% off on top brands, giving you the opportunity to snag a more premium model for less.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
