Finding a reliable vacuum doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money. Many budget models are capable of handling everyday dust, dirt, and pet hair, but performance can vary widely at lower price points. Weak suction, poor filtration, or flimsy construction are common concerns with cheaper options.
To identify the best cheap vacuum cleaners, we reviewed cleaning performance, durability, ease of use, and overall value across affordable models commonly sold in the U.S. We found that the best budget vacuums balance strong suction and practical features without adding unnecessary cost.
Top Budget Picks
Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Upright
We found this model combines strong suction with targeted pet tools and a scatter-free brush roll to capture embedded hair. It is a practical midrange upright that balances cleaning power and everyday convenience for multi-surface homes with animals.
Overview
The Bissell 2252 CleanView Upright Vacuum is a purpose-built, cheap vacuum designed specifically for pet owners who need dependable suction and hassle-free maintenance. Ideal for homes with medium to heavy pet hair buildup, it delivers consistent pickup performance on carpets and area rugs while remaining simple to operate and easy to empty. While the construction is primarily plastic—as expected in this price range—the overall build feels functionally sturdy and well-suited for everyday everyday cleaning tasks.
Key features and benefits
We appreciate the triple-action brush roll for loosening embedded hair and the inclusion of pet-focused attachments that let us clean upholstery, stairs, and car interiors without buying extras. The airflow indicator and multicylonic collection system help maintain consistent performance between fills.
Limitations and practical insights
In practice we recommend this machine for households that prioritize higher suction and targeted pet tooling over ultra-lightweight portability. For quick pickups a cordless stick complements it well, but as a primary floor cleaner for pet households it performs very well.
Wyze Cordless Vacuum S Stick
We rate this Wyze stick highly for its combination of extremely low weight and respectable suction across multiple settings. It’s especially well suited to apartment dwellers and users who need a low-fatigue option with HEPA filtration.
Overview
The Wyze Vacuum S positions itself as one of the best affordable cordless stick vacuum options for shoppers seeking lightweight convenience without overspending. Weighing just about 2.8 pounds (manufacturer-stated) and delivering up to 40 minutes of runtime, it’s designed for users who value effortless handling and balanced everyday performance over heavy-duty, professional-grade cleaning power.
Strengths in everyday use
We found it particularly useful for quick daily pickups, stairs, and vehicle interiors where a lightweight tool reduces fatigue. The battery readout and mode options give clear control of runtime versus cleaning power.
Realistic limitations
In short, we consider the Wyze S an excellent choice for space-conscious homes and users who need a highly maneuverable stick with good filtration and respectable suction.
Shark CH951 UltraCyclone Pet Handheld
We found the CH951’s cyclonic system and self-cleaning pet brush make it highly effective for upholstery and car interiors. The renewed price point offers strong value, though battery and loudness characteristics are worth noting before purchase.
Overview
The Renewed Shark CH951 handheld stands out as a strong contender for the best cheap handheld vacuum, delivering concentrated cyclonic suction and a self-cleaning pet brush designed to minimize hair wrap—one of the most common issues in compact handheld units. Offered as a certified renewed product, it provides a budget-friendly opportunity to access Shark’s higher-tier handheld technology, making it an appealing choice for value-focused buyers comfortable with refurbished purchases.
Strengths and practical use
In our testing it excelled at quick car cleanouts, couch hair removal, and tackling crumbs in tight crevices. The self-cleaning brushroll is a real practical advantage for pet owners who otherwise spend minutes cutting hair from rollers.
Considerations before buying
Overall, we recommend the CH951 Renewed as a strong handheld performer for targeted jobs—especially for pet households—provided you accept the tradeoffs around noise and the renewed-product lifecycle.
Tikom V500 Cordless Stick with LED
We found the V500’s 40Kpa-rated suction and LED touchscreen make it a compelling cordless choice for everyday pickup jobs. Runtime and anti-tangle features suit pet owners and mixed-floor households where cordless convenience matters most.
Overview
The Tikom V500 is a modern cordless stick vacuum that focuses on strong suction power and practical onboard features at a highly accessible price point. With a 450W motor and a claimed 40Kpa of suction, it’s designed to tackle pet hair, crumbs, and everyday debris with confidence. For shoppers searching for a cheap cordless vacuum under $100, the V500 presents an appealing balance of performance, convenience, and compact wall-mounted storage for streamlined everyday use.
Key features we value
In our hands-on use the V500 handled kitchen crumbs and pet hair efficiently and the anti-tangle system reduced brush maintenance compared to basic brushrolls. The touchscreen is a useful status indicator and charging dock keeps the unit ready to use.
Limitations and best use
Overall we see this as a strong value cordless option for buyers who want good suction and modern controls without a premium price tag.
Bissell PowerForce Helix Upright Cleaner
We found the Helix delivers the strong suction expected from Bissell with a multi-cyclonic system that resists clogging. It’s easy to empty and maneuver, making it a dependable mid-priced upright for everyday floor cleaning.
Overview
The PowerForce Helix is a straightforward, bagless upright built to deliver dependable cleaning performance without the add-ons that inflate the price. As a cheap lightweight upright vacuum, it focuses on practical essentials, making it a solid choice for everyday household messes. Its multi-cyclonic Helix system is engineered to help maintain consistent suction as the dust bin fills, while the integrated hose allows for quick above-floor cleaning without the need to switch to a separate handheld unit.
What it does well
In use, the Helix picked up embedded dirt and pet hair effectively on short-pile carpets and area rugs. The ease of emptying and the absence of bags simplifies maintenance and reduces consumable costs.
Drawbacks and recommended use cases
We consider this a solid choice for single-family homes and apartments where budget and reliable floor cleaning matter more than premium materials or advanced feature sets.
Eureka PowerSpeed Lightweight Upright
We found this PowerSpeed model delivers unexpectedly strong suction for a budget upright and includes useful onboard tools. It’s simple, lightweight, and effective for the majority of home cleaning tasks without costly complexity.
Overview
The Eureka PowerSpeed is a value-focused upright that delivers strong cleaning performance in a compact, easy-to-handle frame. As a lightweight upright vacuum under $100, it appeals to budget-conscious shoppers who want solid suction and everyday reliability without paying for advanced electronics or heavy-duty, premium construction. Practical and straightforward, it’s well-suited for routine whole-home cleaning without added complexity.
Notable features
When we used the PowerSpeed it consistently removed embedded debris that prior vacuums missed, and the pet turbo tool proved effective on rugs and upholstery. The simplicity of the design reduces failure points compared with overly complex machines.
Practical limitations
We recommend the PowerSpeed for households that want a reliable, no-frills upright with strong day-to-day cleaning capabilities at an affordable price.
Eureka WhirlWind Bagless Canister Vacuum
We observed that this canister balances low noise with strong suction and fingertip airflow control for quick surface changes. It’s a compact option that performs especially well on hard floors and light carpets while being gentle on the ears.
Overview
The Eureka WhirlWind is a compact, bagless canister vacuum engineered for quiet operation and effortless handling across mixed flooring. With a comfortable handle-mounted airflow control and a design that emphasizes portability and reduced noise, it delivers respectable suction for everyday cleaning tasks. For shoppers searching for the best cheap canister vacuum under $100, the WhirlWind strikes a practical balance between affordability, maneuverability, and reliable performance.
Core attributes
In our experience the WhirlWind is particularly effective on hardwood and tile; it gets into tight spaces and under furniture thanks to its small profile. Users with pets will appreciate the brushless hard-floor performance but may find deep-pile rugs require a stronger beater brush.
Limitations
We recommend this model for buyers who want a quieter, more compact canister that handles routine cleaning with ease and minimal noise disruption.
Dirt Devil Power Swerve Pet Stick
We found this Dirt Devil well-suited to rapid spot cleaning, with swivel steering and a compact footprint making it easy to store. Battery longevity and eventual battery replacement are the primary trade-offs for its price and portability.
Overview
The Dirt Devil Power Swerve Pet focuses on immediate convenience: a lightweight, cordless stick that’s easy to grab for quick messes. It is marketed toward pet owners and small-home users who need a fast, reliable pickup tool rather than a full deep-clean solution.
Notable features
Our real-world experience confirms its value as a grab-and-go vacuum—we routinely used it for daily crumb cleanup, pet hair accumulation, and small spills. The swivel steering and compact head made maneuvering around furniture straightforward.
Practical limitations
We recommend the Power Swerve as a supplemental cordless for fast upkeep on mixed floors, particularly where weight and speed of use are priorities.
Eureka 3670M Lightweight Canister Cleaner
We observed notably strong suction for the price and a very portable form factor that makes stair and car work easier. The build and hose feel budget-oriented, but it performs well for whole-home cleaning where portability matters more than premium fittings.
Overview
The Eureka 3670M is a compact, bagged canister aimed at buyers who want strong suction in a highly portable package. At roughly 8.6 pounds and a very modest price point, it’s designed for quick whole-home jobs, stairs, and car interiors. The bagged collection method is straightforward and hygienic, which some users prefer over emptying dust cups.
Key features and performance
In our testing the suction was impressive for the class and made quick work of dust and embedded debris on low- to medium-pile carpets and hard floors. The canister’s low profile allows us to reach under furniture and the friction-fit pipes disassemble quickly for storage.
Limitations and practical guidance
We recommend this machine for budget-conscious households that need a portable canister for mixed-surface cleaning. It’s a strong value provided you accept the compromises in materials and long-term durability.
Bissell Featherweight 3-in-1 Stick
We see this Featherweight stick as a pragmatic tool for quick pickups across hard floors and small rugs. It’s ultra-light and converts to a handheld, but it does not replace a full-size vacuum for deep cleaning or larger homes.
Overview
The Bissell Featherweight is designed as an ultra-affordable, exceptionally light three-in-one vacuum that easily converts between stick, handheld, and stair configurations. Compact and simple to store, it’s particularly well-suited for small homes, apartments, dorm rooms, or as a secondary quick-clean tool rather than a primary deep-cleaning machine. At the time this review was written, it stood out as a strong contender for the best lightweight vacuum under $50, offering impressive convenience at a minimal investment.
Where it shines
In practice it handled visible debris, crumbs, and light pet hair well, and the small footprint is useful for storage in tight spaces. The brush roll and narrow head also make it easy to access corners and tight gaps.
Constraints
We recommend the Featherweight for buyers who want an inexpensive, lightweight tool for frequent, small cleaning tasks rather than a full replacement for their primary vacuum.
Final Thoughts
We recommend the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Upright (8.7/10) as our top pick for most homes with animals. Its strong suction, targeted pet tools, and scatter-free brush roll make it the best value when deep hair pickup and multi-surface performance matter. Choose this if you need a reliable, full-size upright that handles carpets, rugs, and embedded pet hair without frequent rework.
For apartment dwellers or anyone who prioritizes LOW FATIGUE and easy storage, we favor the Wyze Cordless Vacuum S Stick (8.6/10). It pairs extremely low weight with respectable suction across modes and HEPA filtration, making it ideal for quick daily upkeep on hard floors and low-pile carpets. Opt for the Wyze S Stick when maneuverability, compactness, and allergy-focused filtration are the main priorities.
