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7 Best Cheap Vacuums in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Barefoot Man Using Vacuum Cleaner

Barefoot Man Using Vacuum Cleaner

Consumers can be very particular when it comes to their vacuum. Whether you are a corner cleaner or a surface cleaner, we all have preferences of varying degrees. Some of us remember the days when a vacuum was standard. They had a roller brush, a dust bag, and one setting.

As technology advances, the available options have expanded on many of the products we purchase. Cars, washers, dryers, and small appliances have options and features we may or may not need. You find one you like, then, oh, look at this one. Wow, this model has this feature, and this one has that. We can get overwhelmed and indecisive!

Vacuums, for instance, have a vast range in price and features. The models have varying options for wet and dry, hardwood, carpeting, and pet hair. What about HEPA filters, bagless, and pet hair models. How do we know which is best for us? We have reviewed some of the less expensive models on the market, and these are our top picks.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Shark NV105 Navigator Light Upright Vacuum Shark NV105 Navigator Light Upright Vacuum
  • Lightweight
  • Powerful suction
  • Multi-surface
  • Best Value
    Second place
     Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum
  • Lightweight
  • Detachable handle
  • Powerful suction
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Eureka Lightweight Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner Eureka Lightweight Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner
  • Multi-surface vacuum
  • Detachable compact vacuum
  • Swivel steering
  • Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Vacuum Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Vacuum
  • Pet turbo tool
  • Washable filters
  • Bagless
  • Bissell Zing Lightweight Canister Vacuum Bissell Zing Lightweight Canister Vacuum
  • Bagless
  • Easy empty cup
  • Retractable cord
  • The 7 Best Cheap Vacuums

    1. Shark NV105 Navigator Light Upright Vacuum – Best Overall

    Shark NV105 Navigator Light Upright Vacuum with Large Dust Cup Capacity, Duster Crevice Tool & Upholstery Tool for Dependable Multi-Surface Cleaning

    Weight: 10.6 lbs
    Dimensions: 11.32”L x 13.5”W x 45.28”H
    Cord Length: 25 ft
    Dust capacity: 0.8 qts
    Wattage: 700 watts

    The Shark NV105 Navigator Light Upright Vacuum with Large Dust Cup Capacity, Duster Crevice Tool & Upholstery Tool for Dependable Multi-Surface Cleaning is the overall best cheap vacuum for most homes. It is a lightweight vacuum that can easily be maneuvered between hardwood and carpeted floors. The large capacity to hold dust increases vacuuming time between emptying.

    With a 25-foot non-retractable cord and the multi-surface feature, transitioning from carpet to bare floor is effortless. You can vacuum large rooms and long hallways with ease. The crevice tool attachment gives the user easy access to ceilings and window treatments. You can use the upholstery tools to suction any pet hair or crumbs between the cushions of your furniture.

    The lightweight, compact design is great from floor-to-ceiling. It can be easily transported up and down stairs and does not require a large area for storage. The vacuum is difficult to use on medium to high pile carpets, however.

    Pros
    • Lightweight
    • Powerful suction
    • Multi-surface
    • Crevice and upholstery attachments
    Cons
    • Non-retractable cord
    • Better for low pile carpets

    2. Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Upright Vacuum Cleaner – Best Value

    Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

    Weight: 7.7 lbs
    Dimensions: 12.2”L x 10.63”W x 26.38”H
    Cord Length: 18 ft
    Dust capacity: 2.7 L
    Wattage: 720 watts

    Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner is the best cheap vacuum for the money. The lightweight design has powerful suction that gives you a bang for the buck. The vacuum features a detachable handle for cleaning ceilings and under furniture. Attach the dusting tool to the detached handle, and you can give your light fixtures a good cleaning. The crevice tools come in handy for the hard-to-reach and tight spaces.

    Unfortunately, the Eureka Airspeed Vacuum does not have a height adjustment, and the cord is shorter than some other cheap vacuums. The cord length and lack of adjustment make this a good vacuum for a quick go-over between cleaning or a small apartment. It may not be good for a home with big rooms and high pile carpets, however.

    Pros
    • Lightweight
    • Detachable handle
    • Powerful suction
    Cons
    • Length of cord
    • No height adjustment

    3. Eureka Lightweight Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner – Premium Choice

    Eureka Lightweight Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner

    Weight: 2.8 lbs
    Dimensions: 44”L x 13.78”W x 13.28”H
    Cord Length: 16.5 ft
    Dust capacity: 0.65 L
    Wattage: 240 watts

    The Eureka Lightweight Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner is our premium choice for the best cheap vacuum. This little powerhouse is a three-in-one vacuum that weighs under three pounds. The versatility allows you to use the stick vacuum for floors and carpets. The handheld device is impressive for cleaning up crumbs and dog hair in tight spaces.

    The swivel head on the stick vacuum provides the user with ease in vacuuming around furniture or the dog sleeping in the middle of the floor.

    Like some other cheap vacuums, the short cord and small dust cup are a bit inconvenient. Most of the negative reviews from customers were about the overall quality of the vacuum. However, we are not reviewing high-end vacuums. Other customers claim it is a decent machine for the money.

    Pros
    • Multi-surface vacuum
    • Detachable compact vacuum
    • Swivel steering
    • Good machine when considering cost
    Cons
    • Short cord
    • Small dust cup
    • Inferior quality

    4. Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner – Best for Pert Hair

    Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Pet Turbo-Best for Dog and Cat Hair

    Weight: 10 lbs
    Dimensions: 13.4”L x 14”W x 44.5”H
    Cord Length: 25 ft
    Dust capacity: 6 L
    Wattage: 960 watts

    The Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Pet Turbo is our choice for the best cheap vacuum for dog and cat hair. For an inexpensive, lightweight vacuum, it is packed with power. The device has five height settings. You can clean crumbs from bare floors and pet hair that is embedded in your high pile carpeting. The powerful suction of this machine easily sucks up area rugs. Unfortunately, it makes it hard to use this vacuum on them.

    Keep your pet’s hair at a minimum with the crevice and pet turbo tool. Cleaning the hair from tight areas and upholstery is a breeze with these attachments. The vacuum is cheap to maintain since the filters are washable, and it does not require bags. Unfortunately, this vacuum is not as lightweight as other cheap vacuums, and the cord is not retractable.

    Pros
    • Pet turbo tool
    • Washable filters
    • Bagless
    • 5 height adjustments
    Cons
    • Sucks up area rugs
    • Non-retractable cord
    • Not as lightweight as others

    5. Bissell Zing Lightweight, Bagless Canister Vacuum 2156A

    Bissell Zing Lightweight, Bagless Canister Vacuum 2156A

    Weight: 10.5 lbs
    Dimensions: 14”L x 11”W x 12”H
    Cord Length: 2 L
    Dust capacity: 15 ft
    Wattage: 1080 watts

    In looking at cheap vacuums, we chose to review the Bissell Zing Lightweight, Bagless Canister Vacuum. If you are not a fan of uprights, this is a great canister vacuum for your office or small apartment. The vacuum is lightweight and compact for easy storage. It is suitable for bare floors and carpeting. The purchase includes a dusting tool and a crevice tool that can be helpful for getting into tight spaces.

    With the touch of a button, the dirt cup is empty. There are no batteries to charge since the vacuum is powered by electricity. Although the cord is shorter than we would like, it is retractable. The vacuum hose could use some length also.

    Pros
    • Bagless
    • Easy empty cup
    • Retractable cord
    Cons
    • Short cord, needs to be close to a power source
    • Short hose

    6. EIOEIR Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

    EIOEIR Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

    Weight: 7.37 lbs
    Dimensions: 47”L x 10”W x 8”H
    Cord Length: 6 lithium batteries required
    Dust capacity: unknown
    Wattage: 200 watts

    Since this cordless stick vacuum is not a highly recognizable brand, we chose to do a review on it. It is a lightweight vacuum for those of you that may have difficulty with heavy vacuums. The cordless stick runs on six lithium batteries with three power modes. Depending on the power mode, a charge gives the user 12 to 45 minutes of run time.

    The powerful suction works on bare floors and carpeting. The HEPA system and cyclonic action suck up small particles for a dust-free home. The HEPA filter and removable roller brush can be washed in warm water. The stick vacuum is equipped with an LED light and eight accessories and tools for cleaning ceilings, small spaces, and furniture.

    There are mixed customer reviews for the lightweight stick. It seems that customers are completely satisfied or terribly disappointed. Most of the complaints are from people that have issues with battery life in full power mode. Unfortunately, customers have difficulty finding replacement batteries.

    Pros
    • HEPA filter system
    • Cyclonic system
    • Multi-function
    • Eight accessories and cleaning tools
    • Washable roller brush
    • Cordless
    Cons
    • Difficulty finding replacement batteries
    • Short battery life

    7. Black & Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum

    Black & Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum

    Weight: 2.6 lbs
    Dimensions: 17.25”L x 5.5”W x 7.75”H
    Cord Length: one lithium-ion battery required
    Dust capacity: 1.3 lbs
    Wattage: 23 watts

    For those of you looking to buy a small handheld dustbuster, we did a review of the Black and Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean cordless handheld vacuum. This lightweight handheld vacuum is ideal for picking up the small spills or pieces of grass tracked in by the dog. Keep this little vacuum on the charger base, and it is ready to go.

    The rotating nozzle is perfect for under cramped spaces, in between the seats of the car, or getting crumbs off the sofa. The nozzle has a crevice tool that extends for hard-to-reach spaces and a flip-up brush to catch excess fuzz and hair. The bagless design is equipped with a clear dirt cup. Like the filter, the cup is washable in warm water. Overall, customers are happy with the performance for the price. The negative reviews involve unavailable replace batteries. Some customers report not holding a charge.

    Pros
    • Handheld
    • Rechargeable
    • Rotating nozzle
    • Washable dirt cup
    • Washable filter
    Cons
    • Doesn’t hold charge
    • Can’t replace battery

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cheap Vacuum

    Canister, Stick, Handheld, and Upright Vacuums

    person vacuuming a wood floor
    Image Credit: anete lusina, Pexels

    Stick vacuums may be lightweight and easy to use, but canister vacuums have good suction and are easy to maneuver. Uprights can be clumsy and fall over when you use the attachments. Which is best for you? If you climb stairs, a handheld or stick vacuum may be a desirable choice for you.

    Bag and Bagless

    Bagless vacuums have dirt cups that get emptied with the touch of a button. They eliminate the need for replacement bags and can easily be washed in the sink.

    Bagged vacuums fill the paper bag with dust and dirt. The bag is tossed, and a clean new bag takes its place. If you have allergies, a bagged model might prevent dust from getting up your nose.

    HEPA Filter

    HEPA filters are good for everyone, not only people with allergies. None of us want to breathe in tiny dust particles. HEPA filters are more costly than regular filters, however.

    Vacuum Weight

    For decades, vacuums were heavy and clumsy. Lugging them upstairs was dreadful. The new lightweight or featherweight models are great for everyone.

    Cordless or Corded

    Corded vacuums can be a nuisance if the cord is not long enough for a large room. It is annoying to be in the middle of vacuuming and the sweeper turns off. The alternative is a cordless vacuum. Hopefully, the charge lasts for the duration of your cleaning job.

    Cord Length

    As with most things, you get what you pay for. Purchasing a cheap vacuum will have some drawbacks. The length of the cord is one of them.

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    Final Thoughts

    There you have it! Our review of the best overall cheap vacuum is Shark NV105 Navigator Light Upright Vacuum for ease of use from floor to ceiling. For those of you that need to stretch your budget, our pick for the best cheap vacuum for the money is the Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner. The bagless feature eliminates the need to spend money on replacement bags. Our premium choice for a cheap vacuum is Eureka Lightweight Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner. For those of you with pets, we picked Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner Pet Turbo for the specially designed turbo pet hair cleaning tool.

    See also: 10 Best Lightweight Vacuums: Reviews & Top Picks


    Featured Image Credit: MART PRODUCTION, Pexels

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