An affordable solution for whole-home carpet cleaning. You don’t need to spend a fortune to keep your floors spotless. Finding a reliable cheap upright vacuum that actually works can feel like a major win, especially when pet hair and daily messes are a constant battle. It’s a tool that promises to tackle those high-traffic areas without breaking your budget.
But does a lower price tag mean you’re sacrificing power or durability? We put a top-rated budget model to the test in a real, lived-in home. Here’s how it handled everything from deep-pile rugs to those crumbs under the kitchen table, and wether it’s truly a smart buy for your cleaning routine.
Product Comparison Table: 10 Best Cheap Upright Vacuum
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Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe with Large Dust…
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9.5 |
Read Review |
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Bissell CleanView Compact Upright Vacuum, Fits in Dorm Rooms…
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9.4 |
Read Review |
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Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum with Quick Release…
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9.2 |
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Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, NEU10AE4,…
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9.1 |
Read Review |
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Eureka NEU10AE5 Powerful Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner Carpet and…
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8.9 |
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Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off with Powerful Suction,…
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8.8 |
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Eureka Lightweight Powerful Upright Vacuum Cleaner for Carpet and…
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8.6 |
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Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Bagless Vacuum for Carpet and…
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8.5 |
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Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum with Swivel…
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8.3 |
Read Review |
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Bissell CleanView Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner with Active Wand,…
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8.2 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 10 Cheap Upright Vacuum
Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue, NV360
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 Upright Vacuum is designed to handle the varied messes of a busy home. Its core strength is multi-surface powerful suction, which means it can deep-clean carpets and effectively tackle bare floors without needing a separate machine. This versatility is a key feature for most households.
One of the standout aspects of this model is its Lift-Away functionality. The main pod detaches from the vacuum’s body with a simple click.
This lets you easily clean under low furniture like beds or sofas. You can also detach the entire nozzle to carry just the lightweight pod for cleaning stairs, upholstery, or shelving. It’s like having a handheld vacuum built right in.
Maneuverability is another strong point, thanks to the swivel steering. The vacuum head pivots smoothly, making it easy to navigate around chair legs, into corners, and through cluttered spaces.
For homes with a mix of floor types, the brushroll shutoff feature is essential. You can instantly turn off the rotating brush when you move from carpet to hard floors, preventing debris from being scattered.
For allergy sufferers or pet owners, the anti-allergen complete seal technology is a significant benefit. This system, combined with the included HEPA filter, is designed to trap dust and allergens inside the dust cup, preventing them from escaping back into the air you breath.
Bissell CleanView Compact Upright Vacuum, Fits in Dorm Rooms & Apartments, Lightweight with Powerful Suction and Removable Extension Wand, 3508
The Bissell CleanView Compact Upright Vacuum, 3508 is designed for life in smaller spaces. If you live in a dorm room, apartment, or just have limited storage, this vacuum understands the assignment. Its compact size means it tucks away easily in a closet or corner without taking up your valuable floor space. But don’t let the small footprint fool you—this machine is built to handle your big cleaning needs. One of its standout features is the powerful suction.
It delivers a deep clean on carpets and rugs, pulling up dirt and pet hair that settles into the fibers. For hard floors, the Scatter-Free Technology is a real game-changer. It helps contain debris like crumbs or dust instead of blowing them across the room, so you clean messes up, not just move them around. This makes for a more efficient clean in one simple pass. Maneuverability is another key point. Weighing less than eight pounds, the CleanView Compact is incredibly lightweight.
You can easily carry it up stairs, from room to room, or even use it for quick car cleanouts without any strain. It glides smoothly around furniture legs and under low-clearance spaces like beds or sofas, making it simple to reach those often-neglected spots. The swivel steering helps alot with navigating tight corners. Cleaning up after you’ve cleaned is straightforward. The easy-empty dirt container features a one-touch release button.
Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum with Quick Release Wand, Full Size Power, Compact Size for Apartments & Dorms, 3437F
The Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum with Quick Release Wand, 3437F, is designed for life in smaller spaces without giving up the cleaning power you’d expect from a full-sized machine. If you live in an apartment, dorm, or just have a cozy home, this vacuum aims to make your routine simpler and more effective. Its core promise is delivering full-size power in a compact design, all wrapped up in a unit that weighs only about 10 pounds.
That means you can easily carry it up stairs, move it around furniture, and store it in a closet without a struggle. One of the standout features is the Scatter-Free Technology. If you’ve ever tried to vacuum crumbs or debris on hard floors with a regular vacuum, you know how frustrating it is to watch it blow the mess around instead of sucking it up.
This system is engineered to capture those hard floor messes with significantly less scatter, so you can clean your kitchen or entryway efficiently. The powerful suction handles carpets and rugs too, pulling out embedded dirt and pet hair to leave surfaces looking refreshed. Cleaning isn’t just about the floors, and that’s where the Quick Release Extension Wand comes in.
Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, NEU10AE4, Green
The Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, NEU10AE4, is designed for easy, effective cleaning without the hassle. Its core idea is simplicity and getting the job done fast. If you’re tired of heavy, cumbersome vacuums that are a chore to store and use, this model’s straightforward features offer a practical solution. Right away, you’ll notice how light it is. At only 7.7 pounds, it’s easy to carry up stairs or move from room to room without strain.
Its compact shape means you can tuck it into a closet corner or a small utility space, solving storage problems in apartments or smaller homes. Despite it’s lightweight build, it doesn’t sacrifice power. With 700 watts of suction and a 10.5-inch wide cleaning path, it pulls dirt and hair from both hard floors and carpets efficiently. The dual-action design means it transitions between surface types without you needing to adjust settings manually.
A really handy feature is the quick-release handle. Simply detach it from the main body, and you have a portable tool for above-floor cleaning. The included crevice tool and dusting brush snap right onto the end of this handle. This lets you easily clean ceiling corners, blinds, upholstery, or tight spaces between appliances without bending or struggling. The tools store directly on the vacuum itself, so they’re always within reach when you need them, not lost in some separate closet.
Eureka NEU10AE5 Powerful Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner Carpet and Floor, AirSpeed Ultra-Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner, w/ Replacement Filter, Blue
The Eureka NEU10AE5 Powerful Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner is designed to tackle your everyday messes without complicating your routine. Its core strength lies in its powerful all-floor suction, which pulls dirt and pet hair from both carpets and hard floors with equal effectiveness. The 10.5-inch wide cleaning path means you cover more ground in each pass, making quick work of larger rooms and saving you valuable time.
It’s a straightforward solution for maintaining a clean home from room to room. One of the standout aspects of this vacuum is its incredible lightweight design. At only 7.7 pounds, it’s easy to carry up and down stairs or move around furniture without strain. When you’re done, its compact shape allows for simple storage in a closet or corner.
The convenience continues with all tools stored directly on the unit; the crevice tool and dusting brush snap onto the vacuum body so they’re always right there when you need them. No more searching for lost attachments in a seperate closet. For cleaning above the floor, the handle features a quick-release mechanism. You simply detach it and attach either the crevice tool or dusting brush to reach ceilings, window sills, blinds, upholstery, and other tricky spots.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off with Powerful Suction, HEPA, Tangle-Free Brush Roll, 39883
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off, model 39883, is designed for homes with pets that need a thorough clean without the fuss. It tackles the two biggest headaches: pet hair everywhere and allergens in the air. This isn’t just a vacuum; it’s a system built to manage the mess your furry friends leave behind, from obvious tumbleweeds of fur to the invisible particles that can cause allergies. At its core, this vacuum boasts POWERFUL SUCTION.
This means dirt, embedded fur, and dust in your carpets don’t stand a chance. It pulls debris up effectively on the first pass. That power is combined with SCATTER-FREE TECHNOLOGY specifically for hard floors. So instead of blowing crumbs and litter across the room, the suction captures them directly, making kitchen or hallway cleaning much less of a chore. The specialized TANGLE-FREE BRUSH ROLL is a key feature for pet owners.
It’s engineered to pull in hair and fur without it wrapping tightly around the roll, which cuts down on maintenance and the frustrating task of cutting strands free with scissors. For air quality, the HEPA SEALED ALLERGEN SYSTEM is crucial. It traps dust and allergens inside the vacuum with a tight seal, so they aren’t released back into your home’s air when you empty it. This helps create a cleaner environment for everyone, especially those with sensitivities.
Eureka Lightweight Powerful Upright Vacuum Cleaner for Carpet and Hard Floor, PowerSpeed, New Model,Blue,black/New Model
The Eureka PowerSpeed Lightweight Upright Vacuum Cleaner is designed to be a straightforward, effective tool for keeping your carpets and hard floors clean. It’s the new model, and it brings several key upgrades to the table that focus on power and convenience without becomming a heavy chore to use.
At its core is an Upgraded Cyclone System. This new technology is built to handle everything from larger debris you can see to the microscopic dust and allergens you can’t.
It’s rated to trap 99.9% of dust, dander, and allergens as it cleans, which is a significant benefit for households with pets or allergy concerns. The power behind this system is substantial, engineered to penetrate deep into carpet fibers to pull out embedded dirt that other vacuums might leave behind.
Despite that power, the PowerSpeed remains notably lightweight. It does the hard work so you don’t have to, making it easier to maneuver around furniture and carry up stairs.
You can adjust its cleaning head to five different height settings. This lets you optimize it for everything from plush shag rugs to bare hardwood floors. The wheels are designed to run smoothly on those hard surfaces to help prevent any scratches or gouges during your cleaning sessions.
For cleaning beyond the floor, this model includes a suite of handy accessories. A quick-release handle connects to a stretch hose for above-floor tasks.
Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Bagless Vacuum for Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaning with Swivel Steering (HV301), Gray/Orange
The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Vacuum (HV301) is designed for those who want a powerful clean without the heavy lifting. Weighing in at under 9 pounds, its ultra-lightweight frame makes it easy to carry up stairs or use for extended periods without fatigue. This is a corded model, which means you never have to worry about a battery dying mid-clean or a loss of suction power.
It provides consistent, strong performance on every surface.
This vacuum isn’t just a stick vacuum; it converts into a handheld with a simple click. That versatility allows for true floor-to-ceiling cleaning. You can tackle your carpets and hard floors, then quickly switch to cleaning your car interior, upholstery, or ceiling corners.
The included Upholstery Tool and Crevice Tool make these detailed jobs straightforward, so you don’t need a seperate set of tools for different tasks.
Maneuverability is a key highlight. The Swivel Steering gives you excellent control, letting you navigate smoothly around chair legs, under tables, and through tight spaces with minimal effort. Combined with the lightweight design, cleaning around your home feels less like a chore.
Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum with Swivel Steering, Powerful Pet Hair Pick Up, Specialized Pet Tools, Large Capacity Dirt Tank, Easy Empty
The Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Vacuum is designed for homes with pets, focusing on making the cleanup of hair and dirt more managable. Its core feature is the swivel steering, which gives you maximum maneuverability to easily navigate around chair legs, under tables, and through tight spaces without the usual back-and-forth struggle. This vacuum is built to handle the specific challenges pet owners face everyday. At the heart of its cleaning power is the Triple Action Brush Roll.
This system doesn’t just skim the surface; it actively loosens, lifts, and removes embedded pet hair and ground-in dirt from your carpets. For hard surfaces like wood, tile, or laminate, the Multi-Surface Cleaning mode with Scatter-Free Technology is a key feature. It helps stop the frustrating scatter of dry kibble or litter, containing the mess instead of blowing it across the room.
You’ll also apreciate the Edge-to-Edge cleaning capability, which allows the brush to extend to the sides so you can tackle dust and hair that accumulates along baseboards and in corners. This model comes specialized pet tools, typically including a crevice tool and an upholstery brush, to help you clean stairs, furniture, and car interiors. It’s a bagless vacuum with a large capacity dirt tank, so you can clean more of your home without frequent stops to empty it.
Bissell CleanView Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner with Active Wand, 3536
The Bissell CleanView Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner with Active Wand, 3536, is designed to tackle the common frustrations of home cleaning. It’s a straightforward machine built to get the job done efficiently, focusing on what you need from a vacuum: strong suction, easy handling, and less time spent on chores. A key feature is the Active Extension Wand.
This tool extends your reach up to 10 feet, making it simple to clean ceiling corners, cobwebs behind furniture, or the tops of shelves without dragging out a step stool. It’s integrated right into the vacuum, so it’s always there when you need it. For your carpets, the OnePass Technology aims to provide a thorough clean in a single go.
This means you can potentially cut your vacuuming time in half, as you shouldn’t need to make multiple passes over the same high-traffic area to get it looking clean. Cleaning hard floors often leads to debris scattering away from the vacuum head. The Scatter-Free Technology is meant to adress this issue, helping to pull in crumbs, pet food, and dust from hard surfaces like tile, laminate, or wood with less of that annoying blow-around effect.
Cheap Upright Vacuum Buying Guide
An affordable upright vacuum should balance cost with essential cleaning performance. You don’t need every high-end feature, but you do need a machine that reliably tackles daily messes without breaking. This guide helps you spot teh key features that matter most, ensuring your budget pick doesn’t leave you frustrated.
Carpet vs. Hard Floor Performance
Where will you use it most? Many budget vacuums favor one surface over another. For carpets, check for an adjustable brush roll or height settings—this helps the vacuum agitate fibers properly. For hard floors, a simple on/off switch for the brush roll is a lifesaver. It prevents scatter and allows for better debris pickup without the whisking effect.
Maneuverability and Weight
Can you glide it easily around furniture? A lighter model is great for stairs and quick clean-ups, but might feel less sturdy. Heavier ones can be more powerful but a chore to push. Look for a swivel steering head; it makes navigating tight spaces much simpler and reduces arm strain during longer sessions.
Filtration and Dust Containment
If allergies are a concern, don’t overlook the filter. A basic cloth bag might be cheap to replace, but it can leak dust when you change it. A sealed system with a HEPA filter traps more fine particles inside the machine, which is a big plus for air quality. Just remember, replacement filters are an ongoing cost to factor in.
Cord Length and Storage
There’s nothing more annoying than constantly searching for a new outlet. A longer cord (around 25 feet is good) means you can cover more area without unplugging. Also, consider where you’ll keep it. Does it have a wrap for the cord? Does it stand on its own or need to lean against a wall? Easy storage makes you more likely to use it regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Upright Vacuums
What does “cheap” really mean for an upright vacuum?
It usually means a lower price, often under $150. You’re getting a basic, functional machine. It cleans well for everyday messes but might have less power or fewer attachments than premium models. The build materials might be lighter too.
Will a budget upright vacuum clean carpets effectively?
Yes, most will handle low to medium-pile carpets just fine. They have a motorized brush roll to agitate dirt. For very thick or high-pile carpets, you might need to make more passes. It’s good for maintaining cleanliness, not deep cleaning years of ground-in dirt.
What features are usually missing on cheaper models?
You often won’t find advanced filtration like HEPA seals, fancy LED headlights, or automatic height adjustments. They might come with just one or two basic tools, if any. The cord length could be shorter, and teh hose might not be as long or sturdy.
How long do these vacuums typically last?
With proper care, a good budget model can last 3 to 5 years. It depends a lot on how often you use it. Avoid sucking up large debris or hair that wraps the brush roll, as this can strain the motor. Regular filter cleaning helps alot.
Are bags or bagless models better for cheap vacuums?
This is mostly personal preference. Bagless saves you from buying bags, but you have to empty a dusty bin. Bagged models can be more hygenic and sometimes maintain suction better as the bag fills. Check the cost of replacement bags first.
Can it handle pet hair?
Many budget uprights have a “pet hair” tool or setting. They work decently on surfaces like carpets and rugs. For furniture, you’ll likely need a separate upholstery tool. Just be prepared to clean the brush roll frequently, as hair wraps around it quick.
Is a cheap vacuum loud?
They can be, as noise reduction tech is often cut to save cost. It’s not usually extreme, but it’s louder than some higher-end models. If noise is a big concern, look for user reviews that specifically mention the sound level.
What’s the most important thing to check before buying?
Read recent customer reviews. They tell you about real-world reliability and any common problems. Also, check the warranty. A one-year warranty is pretty standard, but some brands offer longer coverage for certain parts.
Our Final Words
Choosing teh right vacuum doesn’t have to be a stressful or expensive decision. By focusing on your main needs—like floor type, bin size, and weight—you can quickly narrow down the options. Remember, a good machine gets the job done without complicating your routine or breaking your budget. It’s about making your weekly chores a bit simpler and your home feel fresher.
We hope this guide helps you see that a reliable clean is totally accessable. You can find an effective, budget-friendly clean with a cheap upright vacuum. It’s a practical tool that offers great value, letting you maintain a tidy space and save your money for other things. Start your search with confidence knowing a great helper is out their waiting.