A great clean shouldn’t be limited by your budget. While it’s true that you get what you pay for, you don’t need to take out a loan or start a payment plan to get a great vacuum. All you need is knowledge of the best models and brands for inexpensive vacuums, and a good sense of your particular needs.
In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of 10 of the best vacuums on the market for $100 or less. By the end, not only will you have a short list of the best inexpensive vacuums you can choose from, but also a good idea of which features and qualities are most important.
Whether you need a good vacuum to maintain your college dorm or a more powerful model to clean your entire house, there is a vacuum on our list for you.
Table of Contents
Best Vacuums Under $100 – Comparison
| Image | Name | Weight | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Eureka Blaze 3 in 1 | 3.97 pounds | Corded | Check Latest Price |
 | Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum | 7.5 pounds | Bagless | Check Latest Price |
 | Armor-All Wet/Dry Utility | 7 pounds | Corded Electric | Check Latest Price |
 | Bissell Cleanview Vacuum | 15.4 pounds | Bagless | Check Latest Price |
 | Eureka Whirlwind Canister | 8.29 pounds | Corded | Check Latest Price |
 | Dibea 2 in 1 Corded Vacuum | 4.63 pounds | Corded | Check Latest Price |
 | Black and Decker Ultralight | 8.8 pounds | Corded | Check Latest Price |
 | Roomie Tec Cordless Vacuum | 4.5 pounds | Cordless | Check Latest Price |
 | Eureka Power Speed Turbo | 17.15 pounds | Corded | Check Latest Price |
 | Iwoly V600 Stick Vacuum | 6 pounds | Corded | Check Latest Price |
The Best Affordable Vacuums that Still Pack a Punch
Keep in mind, as you read about each vacuum, what features are most important to you. The type of flooring you need to clean, the size of your home, and the power you’re looking for all matter.
Let’s get started.
1. Eureka Blaze 3 in 1
The Eureka Blaze is one of the cheapest options on our list, but its performance doesn’t match its price.
This vacuum is a great choice if you have limited storage, and mid to low pile carpeting or hard floors. It’s not a great choice for thicker carpeting and rugs but will work on almost any other flooring type.
The stick design is fully integrated, easy to use, and includes both a handheld mode and a crevice tool that helps clean tight corners. The crevice tool also makes it easier to use this vacuum to clean cars, the inside of your closet, and around furniture.
Switch over to the handheld to handle furniture and curtain upholstery. While not the most powerful handheld on the market, it is enough to help you freshen your furniture and go longer between washing.
This is a corded vacuum, and we were initially worried that the cord would be too short since this is such an affordable option. Fortunately, the Blaze as an 18-foot cord. That’s slightly shorter than the industry average of about 20 feet, but not enough shorter to be a disadvantage.
The Blaze is also one of the lighter stick vacuums on the market. If you’re looking for a vacuum that is easy to control and steer without aggravating shoulder, back or neck injuries, this is a good choice. At under 4lbs, the Blaze is about as light as a functional vacuum can be.
What We Like:
- Extremely lightweight
- Very affordable
- Good suction
- Great sweeper vacuum
- Handheld and crevice tools are of good value.
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not suitable for high-pile carpeting
- Relatively small dust cup needs to be emptied often
2. Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum
Another highly affordable option, even for an under $100 list, Bissell’s Zing goes the other direction. Instead of the sleek small design of a stick vacuum like the Blaze, the Zing is a canister vacuum.
Canisters come with a couple of advantages. The biggest single advantage is their size. The dust cup on the Zing is significantly bigger than you can find on a stick vacuum or even many upright vacuums.
Canister vacuums also tend to be more powerful than other designs at the same price point because they have more room for a larger motor. Some of that power is lost in the Zing, and in other canister vacuums, because this design also forces the suction to go through a long tube before it reaches the vacuum’s cleaning head.
That said, the Zing is a good example of an affordable canister vacuum that delivers the punch you need for a deep clean, without breaking the bank. It does have a slightly shorter cord than average. Some of that lost length is made up in the long hose between the canister and the vacuum handle.
Separating the canister from the vacuum head also makes the Zing easier to control and maneuver through your home.
However, it’s also on the heavier side for a vacuum. If you have lots of stairs, you may want to stick to a stick or upright vacuum over the Zing, or another canister vacuum, since those designs are much lighter on average.
What We Like:
- Large dust cup
- Washable filters
- Lots of suction
- Multiple floor settings for carpeting and hard flooring
- Completely bagless
What We Didn’t Like:
- Shorter than average power cord
- Heavy, difficult to move up and downstairs
3. Armor-All Wet/Dry Utility Vacuum
Of course, not all vacuums are designed to be used in your home. We thought it was important to include a shop/car vacuum in our list since these specialty vacuums can often be more expensive than you need to maintain a good working space.
The Armor All isn’t a traditional indoor flooring vacuum. It’s a small shop vac, designed to handle wet and dry messes with equal ease.
We recommend this vacuum if you’re looking for a shop vac for your garage or workshop, have mild to moderate cleaning needs, and don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a functional system.
This is also a good option if you want a dedicated car vacuum. Shop vacs are well suited to cleaning your car since they have powerful suction, can take care of liquid spills as well as mud and slush, but won’t tear your upholstery.
The Armor All has a big advantage in that it’s one of the more affordable shop vacuums available, but still has the power to get the job done.
It has a 2.5-gallon dust tank. That’s big enough to tackle sawdust, metal shavings, snack food spills, and more.
Like most shop vacs, it also has a blower mode that will help you move and contain messes in an accessible area for vacuuming.
What We Like:
- Highly affordable
- Powerful Suction
- Fabric filter
- Designed for larger and more problematic debris
- Blower mode works well for moving sawdust, leaves, and more
What We Didn’t Like:
- Short 10-foot cord
- Dust cup somewhat smaller than other shop vacs
- Not designed for continuous use over a long period
4. Bissell Cleanview Bagless Vacuum
The first upright vacuum on our list, the Cleanview is one of the more traditional vacuums to make our list. Bissell’s made a couple of appearances on our list, and there’s a reason for that. They’re one of the more successful vacuum companies and deserve their reputation. Bissell machines tend to be high-performing and relatively durable tools.
The Cleanview is no exception, despite being in the least expensive price bracket for vacuums.
Bissell has given the Cleanview their OnePass technology, which eliminates the need for several passes to effectively clean your floors. One of the most common side effects of getting an inexpensive vacuum is needing to vacuum your floors two or three times before they’re clean.
You don’t need to do that with this vacuum.
It also has a longer than average 25-foot cord, which is useful for homes with larger rooms or open floorplans.
However, it can be a little more difficult to push and steer than other vacuuming options. The Cleanview doesn’t have swivel steering, which means that turning and small course corrections can be difficult to make.
That said, the large dust cup, tends to make up for a little difficulty in our book, since we don’t need to worry about emptying the cup nearly as often.
What We Like:
- Longer than average power cord
- Large Dust Cup
- Powerful suction with OnePass technology
- Washable filter, easy to replace
What We Didn’t Like:
- Heavier than many upright vacuums
- No swivel steering
5. Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister Vacuum
Another canister option, this time from America manufacturing company Eureka, is another good option if you’re looking for a more powerful vacuum and have a reasonable amount of storage space for it.
The 3L dust cup is one of the biggest on our list, and more than large enough to vacuum your whole home, potentially several times, before you need to empty it.
The filters are fully washable and durable enough that you won’t need to replace them with normal use. That means that the Whirlwind is a fully bagless vacuum that also has almost no filter replacement costs.
While there isn’t a handheld option for this vacuum, it does come with a crevice tool.
It also comes with auto cord rewinding. While a small detail, this can save you time and effort winding the cord, and can also increase the life of the cord itself by preventing knots and unnecessary twisting.
Additionally, this canister vacuum has avoided the most significant downside with most canisters. At only 8lbs, it’s more lightweight than many upright vacuums. That means that this canister vacuum, with the extra power and capacity you expect from a canister, is more like a stick vacuum in weight.
The only disadvantage worth mentioning is that it’s not an all-floor vacuum. Like most lightweight vacuums, it works well for hard floors and low-pile carpeting but isn’t very effective on high-pile carpeting.
What We Like:
- Auto Cord Rewind
- Very lightweight
- Large Dust Cup
- Fully washable dust cup and filters
- Comes with wand and crevice tools
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not suitable for high pile carpeting
6. Dibea 2 in 1 Corded Vacuum
A slightly different take on stick vacuum design, this one is still lightweight and sleek, but compromises that design plan to include a larger 1L dust cup.
It’s also one of the more versatile vacuums on our list. It has an included 5-floor height settings, letting you move from hard floor to high pile carpeting. The adjustment button is on a slider, letting you make smooth adjustments that protect your floor and the vacuum’s motor.
The Dibea is also one of only a few vacuums on our list that comes with a HEPA air filter. While not as effective as a true air filtration system, buying a vacuum with a HEPA filter is a good way to reduce allergens and improve the air quality in your home.
The 19.7 Ft cord is about average for a stick vacuum. More than long enough to vacuum most rooms without changing outlets, but not long enough to become a tripping hazard.
At just over 4.5lbs, this stick vacuum is still lighter than average, and easy to use.
Since it also converts into a handheld, the Dibea is a good choice for homes with lots of furniture that needs vacuuming, or with multiple staircases.
While it doesn’t have the suction of a larger vacuum, it’s still suitable for most flooring types.
What We Like:
- Large dust cup for a stick vacuum
- Multiple floor settings
- Reasonable suction
- Lightweight
- Good cord length
- Powerful handheld mode
What We Didn’t Like:
- May need multiple passes on high pile carpeting
- Slightly prone to overheating
7. Black and Decker Ultralight Airswivel Vacuum
Another middle price option is the Black and Decker Airswivel. This machine offers most of the conveniences we’ve come to expect from good vacuums, but without the high price tag.
It has a long 25 ft cord, swivel steering, and good suction. This is a great choice if your home is predominantly carpet, and you need a machine that can take care of pet hair and other difficult dirt and debris.
The hand tool is less powerful than some of the stick 2- and 3-in-1 models, but still enough to help you freshen your furniture.
The Airswivel has an ergonomic handle, which helps improve its movement and comfort in your hand. Combines with the swivel steering, this is an easy vacuum to pilot. At just under 9lbs it’s also one of the lighter upright vacuums available, which makes it even easier to use.
The 2L dust cup is about average for an upright vacuum, but enough to use on multiple rooms, and even multiple floors, of your home without emptying.
This is also one of the few vacuums on our list that comes with a hose. The additional 6ft of length is perfect for cleaning around furniture and getting tricky dust on shelves and on top of ceiling fans.
What We Like:
- Long Power Cord
- Additional 6ft hose
- Relatively lightweight
- Included pet hair specialty tool
What We Didn’t Like:
- Handheld is less powerful than some
- Not effective for hard flooring
8. Roomie Tec Cordless Vacuum
While this is the most expensive vacuum on our list, it’s also got more powerful suction and a range of features that make it well worth it.
Rather than a single motor, or one to produce suction and another operating a beater bar, this vacuum has two separate motors dedicated to providing continuous high-level suction. That makes the Roomie Tec a significantly more powerful vacuum than you can typically find at or under $100.
It’s also a cordless vacuum. Cordless models have both advantages and disadvantages. They are storage-friendly. You don’t have to worry about the cord developing a short from improper wrapping or storage.
But they are limited by their battery length. You can only keep cleaning so long as the vacuum has a charge. Most cordless vacuums require several hours of charging to reach full battery. For the most part, when the battery goes, you’re done for the day.
This model gives you about 23 minutes of cleaning time. That’s about enough to vacuum a room, maybe two if they’re small but not much more.
Battery-powered vacuums tend to force the one-room-a-day cleaning method. While this can be a great way to manage your chores, it can be frustrating when you’re trying to do a deep clean of your whole house.
However, you can also be sure you’re getting a good clean when you use this vacuum. The 6 LED headlights on the front of the vacuum head make it easy to spot hidden dirt and debris.
The Roomie Tec is suitable for all flooring types. It’s a reasonable candidate for a whole-home vacuum. It’s also slim and compact enough to be a good choice for small apartments and dorm rooms where space is critical.
The charging base, crevice tool, and other accessories are all included. The charging base isn’t too large, and it’s reasonable to store this vacuum and its accessories in a small closet.
It also comes with a 1-year worry-free guarantee to give you some peace of mind when you buy.
What We Like:
- Lightweight, slim design
- Storage friendly
- LED headlights
- Powerful suction
- Reasonably sized dust cup
- Handheld is powerful
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only 23 minutes of cleaning time per charge
9. Eureka Power Speed Turbo Vacuum
This may well be the vacuum for you. Well, if you’re an animal lover that is. Few vacuums are as effective on pet hair and dander without quickly exceeding a $100 price point. Eureka also understands that pet owners need more dust cup capacity than homes with no pets.
Since pets naturally add a great deal of dust, not to mention the fur from shedding, a dust cup that would be reasonable for others would be frustratingly small. Once you have more than one furry companion, you need more than twice the capacity.
So, the Turbo has one of the largest capacity dust cups of any of the vacuums on our list, including the canister vacuums. At 4L, it’s more than enough to handle the largest messes without unnecessary trips to empty your vacuum.
It also has a long 25ft cord. That’s enough for all but the largest rooms and biggest homes. You’ll need to change outlets between rooms, but not much more.
It also has an additional 8ft hose, which provides further reach and control. Like the Roomie Tec, this vacuum has LED headlights to help you spot dirt as you clean. The lights are powerful enough to illuminate under furniture.
They’ll also highlight even thin strands of pet fur perfectly.
With the five built-in height settings, you can also quickly transition between different flooring types. The suction on the Turbo is enough to effectively clean hard flooring and carpeting alike.
What We Like:
- Large Dust Cup
- Powerful Suction
- Designed with pet owners in mind
- Long cord
- LED headlights
What We Didn’t Like:
- Slightly less effective for hard flooring
- Some customers report the beater bar getting caught in carpeting. This is likely a height setting issue but is worth mentioning.
10. Iwoly V600 Stick Vacuum
The last vacuum on our list, this vacuum is exactly what you picture when you think of a stick vacuum. Lightweight, easy to use, with a small dust cup, and reasonable suction
The V600 is designed to be easy to use, easy to store, and a good middle ground between the slimmest design and functionality. If you have back, neck, or shoulder problems this 6lbs vacuum should be easy to use.
The dustbin is easy to use and easy to clean, but it is small. If you plan on using the V600 as your main vacuum, you should also plan on emptying the dust bin between every room.
The cord is 16ft long. That’s a little on the short side, but it should be large enough for most medium-sized spaces.
However, the beater bar is air-powered, and won’t rotate on carpeting. That can save you some clogs, and make maintenance easier, but it may also prevent deep cleaning.
What We Like:
- HEPA filter
- Powerful Suction
- Lightweight design
- Handheld option is powerful and lightweight
- Extension tube is adjustable
What We Didn’t Like:
- Power cord is on the short side
- The dust cup is very small
Conclusion
Like we said at the beginning of the article, your budget shouldn’t limit your vacuum choices. We’ve done our best to gather a collection of different styles of vacuum with different strengths and weaknesses.
We’re confident that, on our list, you’ll find the right vacuum for you.