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The 4 Best Vacuums Under $100 - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Vacuums Under $100

If you're looking for a vacuum under $100, it may seem like you need to make a lot of sacrifices regarding performance. However, vacuums have become more affordable over time and can offer versatility that comes close to their higher-priced counterparts. While you still may have to choose between extra tools or better build quality, it's possible to find a vacuum for under $100 that suits your needs.

We've tested over 140 vacuums, and below are our recommendations for the best vacuums for under $100. If you're looking for more, check out our recommendations for the best handheld vacuums, the best upright vacuums, and the best lightweight vacuums.


  1. Best Vacuum Under $100

    The best vacuum priced under $100 we've tested is the Eureka Mighty Mite. This bagged canister vacuum is lightweight and compact, so it's easy to maneuver in tight spots or to stow away when not in use. It's also remarkably easy to maintain, as you can quickly access its filter and dirtbag. Despite its affordable price point, it has a relatively potent 12 amp motor, so it has fantastic performance on bare floors and good debris pickup on low-pile carpet if you retract the bristles on its floorhead. However, there are better options for cleaning thicker carpet since it doesn't come with a motorized or turbobrush floorhead for improved surface agitation. You can also remove its extension wand and clean it with its hard-bristle brush or combination upholstery/crevice tool.

    If you want to avoid the hassle of replacing a dirtbag periodically, the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a great alternative. However, shaking out a dustbin isn't as effortless or hygienic as simply removing and tossing a filled dustbag. It also has a shorter range than the Mighty Mite.

    See our review

  2. Best Upright Vacuum Under $100

    If you're looking for an upright model, the BISSELL PowerForce Helix is among the best vacuum cleaners under $100 we've tested. Its upright form makes it less maneuverable than a canister vacuum like the Eureka Mighty Mite in tight spaces. That said, its powered floorhead provides a lot more in the way of surface agitation, so it's a much better option if you have a lot of thick carpeting and rugs at home. Its floorhead has five levels of height adjustment, which is rare for a vacuum at this price point, and allows you to adapt to most lengths of carpet. It can still get caught on thick shag-pile carpeting even at its highest setting. While it excels with pet hair and larger debris on most surface types, it has difficulty dealing with finer material embedded deep within carpet fibers. If you need to clear debris from hard-to-reach areas, clean them with the vacuum's hose and crevice tool with a slide-on soft-bristle dusting brush.

    Unfortunately, there's no off switch for its brushroll, so be careful when cleaning around loose obstructions like rug tassels since they can get tangled in the floorhead. Unsurprisingly, given its price, build quality is nothing special either, with a mainly plastic body that looks and feels cheap and somewhat toy-like. While the BISSELL's dustbin is fairly large and won't need to be emptied often, you could consider the Dirt Devil Endura Max if you're looking for something with an even greater debris capacity.

    See our review

  3. Best Lightweight Vacuum Under $100

    The BISSELL Featherweight Stick is worth a look if you're looking for a lightweight, all-purpose vacuum at a bargain price. It falls short of the Eureka Mighty Mite and BISSELL PowerForce Helix regarding debris pickup performance, especially in dealing with heavier material or messes on carpeted floors. However, weighing about three pounds, it's remarkably portable and is a good option for elderly users who don't want something too heavy or bulky to maneuver around. Its simple design also makes it easy to maintain, as the few parts that need regular cleaning are easy to access. You can easily reconfigure it into a compact handheld vacuum to clean tight spots by removing its handle.

    It does a fantastic job dealing with pet hair on different surface types. It's also impressively effective in dealing with small debris. However, it can have quite a bit of trouble dealing with bulkier material, especially as its dustbin fills up and suction performance starts to degrade. Hazards like rug tassels can also get stuck in its floorhead, requiring you to turn off the vacuum and pull it out. It has a very short power cord, so you'll need to swap outlets when vacuuming from moderately far away or in large areas.

    See our review

  4. Best Handheld Vacuum Under $100

    If you're shopping for a budget-friendly handheld, the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is a great choice and is the best cordless vacuum under $100 that we've tested. It delivers superb debris pickup on bare surfaces like countertops and does an excellent job clearing messes on carpets and rugs. The CH951 variant comes with a miniature turbo brush with a self-cleaning brushroll for dealing with debris on upholstered surfaces. Unfortunately, this attachment is a little bulky and not all that effective for dealing with pet hair on furniture, and you're better off using the provided crevice tool or hard-bristle brush for cleaning this kind of surface.

    This handheld also does a terrible job of sealing fine particles, making it a poor choice if you suffer from serious allergies. Its short battery life of just over 10 minutes is also very short, even by the standards of other handheld vacuums, and forces you to work fast when dealing with bigger messes. Worse, the manufacturer didn't make the battery removable or replaceable. If the Shark's short battery life and poor filtration performance are serious concerns, check out the Wyze Handheld Vacuum, which does a much better job of trapping allergens and fine debris and can run up to half an hour on a charge. However, it's quite hard to find in some markets.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister: The BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister offers great performance on high-pile carpet. However, it has more recurring costs than the Eureka Mighty Mite. See our review
  • Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum: The Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum is an affordable handheld vacuum, but it doesn't outperform the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ on bare floors. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 06, 2024: Replaced Dirt Devil Endura Max with BISSELL PowerForce Helix as the 'Best Upright Vacuum Under $100' pick.

  2. Dec 07, 2023: Minor in-text adjustments to further clarify product information.

  3. Oct 06, 2023: Replaced BISSELL PowerForce Helix with Dirt Devil Endura Max as 'Best Upright Vacuum Under $100' pick due to current product availability.

  4. Aug 08, 2023: Ensured all main picks are still available and represent the best option for user needs.

  5. Jun 09, 2023: Minor in-text adjustments to improve clarity of information.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are currently the best vacuum cleaners for under $100 to buy. We factor in a fairly wide range of factors, including availability, price, and reader feedback.

If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our vacuum reviews under $100. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no vacuum is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.