The 4 Best Vacuums Under $100 - Summer 2023 Reviews

The best vacuum priced under $100 we've tested is the Eureka Mighty Mite. This bagged canister vacuum is lightweight and compact, making it a cinch 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, resulting in 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.

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 factor isn't nearly as maneuverable as a canister vacuum like the Eureka Mighty Mite in tight spaces. Still, its powered floorhead provides a lot more in the way of surface agitation, so it's a 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 many carpet types. If you need to clear debris from hard-to-reach areas, you can clean them with the vacuum's hose and soft-bristle dusting brush or crevice tool, though it's worth noting that the hose is short, making it a little tricky to clean some shelves.

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. Want a vacuum with a larger dustbin? Check out the Dirt Devil Endura Max, but it doesn't do as well on carpeted floors.

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. 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 them out. It has a very short power cord, so you'll need to swap outlets when vacuuming even moderately far-away or large areas.

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, so you're better off using the provided crevice tool or hard-bristle brush for this sort of task.

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 trapping allergens and can run up to half an hour on a charge. However, it's quite hard to find in some markets.