Best Vacuum Cleaner Under $ 100: Top 5 Picks of 2017

by Alex Thorbens | Apr 23, 2016

2017 Top 5 Best Vacuums Under $100

27' cord
19 pounds
5 height adjustments
12 amps
110 volts
43.5"H x 13.5"W x 11.5"D
Dimensions
13" Cleaning Path
2 year warranty

25' cord
15.5 pounds
5 height adjustments
10 amps
110 volts
44"H x 12.5"W x 12.5"D
Dimensions
13" Cleaning Path
2 year warranty

25' cord
15 pounds
5 height adjustments
12 amps
110 volts
45"H x 14"W x 12"D
13.5" Cleaning Path
2 year warranty

18' cord
8 pounds
1 height adjustments
6 amps
110 volts
44"H x 11"W x 9.8"D
Dimensions
10" Cleaning Path
1 year warranty

30' cord
12 pounds
5 height adjustments
7 amps
110 volts
43"H x 12"W x 11"D
Dimensions
12" Cleaning Path
2 year warranty

If you’re on a tight budget, you’re probably looking for the best vacuum under 100 dollars. While technology has advance, so have prices, and it’s become expensive to keep your home clean. That said, even if you can’t afford one of the best vacuum cleaners on the market today, spending under $100 will still get you a good basic machine with some essential tools to get the job done and keep your home in tip top order. 2017 offers some exciting new models!

#1. Eureka AirSpeed AS3033A

Video Review

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Quick Stats

Air Speed Suction Seal
Auto Cord Rewind

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Accessories Included

Crevice tool
Dusting brush
Turbo brush

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Pros

Automatic cord rewind
Great suction

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Specs

Weight: 19 pounds
Power: 12 Amps
Cordless: No
Cord Length: 27′
Cord Rewind: Yes
Hose Length: 10’
Height Adjustments: 5
Cleaning Path Width: 13”
Dimensions: 43.5” x 13.5” x 11.5”
Warranty: 2 years

Cons

One of the few complaints about this upright is that it’s a bit on the heavy side compared to others so it’s not quite as easy to maneuver as others. While it’s not the most lightweight on our top 5 list, most users say features like the tools and auto cord rewind more than make up for that small shortcoming.

How does the cord retract?

The cord retracts by pushing a button. This is a feature not found in any of the other highly rated vacuum cleaners under $100.

How is it on hardwoods?

According to user reviews, the Eureka AS3033A works well on both hardwood floors and carpet. It does have an on / off switch for the brush roll, so it won’t be left spinning on bare floors.

What about pet hair?

As advertised, this vac does a good job at picking up both cat and dog hair. It also comes with a turbo brush attachment that works well for getting pet hair off furniture and other upholstery.

Is the filter washable?

The AirSpeed does have a washable filter, and you should check it often to get an idea of how often you’ll need to wash it out. One user who uses this vac to clean other people’s homes says in her review that she really puts this machine to the test on a daily basis cleaning in homes with pets and lot of dirt. She says she washes the sponge filter out every month and cleans the canister and rubber seals with a damp rag, and she’s never had to replace the filter.

Final Verdict

The Eureka AirSpeed Rewind AS3033A is by far the top on our list for many reasons. It has great suction, a nice long cord, a brush roll you can turn off for vacuuming bare floors, and the best feature is its automatic cord rewind. It seems like a small thing but makes life so much easier. If you’re in the market for one, Amazon has a big discount on this model right now.

#2. Bissell CleanView With OnePass

Video Review

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Quick Stats

Nonstop Suction
Multi Level Filtration
Cyclonic System

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Accessories Included

Crevice tool
Turbo brush

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Pros

Works great on carpet
Emptying dirt cup is easy
Good suction

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Specs

Weight: 15.5 pounds
Power: 10 Amps
Cordless: No
Cord Length: 25 feet
Cord Rewind: No
Hose Length: 6′
Height Adjustments: 5
Cleaning Path Width: 13.5”
Dimensions: 12.5” x 13.5” x 44”
Warranty: 2 years

Cons

While this upright is said to work fantastic on carpet according to user reviews, it doesn’t work nearly as well on hardwood. Rather than sucking up fine particles like cat litter or dirt, it tends to fling them around a bit. If this is a concern for you, it’s better to choose one on this list with a brush roll that can be turned off so it works better on bare flooring or spend a few more dollars on a vacuum specifically designed for hardwoods.

CleanView 1330 vs 9595?

This model, the 1330, differs slightly from the 9595 model (our #3 pick below). First, the 1330 has a newer brush roll for better pickup, and it is a bit quieter. This one also has slightly less suction power at 10 amps instead of 12, but people who have used both say the 2 amps don’t really seem to make a difference.

Is it good for hardwoods?

Some users say it works fine on bare floors and tile but not as well as some other uprights. It does have an adjustable brush height, so it works best to have it as low as possible. When you do this, it picks up most debris but not all of it. If you have cat litter on a hardwood floor, for instance, it may get flung around before it gets picked up.

How about rugs and carpet?

This vacuum cleaner works great on carpets, even when you have pet hair. One user says she has two Akitas who shed like crazy, and it picks up both fur and dirt without any problems. Another user has three cats, and she says it picks litter up off the carpets and rugs easily.

Is it quiet?

This vac is one of the quietest budget-friendly ones you can buy. Users say they can’t believe it has such great suction without being really loud.

Final Verdict

The Bissell Cleanview with OnePass 1330 model is one of the quietest cheap vacuums on the market today, and it does a great job on carpet. If you have mostly carpet in your home of any height, it’s a good one to choose. It has good suction and the dirt is easy to both see and empty. If you’d like to get one, we found right now Amazon.com has the best price around.

#3. Bissell Upright with OnePass

Video Review

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Quick Stats

Brush Gets Down Into Carpet
Easy Empty Dirt Container
Multi Level Filtration

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Accessories Included

Dusting brush/upholstery tool
Turbo brush
Crevice tool

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Pros

Easy to maneuver
Good suction
Gets close to baseboards

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Specs

Weight: 15 pounds
Power: 12 Amps
Cordless: No
Cord Length: 25′
Cord Rewind: No
Dirt Cup Capacity: 2.27 liters
Height Adjustments: 5
Cleaning Path Width: 13.5”
Dimensions: 14” x 12” x 45”
Warranty: 2 years

Cons

There are a few complaints from people who own the Bissell 9595A with OnePass. One of them is that the cord is shorter than that on other models, meaning it needs to be plugged and unplugged more often.

The other complaint is that it doesn’t do so well on hardwood floors. It works best on the lowest height setting, but there is no option to turn the brush roll off. If you have mostly bare floors in your home, you may not be as happy with this model and may want to spend a little more to get one of the best vacuums for hardwood floors or choose a budget-friendly model that has an option to turn off the spinning brush. That said, it does a fantastic job on cleaning carpets.

What about cat litter?

This model works great for whatever is on your carpeting, but if you need to vacuum kitty litter from a bare floor, the best way to do it is to get in front of the mess, then pull the machine backward. That way the spinning brush bristles won’t fling it around.

Does it work for pet hair?

In the words of one user in her review – it will suck the color right off of your tiles. She says she has three indoor dogs that shed a lot, and this Bissell gets right down to business and gets every hair.

Some vacuums you can buy for under 100 dollars tend to get clogged with pet hair pretty quickly, but the suction on this one is so good that shouldn’t be a problem. Even if you have tufted hair around, it seems to do a great job at sucking it up and not getting clogged.

Is the filter washable?

Yes – most users say they wash the filter monthly by hand. You may need to wash it more or less often depending on how often you clean your house and the amount of dirt that gets sucked up.

Is it loud?

Users say it’s not quiet but not the loudest either. They rate it about a five on a scale of one to ten.

Is it hard to push?

This really depends on the height setting. The way to make it easiest to push is to make sure you don’t have it set too low for the type of floor you’re cleaning. It’s not the heaviest vacuum on the market, but if you’re vacuuming a deep pile carpet on the low setting, you’re going to be in for a workout.

Is it good for long hair?

Most vacuums will get long hair tangled up in the brush, and you have to occasionally pull it out or cut it off. Most users say they don’t have that problem with this model, though one user with three girls in the house with long hair says she needs to untangle it from the brush every two months or so.

Will it fit under beds?

It really depends on how much clearance you have under your bed or other furniture as to whether it will fit. When lying flat, the profile is about ten inches, so if your furniture is lower than that, you’ll need to use the attachments instead.

Can I buy a HEPA filter?

There are two different filters available for this model: The standard one that’s included and a Febreze filter that you can purchase separately. Neither one has HEPA filtration. This model does however have multi-level filtration so it still does a decent job of getting dust out of the air.

Will it suck up curtains?

This unit does not have variable suction, so you get the same amount of suction when vacuuming the floor or using the extension hose. For this reason, it will probably try to suck up your drapes if they are very thin.

What about breakfast cereal?

In review after review, users say there is no problem picking up even bigger breakfast cereal or crushed crackers from under the dining table. One user says it even picks up Chex mix on the bare floor setting.

Is it good for stairs?

If you have carpeted stairs, it works great. However, the hose isn’t long enough to reach all the way up, so you’ll have to carry the machine with you to use the attachments. The hose only reaches about six feet, so you’ll be able to get to maybe four or five steps at a time.

Final Verdict

The Bissell 9595A with OnePass has stood the test of time. While it’s not the newest model, it’s still one of the top sellers and most popular vacs under $100. Make no mistake – this one is a workhorse. While it may not be the best choice if you have nothing but bare floors in your home, it’s a fantastic option for carpet if you’re on a tight budget. We found the best sale on this model at Amazon, but prices do tend to change quickly, so get it while it’s hot.

#4. Bissell Powerforce Pet

Video Review

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Quick Stats

Cyclonic System
Multi Level Filtration
Easy Empty Dirt Cup

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Accessories Included

Dusting brush/upholstery tool
Crevice tool

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Pros

Dirt cup is easy to empty
Doesn’t clog
Lightweight

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Specs

Weight: 8 pounds
Power: 6 Amps
Cordless: No
Cord Length: 18′
Cord Rewind: No
Height Adjustments: 1
Dirt Cup Capacity: 1.5 liters
Cleaning Path Width: 10”
Dimensions: 44” x 11” 9.8”
Warranty: 1 year

Cons

The biggest complaint of this lightweight compact is that it only has one height setting, making it a bit impractical if you have deep pile carpets like shag in your home. While it will still clean that type of carpet, it’s going to be harder to push even though it’s really light in weight.

Also, while it is advertised as a pet vacuum and works good on pet hair, it doesn’t come with any tools designed for this purpose, so it’s not the best model for getting that hair off your furniture.

Is the filter washable?

Yes, there is a foam filter that you can wash out by hand. Washing it once per month seems to work best for most homes, but if you clean more often and have a lot of dirt or pet hair, you might want to check it more often to see if it needs a cleaning.

Is it good for pet hair?

This vac is designed for homes with cat and dog hair, but it works well on just about everything. It doesn’t clog easily, so it works even on pet hair clumps that may be left on the carpet.

Final Verdict

The Bissell Powerforce Pet Allergy is a good deal for the low price. While it only has one height setting, it makes up for it by having good suction and being very lightweight. If you have lower pile carpet in your home, it’s a great option if you don’t want to spend a lot of money. Even better, Amazon has it on sale for a discount right now at this link.

#5. Bissell Aeroswift Compact

Video Review

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Quick Stats

Washable Febreze Filter
Quick Release Handle
Bottom Empty Dirt Container
Lightweight

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Accessories Included

Dusting brush/upholstery tool
Crevice tool
Bare floor tool

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Pros

Febreze scented filter
Lightweight
Good suction
Easy to empty dirt bin

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Specs

Weight: 12 pounds
Power: 7 Amps
Cordless: No
Cord Length: 30′
Cord Rewind: No
Height Adjustments: 5
Cleaning Path Width: 12”
Hose Length: 8’
Dimensions: 11” x 12” x 43”
Warranty: 2 years

Cons

While overall this budget low priced model is good for most jobs, it’s not the sturdiest vacuum cleaner out there. Users report that while it does work well and has held up over time, sometimes the wheels squeak when pulling the machine back and if you push down on it really hard, the brush stops spinning.

Is it good for pet hair?

Users say in their reviews that it works great for pet hair, but know that the dirt canister is on the small side, so if you have multiple pets, you may have to empty it often.

Does it have good suction?

For a downright cheap vacuum, the Bissell AeroSwift Compact does have good suction. It may not be the best choice for heavy duty cleaning, but it works great for day to day jobs.

Is it good for stairs?

It does work well to use on stairs but although it is a compact, the vacuum head is on the large side. For this reason, it may be tough to get into the corners, so you’ll want to use the attachments included.

How about hardwood?

This little vac does a good job on hardwood and other bare floors – just make sure you keep it on the lowest setting to do the best job. While the brush roll doesn’t turn off, the compact lightweight design makes it so debris like cat litter and other small particles don’t get blown around too much. It also comes with a bare floor attachment that does well in reviews.

Is the wand easy to use?

To use the hose, all you need to do is pull the suction hose out of the back of the machine and attach the crevice, bare floor or upholstery tool.

Final Verdict

The Bissell AeroSwift Compact 1009 model is the not only one of the best vacuums under 100 dollars, it is probably the best one under $50 as well. If you’re on a tight budget and only need to do regular day to day cleaning so you don’t need a fancier unit, this one will work well for you.

While it’s not the most industrial, it’s still a good investment. If you’d like to get one at the best price, we found Amazon has them on sale here.