No one wants to spend a fortune on something as mundane as a vacuum cleaner, but choosing a cheap vacuum is a risky process – pick the wrong one and you'll be wasting your money on a model that won't clean properly and needs replacing before its time.
I've tested dozens of vacuums at different price points, and I have good news: there are affordable vacuums about that do a sterling cleaning job, without breaking the bank. Below, I've rounded up the best cheap vacuums to buy, and found the best deal on each to save you from having to shop around.
I've tested two of the three personally, and all come from reliable, respected brands that have considerable expertise in this area. In fact, the #1 pick also sits right at the top of my best cordless vacuum ranking. Read on for my favorite cheap vacuums...
1. Dreame R20
The Dreame R20 is just a really solid all-rounder for a very affordable price. It's relatively easy to find around the £200 mark, and you're getting features and extras that usually command a much higher price. There's automatic suction adjustment based on dirt detected, generous runtimes, and a separate soft floorhead designed for hard flooring (it'll get right up close to the surface and buff it clean without risking scratches). There's also a mini motorized upholstery tool that's amongst the best I've used at removing pet hair from furniture.
In my review the Dreame R20 achieved solid scores across the board when it came to cleaning, performing especially well in my deep carpet and pet hair tests. It's not the suckiest cleaner I've used (the V8 below is a better choice if outright power is your priority) but it'll be more than adequate for most people's needs.
2. Dyson V8 Advanced
If your priority is suction power, this is the affordable vacuum I'd go for. It's simpler than the Dreame – there's no automatic suction adjustment, and just two power modes to toggle between – and it comes with fewer attachments. However, what it lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in outright power. If you have lots of carpet or shedding pets to clean up after, this is the vacuum to go for.
The V8 is the oldest model in the current Dyson cordless lineup, and there is a very slightly updated version with 130AW of power rather than the original 115AW. Slightly confusingly, there's also an even more updated option, called the Dyson V8 Cyclone – it's better all round, but deals are rare so expect to pay more if you opt for that version.
3. Shark Corded Stick vacuum HZ500UKT
Opting for a corded vacuum rather than a cordless one is a great way to maximize your bang for buck, and this one from Shark is excellent value for money. As a general rule of thumb, corded vacuums tend to deliver better suction than cordless, and last longer overall too.
While I haven't tested this exact model, we have reviewed other, similar corded stick vacuums from Shark and they've impressed us (here's an example review). In fact, Shark is one of my favorite vacuum brands, and consistently earns high scores. The features look good too – there's no automatic suction adjustment, as you'll find on the Dreame (#1), but this vacuum has a handy forward-bending wand for cleaning under furniture, an anti hair-wrap floorhead and comes with three detail tools including a mini motorized head for upholstery.
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