Vacuuming isn't especially fun, and having to shell out your hard-earned cash for a vacuum cleaner might be even more painful. I was in charge of TechRadar's vacuum cleaner coverage for two full years, during which time I tested out all kinds of vacuums at all kinds of prices. I've put together this article to help out anyone who's in need of a new vacuum for their spring cleaning kick, but doesn't want to pay over the over the odds for it.
Most of these picks come in just under £250 (although deals crop up on all of these models fairly regularly), which is generally enough to get you a very capable cleaner. My top recommendation is probably the Dreame R20, which is perhaps the best cordless vacuum cleaner I've tested all-round, serving up good vacuuming, a lightweight build and some advanced special features for that affordable price.
I'm also a big fan of the Dyson V8 Cyclone; a refreshed version of the iconic V8. It's relatively basic in features, but really shines when it comes to outright cleaning clout — this is the option I'd recommend to owners of shedding pets.
A wild card is the Shark Freestyle Max. It's unusual in that it's an upright model, but it's cordless. On test it delivered nimble maneuvering and superb suction — albeit over very short runtimes. It's the cheapest of the bunch, at around £100. Happy spring cleaning!
My favorite cheap vacuums — UK
On sale for £230, this is one of the best-value vacuums we've ever seen. It delivers incredible cleaning performance and features that you never really find in the budget bracket, such as automatic suction adjustment.
It's not cheap cheap, but if you want a Dyson, this older model is the most affordable option. You're still getting the high build quality and impressive engineering you'd expect from that brand, and it's incredibly easy to maneuver too.
If you must have cordless, this is the best <£200 option we've tested. It's easy to use with some useful design features like a forward-bending wand for getting under furniture. However, it won't clean as well as my >£200 options at #3, #4 and #5.
