Nobody wants to spend a fortune on something as mundane as a vacuum cleaner, but choosing a cheap vacuum cleaner is a risky process – choose the wrong one and you’ll be wasting your money on a model that won’t clean properly and will need to be replaced before its time.
I’ve tested dozens of vacuum cleaners in various price ranges, and I have good news: there are affordable vacuum cleaners that do an excellent job of cleaning without breaking the bank. Below, I’ve rounded up the best cheap vacuum cleaners to buy and found the best deal on each to save you having to shop around.
1. Dreame R20
The Dreame R20 is just a really solid all-rounder at a very affordable price. It’s relatively easy to find around the £200 mark, and you get features and extras that usually come at a much higher price. There’s automatic suction adjustment based on detected dirt, generous run times and a separate soft floor head designed for hard floors (it gets right up close to the surface and polishes it clean without risking scratches). There is also a mini motorized upholstery tool that is among the best I have used for removing pet hair from furniture.
In my review, the Dreame R20 achieved solid results across the board when it came to cleaning, doing particularly well in my tests with deep carpets and pet hair. It’s not the dullest cleaner I’ve used (the V8 below is a better choice if direct power is your priority), but it will be more than adequate for most people’s needs.
2. Dyson V8 Advanced
If suction power is your priority, this is the affordable vacuum I would go for. It’s simpler than the Dreame – there’s no automatic suction adjustment and only two power modes to switch between – and it comes with fewer accessories. But what it lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in outright power. If you have lots of carpets or pets to clean up, this is the vacuum to go for.
The V8 is the oldest model in the current Dyson cordless range and there is a very slightly updated version with 130AW power rather than the original 115AW. Somewhat confusingly, there’s also an even more up-to-date option called the Dyson V8 Cyclone – it’s better all round, but deals are rare, so expect to pay more if you go for that version.
3. Shark Corded Stick Vacuum HZ500UKT
Choosing a corded vacuum cleaner over a cordless one is a great way to maximize your bang for your buck, and this one from Shark is excellent value for money. As a general rule of thumb, corded vacuum cleaners tend to provide better suction than cordless ones, and they also last longer in general.
While I haven’t tested this exact model, we’ve reviewed other similar corded vacuums from Shark and they’ve impressed us (here’s a sample review). In fact, Shark is one of my favorite vacuum cleaner brands and consistently gets high scores. The features look great too – there’s no automatic suction adjustment like you’ll find on the Dreame (#1), but this vacuum has a handy forward-bent wand for cleaning under furniture, a floor head against hair wraps and comes with three detailing tools including a mini motorized head for upholstery.
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