WishFinds is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
You do not need to spend $500 to get clean floors. The best budget vacuums under $150 are almost all full-size, corded uprights, and that is actually good news: a corded upright gives you unlimited runtime, strong sustained suction, and a big dust cup for a fraction of the price of a premium cordless stick. The trade-off is weight and a cord to manage, but for a whole-home weekly clean, that trade is usually worth it.
Our verdict up front: if you want one vacuum for a mixed-floor home with pets, buy the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 first. If pet hair is your main enemy and you want the most pet tools for the money, the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Reach is the pick. If you want the lightest machine on this list, get the Eureka PowerSpeed. Prices move around sales and stock, so check the current price on Amazon before you buy — every pick below is positioned in the budget tier, and several are regularly listed well under $150.
How We Picked These 5 Budget Vacuums
We only included vacuums with a verified Amazon listing and published specifications from the manufacturer or Amazon product data. No invented suction figures, no guessed weights. Every model below is bagless, so there are no bags to buy, and every one handles both carpet and hard floors. We weighted pet-hair tools, dust-cup size, weight, cord reach, and warranty more heavily than gimmicks, because those are the things that matter after the first month of ownership.
A note on corded versus cordless: budget cordless models often run only 20 to 30 minutes with small dust cups. That suits a quick apartment tidy — see our guide to best cordless stick vacuums — but a corded upright cleans a full house without fading. If weight matters most, see our picks for best lightweight stick vacuums.
At a Glance: The 5 Best Budget Vacuums Under $150
| Vacuum | Best For | Weight | Dust Cup | Cord / Hose | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 | Best overall | 12.5 lbs | 1.1 quarts | 8-foot hose | Lift-Away detachable pod |
| Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Reach 3198A | Best for pet hair | 18.43 lbs | 1.06 quarts | 25-foot cord | Triple Action brush roll |
| Eureka PowerSpeed NEU182A | Lightest pick | 10 lbs | 2.6 liters | 25-foot cord | 5 height settings |
| Dirt Devil Endura Max XL UD70186 | Biggest dust cup value | 13 lbs | 2 liters | 25-foot cord | Endura filtration |
| Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet 2254 | Easiest storage | 13.65 lbs | 1.06 quarts | Automatic cord rewind | Swivel steering |
1. Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 — Best Overall Budget Vacuum
The Shark NV352 Navigator Lift-Away is the rare budget vacuum that feels thoughtfully designed rather than stripped down. It is a 2-in-1 upright: press a button and the pod lifts away from the floor nozzle, so you can carry just the pod up stairs or use it for upholstery and above-floor cleaning without dragging the whole upright behind you.
Amazon product data lists it at 12.5 pounds, with a 1.1-quart dust cup, a 1,200-watt motor, an 8-foot hose, an 11-inch cleaning path, and a sealed system with a washable HEPA filter plus foam filters. It also has swivel steering, which makes a real difference when you are weaving around chair legs and coffee tables. Shark backs it with a 5-year limited warranty, which is unusually generous at this price and a big reason it tops this list.
In practice, the NV352 is best for mixed floors: carpet, bare floors, stairs, and upholstery are all listed as recommended uses. The Lift-Away mode is the feature you will actually use every week, especially on stairs, where a full upright is awkward and a handheld is too weak.
Pros:
- Lift-Away pod makes stairs and upholstery far easier
- Sealed HEPA system helps trap dust and allergens
- Swivel steering for tight spaces
- 5-year limited warranty
Cons:
- Dust cup is smaller than the Eureka and Dirt Devil picks
- No headlight, unlike some pricier Shark models
- Corded, so you are tied to an outlet
2. Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Reach 3198A — Best Budget Vacuum for Pet Hair
If you share your home with a shedding dog or cat, the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Reach 3198A is built for you. Its Triple Action brush roll with Scatter-Free Technology is designed to pick up pet hair without scattering debris on hard floors, and it ships with a Pet TurboEraser tool plus a 2-in-1 dusting brush and crevice tool for stairs and furniture.
The published specs are substantial: 18.43 pounds, a 1.06-quart dirt tank, a 1,000-watt motor, a 25-foot cord, a 46-inch hose, and 80 decibels of noise. The Quick Release Extension Wand extends your reach for ceilings, curtains, and high corners. Swivel steering keeps this heavier machine maneuverable, which matters because at over 18 pounds it is the heaviest vacuum on this list.
The honest trade-off is weight. This is not the vacuum to carry up three flights of stairs every day. But if your main job is pet hair on carpet and upholstery in a single-story home, the tool set and brush design earn it. For more pet-focused options, also check our roundup of best stick vacuums for pet hair if you want a lighter second vacuum for daily touch-ups.
Pros:
- Triple Action brush roll designed for pet hair
- Pet TurboEraser tool included for stairs and upholstery
- Quick Release Wand for above-floor cleaning
- 25-foot cord covers large rooms
Cons:
- Heaviest pick on this list at 18.43 pounds
- Larger footprint for small closets
- No sealed HEPA system like the Shark
3. Eureka PowerSpeed NEU182A — Lightest Budget Vacuum
The Eureka PowerSpeed NEU182A is the pick for anyone who dreads hauling a vacuum upstairs. At just 10 pounds, it is the lightest full-size upright here, yet it still offers a large 2.6-liter dust cup, a 25-foot cord, a 12.6-inch cleaning path, and 5 height adjustment settings so you can move from low carpet to hard floors without losing suction.
It comes with a pet turbo tool, crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool, all stored on board, and its washable filters keep running costs low. Price tracking for this model has shown it around $89.99 at times, with a low near $39.99 historically, which makes it one of the best value-per-pound vacuums you can buy. Check the live Amazon price, since it fluctuates, but the value case holds even at the higher end of its usual range.
The PowerSpeed is not fancy: there is no sealed HEPA system and no Lift-Away pod. What it does is clean a whole home without wearing you out, empty less often thanks to that big dust cup, and store easily. For apartments and smaller homes, that combination is hard to beat.
Pros:
- Only 10 pounds — easiest to carry
- Large 2.6-liter dust cup means fewer empties
- 5 height settings for carpet and hard floors
- Pet turbo tool included
Cons:
- No sealed HEPA filtration
- Basic styling and build compared with Shark
- Louder feel than the quieter picks for some users
4. Dirt Devil Endura Max XL UD70186 — Best Big-Cup Budget Pick
The Dirt Devil Endura Max XL UD70186 is the quiet value pick of this list. It pairs a large 2-liter dirt cup with Endura filtration, a quick-release extension wand, and a pet tool, in a 13-pound upright that is easy to live with. Published data lists a 600-watt motor, a 12-foot hose, a 25-foot cord, and a 14-inch cleaning path in the Endura family comparison, plus a 2-year limited warranty.
That wide cleaning path is a real time-saver in open-plan rooms: fewer passes to cover the same floor. The Endura filtration system is designed to keep suction steadier as the cup fills, which is the kind of unglamorous engineering that matters on a budget machine. It is also a good choice if you are deciding between bagged vs bagless vacuums, since this bagless design means no recurring bag cost, just a washable filter routine and an empty cup.
It lacks swivel steering and sealed HEPA filtration, and its tool set is simpler than Bissell’s pet package — but for a big-cup clean at a budget price (retail listings have shown it around $139.99), it is excellent value.
Pros:
- Large 2-liter dirt cup
- Wide 14-inch cleaning path for faster coverage
- Endura filtration for steadier suction
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons:
- No swivel steering
- Simpler tool set than Bissell pet models
- No sealed HEPA system
5. Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet 2254 — Easiest to Store
The Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet 2254 solves the most annoying part of owning a corded vacuum: the cord. Its automatic cord rewind pulls the cord back in at the touch of a button, so you never wind it by hand or trip over a loop left on the floor. Add swivel steering, a 1.06-quart dirt tank, and specialized pet tools, and you have a genuinely convenient pet-home vacuum.
Amazon data lists it at 13.65 pounds with an 8-foot hose and a washable foam filter system. Vacuum testing coverage has also noted a 27-foot cord and a 13.5-inch cleaning path for this model family, plus a large-capacity dirt tank. The practical result is a machine that is lighter than the 3198A above, easier to put away, and still properly equipped for pet hair.
The main compromise is filtration: this model uses a washable foam filter rather than a sealed HEPA system, so allergy-sensitive buyers should lean toward the Shark NV352 instead. It also uses manual height adjustment, which takes a moment to learn. Neither is a dealbreaker at this price, but both are worth knowing before you buy.
Pros:
- Automatic cord rewind — no manual winding
- Swivel steering and pet tools included
- Lighter than the larger Bissell pet model
- Large-capacity dirt tank
Cons:
- No sealed HEPA filtration
- Manual height adjustment
- Foam filter needs regular washing
Buying Guide: What Matters Most Under $150
Weight matters more than watts. A vacuum you hate carrying will sit in the closet. If you have stairs, favor the 10-pound Eureka or the 12.5-pound Shark over the 18-pound Bissell. Wattage alone does not tell you how well a vacuum cleans; brush design, seal, and airflow matter just as much.
Dust-cup size decides how often you stop. The Eureka at 2.6 liters and the Dirt Devil at 2 liters will go much longer between empties than the 1.1-quart Shark. Pet homes fill cups fast, so size up if you have shedding animals.
Pet tools are not optional for pet homes. A motorized pet tool or a TurboEraser-style brush makes stairs and upholstery dramatically easier than a bare crevice tool. If you do not have pets, you can safely prioritize weight and cup size instead.
Check the warranty. Shark’s 5-year limited warranty on the NV352 stands out here, followed by Dirt Devil’s 2-year coverage. A longer warranty on a budget machine is a good sign the maker expects it to last.
Bagless saves money, but wash the filters. All five picks are bagless, so your only consumable cost is eventual filter replacement. Rinse washable filters on schedule and let them dry fully — a damp filter kills suction and smells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a vacuum under $150 really handle pet hair?
Yes, if it has the right brush and tools. The Bissell models here use pet-specific brush rolls and TurboEraser tools, and the Shark and Eureka both include pet tools. What a budget vacuum will not do as well as a premium model is deep-clean thick, high-pile carpet on a single slow pass — expect two passes on heavy shedding areas.
Are corded budget vacuums better than budget cordless vacuums?
For whole-home cleaning, usually yes. Corded models run indefinitely, keep suction steady, and carry bigger dust cups. Budget cordless models are better as a second vacuum for quick daily touch-ups, especially in apartments, which is why we cover them separately in our guide to best cordless stick vacuums.
How heavy is too heavy for stairs?
Most people find anything over about 15 pounds tiring to carry upstairs regularly. That points to the 10-pound Eureka or the Lift-Away Shark pod, which detaches so you carry only part of the machine. The 18.43-pound Bissell is best kept on one floor.
Do I need a HEPA filter?
If anyone in the home has dust allergies or asthma, yes — choose a sealed HEPA model like the Shark NV352. If allergies are not a concern, a washable foam or standard filter is fine and cheaper to maintain. Our discussion of bagged vs bagless vacuums also covers filtration trade-offs in more detail.
How often should I empty a bagless dust cup?
Empty it when it reaches about two-thirds full, or sooner with heavy pet hair. A full cup reduces airflow and suction on every bagless model, no matter the brand. Washable filters should be rinsed roughly monthly in a pet home, and always dried completely before reinstalling.
Is the Eureka PowerSpeed really only 10 pounds?
Yes, published product data for the NEU182A family lists a 10-pound weight, a 2.6-liter dust cup, and a 25-foot cord. That is why it is our lightest pick and a strong choice for apartments, smaller homes, and anyone with stairs.
Final Verdict
The best budget vacuums under $150 prove you do not need a premium price for a clean home. Buy the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 for the best all-around mix of weight, HEPA filtration, Lift-Away convenience, and warranty. Buy the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Reach if pet hair is your daily battle. Buy the Eureka PowerSpeed if you want the lightest machine and the biggest dust cup. And buy the Dirt Devil Endura Max XL if you want wide, fast coverage for open rooms. Whichever you choose, check the live Amazon price, wash the filters, and empty the cup often — those three habits matter more than any single feature.