6 Best Cheap Vacuums for Carpet in 2025

For those seeking a feather-light cleaning companion for quick pickups, the Bissell Featherweight Stick is a top contender. This stick vacuum is a master of versatility, transforming seamlessly between a stick vac, a handheld unit, and even a stair cleaner with its dedicated floor nozzle. Weighing next to nothing, it makes tackling sudden spills or surface messes on hard floors and low-pile carpets remarkably effortless and swift.

While its 15-foot power cord provides ample reach for small apartments or specific rooms, don’t expect it to deep clean thick carpets. The 0.67-liter dirt cup is sufficient for light duty, and the included crevice tool is handy for reaching into tight spots around furniture. This Bissell model excels as a secondary vacuum for quick, targeted cleaning rather than a primary solution for extensive areas or embedded dirt. It’s designed for immediate gratification, not heavy-duty sessions.

Compared to the more robust Eureka PowerSpeed, the Bissell Featherweight prioritizes portability and speed over deep cleaning power. It’s ideal for users who live in smaller spaces or need a dedicated tool for unexpected messes. While the Bissell prioritizes its three-in-one functionality, the Eureka focuses on enhanced cyclone technology and deeper carpet penetration. The Featherweight offers basic surface cleaning where the Eureka is engineered for comprehensive dirt extraction.

The Eureka PowerSpeed stands out with its upgraded Cyclone System, designed to tackle a wide range of debris from large particles to microscopic dust. This upright vacuum is specifically engineered for powerful pick-up, driving deep into carpet fibers to pull out embedded dirt, dust, and stubborn debris. Despite its powerful performance, it remains surprisingly lightweight, minimizing user fatigue during extended cleaning sessions across your home.

This vacuum excels on both carpets and hard floors, thanks to its versatile 5 height settings that adjust seamlessly for different floor types, including shag rugs. The smooth-gliding wheels protect hardwood floors from scratches. A range of accessories, including a crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool, attach easily via the quick-release handle, making above-floor cleaning of curtains, stairs, and even car interiors simple and effective.

While more substantial than ultra-light stick vacuums like the Bissell Featherweight or Eureka NES100, the PowerSpeed offers significantly deeper cleaning capabilities, especially on carpets. It directly competes with models like the Amazon Basics Upright in its segment, offering a different emphasis on cyclone technology for improved filtration. The Eureka PowerSpeed provides enhanced cleaning depth and particle capture compared to lighter, more basic models like the Vacmaster or Bissell 3508.

The Vacmaster Corded Stick Vacuum is a highly versatile 2-in-1 solution, designed for comprehensive cleaning across your entire home and even your car. It effortlessly transitions from a lightweight stick vacuum for floors to a portable handheld unit, complete with various attachments like a floor nozzle, crevice tool, and a 2-in-1 brush tool. This adaptability makes it adept at cleaning not just floors but also edges, drawers, and drapes with precision.

Equipped with a powerful 14 Kpa suction motor, this corded vacuum provides consistent, strong suction for a full home clean without the worry of battery life. The telescopic and extendable wand is a thoughtful addition, making it easy to reach high places and awkward spots above the floor. Its filtration system captures a significant 85% of particles, aiming for purified air, and the washable filter requires less frequent replacement, adding to the unit’s low maintenance appeal.

At just 3.7 lbs, the Vacmaster is incredibly lightweight and portable, making storage and operation a breeze. The easy-empty dust cup simplifies debris disposal, contributing to a smooth cleaning experience, even for extended use. Compared to the Bissell 3508, which is also lightweight but designed specifically for apartments, the Vacmaster offers greater versatility and a slightly higher suction rating, although the Bissell emphasizes scatter-free hard floor cleaning. The Vacmaster provides stronger suction power and wider versatility than basic models like the Bissell Featherweight or Eureka NES100.

The Bissell CleanView Compact Upright is a fantastic option for those in smaller living spaces like apartments or dorm rooms, offering powerful suction in a conveniently compact form factor. Weighing in at less than 8 pounds, its lightweight and maneuverable design makes transporting it between rooms or up and down stairs remarkably easy. This vacuum is engineered to provide efficient cleaning without taking up much storage space, making it a minimalist’s dream.

One of its key features is the Scatter-Free Technology, specifically designed to capture messes on hard floors with significantly less scatter, a common frustration with many vacuums. While its powerful suction is suitable for general cleaning, its compact nature and technology are particularly beneficial for mixed flooring types often found in apartments. The removable extension wand adds further reach for above-floor cleaning tasks.

The Easy Empty Dirt Container is a convenient feature, allowing for quick and mess-free disposal of collected debris with a simple push of a button. Compared to stick vacuums like the Eureka NES100 or Bissell Featherweight, the CleanView Compact offers a more traditional upright vacuum experience with potentially better suction for general floor cleaning, albeit in a compact form. It provides powerful suction and scatter-free technology that the ultra-light stick vacuums may lack for hard floors.

The Eureka Corded Stick Vacuum (NES100) is a highly maneuverable and lightweight cleaning tool, perfect for quick everyday cleaning tasks in smaller spaces. Weighing just 2.75 lbs, it’s exceptionally easy to carry and navigate around furniture and obstacles. As a corded model, it provides continuous and stable high power suction, always ready to go without needing to charge, which is a significant advantage for immediate cleanups.

This vacuum boasts a versatile 3-in-1 design, easily converting between a stick vacuum for floors and a handheld unit for tackling stairs, car interiors, and hard-to-reach places. The inclusion of a crevice tool further enhances its ability to clean tight spots effectively. Its low-maintenance design is a plus; it’s bagless, with a dust cup and washable filter that require simple regular cleaning.

Compared to the slightly heavier Vacmaster 2-in-1, the Eureka NES100 prioritizes extreme lightness and simplicity, though the Vacmaster offers a higher suction rating. This Eureka model is ideal for users who value ease of use and storage above all else. It can even stand upright on its own, and the cord wraps neatly around hooks for organization. The Eureka NES100 offers unmatched lightness and grab-and-go power where other models like the Amazon Basics Upright focus on larger capacity and more traditional features.

The Amazon Basics Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner provides easy maneuverability and convenience for both carpet and hard floors. Weighing only 8.4 lbs and featuring an 18-ft power cord, it offers decent reach without being overly cumbersome. This vacuum is designed as a straightforward, reliable tool for everyday cleaning around the house, making it a solid choice for general purposes.

Functionality is enhanced by the included upholstery and crevice tools, adding versatility to clean various surfaces and tight spaces effectively. The detachable handle is a useful feature for specific cleaning needs. A notable advantage is the large 1.7L dust cup, which allows for extended cleaning sessions before needing to be emptied, minimizing interruptions. Disposal is made easy with a quick-release button.

Maintenance is simplified with a washable filter, intended for long-lasting performance and easy care. Compared to specialized models like the Bissell CleanView Compact which features Scatter-Free Technology for hard floors, the Amazon Basics is more of an all-rounder, offering a balance of features for different floor types. While perhaps not as powerful as the Eureka PowerSpeed for deep carpet cleaning, it provides a larger dust capacity and longer cord than most stick vacuums in this range, offering better utility for more expansive cleaning tasks than the ultra-light models.