Today, we evaluate the best budget upright vacuums under $100 to determine which one actually performs best. We bought each model ourselves and evaluated them using our standard assessment methods across key areas, including suction, airflow, carpet deep cleaning, and hard floor pickup. While we typically don’t recommend cheap upright vacuums (our Top 10 upright vacuums start at around $120 for context), we recognize some shoppers are simply looking for the most affordable option. In this review and comparison to find the best cheap upright vacuum, you’ll see what you can realistically expect from this category and which model delivers great results within those limits.
Our Verdict: Best Budget Upright Vacuum Under $100
Based on our testing, the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo offers the strongest overall performance in this category. It stood out for its usable suction at the floorhead, consistent results on both carpet and hard floors, and better overall usability compared to similarly priced models.
While all vacuums under $100 come with trade-offs—like smaller bins, higher noise levels, and no sealed filtration—the CleanView Compact Turbo delivers the most balanced performance where it matters most.
For shoppers prioritizing the lowest possible price, alternatives like the Eureka models remain competitive. However, for a small difference in cost, the Bissell provides noticeably better real-world cleaning performance.
👉 Check current price on Amazon for the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo
👉 Or see how it compares to our Top 10 Upright Vacuums
The Cheap Upright Vacuums We Evaluated
We selected five of the most popular models for this review and comparison of the best budget upright vacuums under $100. Our contestants include two Eureka models (the Airspeed E4 and E5, both selling for about $60) and two Bissell models (the CleanView Compact Turbo, selling for around $80, and the PowerForce Helix at $60).
These brands have been battling it out in the ultra-budget category for years, but we also brought in the Amazon Basics model as a new challenger. It’s the cheapest upright vacuum on the list at about $55.
At first glance, all five budget upright vacuums look nearly identical. They share the same floorhead style and a very similar bagless bin, hose, and handle design. We’re unsure which brand the design originated from, but it’s clearly been widely copied.
But similar looks don’t mean similar performance, as our evaluation results show.
Weight Comparison
One area where these vacuums stand out is weight. The Eureka Airspeed E4 and E5 are the lightest at 7.7 pounds, while the Bissell PowerForce Helix is noticeably heavier at 12 pounds.
In practical terms, this is one of the few areas where budget models have a clear advantage. Most of these vacuums are significantly lighter than the upright average of about 15 pounds, which can make them easier to carry and maneuver, especially in smaller homes or apartments.
| Model | Weight |
|---|---|
| Eureka Airspeed E4 | 7.7 lb |
| Eureka Airspeed E5 | 7.7 lb |
| Amazon Basics | 8.4 lb |
| Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo | 9 lb |
| Bissell PowerForce Helix | 12 lb |
| Average Upright | ~15 lb |
For users prioritizing portability and ease of use, this lighter weight can be a meaningful advantage over heavier, full-size uprights.
Bagless Bins
All the upright vacuums we evaluated are bagless vacuums with very similar bin designs. However, their bin capacities are all well below the average for upright vacuums we’ve assessed.
Eureka is the most generous of the group at 1.7 liters, followed by AmazonBasics at 1.5 liters, and Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo is the smallest at about 1 liter.
| Model | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo 3437F | 1.0 L |
| Bissell PowerForce Helix | 1.0 L |
| Eureka Airspeed NEU10AE4 | 1.7 L |
| Eureka Airspeed NEU10AE5 | 1.7 L |
| Amazon Basics | 1.5 L |
| Average | 2.6 L |
Cord Lengths
Each upright vacuum has a slightly below-average 25-foot cord, except for the Bissell PowerForce. That has an even shorter cord at 23 feet.
| Model | Cord Length |
|---|---|
| Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo 3437F | 25 ft |
| Bissell PowerForce Helix | 23 ft |
| Eureka Airspeed NEU10AE4 | 25 ft |
| Eureka Airspeed NEU10AE5 | 25 ft |
| Amazon Basics | 25 ft |
| Average | 30 ft |
Hoses and Attachments
They all have the exact same hose and half-wand for above-floor cleaning, and most come with a pretty standard set of attachments—except for one. The Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo comes with a suction-powered turbo brush upholstery cleaner that actually works well with the hose configuration on these machines. That’s a solid point in the model’s favor.
Power and Suction Performance
All five vacuums performed below the upright average in our power evaluation, which is expected for a cheap upright vacuum.
Performance Comparison
| Model | Sealed Suction | Airflow @ Head | Unsealed Suction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo | 60″ | 44 CFM | 0.67 kPa |
| Eureka Airspeed E4 | 61″ | 49 CFM | 0.29 kPa |
| Eureka Airspeed E5 | 56″ | 45 CFM | 0.23 kPa |
| Bissell PowerForce Helix | 59″ | 42 CFM | 0.23 kPa |
| Amazon Basics | 59″ | 54 CFM | 0.13 kPa |
| Average | 80″ | 61 CFM | 0.45 kPa |
However, the more meaningful difference appeared in usable suction at the floorhead. For instance, the CleanView Compact Turbo achieved 0.67 kPa (significantly above the average of 0.45 kPa), while the Amazon Basics trailed at just 0.13 kPa.
This gap helps explain why the Bissell translated better to real-world cleaning performance.
Crevice Pickup
In our crevice pickup evaluation, all five budget upright vacuums performed similarly, each scoring 3 out of 4. That’s just below the average of 3.15, indicating that basic edge cleaning performance is still achievable at this price point.
Carpet Cleaning Performance
In our carpet deep clean evaluation, all five vacuums performed better than expected. The Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo and Eureka E4 both achieved 98% pickup, slightly above the average of 97.5%. The remaining models came in close behind at 96%.
This consistency suggests that even cheap upright vacuums under $100 can handle embedded debris reasonably well, though differences in usability and design still impact overall results.
Hard Floor Performance
The biggest separation between models appeared in our hard floor pickup results—where 0 means the vacuum essentially can’t do the job, and 4 means it excels at all debris sizes. The Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo and both Eureka models each scored 3.5 out of 4, well above the average of 2.7. In contrast, the Amazon Basics scored 0, struggling to perform even basic pickup tasks.
| Model | Score |
|---|---|
| Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo | 3.5 |
| Eureka Airspeed E4 | 3.5 |
| Eureka Airspeed E5 | 3.5 |
| Bissell PowerForce Helix | 1.0 |
| Amazon Basics | 0 |
| Average | 2.7 |
This difference is largely due to a major design difference floorhead design. The three newer models — the two Eureka Airspeeds and the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo — have little squeegees on the bottom of the floorhead.
As we’ve noted in other reviews, this is a crucial design feature that prevents debris from scattering on hard floors.
The Amazon Basics and Bissell PowerForce Helix have the exact same older floorhead design, which does not include a squeegee.
Because of this design difference, the Amazon Basics and PowerForce Helix tended to scatter debris out the back when used on hard floors — making them not just ineffective, but sometimes even counterproductive.
The other three models, on the other hand, performed much better. Not only were they able to pick up debris on hard floors without scattering, they were also able to pick up larger debris without snowplowing, which is something the AmazonBasics and PowerForce Helix also struggled with.
Filtration, Noise, and Other Trade-Offs
All the models we selected for our best budget upright vacuum category review and comparison share several limitations, as expected with cheap upright vacuums. None came with sealed filtration systems, which resulted in visible dust leakage during evaluations.
Learn more about the HEPA filters in your vacuum cleaners:
Vacuums with HEPA Filters and Sealed Systems: Cleaner Air, Healthier Homes
HEPA Across the Globe: How Vacuum Cleaner Filtration Standards Differ and Why It Matters
How Vacuum Wars tests filtration in Cordless Vacuums and Upright Vacuums
Noise levels were also higher than average, with the Eureka models reaching 92 dB, compared to the upright vacuum average of 82 dB. Additionally, none of these vacuums include swivel steering or anti-hair wrap technology. These features are increasingly common in higher-priced models.
Final Scores and the Best Budget Upright Vacuum
When we combine all the scores, the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo achieved a total score of 129 points. That puts it ahead of the Eureka Airspeed E4 at 117 points and E5 at 116 points. The PowerForce Helix and Amazon Basics fell further behind with scores of 97 and 92, respectively.
| Model | Score |
|---|---|
| Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo | 129 |
| Eureka Airspeed E4 | 117 |
| Eureka Airspeed E5 | 116 |
| Bissell PowerForce Helix | 97 |
| Amazon Basics | 92 |
| Average | 154 |
All in all, ultra-budget upright vacuums have improved in recent years. While there are trade-offs to consider, cheap upright vacuums can deliver acceptable performance for basic cleaning tasks. Among them, the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo offers the strongest combination of suction, floor performance, and overall usability. That makes it the best budget upright vacuum under $100.
Top Pick: Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo
The Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo 3437F is a lightweight, bagless upright designed to deliver full-size suction in a compact form factor ideal for apartments, dorms, and small homes. It uses a cyclonic cleaning system with multi-level filtration and a foam filter to separate dust and debris while maintaining airflow. The vacuum features a 10-inch cleaning path, 1-liter easy-empty dirt tank, and compact upright design with a carry handle for portability. It is powered by a corded 120-V motor (about 700 watts, ~6.2–7.2 amps) and includes a 25-ft power cord and 5-ft hose for extended reach. A Quick-Release extension wand allows above-floor cleaning, while Scatter-Free Technology helps capture debris on hard floors. The vacuum includes several tools such as a Pet TurboBrush, crevice tool, and dusting brush for cleaning upholstery, stairs, and tight spaces. Additional features include three height settings, multi-surface cleaning for carpets and hard floors, and a standard rotating brush roll. See additional info
Price as of April 17, 2026
Attachments*: Crevice Tool | Dusting Brush | Pet TurboBrush
Air Filtration: HEPA Filtration
| Scores | Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo 3437F | Average Upright Vacuum Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum Wars Overall | 2.48 | 2.66 |
| Performance | 3.26 | 2.84 |
| Features | 0.80 | 1.70 |
| Hard Floor | 3.70 | 2.98 |
| Carpet | 3.31 | 3.10 |
| Attachments | 4.70 | 2.96 |
| Specs | Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo 3437F | Average Upright Vacuum Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 8.4 lbs | 15.27 lb |
| Dust Bin Capacity | 1 L | 2.56 l |
| Cord Length | 25 ft | 30.54 ft |
| In the Box*: Vacuum, Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Pet TurboBrush | ||
Top 10 Upright Vacuums
Vacuum Wars’ always up-to-date rankings of the best upright vacuums are built on hands-on testing and real-world performance. Because we purchase every unit ourselves, each recommendation is based on objective data. Our testing now spans more than 50 upright models, giving us a deep benchmark for evaluating cleaning power, airflow, carpet performance, usability, and features like above floor cleaning, anti-tangle brushrolls, and sealed filtration systems.
Budget Upright Vacuums FAQ
What is the best upright vacuum under $100?
The best upright vacuum under $100 based on our testing is the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo. It delivered the strongest overall performance in this category, with better usable suction at the floorhead and more consistent results on both carpet and hard floors than similarly priced models.
Are upright vacuums under $100 any good?
Upright vacuums under $100 can be good for basic cleaning tasks, especially on carpets. However, they typically have lower suction power, smaller dustbins, higher noise levels, and no sealed filtration, so they are best suited for light-duty use rather than whole-home cleaning.
Do cheap upright vacuums work on hard floors?
Some cheap upright vacuums work well on hard floors, but it depends on the floorhead design. Models with a built-in squeegee tend to perform better by preventing debris scatter, while models without this feature may struggle or push debris around instead of picking it up.
Why are some budget upright vacuums better than others?
Performance differences in budget upright vacuums often come down to usable suction at the floorhead and design features like the floorhead and brush roll. Even if models look similar, these differences can significantly impact real-world cleaning results.
What are the main drawbacks of cheap upright vacuums?
The main drawbacks of cheap upright vacuums include weaker overall power, lack of sealed filtration, higher noise levels, smaller dustbins, and fewer advanced features like swivel steering or anti-hair wrap. These limitations are typical for this price range.
Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo
