Best Budget Upright Vacuums Under $100: Five Models Compared

Introduction

Shopping for an upright vacuum under $100 usually means making compromises. The good news is that the latest generation of ultra-budget models has improved in some meaningful ways, especially on hard floors. We tested five top-selling upright vacuums in this price range to see which one actually performs well enough to recommend.

The lineup includes two Eureka models, the Airspeed E4 and E5, both selling for around $60. Two Bissell models join them: the CleanView Compact Turbo at about $80 and the PowerForce Helix at $60. The fifth contender is the Amazon Basics upright vacuum, the cheapest of the group at roughly $55.

The Contenders

At first glance, all five vacuums look nearly identical. They share the same floor head shape and a very similar bagless bin, hose, and handle design. It is hard to say who originated the design, but it has clearly been widely copied across the budget segment.

One genuine advantage of this category is weight. At less than 9 pounds, these vacuums are about 6 pounds lighter than the average upright. That weight savings is noticeable when carrying the vacuum upstairs or pushing it around a large space. In this respect, these ultra-budget models actually beat pricier competition.

Design and Features

All five vacuums are bagless with very similar bin designs. However, their bin capacities are all below average for upright vacuums we have tested. The Eureka models offer the largest bin at 1.7 liters, followed by the Amazon Basics at 1.5 liters. The Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo has the smallest bin at about 1 liter.

They all come with slightly below-average 25-foot cords, except the Bissell PowerForce, which has an even shorter cord. Each model includes the same hose and half-wand for above-floor cleaning. Most come with a standard set of attachments, but the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo stands out by including a suction-powered Turbo Brush for upholstery cleaning. This works well with the hose setup and is a solid advantage at this price.

Power and Suction

In power tests, sealed suction at the hose and airflow at both the hose and the head were measured. All five models performed similarly, especially in sealed suction, where scores were very close. However, all of these scores were about 25% below average for upright vacuums, which typically sit around 80 inches of water lift.

That said, one standout metric was usable suction at the head, which is what you actually feel during normal use. Here, the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo performed notably better than the others, coming in well above average. The Eureka models were somewhat below average, and the Amazon Basics was very low. This difference is mostly due to floor head design.

Carpet and Debris Pickup

In practical performance tests, these vacuums did reasonably well. In carpet deep cleaning, where sand is embedded into carpet, all models performed similarly and actually above average for vacuums at any price. They also all scored the same in the crevice pickup test: 3 out of 4.

Differences started to show in the debris pickup test, mainly due to a key design difference. The newer models, including the two Eureka Airspeed units and the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo, have squeegees on the bottom of the floor head. This is a crucial feature that prevents debris from scattering on hard floors.

The Amazon Basics and Bissell PowerForce Helix use an older design without a squeegee. As a result, they tended to scatter debris out the back on hard floors, making them ineffective and sometimes even counterproductive.

Hard Floor Performance

On the hard floor scale, where 0 means unusable and 4 means excellent, the Amazon Basics scored a 0, while the Bissell and leading Eureka scored a 3.5. The three models with squeegees also handled larger debris better without snowplowing, which the Amazon Basics and PowerForce Helix struggled with.

The Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo pulled slightly ahead, especially on carpets, thanks to its 3-level height adjustment. This allowed it to handle larger debris, a rare feature at this price point.

Weight and Maneuverability

One of the biggest selling points of these vacuums is their light weight. At under 9 pounds, they are some of the lightest upright vacuums we have ever tested. That makes them easy to carry up and down stairs and simple to push around the house.

However, none of these models include swivel steering, which makes maneuvering harder, especially in tight spaces. The lack of swivel steering is a trade-off you accept at this price point.

Things to Consider Before Buying

These vacuums share some notable downsides. The biggest issue is filtration. None have sealed systems, which is clear in fog tests. Compared to slightly more expensive models, there is significantly more leakage. If you have allergies or pets, this is a major limitation of the category.

Noise is another issue. The Eureka models were the loudest at around 92 decibels, and the Bissell models were not far behind at about 90 decibels. For comparison, the average upright vacuum is around 82 decibels.

Finally, none of these models include anti-hair wrap technology, which helps prevent hair from tangling on the brush roll. Without it, these vacuums can struggle with hair buildup, especially in homes with pets or long hair.

The Winner: Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo

After adding up all the scores, the pick for the best upright vacuum under $100 is the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo. It delivered the best usable suction at the head, handled carpets well with its 3-level height adjustment, and included the useful Turbo Brush attachment. It also benefits from the newer floor head design with a squeegee for hard floor cleaning.

Runner-Up: Eureka Airspeed E4

The Eureka Airspeed E4 is the runner-up in this comparison. It offers the largest bin capacity at 1.7 liters, includes the newer squeegee floor head design, and performed well in carpet deep cleaning tests. At around $60, it is also one of the more affordable options in this group.

Other Models Worth Knowing

The Eureka Airspeed E5 is nearly identical to the E4, sharing the same lightweight design and squeegee floor head. It is a solid option if you can find it at a similar price.

The Bissell PowerForce Helix and the Amazon Basics upright vacuum are best avoided until updated versions are released. Both use the older floor head design without a squeegee, which caused them to scatter debris on hard floors. The Amazon Basics scored a 0 on the hard floor scale, making it effectively unusable on hard surfaces.

Buying Advice

If you need the most affordable upright vacuum possible, the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo is the clear choice. It costs around $80, which is slightly more than the others, but the extra money buys better usable suction, a height adjustment feature, and a useful upholstery brush.

If you want to save a bit more, the Eureka Airspeed E4 at about $60 is a solid runner-up. It offers the largest bin, a squeegee floor head, and good carpet cleaning performance. Just be prepared for higher noise levels and the lack of a sealed filtration system.

For anyone with allergies, pets, or a need for quieter operation, it may be worth spending a little more on a model with sealed filtration and anti-hair wrap technology. The budget category has real limitations, but the top three models here are decent machines for the price.

Conclusion

This new generation of ultra-budget upright vacuums performed better than expected. The inclusion of squeegees on the newer models is a meaningful improvement for hard floor cleaning. Any of the top three models are decent machines for the money.

However, the bottom two models, the Bissell PowerForce Helix and the Amazon Basics, are best avoided until updated versions are released. If you are considering a slightly higher price range, it is worth checking out more detailed rankings of upright vacuums to find a model with better filtration and quieter operation.