7 Best Cheap Vacuums for Carpet (2025 Guide)

This power-packed little beast redefines what budget vacuums can do—delivering 15KPa suction from a 400W brushless motor in a featherlight 3lb body. With 12-in-1 versatility, it transforms from a stick vacuum to a handheld powerhouse in seconds, making it ideal for cleaning carpets, stairs, cars, and tight corners without breaking a sweat. It directly tackles the pain point of limited reach and weak suction in cheap models, offering a robust solution that doesn’t sacrifice performance for price.

In real-world testing, the 16.4ft power cord proved a game-changer—eliminating constant outlet-hopping across medium-sized rooms. On low-pile carpets and sealed hardwood floors, it pulled up pet hair, cereal crumbs, and fine dust with ease, thanks to its rotatable floor nozzle and HEPA filtration. However, on thick, shaggy rugs, the suction struggled slightly with deeply embedded debris, and the 0.8L dust cup, while generous for its class, required emptying after two full bedroom passes. Still, for daily maintenance and spot cleaning, it’s impressively capable.

Compared to the Bissell Featherweight, this Intercleaner model offers more suction power, longer cord, and broader accessory support—making it a smarter pick for homes with mixed flooring and pets. It’s also more versatile than the Eureka Blaze, with better filtration and attachments. Ideal for renters, pet owners, and those needing a no-fuss secondary vacuum, it delivers premium features at a rock-bottom price, outperforming others in the ‘best cheap vacuums for carpet’ category with sheer value density.

Don’t let its pocket-sized frame fool you—the Bissell Featherweight packs a surprisingly strong punch for quick cleanups on carpets and hard floors. Weighing next to nothing and designed for effortless maneuverability, it’s the go-to for spot-cleaning spills, pet messes, or dust bunnies under furniture. Its standout feature? A dual-action floor nozzle that transitions smoothly between carpet and sealed floors, solving the common issue of lightweight vacuums failing on anything beyond surface dust.

During testing, it handled low-pile rugs and area carpets with commendable efficiency, lifting pet hair and cookie crumbs in a single pass. The 0.67L dust cup is compact, meaning frequent emptying during larger jobs, but it’s a fair trade-off for the vacuum’s ultra-slim profile. It shines brightest as a stair vacuum or car detailer, especially when detached into handheld mode. However, it lacks the suction depth to tackle deeply ground-in dirt or high-traffic carpet zones, and the short cord limits room-to-room mobility.

Against the Intercleaner, it’s less powerful and less versatile but even more portable and intuitive—perfect for small apartments or quick daily sweeps. It’s not built for deep carpet cleaning like the Eureka NEU10AE5, but it excels where speed and simplicity matter. For those seeking a no-hassle, grab-and-go vacuum that won’t clutter storage, the Bissell Featherweight earns its title as the best budget-friendly pick, trading raw power for unmatched convenience.

Meet the silent warrior of budget carpet cleaning: a 15KPa suction monster wrapped in a whisper-quiet 400W motor and a sleek 3lb frame. This TC-JUNESUN 4-in-1 vacuum doesn’t just clean—it adapts, switching from stick to handheld mode with zero tools or frustration, making it a top contender for homes with stairs, furniture, and pets. Its standout trait? A rotatable floor brush with 90-degree tilt, letting you glide under sofas and beds where dust bunnies thrive—solving a major limitation in most stick vacuums under $40.

In performance tests, it matched the Intercleaner in suction power, pulling up pet hair, flour spills, and sand from low-to-medium pile carpets without clogging. The 0.8L dust cup and 16.4ft power cord ensured long cleaning runs, while the dual HEPA filters captured fine allergens, making it a solid choice for allergy-prone households. It handled hardwood and tile flawlessly, though like others in this class, it faltered slightly on plush, high-pile rugs. The included crevice and dusting tools added real utility, but the lack of onboard storage meant accessories were easily misplaced.

When stacked against the Eureka Blaze, it offers better filtration and quieter operation, though with less brand recognition. Compared to the Bissell Featherweight, it’s more powerful and feature-rich. For anyone needing a quiet, agile, and allergen-conscious vacuum that still dominates on carpet, this model strikes a rare balance of power, portability, and filtration—making it the best lightweight bet for carpet-focused cleaning on a budget.

The Eureka Blaze enters the ring like a compact gladiator—small in stature but built to conquer pet hair and surface debris with unrelenting efficiency. At just 4 pounds, it’s light enough for daily use, yet driven by a 2-amp motor that delivers strong, consistent suction across low-pile carpets and sealed floors. Its capture nozzle is a standout—unlike cheaper vacuums that scatter debris, this one gulps down Cheerios, lint, and stray kibble in one pass, solving the frustration of chasing messes around the room.

Real-world use confirmed its strength on pet-heavy floors, where it lifted embedded fur from area rugs and hardwood with minimal passes. The 18-foot power cord and X-large dust cup reduced interruptions, letting users clean an entire living room without emptying or switching outlets. However, it lacks swivel steering, making tight corners a chore, and the handheld conversion feels less secure than competitors. While great for surface cleaning, it doesn’t deep-clean thick carpets like an upright, and the filtration system, while washable, needs frequent rinsing to maintain peak performance.

Next to the Bissell Featherweight, the Blaze offers better suction and cord length, but with a slightly bulkier feel. Against the Intercleaner, it trades some versatility for stronger debris capture and pet-focused design. It’s not an all-in-one solution, but for households battling pet hair and daily messes, the Blaze delivers targeted, reliable performance—earning its spot as the best for pet hair in this budget vacuum lineup.

This upright dynamo brings serious carpet-cleaning muscle to the budget arena, combining a 10.5-inch cleaning path with powerful suction that digs deep into carpet fibers. Unlike stick vacuums that skim the surface, the Eureka NEU10AE5 extracts embedded dirt and pet hair with authority, making it a standout for high-traffic areas and wall-to-wall carpeting. Its quick-release handle unlocks above-floor cleaning, letting you tackle stairs, drapes, and furniture with included crevice and dusting tools—solving the common flaw of uprights being too bulky for detail work.

In testing, it outperformed all stick models on medium-pile carpet, removing tracked-in soil and ground-in crumbs in fewer passes. The 7.7lb weight makes it one of the lightest uprights available, so carrying it up stairs isn’t a chore. The washable filter cuts long-term costs, and onboard tool storage keeps accessories handy. However, the 0.67L dust cup fills quickly during whole-room cleanups, and the suction drops slightly when the filter is damp. It’s also not ideal for hard floors—lacking a brushroll shutoff, it can scatter lightweight debris.

Compared to the Amazon Basics upright, it’s lighter and more agile but has a smaller dust cup. Against stick vacuums like the Intercleaner, it’s less portable but far more effective on carpet. For renters or homeowners with mostly carpeted spaces, this Eureka model delivers upright power without the back-breaking weight, offering the best carpet deep-clean in its price range—making it the clear best upright for carpet among budget options.

The Shark Navigator NV356E doesn’t play in the budget league—it dominates the premium end of affordable with lift-away convenience, hospital-grade filtration, and swivel agility. Its anti-allergen complete seal paired with a HEPA filter traps 99.9% of dust, pollen, and dander, making it a lifesaver for allergy sufferers. The detachable pod transforms it into a portable canister-style cleaner, letting you effortlessly vacuum stairs, car interiors, and ceiling corners—solving the biggest limitation of traditional uprights.

In real-world use, it handled deep carpet cleaning like a pro, lifting pet hair and fine dust with the included Pet Power Brush. The swivel steering made navigation around furniture smooth, while the brushroll shutoff seamlessly switched from carpet to hardwood—preserving floors and boosting efficiency. The 0.87L dust cup held up well during extended sessions, though it required frequent filter rinsing in high-dust environments. It’s heavier than stick vacuums, but the ergonomic handle and cord rewind ease the burden.

Against the Eureka NEU10AE5, it offers superior filtration, better maneuverability, and more tools, but at nearly double the price. Compared to the Amazon Basics model, it’s more advanced in every way—from sealing to accessories. For those with allergies, pets, and mixed flooring, this Shark is the gold standard—delivering near-professional performance with home-friendly features, making it the best choice for health-conscious households.

This storage-savvy powerhouse enters the scene with a 1.7L dust cup—the largest in the lineup—making it the undisputed king of long-session cleaning without interruption. Driven by a 720W motor, it delivers deep suction across carpets and hard floors, effortlessly pulling up pet hair, cereal, and tracked-in dirt. The 25-foot power cord is the longest here, covering entire rooms on a single plug, while the detachable handle converts it into a portable cleaner for stairs and furniture—solving the inflexibility of most budget uprights.

Testing revealed it excels in whole-home cleanups, especially in larger apartments or homes where frequent emptying is a nuisance. The washable filter keeps maintenance costs low, and onboard tools ensure you’re never hunting for attachments. However, the 8.4lb weight makes it less agile than the Eureka NEU10AE5, and the lack of brushroll shutoff means it can kick up dust on hardwood. While powerful, it lacks the allergen-sealing tech of the Shark, making it less ideal for sensitive users.

Compared to the Eureka upright, it trades some portability for massive capacity and longer reach. Against the Shark NV356E, it offers more dust space and lower price but misses critical allergy features. For larger homes with carpeted areas and users who hate stopping to empty, this Amazon Basics model is the best large-capacity workhorse—delivering endurance and reliability where others tap out early.