A traditional vacuum is bulky and expensive, and it may fail to clean hard-to-reach areas. Whereas a compact handheld vacuum like the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Vacuum is cheap and, at the same time, sweeps every corner of your house to keep it neat and clean. The good news is that you’ll find good quality handheld vacuums under $100 that can pick up messes inside the car and from your grippy upholstery, along with plain surfaces. Although cheap, a decent-quality cordless vacuum should have adequate suction capacity, a decent run time, and be easy to operate. Go through our expert-vetted top 5 best cordless vacuums under $100 that can be the sidekick to your full-size vacuum and help you save!
See Also: 5 Best Cordless Vacuum Under $200
Table of Contents
How to Choose the Best Cordless Vacuum Under $100?
Cheap vacuums need not necessarily compromise the suction capacity to ensure dust-free and spotless surfaces like other pricier models. Apart from adequate suction power, consider the following things while purchasing the a cordless vacuum under $100:
Vacuum Type
Cordless vacuum cleaners are mostly stick models, but you’ll also find good-quality and lightweight handheld vacuums at $100, like the BLACK+DECKER dustbuster. These vacuums can instantly pick up dust and crumbs on bare floors, upholstery, and carpets and are best for cars. Besides, there are wet & dry stick cordless vacs under $100, like the Shark VM252 VACMOP Pro, which has a wider cleaning path and can vacuum and mop simultaneously.
Are handheld vacuums good for dust?
Handheld vacuums are lightweight, easy to operate, and best for cleaning small areas that a traditional vacuum fails. These vacuums effectively pick up fine dust, larger, heavier pebbles, or chunks of food from cars, blankets, pet zones, and other small areas without costing a king’s ransom.
Durability
Cheap vacs often last no longer than expected due to their below-average build quality. After a few months of use, these vacuums become worthless. So, while picking up a vacuum under $100, consider checking out how durable it is. Don’t opt for less or unknown brands. Also, check if the vac comes with a brand warranty.
How Long Does a Cordless Vacuum Last?
A high-quality vacuum cleaner can last up to ten years. Our experts suggested that cheap vacs can last up to three years and more if you maintain and care, following the instructions properly.
Dustbin Type and Capacity
You’ll find two types of dust bins in cordless vacuums under $100- replaceable and washable. Replaceable dust bags cannot be used twice once it’s full of dirt. Conversely, a washable dustbin is easy to use and requires no change but to dispose of and clean after vacuuming.
When it comes to the size of the dustbin, the larger is better. Our experts recommend dust collection capacity between 0.5 to 2 liters is ideal regardless of dust bin type. The smaller dust cup capacity means you must take more intervals between the cleaning tasks.
Is a bagged vacuum good for allergy sufferers?
Yes, a bagged vacuum is best for people prone to allergies since there is no risk of sniffing germs and bacteria. Bagged vacuums require a periodical replacement when the dust bag is full.
Battery Life
Affordable vacs under $100 often fell short in battery duration (10-40 minutes) to clean larger household surfaces. However, such vacuums are good at cleaning small places like cars and upholstery.
How long does a cordless vacuum last?
Most cordless vacuums last for 10 to 40 minutes or even more. High-end cordless vacuums have longer battery life compared to cheap models.
Necessary Attachments
Cheap vacuums often compromise additional cleaning tools due to the price boundary. However, cordless vacuums that clean smaller spaces like pet beds, car seats, and corners should come with crevice tools. In addition, some other essential attachments might be included with your vacuum cleaner:
- Upholstery tool
- Pet hair removal tool
- Turbo or multi-surface brush
- Extension wands
Note: You may need to purchase compatible cleaning tools separately that can add extra bucks to your budget.
Why is the crevice tool important for vacuum cleaners?
A Crevice tool cleans the edges and corners of different surfaces. The larger brush head cannot access hard-to-reach areas, and that’s why additional cleaning attachments, including a crevice tool, are important for vacuum cleaners.
Best Cordless Stick Vacuum Under $100
1. BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES
best cordless vacuum with longer battery life
Specs:
- Vacuum Type: Bagless, Stick
- Recommended Surface: Carpets, Hardwood Floors
- Dust Cup Capacity: 0.5 L
- Filter Type: Disk
- Item Weight: 8.08 lbs.
- Run time: Up to 44 minutes
Pros
- Cleans multiple surfaces
- Convertible stick
- Standard run time
- Larger dust cup capacity
- Washable filter and dust cup
- Easy maintenance
Cons
- Louder noise
The BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES+ cordless stick vacuum is a multi-surface cleaner, and it can operate for up to 44 minutes. When we moved the vacuum from one surface to another or tried to pick up smaller to larger debris, dust mites, pet hair, and other residuals, the vacuum adjusted its suction power automatically. You can instantly convert this vacuum into a handheld vac and use it to clean the car seat, sofa, corner, baseboard edges, and other small areas by attaching the included crevice tool. This low-profile cordless vacuum featuring an LED headlight makes it easy to clean under-furniture areas effectively. This cordless vacuum has a cyclonic filtration system that traps dust pollens to ensure optimum cleaning. You can wash the filter to avoid clogging to enhance its usability for a long time. In addition, this cordless vacuum features a larger washable dust cup and removable brush bar that are easy to clean.
Buy this if
You Need a Convertible Stick Vacuum. This cordless convertible stick vacuum can clean floor surfaces as well as small areas like upholstery, pet beds, and car seats.
Don’t buy this if
You need a cordless vacuum cleaner to clean higher wall corners. This cordless vacuum does not include an extension wand.
2. Dirt Devil Power Swerve Pet Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Best cordless vacuum with larger dust cup
Specs:
- Vacuum Type: Bagless, Upright
- Recommended Surface: Carpet and hard floors
- Dust Cup Capacity: 0.7 L
- Filter Type: Washable and replaceable
- Item Weight: 5.5 lbs.
- Run time: 14 minutes
Pros
- Lightweight
- Wider cleaning path
- Multi-surface cleaning
- Easy to maneuver
- Larger dust bin
- Washable filter and dust cup
Cons
- It doesn’t include additional cleaning tools
The Dirt Devil, Power Swerve Pet, is a lighter upright model compared to other upright vacuums in the market. This instant vacuum cleaner can run up to 14 minutes, picking up all the fine dirt on the way. Its wider cleaning path (10 inches) and premium pet brush roll do all cleaning tasks quickly. This vacuum doesn’t have auto-adjusting surface capacity. You must turn the on/off switch manually to operate the vacuum conveniently. Apart from that, this cordless vacuum has the largest dust cup capacity (0.7 L) of other products in this list, and the washable dust cup is very easy to dispose of and water clean. Its carbon odour filtration system traps dust pollen that is only directed to the bin disposal. This upright vacuum doesn’t feature a lift-up mode, so you cannot clean upper surfaces like upholstery or car seats.
Buy this if
You need an upright stick vacuum to clean floor surfaces and under-furniture areas. This vacuum has a low-profile design, which makes it compatible to access and clean hard-to-reach areas.
Don’t buy this if
You need a versatile cleaner for floors and upper surfaces. This vacuum is not compatible with cleaning upper surfaces. You better consider the BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES+ 16V.
3. Shark VM252 VACMOP Pro Cordless
Best wet & dry cordless vacuum cleaner under $100
Specs:
- Vacuum Type: Bagged, Wet & Dry
- Recommended Surface: Hard Floors
- Dust Cup Capacity: +/- 0.1 L
- Filter Type: No filter
- Item Weight: 3.34 lbs.
- Run time: 13 minutes
Pros
- Pick up wet and dry messes
- Lightweight
- No-touch disposal
- Zero maintenance
- Includes cleaning solution and 4 disposable pads
Cons
- Frequent bag replacement is a hassle
- Smaller dust compartment
Getting a wet and dry vacuum at only $100 might be beyond your imagination, but no wonder! The Shark VM252 VACMOP Pro Cordless offers the real deal to keep your hard floors spic and clean. This wet and dry cordless vacuum has powerful suction and, at the same time, requires minimum maintenance. It’s a bagged vacuum cleaner that comes with 4 disposable cleaning pads. Once the dust pad is full, you don’t need to clean it. Just dispose of the pad in the dust bin and install a new one. This wet and dry vacuum cleaner also includes a 12 oz. (0.35 L) cleaning solution so you can spray, scrub, and vacuum stuck-on dirt and grimes on the hard floor surface. This wet and dry vacuum is extremely lightweight yet durable compared to other models in this price range. We mostly like its quick cleaning capacity that can subsidize its shorter run time. However, we’re slightly annoyed by its high pitch noise during maneuvering.
Buy this if
You need a cheap wet & dry vacuum cleaner for hard floors. Shark VM252 VACMOP Pro can simultaneously vacuum and mop hard floors.
Don’t buy this if
You’re looking for a bagless vacuum cleaner. It’s a bagged model, which means there will be a consistent additional cost in replacing the dust pads from time to time. However, many users find bagged vacuums convenient as they require zero maintenance.
4. BLACK+DECKER dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless
Best lightweight cordless vacuum under $100
Specs:
- Vacuum Type: Bagless, Handheld
- Recommended Surface: Carpets, floors, upholstery, car
- Dust Cup Capacity: 0.6 L
- Filter Type: Washable
- Item Weight: 2.4 lbs.
- Run time: 11 minutes
Pros
- Multi-surface cleaner
- Cleans edges and corners
- Easy to operate
- Decent dust cup capacity
Cons
- Longer recharging time
- Shorter run time
- Louder noise
BLACK+DECKER dustbuster AdvancedClean is a compact handheld vacuum that cleans multiple surfaces, including floors, furniture, and car interiors. You can keep it in your car for cleaning pet hair and other dirty residuals. Its flip-up brush and integrated crevice tool are excellent cleaning combos to keep your surfaces and hard-to-reach areas spotless. This vacuum has adequate suction power and a larger dust cup to instantly pick up hair and other larger or microparticles. However, this cordless vacuum is not good at collecting flour and similar types of elements. In our lab, we could easily dispose of the dust compartment. We were able to wash the dustbin and clean the filter without any trouble. Despite its excellent cleaning capacities, this vacuum is louder than most cordless vacs.
Buy this if
You want to keep a portable vacuum in the car. The BLACK+DECKER dustbuster AdvancedClean cordless vacuum cleaner is mostly suitable for cleaning smaller areas, including car interiors. Its integrated cleaning tools clean car seats, corners, and edges better than similar vacuums in this price range.
Don’t buy this if
You want a convertible stick vacuum cleaner. This cordless vacuum is compact and can be handheld in small areas. If you’re looking for a convertible vacuum that has stick and handheld modes, then you can try the BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES+ 16V for a better cleaning experience.
5. Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Vacuum
Best cordless vacuum cleaner under $100 for pet hair
Specs:
- Vacuum Type: Bagless, Handheld
- Recommended Surface: Floors, furniture, and car
- Dust Cup Capacity: 0.4 L
- Filter Type: Washable
- Item Weight: 2.8 lbs.
- Run time: 10 minutes
Pros
- Lightweight
- Portable
- Easy to operate
- Standard dust cup
- Additional cleaning tools included
Cons
- 80 dB noise
Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Vacuum is also a handheld vacuum that is easy to operate. This instant vacuum cleaner has a 10-minute run time which is adequate for smaller areas like cars, edges, and corners. This vacuum comes with a crevice tool and two types of brushes- pet power brush and bristle brush. With these cleaning tools, the vac pics up pet fur, hair, and smaller and larger dust particles from floors, furniture, stairs, pet bed, and car interiors. Its pet power brush provided excellent performance in our lab while extracting stubborn hair from the couch. It’s compact, and you can carry this vac inside cars. Its standard suction power and decent dust cup capacity are adequate for small-area cleaning, and it’s very easy to maintain. However, this vacuum emits nearly 80 dB of noise, which might cause some annoyance.
Buy this if
You want the best handheld cordless vacuum with all the necessary cleaning tools. Most lower-priced cordless vacuums rarely include additional cleaning tools. But the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Vacuum is exceptional and meets your cleaning requirements.
Don’t buy this if
You need a full-size cordless vacuum with longer battery life. This handheld vacuum can operate for only up to 10 minutes which might not be adequate for mid to large areas. Alternatively, you can check out the convertible BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES+ 16V to clean larger areas for up to 44 minutes.
Final Words
Winding down this article, we’ve tried our best to present you with the best affordable cordless vacuum cleaner that has all the necessary sparks for instant cleaning. These vacuum cleaners are easy to use on multiple surfaces, and most of them are portable inside cars. Even if you have a full-size vacuum cleaner for more intensive cleaning, our listed vacuums are highly affordable and can be a great addition as a cleaning tool, making your cleaning sessions more convenient and effective.