Whether you want to save energy, clean crumbs and debris quickly, or teach your kids how to deal with their own mess, there’s nothing that can beat a handheld vacuum. It’s lightweight, helps reach difficult places, and, most importantly, doesn’t require a deep pocket. However, with so many brands and multiple vacuums per brand, finding the ideal one for your daily cleaning routine can be challenging.
The good news is that we’ve already done the legwork for you and compiled a list of the best handheld vacuums under $50. All these vacuums come with fantastic suction, an ergonomic grip, a lightweight design, and much more.
The List of Best Handheld Vacuums Under $50T
Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster (Best Overall)
Are you tired of hefty vacuums that make you feel like you’re lifting weights at the gym? Well, guess what? We’ve just found the perfect solution for you, BD Dustbuster. It’s lightweight, offers powerful suction, and has a fantastic battery lifespan.
First thing first, the BD Dustbuster’s battery lasts 10 to 12 minutes of continuous use and takes around 3 hours to completely recharge.
Emptying the vacuum housing is simple to do. We actually recommend unloading the canister and dumping the trash after each utilization to keep the vacuum’s suction at its peak.
Additionally, you can rotate the vacuum’s head by pressing one button. This function can come in handy when cleaning weird angles.
The BD Dustbuster also has a swing-out brush and a retractable nozzle, which are both wonderful features. The nozzle locks into the extended position, allowing you to clean hard-to-reach corners.
The brush is excellent for carpet and couch but not for upholstery, which we’ll discuss soon. Also, the closed handle of the BD Dustbuster makes it simple to use.
What could have been better?
There are two areas we didn’t like during our review of the BD Dustbuster. The first one is the ineffectiveness of this vacuum when cleaning upholstery. It tends to struggle to suck up the clung debris on the fabric.
Furthermore, the battery cannot be replaced by the user. In other words, if the battery dies in the future, you won’t be able to replace it since it’s soldered to the circuit board and hence difficult to change by a layperson.
BLACK+DECKER Cordless
Powered by a lithium-ion battery, this cordless BLACK+DECKER vac will help you clean every corner of your house without needing an outlet.
First of all, this vacuum cleaner is available in different colors. All models are identical, where the color is the only difference.
The BLACK+DECKER vac is ideal for rapid clean-ups such as cat litter, cereal, and other everyday messes. Its battery lasts up to 15 minutes, which is more than enough to complete your daily cleaning chores.
What we also like about the BLACK+DECKER handheld vacuum is its weight. The fact that it’s lightweight makes it a great choice for the elderly. Additionally, it’s indeed made of plastic, yet it is strong enough to resist accident drops.
The BLACK+DECKER vac is remarkably quiet in comparison to many handheld vacuums. I mean, you’ll finally be able to clean your home whenever you want without worrying about waking up your pet or toddler.
What could have been better?
Our only complaint with the BLACK+DECKER is that you need to keep holding the power-on button to keep the vacuum running.
For quick clean-up, it won’t be a problem. However, for the long cleaning section, it will become a bit uncomfortable.
Dirt Devil Scorpion Handheld Vacuum (Best Corded)
If charging your handheld vacuum isn’t your thing, and you simply want to plug and suck, you should consider the Dirt Devil Scorpion.
First of all, the Dirt Devil Scorpion vac comes with a wide brush attachment. This tool is great for cleaning stairs and odd angles. Additionally, it has an integrated noose for hard-to-reach corners. This latter is attached to the vacuum and can only be flipped out when not in use.
What we also like about this vacuum is the simplicity of cleaning its dustbin. All it takes is a single button to access both the container and the filter. Speaking of the filter, the Dirt Devil Scorpion comes with a nice, easy-to-access filter covered with a soft covering for dust particles.
The Dirt Devil Scorpion has incredible suction power and can clean almost everything that crosses its path. Additionally, unless your outlet is located far from your workspace, the 16ft cord will be enough to clean every corner of your room.
What could have been better?
Compared to the other cordless vacuums on this list, this one is pretty loud. Also, the absence of a second filter can irritate some of you.
Bissell AeroSlim (Most Compact)
The BISSELL AeroSlim is another cordless handheld vacuum cleaner within your price range. It has a sleek look, a compact design, and a powerful suction that will help you clean all debris in a minute.
What we love about the Bissell AeroSlim is its compact design. It allows it to fit into the smallest spaces easily. This vac cleans hair, fine dust, kitchen spills, automobile interiors, etc. Also, despite its small size, it has a fantastic suction power to pull everything in.
Right out of the box, you’ll get an extension arm with a brush attachment, an extra filter, and a USB charging cable.
What has also caught our attention is that it charges via a micro USB cable. In addition to that, it takes around 3 hours to fully charge and lasts for approximately 12 minutes of continuous use before it runs out of energy.
It’s not difficult to get the canister off. Actually, all you need is to give it a little twist. Also, despite its modest size, it’s more than enough, given the size of the vacuum and how long it can run on one charge.
What should you expect from the BISSELL AeroSlim? Well, it will, without a doubt, make your regular cleaning routine much simpler by allowing you to clean those hard-to-reach corners. Besides, its small design won’t take up much space, allowing you to store it wherever you want.
However, please remember that the BISSELL AeroSlim is not intended for heavy-duty despite its fantastic performance. In other words, it won’t replace your regular vacuum cleaner.
What could have been better?
Well, even though it has many great features that seem to go on and on, there is an area that we didn’t like, which is the shape of the gripe. It feels like a shape of a wide pipe which is not user-friendly to hold, especially for the first time. It’s indeed not a dealbreaker, but it is worth to be mentioned.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser (Best for Pet hair)
We all know how wonderful it’s to have your favorite pet sharing the same roof with you. It’s lovely and can positively impact your lifestyle. But it will also add some additional homework for you. Unlike regular dirt, pet hair does require a specific type of vacuum, such as the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser.
Suction power is a critical factor to consider when shopping for a vacuum cleaner for pet hairs which is why we’ve chosen the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser. In addition to that, since it’s a corded vacuum, the suction power will remain the same no matter how long you spend cleaning your house.
Although it is corded, you’ll still be able to clean your room or car peacefully since the cord measures around 16 feet. In other words, there is no need to look for a nearby outlet to start your cleaning task.
On top of that, what makes this Bissell Pet Hair Eraser effective against all types of dander is its removable rubber attachment. It also comes with a nozzle that works wonders in nooks and crannies.
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser may appear heavy at first glance, but once you have it in your hand, you’ll notice how lightweight it is. The position of the power-on button is another thing we enjoy about this handheld vacuum. Because it’s on the vac’s handle, it’s simple to switch it on and off without having to look for it.
The Bissell Pet Hair vac has a large container perfect for long cleaning sections. To put it another way, you won’t need to take a break to empty the canister.
While on the housing subject, this latter is easy to access and includes a HEPA filter. For those who’re not familiar with HEPA filters. This type of filter removes at least 99.97% of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns.
Honestly, I’m pretty sure that this vacuum can quickly become your favorite vac for your everyday cleaning. It’s lightweight, has a compact design, and, most importantly, its suction power will astound you.
What could have been better?
Unfortunately, the design of the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser may blow up the mess you’re seeking to clean. It won’t take so long before you figure out the best way to hold it. Still, it’s a bit annoying at first.
Eureka EasyClean
When looking to invest in a good handheld vacuum, you should consider the Eureka EasyClean. It’s a corded one with a 5.5amp motor that provides incredible suction power enough to clean most types of dirt at home.
As you’d expect from a corded vacuum, the Eureka EasyClean has strong suction and a powerful motorized brush for effectively cleaning all types of dirt. It also has an integrated hose to assist you in cleaning tight spots, such as underneath furniture or those that are difficult to reach.
While on the brush subject, the Eureka EasyClean features different settings, which you can change via the power switch. The first one is to use the vacuum without the roller. This one is useful for cleaning hard surfaces.
The second one is just like the first one, except that it also activates the roller. This mode is great for carpets, sofas, and upholstery. And the last one is to take off the dust cup. All these modes are easy to switch between, including the one to empty the canister.
During our review of the Eureka EasyClean, one of the features that drew our eye was the brush roll. It’s powerful, effectively cleans carpets, and allows you to clean vertical surfaces such as stairs without holding the vacuum at awkward angles.
What could have been better?
The EasyClean does not have wheels or rollers, making going back and forth a little complicated. Its motor is also a bit loud.
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster QuickClean (Most Affordable)
Last but not least is the BD Dustbuster QuickClean. It’s the most inexpensive handheld vacuum cleaner on this list while maintaining the same level of effectiveness as the others. In other words, for an affordable price, you’ll get a lightweight vacuum with good battery life and, most importantly, incredible suction power.
The BD QuickClean Dustbuster weighs around 1.4lbs. Suction power is 15 air watts, which is comparable to the best-selling handheld vacuum on Amazon, the BD Dustbuster, which we previously reviewed.
We had no trouble sucking fine powder, dust, and even dog food during our review of the BD Dustbuster QuickClean. As a result, you can entirely depend on this vacuum to help you to finish your regular cleaning routine swiftly.
When it comes to design, the BD Dustbuster QuickClean features an ergonomic grip with the power on the button right next to it. It also features an extending crevice tool and a removable brush. The brush was surprisingly effective in loosening the dirt and making it simpler to remove.
This handheld vacuum takes around 10 hours to fully recharge, and its battery lasts approximately 9 to 10 minutes. Yes, it does not last very long. However, this is what it is intended for: rapid cleaning sections.
While on the battery subject, the BD Dustbuster QuickClean comes with an LED indicator on the power adapter that glows red when the vacuum starts charging and turns off when it’s completely charged.
So, the real question is, is it worth the money? It most certainly does. It has the same suction power as other handheld vacuums and has comparable battery life.
It does have a fault, which we will discuss more below. Nonetheless, it is far from a dealbreaker (in my humble opinion, of course).
What could have been better?
As you would expect from a budget handheld vacuum, the BD dustbuster QuickClean has a weak spot. To keep this vacuum running, you must continue pressing the power on button.
In other words, the vacuum will switch off the moment you lift your finger from the button.
Also, 10 hours to completely recharge is a little lengthy, limiting you to using it once per day, maybe twice at most.
Read also: Why Are Dyson Vacuums So Expensive [Pros and corns]
Conclusion
As you may have noticed, $50 is an excellent price range for a nice handheld vacuum cleaner. However, before you decide on one of these vacuums, you need to know what you’re looking for. In other words, a Bissell Pet Hair Eraser will be a better option for you if you have a pet that sheds a lot.
Aside from that, we hope our list of the best handheld vacuums under $50 has assisted you in making your buying decision.
As usual, we welcome feedback from our readers. So, if you have any experience with one of these handheld vacuums or have any questions about one of them, please feel free to leave a comment below.
What is the best handheld vacuum to purchase?
There are many good handheld vacuums available on the market, but some popular options include the Dyson V11, Shark Rocket Corded Hand Vac, and Black+Decker dustbuster Handheld Vacuum. The best handheld vacuum for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences, such as suction power, battery life, accessories, and price. It is recommended to read reviews and compare features before making a purchase.
Which cordless vacuum is best value for money?
The best value for money cordless vacuum cleaner depends on your specific needs and budget. However, some popular options for budget-friendly cordless vacuums that offer good value for money include the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX, Tineco A10 Hero, and Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hardwood Floor Cordless Vacuum.
Which handheld vacuum has the longest run time?
The handheld vacuum with the longest run time is the Dyson V11, which can provide up to 60 minutes of run time on a single charge. However, this can vary depending on the power mode and attachments being used. Other handheld vacuums with long run times include the Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX and the Tineco A11 Hero, which can provide up to 80 minutes of run time with interchangeable batteries.
Which cordless vacuum has the strongest suction?
The cordless vacuum with the strongest suction is the Dyson V11, which uses the company’s powerful V11 digital motor to deliver up to 185 AW (Air Watts) of suction power in its most powerful mode. Other cordless vacuums with strong suction power include the Shark Rocket Cordless Hand Vac and the Tineco A11 Hero, which both use high-performance motors to provide strong suction.
How do I choose a handheld vacuum cleaner?
To choose a handheld vacuum cleaner, consider factors such as the purpose, suction power, battery life, accessories, weight and size, price, and brand reputation. Determine your cleaning needs, budget, and preferences, and read reviews to find a vacuum that is reliable, effective, and offers good value for money.
How long can a vacuum cleaner run continuously?
The run time of a vacuum cleaner depends on the type of vacuum and the battery capacity. Corded vacuums can run continuously as long as they are plugged in, while cordless vacuums typically have a battery life that ranges from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on the model and power settings. Some newer cordless models come with interchangeable batteries, allowing for longer run times.
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