The 5 Best Vacuums You Can Buy for Under $500

Shark makes some of our favorite affordable alternatives to Dyson’s elite lineup. If you prefer an upright vacuum, this Shark model features a large, easy-to-empty dust cup—just rinse out the filter when it needs cleaning. It maneuvers smoothly around corners thanks to swivel steering, so it doesn’t feel as heavy as you think.

What really sets it apart, though, is the lift-away feature. With the push of a button, you can separate the pod from the base, essentially transforming it into a handheld vacuum with the included attachments. There’s an upholstery tool for getting deep into the nooks and crannies of your couch, plus a crevice tool that makes quick work of ceiling cobwebs and tight corners.

It also transitions seamlessly from carpet to hardwood floors, while a fully sealed HEPA filtration system effectively traps 99.9 percent of dust and allergens so they don’t end up circulating back into the air around your home.

Also from Shark, this cordless model is a go-to of our associate commerce editor, Bryn Gilbert, who considers it an upgrade from traditionally bulkier upright styles.

“This vacuum’s MultiFlex stick lets me easily get under the TV stand, bedroom dresser, and other tight spaces that would’ve previously required getting down on my hands and knees,” he writes. “And on the rare occasion that still doesn’t cut it, the handheld mode makes it surprisingly light and agile. Those two features are the one-two punch that make this vacuum so awesome.”

Beyond the flexible design, it also features an intelligent dirt-detection mode that automatically adjusts between carpet and hardwood settings without you needing to lift a finger. There’s a high-power mode for deep cleans and an eco mode when you want to get the most out of the battery life.

If you can’t be bothered with much manual labor, this Tapo robot vacuum does it all. For around $200, it both vacuums and mops—a combination that’s still surprisingly hard to find at this price point. With 5,300 Pa suction power, the brand claims it can pick up 97 percent of dust particles across both carpet and hardwood floors. The large mop pad and three adjustable water-flow settings also make it ideal for basic day-to-day maintenance cleaning.

It also features LiDAR navigation, which uses laser mapping to create a detailed layout of your home, along with a grid-style cleaning pattern that helps ensure every square inch gets covered. Sync it with the companion app to customize cleaning settings for different rooms, create virtual walls for off-limit areas, or prevent it from rolling onto carpets while in mopping mode. And when it’s finished, the auto-empty dock makes cleanup almost entirely hands-free.

This is the rare Dyson vacuum you’ll find for under $500, and that’s because it’s a handheld. Similar to the Dyson V8, it spins at a whopping 110,000 rpm on Max mode and, according to the brand, can run for up to 50 minutes on a single charge using the standard setting. (Battery life is shorter in Max mode, but it should still last long enough to tackle most car interiors.) And despite its slightly heftier construction, it weighs just 4.2 pounds.

Whether you’re cleaning out a vehicle or tackling harder-to-reach spots around the house, you can easily swap between the three included attachments: a motorized brush ideal for upholstery and larger surfaces, a crevice tool for tight corners, and a combination tool with both a wide nozzle and brush attachment for everything from deeper cleans to lighter dusting.

If you already own a Dyson vacuum—most of which can convert into handhelds—you may find this one a bit redundant. But if not, it’s easily one of the best handheld options on the market.

True to its name, this Bissell model is a great option if your main concern is pet hair and dander. It delivers strong suction, a sealed HEPA filtration system for trapping dust, dander, and allergens, a tangle-free brush roll, and dedicated settings for both carpet and hard floors. In the latter mode, it also uses scatter-free technology to help prevent debris from spreading around—a major plus when cleaning up spilled kibble or litter.

It also features a handy lift-off design for added versatility and comes with a dedicated pet hair attachment for easily removing fur from couch cushions.