We recently published our list of “Best Vacuum Cleaners under $100” and it proved to be quite popular. The list provided good machines that are very affordable - but the $100 limit also cut out some great vacuums. Moving the affordability bar up to $200 allowed us to include a number of units with slightly better consumer ratings, longer warranties and more features.
Our list of Best Vacuum Cleaners under $200 includes 4 uprights and 1 canister. Manufacturers that made the cut are Eureka, Euro-pro and Panasonic. The models were chosen based on their features, performance, consumer ratings and cost. The final list is provided in the table below:
Model
Configuration
Price *
Warranty
Eureka AirSpeed Gold (AS1001A)
Upright
$109.18
2 years
Euro-Pro Shark Navigator (NV22L)
Upright
$119.45
5 years
Euro-Pro Shark Navigator Lift-Away (NV350)
Upright
$179.00
5 years
Panasonic MC-UL915
Upright
$165.05
1 year
Panasonic MC-CG902
Canister
$199.99
1 year
*Prices based on Amazon September 2011. Please note that pricing may change.
During our analysis we also came upon a few more vacuums that we liked very much but were just above the $200 cutoff. These machines (below) are worth keeping your eye on.
These are good vacuums and also receive top-notch ratings from owners. If you don’t find the perfect match in the Best Vacuum Cleaners under $200 list then consider looking further into these models (the Hoover UH30010COM is one of our best-selling vacuums). Pricing for these units has also been dropping and they may fall into the “under $200” category in coming months.
Eureka AirSpeed Gold The Eureka Airspeed Gold is the least expensive of the vacuums on the list and it has strong suction, an easy-empty dirt canister, a long power cord and a turbo attachment that owners feel is quite effective for cleaning stairs and upholstery. Consumer ratings for the AirSpeed are plentiful and a large number of sources were found. Ratings, on average, were all quite good and indicate a respectable level of owner satisfaction. A review of consumer comments provides the following owner insights:
PROS - Strong suction - Very easy to empty to the dust canister - Turbo attachment works well - Effective on both carpet and bare floors - Good edge cleaning - Wand is easy to use - Long power cord - Not too expensive - Fairly easy to maneuver
CONS - Filters need to be cleaned frequently - Filters require periodic replacement - Heavy - Instruction manual is not very easy to understand - Lots of plastic used in construction - No auto cord rewind - Brushbar cannot be turned off
Euro-Pro Shark Navigator (NV22L) The Euro-Pro Shark Navigator is a bagless upright with lifetime washable filters. Consumer ratings are excellent and it can be found online for about $120 – very reasonable. It uses cyclonic suction like a Dyson and comes with a number of tools and attachments including a turbo power brush that is good for pulling up pet hair. The NV22L also has HEPA level filtration, brushbar on/off (for carpet and bare surfaces), a 30 foot power cord and it carries a lengthy 5-year warranty. The machine weighs a fairly lightweight 15 lbs but it does not come with nozzle height adjustment nor does the power cord auto-retract. A review of consumer comments provides the following owner insights:
PROS - 5 year warranty - No suction loss (similar to a Dyson) - Has the ability to turn the brushbar on or off - Washable filters - Effective on both carpets and hard surfaces - Easy and quick to assemble - Easy to empty dust container - Filters are easy to clean - Long extension hose
CONS - No height control - Power cord does not have auto-retract feature - As an upright it is not easy to vacuum under furniture - Dust container capacity is a bit small
Euro-Pro Shark Navigator Lift-Away (NV350) This vacuum is very popular and it is similar in many ways to the Navigator NV22L (above) except that it comes with a detachable canister and it is also weighs only 12.8 lbs. The canister along with the handle can be separated from the unit and this configuration is portable allowing one to easily clean stairs, under furniture and other hard to reach areas. The NV350 also utilizes a “sealed system” which ensures that all of the air that enters the vacuum gets passed through the filters before it is exhausted. No unfiltered air escapes around the filters or through openings in the vacuum body. As a result Euro-Pro indicates that the vacuum is certified by the British Allergy Foundation. Like the NV22L it also has many attachments and carries a 5-year warranty. A review of consumer comments provides the following owner insights:
PROS - Powerful suction - Fairly quiet - Sealed system (for high quality filtration) - Brushbar can be turned on and off - Plenty of attachments - Easy to empty dirt canister - Works well on different surfaces (carpet and hard) - Detachable canister is great for doing stairs - Filters are washable - Swivel head creates good maneuverability - Very easy to assemble - Lengthy 5 year warranty
CONS - Power cord is a little short - Narrow nozzle width - Canister piece is a bit bulky when trying to get under furniture - Limited on-board tool storage - Lots of plastic in construction
Panasonic MC-UL915 This machine works very well, comes with a lot of features and gets very few negative comments from owners. Like the other Panasonic vacuum in this list it only carries a 1-year warranty but it comes with a belt saver feature, brushbar on/off, automatic nozzle height adjustment, soft non-marring wheels, a 35 foot long power cord and a headlight. It also includes a “dirt sensor”. The dirt sensor feature is popular with owners and it indicates when an area being vacuumed is dirty (via a red light) and when it becomes clean (the light turns green). In addition, HEPA filtration is standard and it comes with quite a few attachments. It is a bit on the heavy side however and at 20 lbs some folks may find this an issue. A review of consumer comments provides the following owner insights:
PROS - Motorized brushbar is very good at cleaning carpets - The dirt sensor is a popular feature - Long power cord - Strong suction - Headlight is handy feature - Easy to assemble - Low profile nozzle makes it easy to get around and under furniture - Not too loud
CONS - A bit heavy - Some comments that the dirt canister can be tricky to empty - All attachments won’t fit on vacuum
Panasonic MC-CG902 This is the most expensive vacuum in the Best Vacuum Cleaners under $200 list and it is also a bagged canister. This machine was given a best buy rating from a popular consumer magazine and owners comment favourably on the quality and durability of the vacuum. It gets great owner ratings and has all the key features including a motorized brushbar, brushbar on/off, height adjustment, retractable power cord, tools and attachments, HEPA filtration, etc. It does fall a little short on power cord length and hose length however. A review of consumer comments provides the following owner insights:
PROS - Comes with HEPA filtration - On/off switch is conveniently located on the handle - Retractable power cord - Seems durable - Quality attachments - Good on hard surfaces - Not too heavy
CONS - No handheld turbine attachment - Vacuum hose is a little short for some people
Canister Vacuums 
