I was a vacuum reviewer for two years — these are the 6 sub-£250 models I’d recommend in a heartbeat

• April 11, 2026

Vacuuming isn’t especially fun, and having to shell out your hard-earned cash for a vacuum cleaner might be even more painful. I was in charge of TechRadar’s vacuum cleaner coverage for two full years, during which time I tested out all kinds of vacuums at all kinds of prices. I’ve put together this article to help out anyone who’s in need of a new vacuum for their spring cleaning kick, but doesn’t want to pay over the over the odds for it.

Most of these picks come in just under £250 (although deals crop up on all of these models fairly regularly), which is generally enough to get you a very capable cleaner. My top recommendation is probably the Dreame R20, which is perhaps the best cordless vacuum cleaner I’ve tested all-round, serving up good vacuuming, a lightweight build and some advanced special features for that affordable price.

I’m also a big fan of the Dyson V8 Cyclone; a refreshed version of the iconic V8. It’s relatively basic in features, but really shines when it comes to outright cleaning clout — this is the option I’d recommend to owners of shedding pets.

A wild card is the Shark Freestyle Max. It’s unusual in that it’s an upright model, but it’s cordless. On test it delivered nimble maneuvering and superb suction — albeit over very short runtimes. It’s the cheapest of the bunch, at around £100. Happy spring cleaning!

My favorite cheap vacuums — UK

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Source

Vacuuming isn’t especially fun, and having to shell out your hard-earned cash for a vacuum cleaner might be even more painful. I was in charge of TechRadar’s vacuum cleaner coverage for two full years, during which time I tested out all kinds of vacuums at all kinds of prices. I’ve…