The Best Affordable HEPA Vacuums
Above-average ratings, below-average prices, no fake reviews.
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There are around 400 HEPA vacuums for sale online, but many of them are poorly rated, prohibitively expensive, or reviewed by unverified customers. I know this because I analyzed the vacuums listed on Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Overstock.com
Miele makes some of the best HEPA vacuums, however, these luxury models cost upwards of $500 and also use dust bags that sell for a premium price. On the other hand, many affordable HEPA vacuums rely on bagless designs. The downside is that emptying the dust canister re-releases some of the trapped particulates, which can be a dealbreaker for allergy sufferers.
The following vacuums with HEPA filtration are legitimately-rated at four stars or better and have sold for $200 or less in the past 12-months. Some models have sold for as little as $59 while on sale:
- Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360
- Ovente ST2010 Bagless HEPA Vacuum
- Atrix International AHC1 Canister HEPA Vacuum
- Prolux Tritan Bagged Canister HEPA Vacuum
- Shark Navigator DLX NV70 Upright HEPA Vacuum
- Simplicity S20EZM Clean Air Bagged Upright Vacuum
- Severin BC7058-N Special Corded Vacuum Cleaner
- Soniclean HH-0800 Handheld Vacuum
For each vacuum, I’ve attempted to summarize the most important pros and cons (found in thousands of customer reviews) in a description that is fewer than 100 words. I’ve also included a simple price guide to help steer you toward the best deals. The “good value” price is an approximate average sale price for the past 12 months; the “great deal” price is the lowest price that I’ve seen a particular vacuum sell for.
If you’d like to learn more about HEPA filters, or to read more about my methodology for selecting products, scroll to the bottom of this buying guide for more information.
1. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 Upright Vacuum
Good Price: $154 | Great Value: $80
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Shark’s inexpensive HEPA vacuum is easy to assemble, it maneuvers well on hard floors and carpeting, and it has excellent suction, according to several online customers. Many reviewers complain that the vacuum tips over in “lift-away” mode because the hose is too short and rigid; others don’t like the bagless canister.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday (and set an all-time low price at Kohl’s).
2. Ovente ST2010 Bagless Lightweight HEPA Vacuum
Good Price: $72 | Great Value: $59
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Ovente’s budget HEPA vacuum has strong suction and a lightweight, easy-to-maneuver design, according to several customers. Many reviewers say this vacuum has a short cord and a small dust cup that must be emptied often; others warn that this vacuum is impractical for carpet because it doesn’t have a brush roller.
3. Atrix International AHC1 Canister HEPA Vacuum Cleaner in Red
Good Value: $117 | Great Deal: $95
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Atrix’s compact HEPA vacuum is lightweight, quiet and it has excellent suction, according to several online customers. Some reviewers wish the attachments locked in place; others wish the cord was longer.
4. Prolux Tritan Bagged Canister Vacuum with HEPA Filtration
Good Value: $160 | Great Deal: $135
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This HEPA vacuum is extremely powerful relative to its compact size, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say this vacuum is hard to pull over carpet without the hose separating from the base; others wish that the vacuum had an internal storage area in which to keep the attachments that are included.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Amazon Prime Day.
5. Shark Navigator DLX NV70 Upright HEPA Vacuum
Good Value: $143 | Great Deal: $85
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Shark’s DLX vacuum is effective on pet hair in carpet, according to several online customers. Some reviewers caution that the vacuum is top heavy, and thus, prone to tipping while using the hose attachment (which connects near the vacuum’s top). Others say that the vacuum’s weight makes it difficult to use on stairs.
6. Simplicity S20EZM Clean Air Bagged Upright Vacuum
Good Value: $230 | Great Deal: $200
Check Current Price on Home Depot | Check Current Price on Lowe’s | Check Current Price on Macy’s
Simplicity’s upright vacuum is lightweight, easy to maneuver and it has strong suction, according to several customers. Some reviewers say that the motor strains on carpet; others wish that more bags were included.
7. Severin BC7058-N Special Corded Vacuum Cleaner
Good Value: $156 | Great Deal: $134
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Severin’s HEPA canister vacuum is a budget alternative to Miele or Dyson vacuums, according to several online customers. Reviewers wish this model had 360 degree wheels, a longer cord and a more pliable hose.
8. Soniclean HH-0800 Handheld Vacuum with Attachments
Good Value: $116 | Great Deal: $103
Check Current Price on Home Depot | Check Current Price on Overstock
Soniclean’s afforable canister vacuum is portable, powerful and has useful attachments, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say that the hose frequently disconnects itself; others say it is too loud.
Why Buy A HEPA Vacuum?
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommend using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. That’s because vacuuming agitates dust on the ground; these “resuspended particles often contain toxicants, such as lead and pesticides, or consist of biological agents that can trigger allergic reactions,” according to Dr. Richard Corsi, an expert on indoor air quality. However, HEPA filtration can alleviate the symptoms of asthma and allergies, according to a review of clinical studies published in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports.
(Alternatively, those who suffer from allergies may benefit from scheduling a robot vacuum to clean during the hours that they are not at home.)
This style of air filter was designed in the 1940s to protect those who were working on the Manhattan Project. Today, HEPA filtration is still used by nuclear facilities as well as in hospitals, labs and even in many home air purifiers. True HEPA filters have “a minimum particle removal efficiency of no less than 99.97 percent for 0.3-μm particles,” according to the U.S. Department of Energy. (This is better than an N95 filtration mask.)
How Much Does a Good HEPA Vacuum Cost?
A good HEPA vacuum (with verified, above-average reviews) costs approximately $167, according to a 12-month analysis of price trends. Those same vacuums cost around $137 while on sale: an average discount of 18%. This data also implies that Amazon and Home Depot are the best places to buy a HEPA vacuum online.
Methodology for Selecting Products
I use data science to discover above-average products that are selling for below-average prices. To find HEPA vacuums with below-average prices, I first assemble a list of candidates, then organize those products by their 12-month average sale price, determine the median value and then exclude any vacuum with a price above the mid-point.
To find vacuums with above-average reviews, I measure the relationship between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ratings and flag outliers that fall outside of a normal statistical distribution. I also discount paid, sponsored and unverified reviews as well as unhelpful review behaviors from verified customers. Models with an average adjusted rating of less than 3.9 out of 5 are excluded; in the end, less than 10% of the vacuums remain.
About the Author: John DeFeo documented the construction of two LEED-certified PSEG customer service centers in New Jersey. HEPA vacuums were used on site daily to minimize particulates, thereby creating a safer work environment. Since then, John has been a student of HEPA filtration and he owns a Shark NV360 vacuum (which appears in the list above).
