5 top vacuums for $150 or less

Consumer Reports' vacuum Ratings, like most results we provide to our readers, are sorted by overall performance—stressing the comprehensive efforts that go into our tests. But sometimes it's all about the money. You can filter results in our Ratings to select by price, but here's a shortcut to the best of our recommended vacuums that cost $150 or less. The five that follow are all upright models, which are cheaper on average than canister vacuums.

Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Pet UH30310

This $150 bagged upright packs impressive cleaning and pet-hair pickup into a low-priced, lightweight (17-pound) package. Carpet and bare-floor cleaning are both very good. And true to its name, the Hoover had superb pet-hair pickup. Key features include manual carpet pile-height adjustment, which we prefer over automatic systems for deep-cleaning carpets, and a brush on/off switch for bare floors. You do give up suction control for gentle cleaning of drapes. And adjusting the pile height requires you to bend downto reach the front of the vacuum.

Hoover WindTunnel T-Series UH30300

Impressive cleaning in a $140, lightweight package (only 16 pounds) makes this bagged Hoover an appealing choice. It's also superb at sucking up pesky pet hair—a plus for dog and cat owners—with strong airflow for tools. Key features include a brush on/off switch and manual carpet pile-height adjustment. But there's no suction control for drapes. And here, too, you need to bend to adjust pile height.

Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Bagless UH70120

Fine cleaning and superb pet-hair pickup helped put this $130 bagless upright on our winner's list. This model also delivers lots of suction for tools, manual carpet pile-height adjustment, and a retractable cord—all in a relatively light machine that weighs just 18 pounds. Two things this value-priced model doesn't include: suction control for drapes and a brush on/off switch. And emptying a bagless vacuum's bin can be messy.

Eureka AirSpeed AS1000A

Eureka AirSpeed AS1001A Gold

We tested the Walmart-exclusive, bagless Eureka AirSpeed AS1000A, $120. The more generally available Eureka AirSpeed AS1001A Gold, $10 more, performs similarly but differs slightly in features. Impressive cleaning and pet-hair pickup help make the Eureka AirSpeed AS1000A an appealing model. It's also relatively light (just 18 pounds) and includes manual carpet pile-height adjustment. But the low price includes neither suction control nor a brush on/off switch.

Need a new vacuum?

In addition to these and other recommended upright vacuums, our vacuum Ratings include 45 canister vacuums—recommended models start at $250—and 20 hand and stick vacuums. We're also testing new robotic vacuums. Be sure to see our buying guide for vacuum cleaners,  before you begin to narrow your choices.

—Ed Perratore (@EdPerratore on Twitter)