With the cost of living continuing to rise, having to buy a new vacuum cleaner can seem like an impossible addition to your expenses. But cleaning shouldn't be something you have to compromise on.
Now that we're in full Black Friday mode, I know as a home tech editor and shopping writer who tests vacuums and hunts for deals for a living, which one to recommend if you're on a strict budget: The Shark PowerPro Pet, which is discounted by a huge $150 at Home Depot.
The $150-Off Shark PowerPro Pet Shows That a Great Vacuum Doesn't Need to Be Expensive
The Shark PowerPro Pet punches above its weight at this price, vacuuming dust, dirt, hair and all manner of messes as well as many top cordless vacuums that cost almost twice as much.
It's also intuitively designed (as we've come to expect from the best Shark vacuums), making it completely uncomplicated to use. It detects whether you're vacuuming bare floors or carpet and adjusts the suction in under a second, taking away the guesswork and making sure each surface is given the right clean.
And as the battery life only runs for up to 50 minutes, this is a smart way to preserve runtime, saving the extra power for when it's needed.
In our more specialized vacuum tests on fine material, medium, and large debris, the Shark PowerPro Pet cleaned as well as the Dyson V8, which, even when on offer, costs twice as much as this discounted Shark.
A feature I love is the toggle by the handle to activate 'max' mode. This is a key feature in cordless sticks as they tend not to have the suction of hefty corded vacuums (unless you're looking at spending $100s more on the Dyson V15 Detect).
The handy placement means you can turn max mode on and off pretty much instantly, and after trying it out, I was surprised that I've never seen this in another vacuum – and that's saying a lot, considering we've tested 87 in total.
I also tested the Shark PowerPro Pet in a cat and dog shelter, and it's now become our best value cordless vacuum for pet hair, one that doesn't cost $500+ like our other top picks, but can still pick up fur from carpets, rugs, and furniture without it tangling at the brushroll.
Other nice design touches include the flexible wand, which allows you to clean under low-rise furniture without having to strain your back, and HEPA filtration that's essential in capturing household allergens, minimizing the sneezing and snuffling of allergy sufferers caused by dust and dander.
The Shark PowerPro Pet is discounted to $179.99 in Home Depot's Black Friday sale.
More to Shop
This isn't the only budget-friendly vacuum cleaner that will still work wonders on your floors. I'm always looking for the best-value picks during our testing sessions, and here are a few more of my favorites.
All prices correct at time of publication.
For the same price as the Shark PowerPro Pet and packed with Dyson-style features, such as a dust-revealing laser (it's blue here) and automatic suction, this is the closest you can get to Dyson if you're on a budget – and it cleans pretty well, too.
Read more in my full Dreame R20 review.
For only $120 more than the Shark PowerPro Pet, you can bring home one of the best Dyson vacuums we've tested, with stronger suction, a longer runtime, and a larger dustbin.
Read more in my full Dyson V11 review.
Or, for the same price as the Dyson V11, the V12 Detect Slim has Dyson's smart features including a green laser that reveals hidden dust, and sensors to automatically adjust suction power. It's more powerful than the Shark, but not as powerful as the V11.
Read more in my full Dyson V12 Detect Slim review.
Another stand-out budget vacuum is the Ultenic U16 Flex – but it only works well on hard floors and thin rugs. If you don't own any carpets, save yourself some money with this affordable top picks that also has a green laser like Dyson's top models.
Read more in my full Ultenic U16 Flex review.
If you have a large, messy home, perhaps with kids or pets, the Shark PowerPro Pet won't cut it. Instead (and for the same price as the two Dysons above), you could bring home one of the most powerful vacuums we've tested. It clears everything in one pass.
Read more in our full Shark POWERDETECT review.
For small, quick cleans around the house, to make your weekly cleans less intensive, this Black+Decker handheld vacuum is one of the most effective we've tested, whether on pet hair or household dust. It
Read more in my full Black+Decker dustbuster furbuster AdvanceClean+ Pet review.
For more affordable vacuum picks, we have a dedicated (and rigorously tested) guide to the best Dyson alternatives. Funnily enough, the Shark PowerPro Pet is one of them.
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