Upright vacuums are primarily designed to clean large spaces, but they can also serve a variety of purposes in any home. it has easy to use, and it tends to have a larger dirt compartment due to its distinct, bulky shape. In addition to cleaning up carpets, they can also remove most pet hair and debris without a problem. It is important to note, however, that upright vacuums are usually heavier than the stick or canister models, making them less portable and maneuverable, especially on stairs.
Below are our recommendations for the best upright vacuum cleaners after testing over 100 models. We selected these picks based on performance, design, feature set, and price.
The following list 8 of the best upright vacuums we tested. Check out our vacuum buying guide and complete vacuum rating for more information.
PORS
- What We Like
- Filter with HEPA
- Long extendable hose
- Multiple settings for surfaces
CONS
- What We Don't Like
- A little bulky
This Shark Navigator Swivel Pro Complete Upright Vacuum provides powerful suction at a volume that is barely louder than a purr. Our top pick is this upright vacuum, though it’s slightly bulky and needs little elbow grease to move from a concrete floor to a carpet. In our lab tests, it collected all materials in its path on all surfaces but performed best on hardwood and low-pile carpets. This vacuum’s suction can be adjusted to fit your needs thanks to its multiple settings, earning it a 5-star rating for effectiveness.
Swivel Pro has a 25-foot power cord, so you will not need multiple outlets to clean a single room. Also, it has a 10-inch cleaning path, an extendable hose that can reach 11 feet, and three handy attachments: a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and a pet brush. Additionally, it has a seam-sealed HEPA filter. It can grab dust, pollen, and allergens from your air. Our tester also gave its emptying a process 5-star rating because it’s simple and won’t create a mess. The pick had a difficult time slipping under low-sitting furniture, but it was nonetheless comfortable and rewarding, especially considering its lower price
PORS
- There is a spacious dustbin
- Easily portable
- High-pile carpets are suitable
CONS
- It's difficult to maneuver
- A few instructions are unclear
Dirt Devil Endura Reach Upright Vacuums are a good choice for households on a budget. According to our tester, this vacuum picked up materials in about three passes across all surfaces. The testing team said the vacuum’s noise level matched its power when cleaning, giving it a 4-star rating for effectiveness. The vacuum was also quite lightweight, weighing only 9 pounds, which allowed it to be easily maneuvered.
The dustbin’s location makes turning a bit awkward. The vacuum comes with a washable, reusable filter, as well as a crevice tool and dusting brush attachments, so you can clean every corner of your home. Although this dust bin can collect 1.9 quarts at once, it is also affordable, making it an efficient, cost-effective choice.
PORS
- It is easy to maneuver
- An extra-long power cord
- Filter made of HEPA
CONS
- It is not suitable for carpets
- Hair gets stuck in the canister
Dyson vacuums are usually expensive, and the Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum is no exception. However, it is a solid investment because this vacuum works well on hardwood, vinyl, laminate, tile, carpet, rugs, and more. This upright vacuum’s ball feature lowers its center of gravity, making it more stable and easier to maneuver. Additionally, you’ll receive a stair tool, a combo tool, and an extension wand for the hose, along with HEPA filtration to capture allergens.
Although we didn’t test this pick at The Lab, our home tester reported that, even with detailed instructions, assembling it can be a bit challenging. Dyson has installed its signature cyclone assembly in the transparent dirt canister, arranged radially around a washable filter. This design maximizes suction and also looks like an overturned bundt cake pan. Our tester was most impressed by how well it picked up cat hair, though we did recommend keeping an eye on the dust bin to ensure it doesn’t get too full. Filter system debris became wedged and challenging to remove.
PORS
- A large dust canister is included
- It is easy to empty the dust
- Suction is strong
- Easy to maintain
- lifetime belt is included
CONS
- It isn't easy to clean the edges
- The wand is too short
- The power cord is a bit short
Shark Navigator DLX (model NV70) is an upright vacuum cleaner that is reasonably inexpensive. In addition to its HEPA filter, sealed system, and large dust canister, it does not have many bells and whistles. There are some limitations, however, including a short power cord and a narrow cleaner head.
Its key selling points are powerful suction and a prominent dust canister at a reasonable price. A sealed filtration system also includes a HEPA filter.
Suction power is among the most common claims about the NV70. Many people are surprised at how much suction the unit generates. The result is generally good pickup on carpets and bare floors. In addition, owners mention that the vacuum performs well when it comes to pet hair.
There are benefits and drawbacks to movement. According to some people, the vacuum feels bulky and awkward due to its weight. Its swivel steering makes it easy to steer the cleaner head around furniture, but quite a few people also like the machine’s maneuverability due to its ease of maneuvering.
PORS
- Suction power
- It is easy to control
- It is affordable
CONS
- It is extremely noisy
- There is no flexibility at all
Hardwood floors can sparkle with a multi-step process. You can scoop up small and large debris using the Hoover WindTunnel 2 Whole House Rewind Upright Vacuum Cleaner. According to our tester, the vacuum cleaner quickly sucked up all materials in just a few passes. Although the vacuum was extremely loud, leading to a one-star rating for noise level, it was also very easy to empty and control. Some of this is due to the lack of flexibility in this pick. It is not as maneuverable as other models and could even be described as stiff.
As a result of the vacuum’s lack of swivel capability and bulkiness, we gave it a one-star maneuverability rating. Moreover, it needed to be lifted when switching from concrete to carpet. Despite these flaws, our tester recommends it because of its impressive suction power. In an apartment or condo complex, you might be able to vacuum during the day without waking anyone up.
PORS
- Suitable for all types of carpets
- Extension hose of 12 feet
- Filter built with HEPA
CONS
- A heavyweight
- The dustbin is difficult
This vacuum has an innovative swivel head that can fit into hard-to-reach corners and under furniture and a 25-foot power cord so you can vacuum a large room without switching power sources. This vacuum quickly cleaned all carpet lengths while operating in carpet mode and picked up pet kibble without any problems on hard floors.
As well as the self-cleaning brush roll, this vacuum also features the Zero-M self-cleaning system, which ensures continuous hair removal without damaging your vacuum over time. Although this vacuum handled hair without any problems, removing the hair from the dustbin was difficult. It features a HEPA filter and is anti-allergen, but we wish the dust bowl could be emptied more effectively. Additionally, this vacuum is relatively heavy, so we don’t recommend using it on a staircase. If you need to clean stairs, shelves, or dust picture frames, the 12-foot extension hose should provide you with plenty of extra lengths.
PORS
- Smart sensors
- Quiet operation
- Design without cords
CONS
- Costly
- Only for hard floors
The Tineco Floor One S3 is a cordless wet-dry vacuum that completes two cleaning tasks. Our testers gave this upright vacuum a 5-star rating for effectiveness on hard floors, despite its poor performance on carpets and rugs. The void was ultimately confirmed to be only suitable for hard floors. This pick caused a lot of trouble when it hit the carpet, as our team received many error messages.
As for the hardwood, this vacuum performed flawlessly. You can easily have a conversation while running because it’s so quiet. The Floor One S3 also features intelligent sensor technology that detects wet and dry messes on your floor and adjusts suction accordingly. In addition to being more expensive than others, it also lasts 35 minutes on a full charge, which makes an afternoon of cleaning much more accessible.
PORS
- Performing well was Oreck
- Longest cord to date at 35 feet
CONS
- It wasn't as good as we expected
- Turning radius of 0° isn't ideal
In our opinion, the Oreck Commercial XL upright vacuums offer one of the most basic designs available today. The vacuum was designed for commercial use, so that is somewhat expected. Oreck chose a simple design to keep costs low. There is no plastic dust bin on this Oreck; instead, it uses a large dust bag.
There is a power switch on the front of the handle and a hook on the back for wrapping the cord around. The Oreck Commercial XL vacuum offers a reasonably standard upright size, with a square floor head that connects directly to the handle. This unit measures 47 inches in height, 12 inches in width, and 9 inches in depth. The Oreck weighs 8.2 pounds in total. With each pass of the vacuum, dirt and debris are swept into the cleaning path by brushes outside the brush roll.
As a result, you do not need to change the cleaning mode when switching floor types; the vacuum will do it automatically.