Classic cleaning power meets straightforward, effective design. That’s the enduring promise of upright vacuum cleaners. You know the type—no fussing with complicated parts, just a simple plug-in and go machine ready to tackle your floors. It’s a reliable workhorse for your home, and honestly, it’s hard to beat for quick, daily cleanups.
But with so many models on the market, how do you choose the right one? We’ve tested the latest to see which ones truly deliver on that no-nonsense promise. Let’s find the perfect match for your carpets, your hardwoods, and your busy life.
Product Comparison Table: 11 Best Upright Vacuum Cleaners
| Image | Why We Like This Product | Editor’s Rating | |
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Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe with Large Dust…
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9.5 |
Read Review |
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Shark | Upright Vacuum Cleaner | Navigator Lift-Away |…
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9.3 |
Read Review |
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Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum, Hepa Filter,…
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9.1 |
Read Review |
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Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum with Quick Release…
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8.9 |
Read Review |
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Bissell CleanView Compact Upright Vacuum, Fits in Dorm Rooms…
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8.7 |
Read Review |
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Amazon Basics Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner for Carpet and…
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8.6 |
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Eureka NEU10AE5 Powerful Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner Carpet and…
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8.4 |
Read Review |
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Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, NEU10AE4,…
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8.2 |
Read Review |
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Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum with Swivel…
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8.0 |
Read Review |
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Shark Upright Vacuum, Stratos with DuoClean PowerFins, HairPro, Powered…
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7.8 |
Read Review |
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Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off with Powerful Suction,…
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7.6 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 11 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue, NV360
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 is an upright vacuum designed for versatility and thorough cleaning in your home. It combines the deep-cleaning power you expect from an upright with a detachable, portable pod for tackling messes anywhere.
Its core strength is powerful suction that works across multiple surfaces. You can deep-clean carpets and then quickly switch to bare floors using the brushroll shutoff feature.
This instantly turns off the rotating brush, so it wont scatter debris on hard surfaces like tile or wood. The swivel steering makes the whole process easier, letting you navigate tight corners and around furniture legs with minimal effort.
A key feature is the lift-away functionality. You can detach the entire pod from the vacuum’s body. This is perfect for cleaning under low furniture like beds or sofas. Or, you can detach just the hose and wand to clean above-floor areas.
It becomes a handheld unit for stairs, upholstery, curtains, and car interiors. The included upholstery tool and crevice tool attach here, making it a complete system for detailed cleaning.
For households with pets, this model is particularly effective. The powerful suction and specialized attachments, like the upholstery tool, are designed to pull embedded pet hair from furniture and carpets.
Shark | Upright Vacuum Cleaner | Navigator Lift-Away | Swivel Steering | HEPA Filter | Vacuum for Pet Hair | Crevice Tool & Dusting Brush Included | For Carpets & Hard Floors | White/Silver | NV356E
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E upright vacuum cleaner is designed to be a versatile and powerful cleaning partner for your home. Its core feature is the innovative Lift-Away functionality. With a simple release, you can detach the pod from the vacuum’s body. This lets you easily carry a lightweight, powerful vacuum to clean stairs, upholstery, or even your car interior without dragging the whole unit behind you.
Maneuverability is a key strength of this model.
The swivel steering allows the vacuum to pivot smoothly around furniture legs, into tight corners, and through cluttered spaces with minimal effort. You’ll find you can navigate your rooms much more quickly and with less back-and-forth. For homes with mixed flooring, the brushroll shutoff is a essential tool. You can instantly disengage the rotating brush when you move from carpets to hard floors like wood or tile.
This gives you gentle yet effective cleaning without worrying about scattering debris or scratching delicate surfaces.
For pet owners, this vacuum is particularly effective. It is engineered to powerfully pull up embedded pet hair from both carpets and upholstery. The Anti-Allergen Complete Seal system, combined with its HEPA filter, works to trap 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum.
Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum, Hepa Filter, Anti-Allergen Technology, Swivel Steering, Ideal for Carpet, Stairs, & Bare Floors, with Wide Upholstery & Crevice Tools, Lavender
The Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum is designed to handle the diverse cleaning challenges in your home. Its core innovation is the Lift-Away functionality. With a simple release, you can detach the pod from the upright base.
This lets you easily carry a powerful, portable vacuum to clean stairs, upholstery, and other above-floor areas without dragging the whole machine.
For households concerned about air quality, this model features Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology combined with a HEPA filter. This system is designed to trap 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum, preventing them from escaping back into the air you breath.
It’s a key benefit for families with allergies or pets.
Maneuverability is a strong point thanks to the Swivel Steering. The vacuum pivots smoothly around furniture legs, into corners, and through cluttered spaces with minimal effort. When you need to switch surfaces, the Brushroll Shutoff feature is there.
Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum with Quick Release Wand, Full Size Power, Compact Size for Apartments & Dorms, 3437F
The Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum with Quick Release Wand, 3437F, is designed for those who need serious cleaning power without the bulk of a full-sized machine. It’s built with apartments, dorms, and smaller homes in mind, where storage space is tight but messes are just as big. At only 10 pounds, it’s remarkably lightweight. This makes it easy to carry up stairs, maneuver around furniture, and use for longer periods without fatigue. Don’t let the compact size fool you, though.
Bissell has packed full-sized suction power into this design, ensuring it can tackle carpets and rugs effectively. One of the standout features is the Scatter-Free Technology. If you’ve ever tried to vacuum crumbs or debris on hard floors with a regular vacuum, you know the frustration of watching it blow pieces around instead of sucking them up. This technology helps minimize that scatter, directing messes into the bin instead of across your floor.
It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in your daily clean-up routine. For cleaning above the floor, the quick-release extension wand is a major convenience. You can detach it with a simple button press to reach ceiling corners, dust blinds, or clean upholstery. This versatility means you might not need a seperate handheld vacuum for those quick jobs. The vacuum’s tank and filter system are designed for easy maintenance.
Bissell CleanView Compact Upright Vacuum, Fits in Dorm Rooms & Apartments, Lightweight with Powerful Suction and Removable Extension Wand, 3508
The Bissell CleanView Compact Upright Vacuum, 3508 is designed for life in smaller spaces. If you live in a dorm room, apartment, or just have limited storage, this vacuum understands the assignment. Its compact size means it tucks away easily in a closet or corner without taking up your valuable floor space. But don’t let the small footprint fool you—this machine is built to handle your regular cleaning needs without any hassle.
One of its standout features is how lightweight and maneuverable it is. Weighing less than eight pounds, it’s easy to carry up stairs, from room to room, or even to your car if you need to move it between locations. The swivel steering helps you navigate around furniture legs and into tight spots without constantly bumping into things. You won’t feel like your wrestling a bulky appliance; it’s simple to guide with one hand. Where this vacuum really shines is in its powerful suction.
Bissell packed a serious clean into this one machine, making it effective on both carpets and hard floors. It tackles pet hair, crumbs, and everyday dust with consistent power. A special Scatter-Free Technology helps contain messes on hard surfaces like tile or wood, so you’re not just pushing debris around. It actually gets captured the first time you go over it. Cleaning up after you’ve cleaned is also straightforward.
Amazon Basics Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner for Carpet and Hard Floors, With Crevice and Upholstery Tools, Detachable Handle, Lightweight (8.4 lbs), 1.7L Dust Cup, 720W, 25ft Cord, Black/White
The Amazon Basics Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner is designed to be a straightforward, reliable tool for keeping your carpets and hard floors clean without complicating the process. Its core appeal lies in its simplicity and thoughtful features that adress everyday cleaning challenges. First and foremost, this vacuum is built for easy maneuverability. Weighing just 8.4 pounds, it’s notably lightweight, making it simple to push around furniture and carry up stairs without strain.
The generous 25-foot power cord gives you a wide cleaning radius from a single outlet, reducing the need to stop and search for a new plug. You can cover a lot of ground quickly, which is a real time-saver during your routine clean. Versatile cleaning is a key strength. The vacuum comes with two essential attachments: a crevice tool and an upholstery tool. The crevice tool is perfect for getting into tight spots along baseboards, in car interiors, or between couch cushions.
The upholstery tool lets you refresh sofas, stairs, and curtains directly. Plus, with its detachable handle, the main unit converts into a compact, handheld vacuum for quick spot cleans or above-floor tasks, adding to its flexibility. You’ll appreciate the large capacity dust cup. At 1.7 liters, it holds a substantial amount of dirt, dust, and pet hair before needing to be emptied. This means you can often complete cleaning your entire space without interruption.
Eureka NEU10AE5 Powerful Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner Carpet and Floor, AirSpeed Ultra-Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner, w/ Replacement Filter, Blue
The Eureka NEU10AE5 Powerful Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner is designed to be a straightforward, effective cleaning partner for your home. It focuses on core functionality, making the chore of vacuuming less of a burden with its thoughtful design and practical features. A central benefit of this vacuum is its powerful all-floor suction. It tackles both carpets and hard floors without needing you to switch modes or adjust settings manually.
The 10.5-inch wide cleaning path means you cover more ground with each pass, helping you finish rooms faster. It’s particularly good at pulling up embedded dirt and pet hair from carpet fibers, while still being gentle enough for hard surfaces. You won’t have to worry about leaving anything behind. Maneuverability and storage are where this model really shines. Weighing just 7.7 pounds, it’s exceptionally lightweight.
You can carry it up stairs, move it from room to room, and push it under furniture without much effort. When you’re done, its slim profile allows it to tuck away in a closet corner or behind a door. The convenience continues with the quick-release handle. Simply detach it from the main body to use the included crevice tool and dusting brush for above-floor cleaning. This lets you tackle curtains, blinds, upholstery, and tight corners without needing a separate, bulky attachment hose.
Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, NEU10AE4, Green
The Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Lightweight Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, NEU10AE4, is designed for people who want a simple, effective cleaning tool without the hassle. It’s built around the idea that a vacuum should make your life easier, not add more complications. Let’s break down what it offers so you can see if it fits your home. First, consider its weight and size.
At only 7.7 pounds, this is a vacuum you can easily carry up and down stairs or use for extended periods without arm fatigue. Its compact design means it tucks away into small closets, behind doors, or in any tight storage space you have. You won’t need to dedicate a special spot for it. The 10.5-inch cleaning path is wide enough to cover floors efficiently, helping you finish rooms quicker than with a smaller, narrower vacuum.
Performance is key, and this model provides powerful suction for all floor types. It works on both hard floors and carpets, picking up dirt, dust, and embedded hair with ease. The 700-watt motor drives this suction, making it a capable tool for everyday messes. Maintenance is kept simple to. It uses a bagless system, so you can empty the dirt cup when full. Plus, it contains one washable filter.
Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum with Swivel Steering, Powerful Pet Hair Pick Up, Specialized Pet Tools, Large Capacity Dirt Tank, Easy Empty
The Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum is designed for homes with pets, focusing on manueverability and specialized hair pickup. Its core feature is the swivel steering, which lets you pivot smoothly around chair legs, table bases, and other tight spots without constant repositioning. This makes the whole cleaning process less of a chore, as the vacuum moves with you instead of against you. For pet hair removal, it employs a Triple Action Brush Roll.
This system works to loosen, lift, and suction away embedded hair from both carpets and upholstery, which is a common struggle. It’s paired with specialized pet tools that are included, helping you get hair off stairs, furniture, and other surfaces your pets love. A major benefit on hard floors is the Scatter-Free Technology. It aims to contain dry messes like kibble or litter during pickup, instead of blowing them across the room.
Cleaning coverage is extended with its Edge-to-Edge cleaning capability. The design allows the brush roll to reach close to baseboards and into corners, areas where dust and hair often accumulate. You won’t have to do as much follow-up work with a handheld vacuum. The unit is bagless, featuring a large capacity dirt tank that holds a lot of debris before needing to be emptied. The emptying mechanism is straightforward, designed for minimal mess when you dispose of the contents.
Shark Upright Vacuum, Stratos with DuoClean PowerFins, HairPro, Powered Lift-Away, Self-Cleaning Brushroll, & Odor Neutralizer Technology, Navy, AZ3002
The Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum, model AZ3002 in Navy, is designed to tackle the toughest cleaning challenges in your home. It starts with ultra-powerful suction, which Shark states is there best for picking up hair. This core power is the foundation for its detailed cleaning systems. Its primary innovation is the DuoClean PowerFins HairPro brushroll system. Instead of one roller, it uses two. The front soft roller directly engages hard floors, pulling in large debris and fine dust.
The rear PowerFins brushroll digs deep into carpet fibers. Its fin-shaped design agitates and grips dirt for a thorough clean in a single pass. This system is specifically engineered for hair pickup, aiming to prevent the common frustration of hair wrap. The self-cleaning brushroll technology actively removes hair from the brush as you clean, directing it into the dust cup so you spend less time cutting strands free. Maneuverability is key with the Powered Lift-Away feature.
The cleaning pod detaches from the vacuum’s body, but the brushroll remains powered on. This lets you lift the entire motorized nozzle to clean under low furniture like beds and sofas without dragging the whole machine. You can also detach the handheld pod for cleaning above-floor areas like stairs and upholstery. For visibility, LED headlights on the nozzle illuminate dark corners under furniture, revealing hidden dust and pet hair you might otherwise miss.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off with Powerful Suction, HEPA, Tangle-Free Brush Roll, 39883
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off 39883 is designed for homes with pets, focusing on cleaning up after them without the usual hassles. Its core promise is powerful suction that tackles dirt, fur, and dust embedded in carpets and on floors. This isn’t just about surface cleaning; it’s about pulling debris out from where it hides. A key feature is the Lift-Off detachable pod.
The main vacuum body seperates from the floor nozzle with a simple click, turning into a lightweight, handheld canister. This lets you easily clean stairs, furniture, and those hard-to-reach areas under cabinets or behind toilets. The included quick-release extension wand and tools make this transition seamless. You won’t have to drag the entire vacuum around for every small job. For air quality, the HEPA sealed allergen system is crucial.
It traps dust and allergens inside the vacuum, preventing them from escaping back into your home’s air. This is a significant benefit for anyone with allergies or asthma, as it means your cleaning process doesn’t just move dust around. It actually captures and contains it. The large 1L easy-empty dirt tank supports this, letting you hold more debris and release it with one touch, minimizing your exposure to what you’ve vacuumed.
Upright Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide
Your ideal upright vacuum cleaner hinges on its performance across several key features. It’s not just about power; it’s about how well it fits your specific home and lifestyle. Let’s break down what really matters so you can make a confident choice.
Floor Type Compatibility
Do you have mostly carpet, hard floors, or a mix? This is your first question. For carpets, look for strong suction and a motorized brush roll to dig out dirt. For hard floors, you’ll want a setting that deactivates or retracts that brush to avoid scattering debris. Many models now offer an automatic switch between surfaces, which is a huge time-saver.
Maneuverability and Weight
You’ll be pushing this around your entire home, so how it feels matters. Lightweight models are easier on stairs, but heavier ones can feel more stable. Check the swivel head—does it pivot easily to get around furniture legs? A vacuum that’s a chore to steer will end up collecting dust in the closet.
Filtration System
If allergies are a concern, filtration is non-negotiable. A sealed system with a HEPA filter traps 99.97% of fine particles, keeping them locked inside the vacuum instead of blowing them back into your air. Remember to check filter replacement costs; some are washable, which saves money long-term.
Corded vs. Cordless
This is a major lifestyle choice. Corded models offer unlimited runtime and consistent, powerful suction—no battery anxiety. But a cordless upright offers ultimate convenience for quick clean-ups. Just be honest about your home’s size; a cordless might not last through cleaning a large house on a single charge.
Dust Capacity and Emptying
How often do you want to empty the bin? A larger capacity is great for big homes, but a full bin can reduce suction. Look at the emptying mechanism too. Is it a messy bag you have to buy, or a bagless cup you can empty directly into the trash? The latter is more eco-friendly, but can be dustier to handle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Upright Vacuum Cleaners
What is an upright vacuum cleaner good for?
Upright vacuums are fantastic for cleaning large, open floor areas quickly. They are typically very powerful and excel on carpets. Their design makes them easy to push back and forth across living rooms and bedrooms without much bending.
Are upright vacuums good for hard floors?
Many modern uprights are great for hard floors, but you need to check teh features. Look for a model with a brush roll shut-off switch. This stops the rotating brush, so it won’t scatter debris. Some also come with special hard floor settings that work really well.
How do thay compare to canister vacuums?
Uprights are generally easier to store and maneuver on carpets. Canister vacuums are often more versatile for stairs, curtains, and under furniture because of there hose and wand. Think about your main cleaning tasks to decide.
What features should I look for?
Key features include adjustable height settings for different carpets, a long power cord, and easy-to-empty dust bins. HEPA filters are important if you have allergies. Also, check the weight—some can be heavy to carry up stairs.
Is bagged or bagless better?
This is mostly about preference. Bagless models let you see when the bin is full and save you buying bags. However, emptying them can be dusty. Bagged models tend to hold more dirt and contain dust better when you change the bag, which is more hygenic for allergies.
How important is the cord length?
Very important! A longer cord means you can clean a larger area without searching for a new outlet. Look for a cord that’s at least 25 feet long. It makes the whole process much faster and less frustrating.
Can they clean under furniture?
This can be a challenge for some uprights. Check the vacuum’s profile or “cleaning head” height. Many now have low-profile designs to get under sofas and beds. A hose and tool set attachment can really help with this task too.
What to Remember
Make your final choice from these standout performers. Think about your main needs. Do you have lots of carpet, or mostly hard floors? Is a lightweight model important for stairs? Your answers will point you to the right machine. Don’t forget to check the warranty and how easy it is to find replacement parts like bags or filters. A good vacuum is a long-term investment for a cleaner home.
Ultimately, the best upright vacuum cleaners for you is the one that makes cleaning simpler, not a chore. It should fit your space and tackle your specific messes effectively. Trust your priorities, and you’ll find a reliable partner that keeps your floors looking great for years to come.