Top 10 upright vacuum cleaners for sale

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What is good in top 10 upright vacuum cleaners? From the nonstop hair removal of self-cleaning brushroll to the powerful performance of the original bristle brush, you’ve got vacuum cleaners that seriously deep-clean. A HEPA filter plus a sealed system keep dust and allergens inside the vacuum, and out of the air you breathe. They deliver powerful suction for deep cleaning on carpets and thorough pickup on hard floors. What is the top 10 upright vacuum cleaners for sale?

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Shark vacuums among top 10 upright vacuum cleaners

Shark NV352 Navigator Lift-Away

Shark vacuums often get great reviews, online. The Shark Navigator NV352 has received some of the highest praise—over 3,400 five-star reviews on Amazon. Tipping the scales at around 13 pounds, the Navigator is 25% lighter than other Shark models, like the Apex. This makes it much easier to lug upstairs and to maneuver around furniture.

During testing, the Navigator picked up around 38% of the dirt we laid out for it, so be prepared to go over an area at least three times before it’s clean. These results are fairly weak compared to other vacuums in this price range. However, the Navigator makes up for it in its features and warranty.

The Navigator comes with four cleaning attachments, including a two-foot-long crevice tool for those hard-to-reach spots. It’s also backed by a five-year warranty, one of the best in the industry.

Pros

  • Can transform into a pseudo canister
  • Average dirt pickup

Cons

  • Difficult to use

Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away

  • Vacuum Type  Upright/Handheld
  • Bagless  Yes
  • Cordless  Yes
  • Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)  Yes
  • Wet Compatible  No

The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away is a solid option if you’re looking for an upright but don’t want to deal with the hassle of a power cord. It’s very similar to the now-discontinued Shark ION P50 Upright in design, with a ‘Lift-Away’ alternative configuration that allows you to pick up and carry its canister body separately from its floorhead. It’s lighter and more maneuverable than most conventional uprights like the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away.

This vacuum delivers exceptional performance on bare floors and does a great job dealing with pet hair and various other kinds of solid debris on low and high-pile carpets. There are three suction power modes and two distinct surface modes on offer, though you can’t change the height of its floorhead. Battery performance is decent overall, as you can expect a maximum of 40 minutes of runtime when using it in its upright configuration, though you can drain its battery in as little as 10 minutes if you use it continuously in its high-power ‘Boost’ mode.

Unfortunately, this vacuum’s lack of a brushroll off switch can cause it to get stuck on rug tassels and shag-pile carpeting. Its primary brushroll also isn’t removable and tends to attract a lot of pet hair, despite its advertised “Self-Cleaning” design, making it quite hard to clean properly. Its bulky dirt compartment can get in the way when cleaning under tables and chairs. If you’re looking for a cordless vacuum that offers strong overall performance, it isn’t a bad choice.

Shark Apex AZ1002

The Shark Apex AZ1002 represents the top-of-the-line in terms of what the company has to offer. It has the distinct DuoClean feature, allowing it to easily clean on both hardwood and carpet. In our tests, the Apex scored almost flawlessly on our debris tests. Whether it was on linoleum, regular or shag carpet, this vacuum picked up uncooked rice, macaroni, and pet hair better than vacuums that cost hundreds more.

For attachments, the Apex comes with a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and a motorized brush head. Normally, we’d consider that a paltry spread for a Shark vacuum. However, its motorized brush impressed us with its versatility. It’s thin enough to slip between cushions, but powerful enough to get the job done.

Finally, the Apex scored well enough in our carpet cleaning tests to be placed in the upper third of all the vacuums we’ve ever tested. On average, the Apex picked up 54% of the dirt we laid out for it, the best score of any Shark uprights on the market.

Pros

  • Powerful suction
  • Many attachments
  • LED lights on the brush head

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Noisy

Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet

Of all the vacuums we’ve tested, the Shark NV752 TruePet is the best, for pet parents.

During testing, we found that the NV752 picked up around 52%, per pass, of the dirt we laid out for it. Results like these place this Shark in the upper third of all the vacuums we’ve ever tested, the top tier picking up around 70% per pass.

While testing pet hair specifically, the NV752 passed with flying colors. Both its main brush head and the motorized attachment excelled at picking up cat and dog hair. The hose uses a latch system that has a satisfying click, so it’s easy to switch between cleaning the floor and furniture.

Finally, the NV752 is the only vacuum on our list that has the Lift-Away feature, turning the upright into a canister without wheels. This option allows you to more easily clean stairs and under furniture.

That said, it tips the scales at around 17 pounds, so it is on the heavier side. This gripe aside, the NV752 truly is a great vacuum for dealing with pet hair.

Pros

  • Picks up 52% of dirt in a single pass
  • Excels at picking up cat and dog hair
  • Makes it easy to clean stairs and under furniture

Cons

  • None that we could find

Vacuums from Bissell among top 10 upright vacuum cleaners

Bissell 22543 Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet

The Bissell 22543 CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet is for animal lovers. For every purchase of this unit, Bissell donates a portion of the proceeds to animal shelters. As a vacuum, it’s a pretty good entry-level upright that will last a long time. It has a 27-foot long cord that automatically rewinds so it can tackle just about any room.

When we tested its cleaning ability, the Rewind Pet picked up 41.25% of the dirt per pass. It also impressed us with its edge-to-edge cleaning, providing suction all along its brush head.

Pros

  • Automatically retracting cord
  • Easy to maneuver around furniture

Cons

  • Lacks powerful suction

BISSELL PowerForce Helix

  • Vacuum Type  Upright
  • Bagless  Yes
  • Cordless  No
  • Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)  No
  • Wet Compatible  No

If you want to spend even less on an upright vacuum, consider the BISSELL PowerForce Helix. Unlike the Hoover WindTunnel Tempo Bagged, this upright vacuum uses a bagless design. This results in inferior air filtration performance and a greater number of parts that need regular cleaning. However, it’s cheaper, and since it doesn’t use dirtbags that need replacing once they’re full, recurring costs are lower. It doesn’t perform as well as the Hoover on bare floors, but it delivers excellent overall performance on low and high-pile carpet, clearing pet hair as well as fine and large debris without any major difficulty.

Similar to the Hoover, the head height can be adjusted through five levels, allowing you to adapt to different surfaces on the fly. That said, it’s even trickier to maneuver in tight spaces due to its bulky canister and lack of a brushroll off switch, which can cause it to get stuck on rug tassels and other loose obstructions. It feels fragile in places, especially its wheels and brushroll plate.

Get the Hoover if you want something easier to maneuver, better-built, and prioritize the improved air filtration performance that comes with a bagged vacuum, but consider the BISSELL if you’re looking to save some money without giving up much in the way of performance.

BISSELL CleanView Swivel Pet Rewind Upright Vacuum 2256

Specs

  • Dimensions: 13 x 14 x 46 inches
  • Weight: 13.65 pounds
  • Cord Length: 27 feet
  • Battery Life: Not applicable
  • Bin Volume: 1 quart
  • Cleaning Path Width: 13.5 inches
  • Compatible Floor Type: Carpet, hardwood, tile, laminate, and vinyl

Pros

  • Excellent suction
  • Multi-level filtration
  • Wide cleaning path

Cons

  • Complex assembly
  • Dust bin makes it less flexible

Got fur babies at home? We highly recommend the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Rewind Vacuum. While our testers said it took over 10 minutes to assemble this upright vacuum, they gave it a 4-star rating for its cleaning effectiveness on hard floors and carpet, a 4-star rating for its maneuverability, and a 4-star rating for its for overall value. They noted that it picked up all the materials in just a few passes, and just struggled a bit on the medium-pile carpet. While the dust bin prevented the vacuum from slipping under low-sitting furniture, emptying the vacuum could be done with one hand.

In addition to effortlessly sucking up dirt, dust, crumbs, and animal fur, it calls on a multi-level filtration system to trap dander and pollen. We also appreciate that this vacuum comes with a corner tool, turbo eraser, and other special attachments for picking up even the smallest, finest strands of pet hair. You’ll ultimately find that the wide cleaning path, at 13.5 inches, also helps you complete more cleaning with every session, and that the suction power is hard to beat.

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Upright Vacuum

Similar in design to the Shark Rotator, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Upright Vacuum lives up to its name in its ability to pick up cat and dog hair. It was comparable to the Shark in almost every way: ease of use, design, ease and cleanliness of emptying and suction power/performance. It features a similar lift-off motor unit that makes using it on upholstery and other above-the-floor objects easier.

The Bissell has a swivel head that makes it easy to maneuver and a detachable pod that lets you drop the base and more easily vacuum stairs and out-of-reach places. The wand and base both detach with the touch of a button, and you can change from low carpet to plush carpet with a lever that’s conveniently positioned on the thumb portion of the handle.

One standout feature of the Bissell is the Pet Turboeraser tool from which it gets its name. While the Shark comes with a regular crevice tool, the Bissell’s Turboeraser has a spinning brush head with bristles that pull hair off upholstery and stairs. This tool worked well on the cat tower and shorter-pile carpets, though it did need some help on the high-pile stairs. It never got jammed up though, even when pulling up longer human hair, and was a welcome addition to the setup.

Kenmore vacuums among top 10 upright vacuum cleaners

Kenmore AllergenSeal Bagless Upright Vacuum

The Kenmore AllergenSeal Bagless Upright Vacuum is a decent option, especially for the price. The performance was good and it was able to handle all types of floors, although it did get a tripped up on the plush area rug. While the attachments struggled a bit with cat litter — they’re really designed for upholstery — the main brush head had no problem clearing the heavier debris from wood floors or carpets.

It lost points in two areas: the swivel capabilities and the attachments. The swivel wasn’t as smooth as the other options. It moved from side to side well, but wasn’t as free-flowing as the top picks. If you’re a stickler about vacuuming in straight lines, this might not matter as much, but we got spoiled with the smooth movement of some of the others.

The two attachments were also sub-par compared to the others — a three-in-one combo tool and an upholstery tool. Both tools had the rough surface finish of an old-school lint brush, but using them required more manual scraping on our part and they got clogged halfway through cleaning the couch and the cat tower. We would have preferred to see a rotating brush like some of the other pet models. There are also no additional features, like a lift-off pod or detachable wand.

If you’re looking for a basic vacuum for quick cleanups, this one can do the job, but if you’ve got a house full of pets or kids, it might not stand up to the challenge.

Kenmore Intuition Bagged Upright Vacuum

The Kenmore Intuition is reminiscent of traditional bagged vacuums. It has upgrades, of course, but when compared to other models, especially at this price point, it felt a little underwhelming. It got decent marks for portability and maneuverability, since it is fairly lightweight and easy to move around. It also has a lift-off canister, so if you need to vacuum the stairs or other hard-to-reach places, you can ditch the base and carry the canister and the wand around with you.

Its major downfall was using it as a regular upright. It got tripped up on high-pile carpets, which make up the entirety of our second floor. While it has decent suction power and operates on a swivel which makes it easy to maneuver (in theory), it dragged along on plush carpet, rather than smoothly gliding like the others. This meant little clumps of hair were sometimes left behind and required a second pass. It was one of the better performing on hard floors and shorter-pile area rugs, though, so if that’s what you need most, this vacuum can handle it.

The attachments are pretty standard — there’s a specialized pet tool, a three-in-one combination tool and a dusting brush — and performed just as well as the others’. There were no standouts here.

Miele vacuums among top 10 upright vacuum cleaners

Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog review

Specs

  • Power supply: Cordless
  • Weight: 4kg
  • Bin size: 0.1 gallon / 0.5 liter
  • Run time: Up to 60 minutes

Pros

  • +Powerful suction and pet hair tool
  • +Can be used as a stick vacuum or a handheld cleaner
  • +Swappable battery means fewer interruptions to your cleaning

Cons

  • – Heavy to use as a handheld cleaner
  • -Small dust canister 

This Miele vacuum may look like a standard cordless floor cleaner, but thanks to the modular design the dust canister and motor can either be positioned at the top of the vacuum as you’d expect or next to the floor cleaning head. By doing this the vacuum will stand upright unaided – not something most cordless vacuums offer.  

The Triflex HX1 Cat&Dog impressed us with its suction power, collecting fine dust and larger debris from carpets and hard floors with ease, while the additional pet tool will be handy for those with furry friends. As you’d expect for a cordless vacuum, it can be converted into a handheld cleaner by removing the floor head and wand. We also loved the fact the battery is swappable, so providing you purchase an additional battery, you won’t have to interrupt your cleaning session if the vacuum runs out of power. 

However, we did find it was heavy to use in handheld mode, and it features a smaller dust canister than most upright vacuums offer, which means you may find you’re emptying it out more often. 

Miele Complete C3 Calima

Praised by nearly everyone as excellent, this nimble canister vacuum works on any kind of flooring, runs quiet, and should last for decades. This model is great for those with asthma and allergies, but it requires bags.

If you’re willing to upgrade to a vacuum that can clean the heck out of your home and last for decades, buy a Miele C3 canister vacuum cleaner. Every industry expert we’ve spoken with (even one from a competing brand!) has told us that these are excellent vacuum cleaners, and a few technicians have said they’re simply the best you can buy. The cleaning performance is impressive, and the vacuums feel great to use. The filtration is excellent, which is good for everyone, but especially great for people with asthma or allergies. Miele canisters are also among the quietest vacuums anywhere. That being said, this canister vacuum isn’t cheap, and you’ll also pay for new filters and bags pretty regularly (around $20 per year, if you buy online). But a Miele canister can last so long—20 years, in some cases—that it works out to be an excellent long-term value.

We tested many different Miele canister vacuums, each suited to different types of flooring. Check out our chart to see which one fits your needs the best. But we wanted to point out the Complete C3 Calima in particular; we found in our tests that the air-powered turbo brush head it comes with works better on rugs than the electrified head included with some other Miele models. The C3 Calima is the most affordable model with a turbo brush head in the Miele lineup, and like other Miele vacs, it has a crush-proof hose and a totally sealed body, for better dust control and quieter operation.

Customer also ranked these vacuums among top 10 upright vacuum cleaners

Oreck XL2100RHS

The Oreck XL2100RHS is a basic, but solid floor cleaner. Its hyper-focused design includes no attachments or hoses to clean countertops or curtains. Weighing in at just over 10 pounds, we found it easy to lift this vacuum onto and up the stairs. Its five-inch profile is low enough to fit under most beds and some couches.

During the cleaning tests, the Oreck picked up 30.25% of the testing dirt per pass. Normally, this would be lower than what we like to see, but the XL2100RHS is so light that we think it’s powerful for its size.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Powerful for size

Cons

  • No attachments

Hoover WindTunnel 2 Whole House Rewind UH71250 – popular among top 10 upright vacuum cleaners

Hoover is a brand synonymous with vacuuming. The Hoover WindTunnel 2 Whole House Rewind is a prime example of this. It weighs in at a whopping 18 pounds—one of the heaviest vacuums we’ve ever tested. In exchange for all the weight, you get a competent vacuum. Our test results show that the Rewind is powerful, picking up 50% of our dirt mixture in a single pass.

We found its namesake rewind function to be super useful. At a tap of a foot lever, the 25-foot cord automatically gets sucked back into the unit, making storage a cinch.

Pros

  • Retractable cord
  • Powerful

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Noisy

Eureka FloorRover Elite NEU630 – honorable mention among top 10 upright vacuum cleaners

  • Vacuum Type  Upright
  • Bagless  Yes
  • Cordless  No
  • Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)  Yes
  • Wet Compatible  No

If you’re looking for an upright vacuum to deal with pet hair, the Eureka FloorRover Elite NEU360 is an excellent choice. This vacuum does an outstanding job of dealing with pet hair on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. Its brushroll is easily removable, meaning you can clear away any tangled pet hair with minimal difficulty. There’s also an onboard HEPA filter to trap allergens as you clean.

Thanks to this vacuum’s bagless design and washable filters, recurring costs shouldn’t be a major issue. While you can’t change this vacuum’s floorhead height, it does have a brushroll on/off switch, which is great if you want to prevent the floorhead from getting caught on rug tassels or scratching bare floors. There’s also a ‘Suction Control’ setting in its hose, so you can lower its suction power if you’re having trouble pushing it around on carpeted surfaces.

Unfortunately, this vacuum doesn’t feel very sturdy, with a predominantly hard plastic body that creaks and wobbles while in use. It can be a bit of a hassle to maneuver in tight areas since its bulky dustbin gets in the way when vacuuming under tables and chairs. Many parts need regular cleaning, though thankfully, they’re easy to access.

Which is better – Canister vs Upright vacuums cleaner?

With so many styles of vacuum to choose from,  you may be left wondering exactly what the difference is between them – especially when it comes to stick and upright vacuums as they look very similar. 

Upright vacuums tend to be larger and heavier than stick vacuums (a name they gained due to the long thin wand that connects the motor and dust canister and floor cleaning head), which are extremely compact and lightweight. However, upright vacuums have larger dust canisters and wider floor cleaning heads, so you’ll be able to get through the chore of floor cleaning much quicker and with fewer interruptions than when using a stick vacuum. 

Upright vacuums are also freestanding, so if you want to pause your floor cleaning session, perhaps you need to answer the door, or the telephone rings, then you can leave the vacuum in the middle of the floor, without worrying about leaning it somewhere. However, as they’re larger they are harder to store. 

The majority of stick vacuums (but not all) are powered by a rechargeable battery. This means that you do run the risk of running out of power mid-way through your floor cleaning session, depending upon how big your home is, whereas upright vacuums are mains-powered so you can vacuum for as long as you like. 

Stick vacuums are also more versatile and can be converted into handheld cleaners by removing the wand and floor cleaning head. They usually ship with several attachments that can be used in handheld mode for cleaning everything from upholstery to crevices and hard-to-reach corners. Upright vacuums are only really suitable for floors, while the extension tube does enable you to clean in crevices and up high but it’s far less flexible than a stick vacuum in handheld mode. 

Editor’s recommendations

Abu Saleh Rizvee
Abu Saleh Rizvee

I love to write content and contribute for my society. I invest my days in creating content for products those I love and brands who need online presence

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