Best Upright Vacuum Reviews.
Updated: November 2020
Every home needs a dependable vacuum, especially if you have pets!
Yes, I know robotic vacuums are the latest hit since DiCaprio in Titanic, but upright vacuums offer better features and stronger suction power.
Most on my list include detachable canisters for cleaning upholstery, stairs, and furniture.
To help you find the best upright vacuum cleaner, we ranked them based on price, performance & buyer reviews
Prices range, $119 – $399.
The Best Upright Vacuum Cleaners
1. Hoover WindTunnel 3 Vacuum Cleaner
The Hoover WindTunnel 3 is a heavy-duty, affordable vacuum w/ powerful suction.
Designed with a longer, 40 ft. cord it is a good option for bigger homes or lots of carpet.
Weight: 18 pounds
Reach: 40 ft. cord
Pricing: Medium
Quick-Pass brush roll provides 2x faster cleaning (since you won’t need to go over the same area multiple times). Excellent option for lots of pet hair!
Detachable for handheld vacuuming w/ four attachments.
Good vacuum for upholstery and furniture!
Hoover WindTunnel the best seller online.
2. Shark NV752 Rotator Lift-Away TruePet
Shark Rotator NV752 is the best upright vacuum cleaner for dog hair.
Includes two surface settings for carpet or hard floors. Hardwood floors require a gentle vacuum – the Shark Rotator a good option.
Weight: 16.7 pounds
Capacity: 1.5 quarts
Pricing: Expensive
Powerful suction for carpets, and gentle glide wheels are ideal for delicate flooring (i.e. oak or mahogany).
Buyers say the Shark Rotator motorized brush makes it the best upright vacuum cleaner for hair or carpets.
Finger-tip controls and swivel steering make it super user-friendly.
Additional features:
LED lights, power-suction mode, detachable 1.5 qt canister
Expensive, but lots of positive buyer reviews.
3. Bissell Cleanview Swivel Pet Review
The Bissell Cleanview vacuum is an affordable upright vacuum cleaner.
It comes w/ a specialized triple-action brush roll for pet hair – buyers confirm it picks up clumps or long hair that’s tangled in the carpet.
Weight: 18 pounds
Reach: 25 ft. cord
Pricing: Affordable
New Swivel Steering makes it easy to get around obstacles or awkward areas.
If there is a smaller area vacuum can’t be reached – no problem!
Easily disconnect the nozzle and it can be used as a dry vac.
The downside is the cord is a little shorter at only 27 ft. and little heavier at 18 pounds
Still, it is one of the best upright vacuum cleaners – good option for mid-sized homes.
4. Shark Rotator NV501 Reviews
Shark Rotator NV501 is the most affordable upright vacuum cleaners on my list..
Includes a filter system and seal which is designed to trap 99.9% of particles in the vacuum.
Weight: 15.5 pounds
Reach: 30 ft. cord
It is also reasonably priced and will appeal to those who want a 2-in-1 vacuum:
upright and handheld vacuum (w/ lift-away pod).
One of Shark’s Lift-Away upright vacuums, it comes with an easy attach/detach canister for difficult areas.
Also includes LED lights for maneuvering in corners.
Read our review on Robot Vacuum Cleaners.
5. Oreck Commercial Vacuum Reviews
For power suction, you can’t beat the price of the Oreck Commercial XL Upright vacuum cleaner.
Even though it is considered a “commercial” vacuum, buyers say it is one of the best upright vacuum cleaners for home.
Weight: 8.2 pounds
Reach: 35 ft. cord
Pricing: Medium
Designed for power, the Oreck Commercial XL comes with helix brushes that spin at a rate of 6500 RPM.
Super powerful suction is good for pet hair and can pull-in particles in tiny crevices.
Also includes:
high speed roller brush, fingertip controls, bumpers for protecting furniture
Good vacuum for residential or commercial use.
Medium price w/ good buyer reviews!
x6. Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum is specifically designed to tackle pet hair (and pet dander).
Very strong suction of 306 AW (air watts) it’s able to lift tangled hair right off the carpet — shouldn’t need to run it over multiple times.
Weight: 17.5 pounds
Capacity: 12 dry quarts
Pricing: Expensive
Includes a detachable wand to help you clean harder to reach areas. Simply press the button to detach it from its holster and use as a lightweight carry-vacuum.
Includes special HEPA filter system trap 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the dustbin.
This is a model that works great on multiple floor surfaces:
vinyl, tile, hardwood and carpet
Downside – it’s pretty expensive.
7. Shark Navigator Lift Away Reviews
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away is the most popular upright vacuum online.
User-friendly features and “Lift Away Button” to detach and empty the HEPA vacuum filter.
Weight: 12.5 pounds
Capacity: 12 dry quarts
Pricing: Medium
Good suction for carpets, and gentle gliding wheels are perfect for delicate flooring (i.e. oak or mahogany).
Buyers say the Shark Navigator Lift-Away brushroll makes it is one of the best upright vacuum cleaners for pet owners.
Easy, finger-tip controls w/ swivel steering make it even more user-friendly.
Medium price and lots of positive buyer reviews.
8. Hoover Air Lift Vacuum Reviews
Hoover Air Lift Bagless Vacuum is one of my personal favorites:
- Affordable
- Cordless = rechargeable battery
- Large dirt bin (1.05 liters)
- Detachable = best handheld vacuum
- Boost mode for extra power
- Very lightweight
In terms of battery power, it comes with two rechargeable batteries giving you 50 mins of cordless vacuuming power. Large dust cup means you can vacuum uninterrupted (without needing to empty the bin).
What I love the most about this Hoover is the detachable canister vacuum – easily disconnect and use as a handheld vacuum for your car, furniture, or stairs.
Super lightweight at 12.4 pounds, it weighs about 4-6 pounds detached.
Tons of positive buyer reviews confirm how very quiet it is – upright and handheld vacuum.
Charge time is 3-hours for full 50 min battery.
9. Shark Navigator Lift Away Pet Upright Vacuum
Shark Navigator vacuum is built with an upgraded bin sealer and HEPA filter — traps 99.9% of allergens inside once you’ve vacuumed them up.
An extendable wand lets you reach the upper corners of your rooms and clean things like blinds and drapes. You’ll also find the vacuum works well on hardwood floors and carpet.
Canister is removable transforming it into a handheld vacuum — easily clean stairs and other parts of the house that are narrow or hard to reach.
What I really love is how big the dust cup is — holds up to 1.2 dry quarts (which is a lot).
You won’t need to constantly empty the bin which is great for homes that require 2-3x week vacuuming.
Shark Navigator has medium weight of 13 pounds, but easy to assemble w/ excellent maneuvering capabilities.
10. Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum
The Dyson Ball Multi Floor vacuum comes with a 40 ft cord and uses new ball swivel technology.
Best of all, the Dyson Ball allows you can reach tight spaces throughout your home. It’s also designed for both carpet and hardwood floors.
What makes the Dyson Ball Upright Vacuum unique is its fantastic durability. It is been tested to last 10 years totalling 12,800 hours of usage.
HEPA filter helps trap 99% of dirt and allergens inside the bin once they’ve been scooped. And 1-button bin release makes it very easy to empty when you’re finished.
Comes with the new instant-release wand — clean under furniture or up-high.
Downside is that it’s one of the heavier upright vacuums at 17.3 pounds.
Notable – Shark Navigator Vacuum Reviews
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional is one of the best upright vacuum cleaners with 2-in-1 functionality.
You can use as a regular home vacuum or detach for a handheld vacuum – great for furniture, stairs, or car interior!
Weight: 15.5 pounds
Reach: 25 ft. cord
Pricing: Medium
Users find this model to be very quiet when running, which is great!
If you have toddlers napping upstairs you can still vacuum without waking the whole house.
What I like most is the easy-button controls:
- brush-roll ON/OFF
- increase/decrease suction (min/max dial)
- 1-button to detach canister
Moderate weight of 13.7 pounds, but still powerful for it’s size/weight.
Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Even with newer models available upright vacuum cleaners are still preferred by some people. The greatest benefit is their suction power – unlike a cordless stick vacuum or a robotic vacuum, upright vacuums have up to 3 times the suction power. This is ideal for homeowners with pets, especially dogs that shed.
When it’s time to replace your vacuum cleaner you’ll want a new machine that can remove dirt quickly and efficiently and keep that dirt locked away inside.
You should also consider things like which models will work on your flooring surfaces and what attachments are included, since attachments can be used to reach high areas and remove specific types of dirt, like pet hair.
Best Upright Vacuum 2020
Best Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
Ecovacs Deebot Robot Mop
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