The 5 Best Upright Vacuums The Spruce Has Tested

Best Overall

Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins HairPro

$499 $349 at Walmart

We take vacuums pretty seriously here at The Spruce, and that especially includes the models we name as Best Overall. Enter the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum, a powerful and reliable machine that meets our (high!) standards for what an upright vacuum should be: Strong, sturdy, and powerful, but not unwieldy. If there was a vacuum version of a mic drop, this vacuum would do it (a filter drop?).

For context, the Shark Stratos Upright is another worthy entry in a long line of high-performers from this brand. During testing, it didn't have any trouble with any debris it encountered. It grabbed dirt and grime off of multiple floor surfaces, including carpets, laminated wood, and tile, and the self-cleaning brush roll did a really good job at limiting hair wrap.

We even found that when using it on unsecured mats, it was strong enough to lift them (you can usually remedy this by standing on the mats, something I do when I vacuum at home).

As to be expected from a powerful vacuum, there is some noise, but we were pleasantly surprised at how minimal it was in comparison to other machines we've used. And, like other uprights, it's pretty hefty, but not unreasonably so. It weighs just under 17 pounds, which is on the higher end of our list (the peak is 22.4 pounds, from our best bagged pick), but given the power it displays, we can accept the size.

You can also use the lift-away pod for a different experience when you need a break from the full, upright design—like when you want to clean under couches or tables, or for use on upholstery.

The included attachments perform well, too, and we were especially fans of how well the Duster Crevice Tool handled corners. In a perfect world, the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum would have more secure accessory storage, but that's a minor note for an otherwise great vacuum.

As you're shopping, take note that you might see both a Shark AZ3000 Stratos Upright Vacuum (which we tested) and an Shark AZ3002 Stratos Upright Vacuum (note the different model number). The latter comes with an additional powered attachment that's especially suited for pet hair.

_{Weight: 16.7 pounds | Cord Length: 30 feet | Attachments: Crevice tool, upholstery tool, odor neutralizer technology cartridge}

Best for Pet Owners

Bissell MultiClean Allergen Rewind Pet Vacuum

$220 at Amazon

An impressive option from Bissell, the MultiClean Allergen Pet Rewind picked up a staggering amount of pet hair in our testing home—and it made the entire cleaning process feel smooth and simple. If you can’t leave your house without a pass with a lint roller, then this is the vacuum fur—oops, I mean for—you.

The swivel steering makes it easy to navigate around corners and even vacuum in a circle around a bean bag chair. Notably, swivel steering is one of the features that makes it different from the Bissell CleanView Rewind that we picked as our best lightweight.

We also found the LED lights on the vacuum's head to be super useful for illuminating even the tiniest specks of dust or hair in its path. Speaking of clearing dust, this pick has a roomy 1-liter dustbin to hold all the dirt and dander it collects. It's the sort of pick to reach for if you're cleaning in advance of guests with allergies or sensitivities.

For an upright vacuum, it's also fairly quiet, which is another perk. The 11.75-inch cleaning path is right within the rest of our range, as is the 25-foot power cord. This pick also has an automatic cord rewind, which makes for easy and convenient storage.

We enjoyed testing this vacuum so much, and were consistently impressed by the clean results we got from it. There's really not a lot we would change about it, although it's worth a mention that it was a bit trickier to maneuver over smooth, hard floorings and could feel a bit cumbersome. This is a minor note for an otherwise great vacuum.

_{Weight: 15.5 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: Crevice tool and dusting brush, Pet TurboEraser tool}

Best Value

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Vacuum

$220 $150 at Amazon $338 at Wayfair $200 at Target

One of my fellow editors has owned and loved the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum for four years now. She's moved several times while owning it, and it's held up well against all kinds of dust and debris, particularly on carpeted floors, where it can really get into the fibers and leave behind those satisfying vacuum marks.

We've seen that the consistent theme with this vacuum is "easy." It’s easy to put together, easy to maneuver, and effortless in how it picks up dirt and debris. The 11-inch cleaning path means that each push or pull of this machine gets a wide swath of floor, and for higher surfaces such as stairways, counters, or ceiling corners, an extendable hose can reach up to 8 feet—you don’t have to reposition the entire machine for each stair.

The pod can also be lifted away, so you can use the wand and the head separately (just like a canister vacuum). Variety is the spice of life, as they say, and this ability to adjust is great for different types of cleaning—and also if you ever just want a break from the upright configuration. 

Multiple settings allow you to adjust for your surface, so even though there's no light on the head of the vacuum and you can't see every crumb, you can still trust that the vacuum is doing its job.

While this vacuum is louder than many other upright vacuums we've tested, we think that's a fair trade-off for the amount of cleaning power it offers. (Though, if you or anyone in your household has sound sensitivities, it may not be the best fit.)

The heft of this cleaning machine can feel cumbersome too, but that's true for many upright vacuums given their size and shape—including our best overall. Plus, the swivel steering mechanism makes the weight feel manageable; 16 pounds may not sound like a lot, but it’s roughly the equivalent of pulling a watermelon around your house so these small details are important.

Also, with the Shark NV360, the filter is also easy to maintain and just requires a quick rinse and air dry after you’re done cleaning.

The dust bin is large enough to keep up with the cleaning necessary for a family home, and very easy to empty, too. Just position it over your waste bin, release the latch, and your mess falls away (as does your stress level, since your home is nice and clean!).

_{Weight: 16 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: Upholstery tool, crevice tool}

Best Lightweight

Bissell CleanView Rewind Upright Vacuum

$130 at Amazon $130 at Wayfair $130 at Target

At just shy of 14 pounds, the Bissell CleanView Rewind Upright Bagless Vacuum is lighter than many other upright models, but don’t confuse it for flimsy. It still packs a punch when it comes to suction and cleaning, zipping through our testing challenges, and collecting cereal and popcorn kernels in just a few passes. The hose and included wand allow for up to 10 feet of reach, so it’s also useful when it comes to your shelves, stairs, and even cobwebs in the corner of your ceiling.

The 13-inch cleaning path width is right in the middle of the range of our list, although this pick doesn’t maneuver quite as smoothly as some of our other favorites so the satisfying carpet marks I keep talking about might not be as straight as you hope.

Since there's no swiveling head, it’s on the user to turn and angle it as necessary (although, if a swiveling head is important for you, there are other Bissell models that do offer this feature, including our best for pet owners pick).

Still, the Bissell CleanView Rewind Upright Bagless Vacuum has other conveniences, like the onboard attachment storage and the retractable cord, so you never have to wind it up or worry about tangles in storage. We see this as a great “starter” vacuum for a home that doesn’t need or want all of the extras of some of our other favorites, or a good trade for someone who may be used to older, heavier models. 

_{Weight: 13.5 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: TurboBrush tool, crevice tool, dusting brush}

Best Bagged

Hoover Complete Performance Vacuum

$155 $140 at Amazon $137 $135 at Walmart View on Hoover.com

The Hoover Complete Performance Bagged Upright Vacuum has powerful suction and a smooth yet sturdy design; the ideal combination in my eyes. What sets this pick apart from our other favorites is that it uses bags instead of a dust bin to collect and trap dirt and grime.

If you haven't used a bagged vacuum before, the difference is that instead of emptying a container of dirt and fuzz straight into your trash (and potentially releasing a cloud of dust), everything stays contained in a disposable bag that you'll toss and replace as necessary. You'll want to keep extra bags on hand, too, which can be an added expense.

We do like that it has a 15-inch cleaning path (wider than most of our picks), which will help you clean faster since you’ll cover more area with each push—this is the heaviest of our picks, so extra coverage is key. It also comes with an extendable hose that can reach up to 8 feet, and handy attachments, including a crevice tool and pet brush. 

During our hands-on testing, the Hoover Complete Performance Bagged Upright Vacuum easily cleaned up popcorn kernels and Cheerios, and removed hair from our upholstered chair in two swipes. The vacuum comes with a 25-foot power cord, so you shouldn't have to use multiple outlets to clean a single room. Although, it's a bit bulkier than some of our other picks and takes a little elbow grease to manage on stairs.

_{Weight: 22.4 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: Upholstery tool, crevice tool, extension wand}