The 7 Best Upright Vacuums of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4/5
• Portability
  4.8/5
• Noise Level
  2.5/5

In our testing, the consistent theme with the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum was "easy." We found that this model is easy to put together, easy to maneuver, and effortlessly picks up dirt and debris. Even the roller was simple to clear of hair after our debris tests. We were impressed by its overall power and performance, along with its smooth and sturdy design.

The Shark NV360 flew through our debris tests with flying colors, and we were impressed with the suction across flooring types and upholstery. While this vacuum is louder than many upright vacuums we've tested, we think that's a fair trade-off for the amount of cleaning power it offers. The heft of this machine can feel cumbersome on stairs, but that's true for many upright vacuums. Plus, the included attachments and swivel steering mechanism are a good counterbalance to the weight. In our testing, we had no issues maneuvering the vacuum from carpet to hard flooring and back, as well as around and under furniture. We like that it has an 11-inch cleaning path, an extendable hose that can reach up to 8 feet, plus handy attachments, including a crevice tool and an upholstery tool. The pod can also be lifted away for an extended reach (though we didn't record this in our testing).

We also appreciate the included HEPA system, which traps dust, small particles, and potential allergens. The dust bin is generously sized at 0.9 quarts, which means fewer rounds of emptying for you. And, speaking of emptying the dust bin, that is easy, too—just position it over your waste bin, release the latch, and your mess falls away. Ultimately, this upright vacuum is easy to use, effective, and efficient, especially given its fair price tag, and we think it's a fantastic fit for a wide range of households.

Price at time of publish: $220

_{Dimensions: 14.96 x 11.42 x 45.47 inches | Weight: 15.96 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Bin Volume: 0.9 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 11 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet and hard flooring}

Best Budget

Hart Pro Bagless Upright Vacuum with HEPA Media Filter

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5

For households sticking to a budget, we recommend the Hart Pro Bagless Upright Vacuum HZUV01 with HEPA Media Filter, which is one of our top-rated inexpensive vacuum cleaners. While we gave it slightly lower maneuverability and portability scores than the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe (our overall top pick), we were impressed with this model's impressive suction and ability to handle all kinds of debris. Plus, it's relatively quiet for an upright model.

In our testing, the Hart Pro Bagless Upright Vacuum was especially effective on high-pile carpet, though it also performs well on tile, medium-pile carpet, and hardwood. The swivel head is easy to maneuver around a room, and it transitions nicely between carpet and hard flooring. For any bits of debris that the vacuum head left behind in our tests, we were able to double back using the detachable handle—and we found that process to be smooth and efficient. The vacuum's performance on upholstery was also strong; for that, we used the crevice tool, which was a cinch to attach and use. We also love that the attachments store right on the machine. Hart isn’t the only brand to design its accessories this way, but nonetheless, we always appreciate that thoughtful feature when we see it.

Once you’re done, it’s easy to clear the vacuum dustbin. Similar to our best overall pick, you simply release the lower lid of the container, and gravity takes care of the rest. Clearing out the brush roll was a bit more complicated, and we opted to use a seam ripper to loosen the wrapped hair. (Alternatively, you can remove the entire brush roll with a screwdriver to clean it.) One last curiosity we encountered is that the manual says there are High and Low speeds, however, as far as we could tell, we had one working. Still, no machine is perfect, and at such a great price, we think this one is well worth it. 

Price at time of publish: $129

_{Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: 16 pounds | Cord Length: Not listed | Bin Volume: Not listed | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet and hard flooring}

Best Splurge

Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.8/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

Dyson vacuums are typically on the expensive side, and the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra is no exception. However, it is a solid investment, as this vacuum proved itself efficient on both hard and carpeted floors and on the various levels of carpet, too, from no-pile to high-pile. It has incredible suction power, and it's easy to maneuver around furniture. While it didn’t reach all the way into corners when it was in upright mode, a quick pass with the attachments was all it took to clear debris. The vacuum comes with four unique attachments: a tangle-free turbine tool (which is great for collecting hair), a combination brush tool, a stair tool, and a pet grooming tool. Using the attachments, we found that the vacuum was great for cleaning upholstery.

One extra impressive feature is that the machine is designed so that that hair is trapped all the way in the dust cup and not wrapped around the brush roll like many other machines—a big plus for pet owners (and humans with long hair, too). The vacuum offers HEPA filtration, another added perk for pet owners and anyone looking to reduce allergens.

Like many other upright vacuums, this machine is a bit heavy and not ideal for stairs (which, again, is where those attachments will come in handy). We also found that the machine occasionally “spit” some of the larger debris back out, requiring us to follow back with additional passes. Still, despite these issues, we found it to be an impressive vacuum, especially given its efficiency on multiple floor types and its smooth handling of hair. 

Price at time of publish: $500

_{Dimensions: 15.5 x 11 x 42.2 inches | Weight: 17.3 pounds | Cord Length: 35 feet | Bin Volume: 1.7 liters | Cleaning Path Width: 11 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet and hard flooring}

Best for Carpet

Shark AZ2002 Vertex Powered Lift-Away Upright Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Maneuverability
  4/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  4.3/5
• Noise Level
  3/5

Looking for something designed specifically for carpeting and rugs that doubles as a handheld vacuum? Your best bet is the Shark AZ2002 Vertex DuoClean Upright Vacuum. This model is as sleek and smooth as you'd hope from a Shark vacuum. Its strong suction was a great fit for the medium- and high-pile carpet in our testing, even grabbing hair before we’d fully rolled over it. In our testing, this model sent debris flying on tile flooring. Scattered debris isn't atypical of a vacuum on hard flooring, but some are better suited to it than others. And while the Shark AZ2002 didn't scatter as much debris on the hardwood as it did tile, we still think this vacuum is best suited to carpeted flooring.

Using the pod and hose together worked great, and we also appreciated the pod on its own, which is comparable to a handheld vacuum. Though, a warning that this is a hefty machine—it is heavy and could be potentially tiring whether you’re using it as an upright or only as a pod. The powerful roller is self-cleaning, which is especially helpful when vacuuming up hair or fur.

We described this vacuum as “semi-loud” in our testing notes, so if you’re looking for something you can use without disturbing anyone else in the room (or on the same floor), you may take issue with it. Another item of note is that you do need to use two hands to empty the dustbin. Larger debris comes out the bottom in a similar fashion to other models, but there’s also a second lid to access smaller dust and particles that separated at the top. We think these are fairly small inconveniences compared to the overall effectiveness though. If you’re in the market for a heavy-duty carpet cleaning machine for your home, this one is well worth a (close!) look.

Price at time of publish: $354

_{Dimensions: 12 x 15.09 x 46.25 inches | Weight: 16.38 pounds | Cord Length: 30 feet | Bin Volume: 1 quart | Cleaning Path Width: 12 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet and hardwood}

Best for Pet Hair

Eureka NEU700 Innova Upright Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  3/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

The Innova Upright Vacuum impressed us with its effectiveness and smooth handling on all flooring types, and it's a fantastic option for households with pets. It rolls nicely and makes spaces look visibly cleaner wherever it goes. In at-home testing, we've observed how easily it pulls dog hair from both hard floors and carpet. We’re also impressed with how well it’s held up during our long-term testing processes. In other words, we haven’t noticed any decline in performance or strength, even after months of regular use in a real-life home setting. 

If your pets are particularly sensitive to noise, you'll appreciate the vacuum's quiet mode, which we found still performed well (although not quite as well as the max setting). Of course, it’s efficient beyond just pet-related pick-ups, and it's reliable with regular household cleaning, too—it even reaches baseboards. The attachments have proven handy in long-term testing, too. It includes a motorized pet tool roll, dusting brush, and classic crevice tool.

The canister wasn’t quite as easy to empty as some of the others we've tested. We had to reach into the dust bin to clear out the pet hair during lab testing, which is one of the few things we’d change about this machine. Also worth noting, Innova is a Eureka line only available at Walmart—so don't expect to compare prices across retailers. But if you do decide to snag the Innova Upright Vacuum, we think you’ll likely be very pleased with its performance as an upright vacuum for pet hair.

Price at time of publish: $259

_{Dimensions: 14.84 x 12.13 x 45.59 inches | Weight: 16.5 pounds | Cord Length: 30 feet | Bin Volume: 2.3 liters | Cleaning Path Width: 12.2 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet and hard flooring}

Best Bagged

Hoover Complete Performance Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  3.8/5
• Maneuverability
  3/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  2.5/5
• Noise Level
  2.5/5

Before the Shark NV360 Vacuum took the top spot on this list, this Hoover Complete Performance Bagged Upright Vacuum held the title of our best overall upright vacuum. That's because this model boasts powerful suction with a smooth and sturdy design. In our tests, it picked up floor debris in just two passes and removed hair from our upholstered chair in two swipes. While it's slightly bulky and takes a little elbow grease to manage on stairs, this upright vacuum cleans well on carpet, hard floors, and upholstered furniture.

Ultimately, not everyone gravitates toward a bagged vacuum. But even if you’re used to the (now more common) dust bin, you’ll likely have no trouble emptying this vacuum's bags since you can drop them straight into your trash can without any contact with the debris you’ve suctioned up—a perk for anyone, but especially those with allergies or sensitivities. And speaking of allergens, we also appreciated the HEPA system, which traps dust, small particles, and potential allergens. 

The vacuum comes with a 25-foot power cord, so you shouldn't have to use multiple outlets to clean a single room, either. We also like that it has a 15-inch cleaning path, an extendable hose that can reach up to 8 feet, and handy attachments, including a crevice tool and pet brush. Ultimately, this bagged upright vacuum is easy to use, effective, and efficient, especially given its lower price tag.

Price at time of publish: $155

_{Dimensions: 15 x 15 x 47 inches | Weight: 22.4 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Bin Volume: Not applicable | Cleaning Path Width: 15 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet and hard flooring}