The 6 Best Upright Vacuums of 2025

Our Picks of Upright Vacuums

Best Overall

Shark Stratos

Dustbin Capacity: 1.4 L | Weight: 16.6 lb

The Shark Stratos is a user-friendly and versatile vacuum you can rely on to tackle large messes in your home. The dual brush roller system allows each brush to tackle different floor types, making it one of the most effective cleaners for multisurfaces. Despite its relatively heavy 16.6-pound weight, it glided smoothly around furniture, giving us no trouble maneuvering throughout the house. The Lift-Away feature lets you detach the canister from the handle, making it easier to clean under furniture or navigate stairs. “This is one of my favorite features out of any vacuum because it means less effort and time to clean different parts of the house,” noted one tester. It cleans thoroughly too, reaching edges and corners so no spot is missed. For families worried about air quality, this vacuum stands out with one of the best filtration systems we've tested, not just among uprights, but all vacuums we've tested.

For cleaning up after your furry family members, it performed decently on low-pile carpet, picking up most of the pet hair, but struggled with long hair and on high-pile carpet. “After multiple rounds of cleaning, I could usually find clumps of fur stuck between the rollers that needed tending before they clogged that area,” remarked our lead tester, Rachael. If you have a lot of pets, the Shark Rotator may be a better alternative since it resists hair buildup better and sucked up the most fur. The Stratos is one of the priciest options we have tested. While we believe the performance justifies the price, there are alternatives like the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse, which cleans carpet and hardwood just as well at a fraction of the cost, though it isn't nearly as user-friendly. Overall, the Stratos is a great vacuum that we continue to turn to for most of our deep-cleaning extended vacuum sessions, and we wholeheartedly think it is worthy of your consideration.

Read more: Shark Stratos review

Best Compact

Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse NEU801BL

Dustbin Capacity: 1.6 L| Weight: 12.5 lb

At half the price of most upright vacuums, the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse cleans remarkably well, making it a strong compact option if you don't need a full-size model. It performed well on all surfaces, including shag rugs and thicker carpets, a particularly challenging task. The large gaps in the brush head let bigger debris pass through while still maintaining strong suction to pick up finer material. Switching between flooring is quick and simple, with a button on the handle that changes the brush speed depending on the floor type. The HEPA air filtration locks in most particles and keeps allergens from being released back into the air. In terms of ease of use, the OmniVerse impressed us with its lightweight design at 12.5 pounds. One of our testers even noted, “This vacuum feels pleasantly easy to push around. I don't feel exhausted cleaning my whole house.” QuickShift Technology lets the canister lock into different positions, giving an extra foot and a half of reach under furniture.

While QuickShift Technology was useful, it wasn't always reliable, as getting the canister to stay in place on the rail system required a bit of force to get it to click in securely. Likewise, we appreciate the unique attachment system, but it can be awkward to use at first and needs some getting used to. While the Eureka OmniVerse is still above average at moving around, it doesn't swing tight corners as effortlessly as the Sharks, even though it weighs substantially less. It also required a small lift when we transitioned onto higher flooring and across door thresholds. These are all minor drawbacks, though. The Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse consistently surprised us during testing, becoming a serious competition to vacuums that cost hundreds of dollars more, making it one of the best value compact options we have come across.

Read more: Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse review

Best for Carpet

Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1

Dustbin Capacity: 3.0 L Bag| Weight: 14.5 lb

The Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 does more than handle standard low-pile carpets well; it really shines on high-pile carpets where most vacuums struggle, making it a great choice if you have thick, hard-to-clean carpets at home. High pile carpets are notoriously hard to clean as smaller debris often falls deep into the fibers, so it's impressive to see the Kenmore at work. It might look a bit old-school and clunky, but it's surprisingly painless to work with around the house. Our lead tester, Rachael Lamore, noted, “It glided around furniture and was easy to push and turn where I wanted it to go.” Thanks to the vacuum's large three-liter bags, we collected quite a bit more than others before needing to replace the bag, which was simple and mess-free.

However, once the dust bag gets full, it becomes pretty heavy. “I felt a drastic difference when using the vacuum when it was full compared to a fresh new bag,” commented a tester. These bags need regular replacement, and while inexpensive, their ongoing cost is worth considering. We had to cut out trapped long hair, which ended up being more maintenance. While it wasn't awful by any means, the Kenmore tended to drag the debris on hard surfaces. So, the result was a clean strip of vinyl flooring but a small pile of debris at the end. If you want a more versatile vacuum, the Shark Stratos or Shark PowerDetect has a special roller designed for hard surfaces. If you are trying to stay within the mid-price range, the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse also did well across the board, but is condensed into a compact version. All things considered, the Intuition left us impressed by its carpet performance, and those with shag carpets can finally rejoice that there is a vacuum capable of actually cleaning it.

Read more: Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 review

Best Compact on a Budget

Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe NV360

Dustbin Capacity: 0.9 L | Weight: 14.3 lb

Although Shark's Navigator vacuum series has been in production for over a decade, it still offers competitive cleaning performance at a budget-friendly price. The Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe NV360 is simple but effective on low-pile carpets, and unlike other budget models, it lets you turn off the brush roller on hardwood to prevent debris from scattering. It comes equipped with a HEPA filter, a win for those with allergies or anyone wanting to keep debris out of the air. You can remove the canister from the vacuum's wand. Once reconfigured, the vacuum becomes almost like a canister vacuum, although the roller isn't powered. If you have a tight living space or lots of furniture, we favor using this small vacuum over other big and bulky models.

The stiff bristles on the brush roller tend to cling to pet hair and don't suck up as much pet hair, so those with heavily shedding pets might want to invest in the Shark Rotator. Do to its compact design, “the Shark Navigator only has a 0.9-liter dustbin, which I needed to dump often,” remarked one of our testers. The vacuum is easy enough to push on hardwood floors, but it tends to grip low-pile carpet, requiring some muscle to push across. While upright vacuums seem to be like phones and grow larger with each generation, the Navigator is a great option for those who want an affordable compact vacuum to reliably clean hard floors and shallow carpets or rugs.

Read more: Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe NV360 review

Best on a Tight Budget

Eureka PowerSpeed

Dustbin Capacity: 2.6 L| Weight: 10.5 lb

For those looking for the cheapest option to tackle small messes on carpets in your rooms, the Eureka PowerSpeed is for you. This vacuum is as basic as it gets, with no bells and whistles, but it is here to get the job done, as long as it isn't too complex. This model works best on conventional low-pile carpet, where it picked up the majority of our mess. Its 10.5-pound weight makes it easy to push around and lug upstairs. It is equipped with a 2.6-liter dustbin, which is one of the largest in our lineup. “This large bin doesn't need to be emptied as often, so I could clean my messes time and time again without having to worry about the dustbin,” remarked one of our testers. The vacuum traps dust, pet dander, and other fine particles so effectively that it helps keep the air in your home cleaner while you clean.

We suggest looking elsewhere if you have a considerable amount of hard flooring or thick rugs. The PowerSpeed sprayed debris everywhere when cleaning hard surfaces and didn't have enough suction power to suck up debris out of thicker carpets. You will need to invest more money to get a versatile vacuum that can clean various floor types. "For a bit more money, I suggest the Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe, noted our lead tester, Rachael. “It did a better job in both of these regards, especially on hardwood floors.” In general, we found this vacuum to be awkward to turn around furniture without a swivel, and it even needed to be lifted when transitioning from hardwood floors to carpet. Because it is very light, this isn't a huge deal, but it certainly isn't as easy to maneuver in tight spaces as the Stratos or other premium models that feature a smooth swivel at the head. With all this in mind, we think PowerSpeed has a home for those needing a very simple and straightforward option they can rely on for under $100.

Read more: Eureka PowerSpeed review

Best for Pet Hair

Shark Rotator LA502

Dustbin Capacity: 0.8 L| Weight: 13.7 lb

If you have pets, the Shark Rotator LA502 makes keeping your carpets fur-free much easier. It tackles pet hair on both low- and high-pile carpets better than the competition, turning even the furriest homes into a cleaner, more manageable space. Very little hair got trapped in the brush roller, a feat many upright vacuums struggle with. Its motorized tool attachment gives you more cleaning versatility to tackle other areas in the house, like pet beds and couch cushions. With its fluffy front roller, it nearly polishes hard surfaces it rolls over, and it did a great job cleaning hard-to-reach places, like in crevices and along baseboards. Its HEPA filtration system did exceptionally well in our tests, keeping most of the allergens from being thrown back into the air. We also found this model to be very easy to maneuver, with our tester noting, “It was really effortless to swing around the cones in our obstacle course, and it glided right onto the bamboo mat without any trouble.”

Like many vacuums, the Rotator struggled on high pile carpets. “I found that it mostly skimmed the debris off the top but left a lot behind,” mentioned a tester. It approaches the pricier end for upright vacuums. However, those with pets will appreciate its effectiveness on hair. If you don't have a shedding pet, or if your pet only lightly sheds, you can likely get away with a cheaper option, like the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse. However, without a doubt, the Shark Rotator is the best option for those with lots of pet hair floating around, and this recommendation comes from a testing team with plenty of pets.

Read more: Shark Rotator LA502 review

How We Tested

To evaluate these vacuums, we put them through real-world tests that mirror what you'll face at home. We clean everything from cereal and sand to pet hair on both high- and low-pile carpets as well as hardwood floors, noting if debris gets scattered. We tackle tricky spots like crevices, upholstery, and baseboards. We also track how well each vacuum's filtration system captures fine particles, which is helpful for homes with allergy concerns. Finally, we consider ease of use and maintenance so you know what it's like to live with each machine day to day.

Our tests are grouped into five weighted rating metrics:

• Carpet Performance (35% of overall score weighting)

• Hardwood Performance (25% weighting)

• Pet Hair (20% weighting)

• Filtration (10% weighting)

• Ease of Use (10% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

To test upright vacuums, we carefully crafted a team with unique skills and perspectives. The heart of the team is Rachael Lamore, who has spent years refining her understanding of the latest vacuum tech. As a Senior Testing Analyst at GearLab, Rachael brings a meticulous, data-driven approach to everything she does. Her extensive experience allows her the insight that goes beyond the basics, ensuring every test is thorough and insightful.

Becca Glades and Jessica Riconscente round out the team. Becca, a busy mom with a toddler and two shedding dogs is no stranger to the daily battle against pet hair, crumbs, and dirt. Her experience with vacuums in a real-world home setting makes her aware of the practical needs.

Jessica has a background in manufacturing and product design, providing the team with a technical lens to evaluate the finer details of each vacuum. This helps the team identify standout design features and know what to focus on when evaluating a vacuum.

Analysis and Test Results

We split our various assessments into five weighted rating metrics to discover the right vacuum for you. We evaluated carpet cleaning, ease of use, handling, hard surface cleaning, and pet hair. We weighted each testing metric relative to its significance in overall performance and expectations from a vacuum.

What's the Best Value?

Fortunately, the top products come in various price points that suit different household needs, depending on your willingness to prioritize or compromise. The Shark Navigator series has been in production for more than a decade, helping it fade its sales price over the years. Vacuums in this series continually sell for under $200 but make only minor concessions. Both the Navigator Lift Away and Navigator Lift Away Deluxe look very similar and performed that way as well, with the only notable difference being that the Deluxe did slightly better on hard surfaces.

For the best carpet cleaning we saw, the Kenmore Intuition also comes in under $200. Should you have any shag in your home, you won't have to shell out for an expensive vacuum given the Kenmore's performance. However, if this is still outside your budget, then Eureka PowerSpeed is your solution to a vacuum that costs half as much, not topping more than $90 online. Although it does not have flashy auto suction or even a swivel head, it can still help you clean regular carpets and pet hair. We don't suggest you rely on it for cleaning hard surfaces, but, still, it does pretty well, considering it is a fraction of the cost of those other models.

Carpet Performance

Our testing is designed to mimic the kinds of messes you deal with at home, letting us see how well each vacuum handles different types of debris and carpet. By checking how much dirt and crumbs each machine picks up, we get a clear picture of how they really clean. This way, you can trust our results reflect what you'll experience in your own home, whether on low- or high-pile carpets.

Before Cleaning After Cleaning

Low Pile Carpet

What is low-pile carpet? While unbeknownst to most but understandable when we start to think about it, carpets have different lengths of fibers, generally called piles. Low-pile carpets are common in many homes due to their durability and shallow depth, which makes them easier to clean compared to thicker, high-pile carpets or rugs.

The Shark Stratos has a dual brush system in the head that we found quite effective on low-pile carpet. The smaller, softer brush helps grab larger debris, while the conventional hard roller utilizes bristles and rubber fins to agitate the carpet fibers. The Kenmore Intuition also did an impressive job on low pile carpet, with 97% cleaned. Although its strong suit isn't when pulling back to vacuum, it could easily roll over large debris when moving forward. A problem that often arises with vacuums that have a bumper like the Kenmore.

Kenmore Intuition Eureka AirSpeed

The Shark PowerDetect AZ4002 followed closely behind, cleaning 96% of the spilled debris. This vacuum was so effective and easy to push around that we felt we didn't even need the 24 seconds. We used every second anyway, which delivered impressive results. However, we weren't pleased to notice sand accumulating on the filter. This caused a minor headache later when cleaning the vacuum.

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra also cleaned an impressive 95% of spilled debris. At first, the vacuum pushed the Cheerios around a little, but ended up sucking them all up in the end. The Dyson's strong seal allows it to deliver an exceptionally deep clean, effectively removing sand that typically gets trapped in carpet fibers and is often left behind by less powerful vacuums. Though it cleaned up most of our mess, the vacuum is heavy and cumbersome to push around.

Most of the vacuums in our lineup did, at the very least, okay on low pile carpet. Most of the vacuums picked up more than 80% through our trials. The exceptions were the Dirt Devil Endura Lite and Eureka AirSpeed NEU100, which had a significant jump down in cleaning performance. Instead of vacuuming the mess, they mostly sprayed it around or plowed the material, giving no hope for the suction to lift the debris.

High Pile Carpet

It's surprising, but just an inch or more in pile height can introduce new challenges for vacuum cleaners. Dirt and debris easily settle deep within the fibers, making it tough for most vacuums to reach. As a result, we consistently see a noticeable drop in cleaning performance across all products.

If you have any high pile or shag, you'll want to keep an eye on the Kenmore Intuition. We were thrilled with how this vacuum performed on shag carpet, especially considering its reasonable price point. It cleaned 73% of the mess we created. While this might not sound all that great, it is actually pretty impressive and, notably, the highest cleaning percentage out of all vacuums we tested, including canister and cordless vacuums.

Dyson Ball Animal 3 Bissell MultiClean

The Eureka OmniVerse and Navigator Lift Away did the next best, with 65% of our mess cleaned. Both struggled a little more with the larger debris, but felt like it was gripping the long strands and brushing out the smaller contents. We were impressed, especially with compact vacuums that usually struggle to provide enough power to grab sand deep within the thick carpet.

With only 27% cleaned, the Dirt Devil mostly rolled over debris without picking it up, and even gave off a burning plastic smell, suggesting high-pile is too demanding for this small vacuum. Neither of the Bissell ClearViews fared much better at 29%, often pressing debris deeper into the carpet instead of removing it.

Overall Carpet Performance

Some vacuums offer adjustable power control, which can be useful on different carpet surfaces. For example, if you are rolling over a light washable rug, you won't need as much power as you'll likely suck in the carpet. Instead, options like Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra, the Shark models, and Bissell MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet can drop the power when needed. The Shark PowerDetect AZ4002 uniquely adjusts the power on its own. As you traverse different floor types, the vacuum will either increase or decrease the brushroll RPMs. This was noticeable during our tests, and we found it useful.

After testing both low and high-pile carpets, we were most impressed with the carpet cleaning results from the Kenmore Intuition. It had the best results on both carpet styles, yet it doesn't have a premium price tag attached to it. The Stratos did exceptionally well on low pile carpet but left us wanting more on high pile for a premium product. If you don't have any shag rugs, this vacuum is worthy of your consideration as it gets the job done with little fuss. Plus, it glides from carpet to hardwood floors with little effort.

The Shark Navigator Lift Away surprised us with impressive high pile cleaning, giving it the boost over its premium counterparts. This was thanks to the strong seal they created with the carpet, allowing the compact vacuum to make better use of its suction power.

The Dirt Devil scored last and by a decent margin. The vacuum feels more like a toy, with no significant suction power to help suck up debris, often plowing or dragging debris, giving no hope of providing a cleaning companion for carpets.

Hardwood Performance

Hard floors can be tricky for vacuums since debris often scatters instead of getting picked up. We used the same amount and types of material as in our carpet tests to see how well each vacuum can clean throughout the house, not just on carpet.

The Stratos was able to clean up 97% of our mess on hardwood floors. One of our testers noted, “It's impressive to watch the vacuum head gobble up everything in sight. I really like the fluffy roller at the front of the head. It helps polish the floor as I clean through my house.”

The Navigator Lift Away Deluxe was just one step behind the Stratos, cleaning an impressive 96% of our mess. This vacuum skips the bells and whistles of the fluffy roller, but we didn't find this a necessary trade-off for great performance. The vacuum has a hard floor mode, which turns off the brush roller. Moving on to carpet? Simply switch the mode to turn the brush roll on.

The Shark PowerDetect and Shark Rotator also offered promising results here, cleaning 95% and 94% of the mess, respectively. The Rotator had a small amount of backflow that we were able to clean up within the 24-second timeframe. While the PowerDetect picked up so much of the debris, it also didn't get all of it in the dustbin. Clumps of sand were left in the hose, which made for a mess later on when we went to dump the dustbin.

Shark PowerDetect Eureka PowerSpeed

A select few felt like they made more of a mess than actually sucking up the debris. With hard surfaces, the brush roller can sometimes rotate too fast, having the bristles flick the debris past the intake area. To counter this, many companies reduce the rolling speed to prevent this aggressive spraying or simply turn off the spinning roller.

However, some vacuums lack variable suction controls, or the roller remains too powerful. The culprits to look out for are the Eureka PowerSpeed, Dirt Devil, Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet 3836, and Eureka AirSpeed. After a trial with the Dirt Devil, one of our testers noted, “Wow, that was an absolute SPRAY FEST! I think it successfully picked up some of the debris, but it made such a mess in the process that I can't really call what it did vacuuming.”

Edge Cleaning

Cleaning along baseboards is one of the trickiest tasks for a vacuum. This test lets us see which models can pick up debris efficiently, whether approaching head-on or running parallel, so you don't have to reach for a broom.

The Shark Stratos, Eureka OmniVerse, and Shark PowerDetect impressed us the most. Moving both perpendicular and parallel to the wall, we were able to suck up all the coffee grounds with no trouble. The Stratos and Eureka have LED headlights, which effectively highlight any debris on the floor, which we liked, especially when we were moving under furniture.

Shark Stratos Bissell CleanView

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra left no coffee grounds behind when vacuuming head-on. When we moved parallel with the wall, we captured roughly 98% of the debris, which is still a very impressive result. The Kenmore Intuition had very similar results, only leaving behind a streak when moving parallel to the mess. The Shark Rotator, on the other hand, left behind a few grounds when we hit the mess head-on but picked up everything when moving parallel to the wall. Each of these models had noteworthy performances and might just need another pass or two to get the small bits they left behind.

Overall Hardwood Performance

Combining both tests, we came away with the results below.

We were most wowed by the Shark Stratos and Shark PowerDetect. In many ways, these vacuums are very similar, so we aren't shocked to see tight overall scores. The fluffy front roller stood out, as its tiny fibers grabbed fine dust and small particles. Its high front opening also lets bigger crumbs pass through unobstructed, making it easier for the vacuum to handle all types of messes.

Wedged high between the Shark products is the Eureka Omniverse, another great showing in our cleaning tests, highlighting its ability to clean multiple surfaces. After the Shark Navigator Lift Away, the scoring shows a jump down. The rest of the products either spray, plow, or lack enough power and roller agitation to lift debris off hard surfaces to make an impactful difference. Some vacuums, like the Bissell CleanView 3836, Eureka AirSpeed, and Dirt Devil aren't built for hard surfaces, so a broom might be a better choice for cleaning messes on flat floors.

Pet Hair

Many of us at GearLab have pets, so we know firsthand how challenging it can be to keep up with pet hair. We get it, and we devoted our third rating metric to cleaning up after our furry friends. The problem here is twofold. On the one hand, the hair needs to get sucked out of the carpet. On the other hand, it needs to not get trapped in the brush roller. If you or anyone in your home has longer hair, this can complicate the issue, wrapping around the roll and essentially creating a cocoon of small debris and pet hair.

Pet Hair Cleaning Performance (%)

Product	Low	High
Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra	78	82
Shark Rotator LA502	86	73
Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet	72	74
Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse NEU801BL	76	60
Shark PowerDetect AZ4002	76	58
Bissell MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet	73	60
Shark Stratos	75	54
Eureka PowerSpeed	74	54
Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1	70	56
Shark Navigator Lift Away NV352	72	50
Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe NV360	70	50
Eureka AirSpeed NEU100	56	39
Dirt Devil Endura Lite	56	34

The Shark Rotator picked up the most pet hair from low-pile carpets, cleaning a whopping 86%. We were left with a small amount of hair in the brush roll tines, but not enough to cause any trouble. It still did well with high pile carpet, cleaning 73% of the hair. More hair was wrapped around the brush roll during this test, but it still wasn't terrible.

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 cleaned the most hair from high-pile carpets at 82%. After vacuuming, there were a few strands of longer hair around the brushroll. However, we allowed the vacuum to run for a few more seconds, and these long strands worked their way into the canister, leaving our brush roll nice and clean.

Dirt Devil Endura Lite Dyson Ball Animal 3

Low-pile carpet proved to be easier to clean pet hair off of. Most vacuums were able to get the carpet mostly clean. However, some struggled with the final pickup of hair, pushing it to the edge and leaving it behind. The Dirt Devil Endura Lite plowed the hair to the end of the carpet, and we were left with clumps of hair. These clumps were easy enough to pick up by hand, but we would prefer a vacuum that could do it all for us.

The budget-friendly Bissell CleanView managed to clean 72% from low pile and 74% from high pile, a standout compared to the other budget models below. While it left our carpets looking nice, we had a significant amount of hair wrapped around the brush roll and stuck within the tubing.

Before Cleaning After Cleaning

Filtration

A good filtration system in a vacuum traps dust, allergens, and pet dander, preventing them from being released back into the air. This improves indoor air quality and is especially beneficial for those with allergies or respiratory issues. Due to the serious negative effects of pollutants released by poor filtration systems, we've created new testing protocols to measure how well a vacuum can contain the debris they suck up.

After our tests, we were pleased to see how many vacuums did well with filtration. Using two particle counters and a tightly controlled room, we vacuumed up a set amount of flour and measured the average peak of both small and large particles or the count of those particles found in the air by the Dylos meters. Vacuums with a low average peak did better, meaning fewer particles were shot into the air.

Any result under 75 is considered excellent, meaning most of our lineup did great. The Shark Stratos did the best with its Anti-Allergen Complete Seal and HEPA filter. While HEPA filters aren't always the answer to the best filtration, they have a good reputation for a reason. All Shark models in our lineup are equipped with HEPA filters. All of which did exceptionally well in our filtration tests. We were pleased to see some budget-friendly models do well here. The Eureka PowerSpeed and Eureka AirSpeed were two with notably good results. They had a very small amount of particles escape from the machine, which means allergens stay in the machine rather than getting thrown into the air.

The only models that didn't exceed expectations were both of the Bissell CleanViews, the Oreck, and the Dirt Devil Endura. The Bissell CleanView Swivel (not the 3836 model) had a small particle average peak of 1520, the worst by far. Results like this can be problematic for those with allergies, as the vacuums circulate tiny debris particles back into the room. If you or anyone in your home has allergies, we recommend opting for another model.

Ease of Use

From our experience, the effort it takes to get through cleaning chores can vary quite a bit. That's why we focus on user-friendly designs that make the job easier, while also keeping track of numbers we can compare to our hands-on testing after spending plenty of time with each vacuum.

In our testing, we check how well a vacuum maneuvers, how simple it is to maintain, how far it can reach, and whether its attachments actually help with cleaning.

Although the big Shark vacuums, Stratos and PowerDetect, weigh the most in our group, their streamlined design made them feel lighter and easier to use around the house. The vacuum's head helps propel it, so pushing it around takes a lot less effort than we expected, and the smooth swivel lets you maneuver around tables and chairs with surprising control. The powered Lift-Away feature adds extra reach, which makes cleaning stairs more manageable for an upright vacuum and also helps get under low furniture that most other vacuums can't reach.

If you want a compact vacuum, the Eureka QuickShift and Shark Rotator offer a lightweight design with useful features, making them a good choice for anyone who doesn't need a full-size vacuum. The Rotator shares many of the same features as the premium Sharks, including smooth gliding on any surface, versatile attachments, and an easy-to-empty dustbin. It falls a bit behind the higher-end models, however, since it doesn't have a powered Lift-Away feature, and the motorized attachment wasn't as effective.

The Eureka QuickShift is easy to push around and simple to maintain, thanks to tab releases that make removing the brush roller quick and hassle-free. Its QuickShift mechanism adds about a foot and a half of extra reach under couches, though it takes a bit of effort to get the canister securely set on the rail system.

Lighter models don't always translate to easier maneuverability. The Eureka AirSpeed was “really hard to push on carpet, even just back and forth,” mentioned our lead tester, “Without a swivel, I also found it cumbersome to make turns.” We encountered similar issues with the Dirt Devil, but it did allow us to tilt the vacuum back farther, making it easier to reach under high-clearance furniture, such as coffee tables.

The Oreck is also lightweight, but its old-school design comes with limited features. There's no hose or wand to separate from the canister, so you don't get any extra reach or attachments for cleaning different areas of the house. Its dust bag capacity is huge at 8.5 liters, several liters more than any other vacuum in the lineup, but once it starts to fill, the added weight makes it difficult to maneuver.

How to Choose an Upright Vacuum

No single upright vacuum is perfect for everyone. The right choice really comes down to your home, your cleaning routine, and the features you value most.

Other Notable Upright Vacuums

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional — The Navigator series has more models than we can count. The Professional, like the original Lift-Away and Deluxe, looks very similar and offers comparable cleaning performance, so if you see any of these on sale, we suggest buying the cheapest you can find.

Kenmore FeatherLite — This compact Kenmore is easy to handle and store, but its weak suction means it doesn't do much good on carpets or hard floors.

Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly — This old-school vacuum is large and bulky, making it difficult to maneuver around the house and requiring more effort for only average cleaning results.

Dirt Devil Endura Reach — Much like the Dirt Devil Lite, this model feels more like a toy. It struggled to clean much of anything and left us frustrated with the majority of the mess still on the floor.

Shark APEX DuoClean Zero-M — Once part of Shark's premium line, the APEX shares many similarities with the Shark Stratos, including the dual brush roller and the powered Lift-Away feature we really like. The Stratos, however, offers more power as the newer model.

Conclusion

We hope that this review has helped you narrow down your options and guided you toward selecting the best upright vacuum cleaner for your needs. Whether you are looking for a top-tier model that can handle heavy-duty messes, has exceptional maneuverability, is lightweight, or just needs a budget-friendly option that completes everyday cleaning.