The 6 Best Upright Vacuums of 2025

Our Picks of Upright Vacuums

Best Overall Upright Vacuum

Shark Stratos

Dustbin Capacity: 1.4 L | Suction: 547 pascals

The Shark Stratos is a user-friendly and versatile vacuum you can rely on to tackle large messes on any surface in your home. It picked up 97% of the mess we created on hardwood floors and low pile carpet, the best out of this review lineup. Much of this is thanks to the double brush rollers at the head of the vacuum. The front soft brush does well at whisking away fine dust and pet dander, especially on hardwood floors. Meanwhile, the traditional-style back roller skillfully agitates carpet fibers to help lift debris deep within the carpet. Despite its 16.6-pound weight, it glided smoothly across our obstacle course, giving us no trouble maneuvering around tight corners. Our testers noted, “I appreciate not having to take a wide radius around furniture — it makes vacuuming faster and less hassle.” We were initially unsure about the Lift-Away feature, but it quickly became one of our favorite vacuum features. It allows the canister to be completely removed from the handle, so getting under furniture or traversing stairs is made much easier. And when you're vacuuming under furniture, bright LED lights shine the way so you can get everything hidden under the couch. All these beneficial design features, along with its ability to clean tight areas we saw from our edge testing, make this vacuum one of the easiest to use throughout our testing in the lab and at home.

If you have a considerable amount of high pile carpet or thicker rugs, you might want to steer clear of this option. While shag styles are a struggle for most vacuums, the Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 is a better bet, though not nearly as good on hardwood floors. Likewise, the Stratos isn't our top choice if you have shedding pets. It performed decently on low pile carpet, picking up most of the pet hair, but struggled with long hair and high pile carpet. “After multiple rounds of cleaning up pet fur, I could usually find some clumps of fur stuck between the rollers that needed tending before it clogged that area,” remarked our lead tester, Rachael. Its suction power was impressive overall, and the filtration system performed superior, trapping dust and allergens. However, models like the Shark Rotator offer superior performance for pet-hair-heavy households. The Stratos is one of the priciest options we have tested. While we think the performance is worth every penny, there are other options out there that are pretty good, too. The Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse performs similarly in carpet and hardwood cleaning and is available at a fraction of the cost, though it isn't nearly as easy to use. 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 Value Upright Vacuum

Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse NEU801BL

Dustbin capacity: 1.6 L| Suction: 398 pascals

For a vacuum that costs half the amount of typical upright vacuums, the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse excels in the key performance areas, particularly when it comes to cleaning different floor types, making it a competitive compact vacuum you may want to consider especially if you do not need a full-size vacuum. It picked up 92% of debris on low pile carpets and handled our toughest test, high pile carpets, surprisingly well. We stuck to an average cleaning time for each test, but if you're willing to spend a little extra time, this vacuum can achieve a solid clean on high pile carpet. On hardwood floors, it excelled, collecting 96% of debris. Much of this is thanks to the large gaps in the brush head that allow larger debris to pass through and get sucked in by the rolling brush head. 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 system proved effective, locking in most particles and keeping 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.” The QuickShift Technology allows the canister to be locked into different positions on a rail. It provides another foot and a half of unobstructed reach when clicked into the top position. This is handy for tight reaches under furniture, which is also illuminated by LED lights. Though these LED lights aren't essential, our lead tester said, “I thought it was really fun and satisfying to use the LED lights. It actually felt like an improvement for cleaning as it highlighted the smaller debris on the floor.”

The QuickShift Technology, while innovative, 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 it did well in most tests, it struggled with longer hair getting wrapped around the brush roll. The brush roll is actually very easy to remove, so when hair gets trapped, it isn't a huge deal to get it cleaned off, but it is still an extra step. While the Eureka OmniVerse is still above average at moving around, it doesn't swing tight corners as effortlessly as the Shark, even though it weighs substantially less. It also required a small lift when we transitioned onto our bamboo mat. All things considered, the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse consistently surprised us during testing, becoming a stiff competition to vacuums that cost hundreds of dollars more, making it one of the best value options we have come across.

Read more: Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse review

Best Budget Upright Vacuum

Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe NV360

Dustbin capacity: 0.9 L | Suction: 124 pascals

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 design is simple but effective on low pile or shallow carpets, sucking up 92% of our huge mess. Unlike other budget models that leave the brush roller running on hardwood, causing debris to scatter, the Shark Navigator Deluxe prevents this issue by offering a mode that allows you to turn off the roller. This helped it suck up 96% of the test debris on hardwood with ease. Its filtration system is top-notch and equipped with a HEPA filter. We tested this in our lab using two meters that can count how many harmful particulates escaped and whisked into the surrounding air. To our delight, not much did - 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, with the handle free from bulky components. Though it doesn't have LED lights shining the way, you can easily get under furniture and in tight places. Our testing team noted, “I really enjoyed the effortless movement around the coffee table legs and tight corners because of the head's nice swivel action.”

While we have loved this budget-friendly vacuum for many years, we still have our gripes with it. The stiff bristles on the brush roll tend to cling to pet hair. It also doesn't suck up as much pet hair as we'd like to see, so those with heavily shedding pets might want to look into the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra or Shark Rotator LA502, though these will cost you a bit more. “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. Additionally, it had unimpressive high pile cleaning results. It can be challenging to find a vacuum capable of cleaning high pile carpets, though. If you have a considerable amount of shag in your home, we recommend the Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1, which also has a three-liter bag that doesn't need to be emptied as often. 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 Upright Vacuum on a Tight Budget

Eureka PowerSpeed

Dustbin capacity: 2.6 L| Suction: 149 pascals

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. We like this model for shallow low pile carpeted spaces, and its 10.5-pound weight makes it easy to push. On low pile carpet, it cleaned 84% of our spilled debris. While this isn't the best of the lineup, it also isn't terrible, and it should be more than capable of regular maintenance cleaning. The PowerSpeed 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. We were pleasantly surprised by the filtration results in our lab tests. We didn't see any large spikes of air pollutants during testing, meaning this vacuum's filtration system does a successful job of containing small particles like dust and pet dander.

We suggest looking elsewhere if you have a considerable amount of hard flooring or thick rugs. In our hardwood tests, the PowerSpeed sprayed debris everywhere. Additionally, it simply couldn't pick up debris off of high pile carpet. 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 hard 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 for their small carpeted space.

Read more: Eureka PowerSpeed review

Best Upright Vacuum for Pet Hair

Shark Rotator LA502

Dustbin capacity: 0.8 L| Suction: 572 pascals

Got furry friends at home and struggling to keep up with their shedding? We get it—that's why we recommend the Shark Rotator LA502 for pet owners, as it outperformed the competition in our tests by picking up the most pet fur. We brought in our dog hair from home (yes, we really did) and massaged it into our test carpets. After putting every vacuum to the test of cleaning it up, we were wowed the most by the Shark Rotator. This vacuum picked up 86% of the hair from low pile carpet and 73% from high pile. Very little hair got trapped in the brush roller, too. This is a huge feat for even the best upright vacuums, as most have trouble wrapping hair around the brush roller. Aside from its great pet hair performance, it did well in our hardwood floor test, sucking up an impressive 94% of our mess. It also did a great job cleaning hard-to-reach places, like in crevices and along baseboards. This vacuum has a good amount of suction, which we measured at 572 pascals. We found this to be somewhat of a sweet spot, where the suction wasn't overly powerful, but it could still get its job done well. 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, “I really liked the Rotator. It was really easy to maneuver around the cones in our obstacle course, and it glided right onto the bamboo mat without any trouble.”

While we didn't have any problem with hair getting trapped in the brush roller, it also cannot be easily removed. So, if you have any notable clumps, you are in for a tricky cleanup. 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. The Rotator 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. The Eureka's brush roller can be quickly and easily released. So, should you end up with it encased with hair, you can clean it out easier than the Rotator. 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

Best Upright Vacuum for Carpet

Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1

Dustbin capacity: 3.0 L Bag| Suction: 199 pascals

In our lab, we set up two carpet types: a low pile in typical rooms in a house and a high pile carpet for those with thick accent rugs lining your vinyl flooring. We created a huge mess on both with everyday items - Cheerios, sand, and rice. Then, we turned on the vacuums and noted how much we could clean in a 24-second window. After these carpet tests, we were left the most impressed by the Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1. It managed to pick up 97% of the debris spilled on our low pile carpet, tying for the best in this test. On high pile carpet, it cleaned up 73% of our mess. While this doesn't initially seem like a great result, it is the best in our lineup by far. High pile carpets are notoriously hard to clean as smaller debris often falls deep into the fibers. In our 24-second window, we were able to clean up most of the debris, but we are confident that more time would result in even better results. The Intuition didn't stop impressing us with the carpet tests. The vacuum had one of the smoothest glides in our lineup. Our lead tester, Rachael Lamore, noted, “It glided around the cones and was easy to push and turn where I wanted it to go. This surprised me because the body design of this vacuum is quite bulky.” 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 easy and mess-free.

When the bag is empty, the vacuum is light and easy to move around. However, once the 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 will also need to continually be replaced. Though they aren't expensive, it is worth considering the price of these bags before committing to the Kenmore Intuition. This vacuum cleaned pet hair from carpet pretty well, but we were left with a big mess in the brush roller. Our team had to cut the trapped hair out, which was more maintenance than we would've liked. The only vacuum to really “wow” us with its hair-free brush roll was the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra, which effectively self-cleaned the roller as it ran. Additionally, the Kenmore wasn't our favorite on hardwood floors. While it wasn't awful by any means, it tended to drag the debris along with the vacuum. So, the result was a clean strip of carpet but a large pile of debris at the end. If you plan on cleaning a considerable amount of hard floor, the Shark Stratos or Shark PowerDetect is worth another look. If you are trying to stay within the mid-price range, the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse also did well across the board, though it didn't tackle high pile carpet as effectively as the Kenmore Intuition. All things considered, the Intuition left us impressed by its carpet performance, especially in our high pile lab tests. 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

How We Tested

To rate these products, we put them through a series of vacuum cleaning performance tests designed to push each model to its limits. We conduct over 25 different tests for each vacuum, which amounts to hours of picking up pet hair, cereal, sand, and rice from various types of carpeting and hard flooring. For our carpet tests, we evaluate how well each vacuum works on both high pile, thick shag rugs and low pile conventional carpets. Meanwhile, our hardwood tests measure how well each vacuum picks up debris without scattering it. We also test these vacuums in tricky situations, like cleaning deep crevices, upholstery, and baseboards. As pet owners, we understand the challenge of cleaning up after shedding pets, so we bring real pet hair from home and massage it into our carpets, noting how well each model handles the mess. We use assorted debris sizes and flooring types to test how these machines perform across various cleaning challenges.

With any vacuum, suction is a key factor. In our lab, we have developed a test floor with a small hole attached to a manometer, which measures pressure. As we run the vacuums over the hole, we measure the unsealed pressure. We choose unsealed pressure because it provides a more realistic reflection of real-world use, which we've found correlates better with performance over years of testing. Additionally, we use two Dylos particle counters to measure how much debris is not captured by the filtration system. This is to help find viable suggestions for family members that are sensitive to air quality. Finally, we take detailed notes on the ease of use for each machine, including the simplicity or complexity of maintenance.

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 and Suction (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 Chris Maxcer 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. Chris has a background in mechanical engineering, providing the team with a technical lens to evaluate the finer details of each vacuum. His background allows the team an understanding of how each machine works at a mechanical level, from suction power to filtration, and how these factors influence cleaning. Together, this team used their skills, background, and knowledge to test and determine the absolute best upright vacuums.

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. This section highlights each of those options that offer great value, ensuring you get the most for your money. The Shark Navigator series has been in production for more than a decade, helping it fade its flashy sales price over the years. Vacuums in this series continually sell for under $200 but make only minor concessions. We like the Navigator Lift Away Delux for its great carpet cleaning abilities, struggling slightly at cleaning pet hair compared to the top models but scoring very well in hardwood cleaning. The similar Navigator Lift Away looks almost identical and performs almost the same in all tests except for the hardwood cleaning where it could clean as much as the Delux.

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 with how well the Kenmore performs. You will compromise in hard surface and pet hair cleaning, but if you are solely looking for a cleaner to tackle both shallow and thick carpets or rugs, you get a great deal here. While this price is phenomenal for the cleaning performance at first glance, we remind you that this vacuum requires purchasing additional separate bags for disposal, adding to ongoing costs. However, if this is still outside your budget, then Eureka PowerSpeed is your solution to a vacuum that costs half as much, not toppling more than $90 online. We describe this vacuum as basic. Although it does not have flashy laser lights or even a swivel head, it can still help you clean shallow carpets and pet hair. We don't suggest you rely on it for cleaning hardsurfaces, but, still, it does pretty well, considering it is a fraction of the cost of those other models. We end with another Eureka to consider that continually shocked us in our testing. The Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse packs a punch for the price. At just over $200, this vacuum performs on par with the most expensive models, earing high scores in th emost important metrics, carpet and hardwood cleaning. It even has premium features like LED lights and an extended reach.

Carpet Performance

You're probably here because you have some sort of carpet in your space that needs cleaning. To see how these models did, we devised a test where we sprinkled a cup and a half of Cheerios, rice, and sand on our test carpets. Then, we set the timers for 24 seconds and got to cleaning. We measured the amount of debris collected in the dustbin and compared it to the original, giving us a percentage of what was picked up. In simple terms, we made a mess, cleaned it up, and measured everything. We did this on both low and high pile carpets.

Before Cleaning After Cleaning

Our testing is designed to simulate real-life messes and allows us to evaluate how effectively each vacuum handles different debris types and carpet surfaces. By measuring the amount of debris collected and comparing it to the original amount, we get a clear, quantifiable view of each vacuum's performance. This approach ensures that our results reflect actual cleaning efficiency, whether on low or high pile carpet, providing you with a reliable assessment of how well these models will perform in your home.

Low Pile Carpet

What is low-pile carpet? While unbeknown 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 compare to thicker, high pile carpets or rugs.

The Shark Stratos had one of the most impressive performances on low pile carpet, picking up 97% of our mess. This vacuum effortlessly glides through the debris, cleaning nearly everything as it does so. 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 the board.

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. High pile carpet is notoriously hard to clean. So, with nearly three-quarters of the mess picked up and a somewhat effortless glide, we were pleased with these results. Plus, we felt like we could get even more with extra time spent. If you have a considerable amount of high pile carpet, we think the Intuition is worth your consideration.

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. After the 24 seconds were up, we weren't completely disappointed by the results, especially from compact vacuums that usually struggle to provide enough power to grab sand deep within the thick carpet. Our lead tester remarked with the Eureka Omniverse, “I know 65% doesn't seem like a lot, but the carpet actually looks like it's on its way to being clean! Makes me feel like if I kept vacuuming, I would actually make progress, very nice!.”

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 kick up the brushroll RPMs or drop it down. This was noticeable during our tests, and we found it useful.

After testing both low and high pile carpets, we were the 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 three-liter dustbin bag can hold a lot, meaning you won't have to change it out as often. The Stratos did exceptionally well on low pile carpet but left us wanting more on high pile. If you don't have any shag rugs, this premium 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 Shark PowerDetect and Shark Stratos. This was due to the great seal they both could get to the carpet, delivering more efficient use of the suction power in a small compact vacuum.

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

Our hardwood performance was split between three subtests: hardwood, crevice, and edge cleaning. For our hardwood cleaning test, we sprinkled a cup and a half of mixed Cheerios, rice, and sand across our test surface. Like the carpet tests, we set a timer for 24 seconds and got to work, weighing the before and after debris to get an accurate account of the amount the vacuum sucked up. For our crevice test, we sprinkled sand in the slits of a bamboo floor mat. Again, we weighed the before and after to see how much we actually got. Finally, we placed one tablespoon of coffee on a floorboard. Conducting this test twice, we hit the mess head-on and tested another section moving parallel to the floorboard, like you'd be cleaning a long hallway. Below, we discuss the results of these subtests.

Hardwood Cleaning

Whether it be just your kitchen or your whole household, you likely have some sort of hard flooring somewhere. With vacuums improving on these surfaces, there is no need to get out the broom. With this in mind, we sought to see which models could pick up the most debris. With a cup and a half of mess on the floor, we set the vacuums to work, ultimately the most impressed with the Shark Stratos.

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. However, some vacuums lack variable suction controls, or the roller remains too powerful. The culprits to look out for are the Eureka PoweSpeed, Dirt Devil, 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.”

Crevice Cleaning

Transition areas, grouted tile, and gaps between vinyl or wood paneling all trap tiny debris deep into slots or hard-to-reach areas that provide a challenge for vacuums. We recreated this stubborn problem with a slotted bamboo mat to test how effective the vacuums are at sucking dirt resting in these areas. We went over the mat with the vacuum in the regular upright mode, as this is how you will move from room to room. We used bright red sand to easily see it and weigh it later.

Cleaning 89% of the sand, the Shark PowerDetect AZ4002 offered the best performance in this test. The PowerDetect ramps up with the RPM of the dual brush roll on its own when necessary. As we rolled over the bamboo mat, we could hear the power kick in. While it might be shocking to see none of these vacuums cleaned more than 90% of the sand, it is also worth remembering how tricky it can be to clean between tight slots. Most vacuums come with attachments that can pick up most of the sand, so if you find a tricky spot in your home, you can always do a little more deep cleaning with the right tool.

The Eureka Quick Shift OmniVerse was the next best with 87% of the sand picked up. Though we used the vacuum in its upright position, it is equipped with a “crevice mode.” This essentially transitions the canister into a handheld vacuum with a crevice tool attached. Should you choose to spend a little more time with this configuration, you might be able to snag even more than 87% from those tight places.

Unfortunately, the Bissell MultiClean and Dirt Devil Endura Lite picked up next to nothing. The Endura had the lowest suction score, and the Bissell wasn't much better. This is where low-suction options struggle. They simply don't have enough oomph to pull out debris from tricky spots. Again, you'll likely be able to get more debris with the right attachments, but we wanted to see how well these vacuums could do without that extra help.

Edge Cleaning

We spread coffee grounds along two 16-inch sections of a baseboard. For the first section, we pushed each vacuum directly into the baseboard, tackling the grounds head-on to replicate cleaning stairs or in tight areas. For the second, we ran the vacuum parallel to the baseboard like you might when cleaning a long hallway. We compared how much debris was collected using both approaches. Baseboards are notoriously tricky to clean with a vacuum. Determined to keep the broom in the closet, we were after a vacuum that could clean all the debris.

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

After conducting all tests and weighing the submetrics appropriately, we see the Sharks shine in this metric.

We were the most wowed by the Shark PowerDetect and Shark Stratos. In many ways, these vacuums are very similar, so we aren't shocked to see identical overall scores. The PowerDetect stands out with its ability to adjust the brush roll speed based on flooring type. This proved to be very effective at cleaning crevices. Otherwise, the DuoClean system is present on both.

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 debris or lack enough power and roller agitation to lift debris off hard surfaces to make an impactful difference. Some vacuums 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.

Almost all companies offer some sort of “self-cleaning” brush rollers, but it still isn't a perfect fix. To test these vacuums, we massaged real pet hair from our homes into our test carpets. We also threw in a few clumps of human hair extensions to see if the rollers got clogged. We weighed the before and after contents to help determine which were the best at sucking up hair. We conducted this test on both low and high pile carpets.

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 Dyson Ball Animal 3 cleaned the most hair from both low and high pile carpets. It picked up 78% from low pile and 82% from high pile. 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

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.

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 for us, like the Dyson Ball.

The Bissell CleanView managed to clean 72% from low pile and 74% from high pile. You can compare 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

Some vacuums are beginning to add “self-cleaning” brush rolls. We saw this in some of the premium Shark models, but we weren't overly impressed with the effectiveness of it. The brush rolls have a somewhat chevron design with fins that don't extend the length of the roll. This should keep the hair from clumping up, but we still had longer hair get wrapped around the roll. The Shark Stratos proved to be a real challenge here. With the dual brush system, we were left with wrapped hair and clumps in both brush rolls. We didn't love cleaning this out and we doubt you will either. While the Stratos proves impressive almost everywhere else, you might want to steer clear if you have lots of pet hair floating around your home.

Filtration and Suction

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.

Another critical factor for a vacuum is how much suction it has. A vacuum with too little suction won't be able to pick up as much debris. On the other hand, a vacuum with too much suction that can't be adjusted can be a huge pain to push around. For our tests, we evaluated the unsealed suction power as this is what you will experience moving around your home. Below, we discuss the filtration and suction results from our state-of-the-art lab tests.

Filtration

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 the Bissell CleanView and Dirt Devil Endura. The Bissell had a small particle average peak of 1520, while the Dirt Devil's was 520. 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.

Suction

For our suction test, we created a test surface with a small hole in it that is attached to a monometer (a tool that measures suction pressure). As we moved across the hole, we were able to get an unsealed suction power. We compared these results between vacuum models and across all vacuum types.

By far, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra had the highest unsealed suction at 2588 pascals. During our tests, this suction was almost too much as it would seal to the floor and push around the larger debris. The vacuum is equipped with variable suction control to help kick back some of this pressure.

Dyson Ball Animal 3 Shark Navigator

The Shark Rotator and Shark PowerDetect had 572 pascals of pressure during our tests. Following closely behind was the Shark Stratos with 547 pascals. We found this range to be the sweet spot. All three vacuums were powerful enough for almost everything, but we didn't feel like the vacuum was stuck to the ground.

Overall Filtration and Suction Performance

Although these two factors don't necessarily affect each other, they are important to highlight in our testing as they have significant outcomes. Here are the results from these two tests.

Filtration & Suction Performance Ratings

Product	Filtration	Suction
Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra	9.0	7.2
Shark PowerDetect AZ4002	9.0	3.9
Shark Rotator LA502	9.0	3.9
Shark Stratos	9.0	3.8
Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse NEU801BL	9.0	3.6
Eureka PowerSpeed	9.0	3.2
Bissell MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet	9.0	3.2
Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1	9.0	3.2
Eureka AirSpeed NEU100	9.0	3.1
Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe NV360	9.0	3.1
Shark Navigator Lift Away NV352	9.0	3.1
Dirt Devil Endura Lite	4.0	3.0
Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet	2.0	3.3

The most noteworthy products in the metric stand out for negative reasons. The Dirt Devil and Bissell CleanView combine weak suction with poor filtration, leading to air quality concerns and the inability to deep clean any house. In contrast, the Dyson Ball 3 stands out for its powerful suction. However, read on to learn how this increased power impacts its usability around the house.

Ease of Use

Vacuuming the house isn't always how we want to spend our time, but it has to happen. Regardless, certain aspects can make it less painful. We divided this metric into four subtests: maneuverability, maintenance, reach, and upholstery/attachments to test different aspects of using these vacuums to hunt for the vacuum that will make things easier for you.

Maneuverability

To test the maneuverability, we created an obstacle course to represent the locations you are likely to cross in your home. During this test, we hop on and off carpet, hardwood, bamboo mats, and more. We also twist and turn around chairs and under couches, noting any snags along the way. Lastly, we measure the weight of each vacuum and compare it to what we experience when pushing across various flooring types.

Although the Shark Stratos is one of the heavier vacuums, it blew us away here. The head and rollers almost propel the vacuum forward, requiring less effort to push around. It also swivels and makes tight turns around furniture with absolutely no trouble. It glides smoothly across the various surfaces, including the bamboo slats. This is aided by the button that changes modes from hardwood to carpet. When it came time to vacuum under furniture, the Lift Away feature allowed us to get fully underneath. All things considered, this vacuum is very easy to maneuver, and it doesn't feel too heavy either.

The Shark PowerDetect performed very similarly to the Stratos; after all, they are very similar models. The PowerDetect, however, had a small hiccup when hopping on the bamboo mats. We needed to boost the vacuum somewhat for it to climb onto the mat successfully. Otherwise, we found this vacuum easy to maneuver around. At 17.1 pounds, it is on the heavier side, though it doesn't feel like it.

The Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 also did well here. It glided smoothly across all the surfaces in our obstacle course. It swivels nicely to a 45-degree angle, though the bulky design makes it challenging to reach under furniture. The vacuum is light when the bag is empty. Because the bag holds so much it becomes quite heavy once it gets full.

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.

Maintenance

From emptying the dust bin to cleaning the filters and clearing hair from the rollers, we took detailed notes on every aspect of cleaning each product. We found the Dyson Ball Animal 3 is one of the easiest machines to maintain. Although the dust bin isn't particularly large, at 1.7 liters, dumping it is easy and straightforward, with just a few latches to undo. We love that we can remove the brush roller to get it clean. While it isn't the most streamlined process, we still appreciate the ability to get it off. However, because the vacuum did such a great job keeping the brush roll cleaner, we didn't have to do this often.

The Eureka QuickShift has a brush roller that is very easy to remove and clean. We would love to keep the brush roller completely clean all the time, but that just isn't realistic, so having the quick eject feature is very handy. The 1.6-liter canister is about average in size and will need to be dumped frequently, which we found easy to do.

Companies love marketing “anti-tangle” rollers, but the fact of the matter is most still latch onto long hair. Some are worse than others, but we find what really matters is how complicated it is to clean. Some, like the Shark Navigator Deluxe have an indented line across the roll to cut the hair off. Others like the Eureka AirSpeed and PowerSpeed have plastic barriers that prevent easy roller cleaning. The Dirt Devil Endura also has plastic barriers to the roller. In order to remove it, we had to remove screws which added a layer of complexity that honestly annoyed us. After our pet and long hair test, we evaluated each vacuum to see which ones required the least amount of hair to be cut away.

Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra Dirt Devil Endura Lite

Shark's Stratos, PowerDetect, and Rotator were all above average in terms of maintenance. The soft roller can be removed easily for cleaning. However, the back traditional-style brush is more of a challenge. Plastic is strategically placed to make removing hair from the roller difficult. The Rotator and PowerDetect have a two-compartment style bin allowing you to empty the contents from the top and bottom. While this is unique, it allows the contents to be fully removed.

If you hate constantly emptying the dust bin, the Kenmore Intuition and Eureka PowerSpeed have the largest bin capacity to help stretch the day until you have to discard debris. These both can be great cleaners for larger homes and families that need the extra capacity. You'll have to compromise on the maneuverability most times though. Both products are big and bulky, affecting their ability to clean in tight spaces.

If your family is at the other end of the scale, compact vacuums like the Shark Rotator and Lift Aways can fit better. Their dustbins are about half the bin size of an average full-size vacuum, but provide a smaller frame size that some people might appreciate.

Upholstery and Attachments

Dust and debris don't just settle on floors but can be found anywhere. You need a vacuum versatile enough to tackle various areas, ensuring a thorough cleaning throughout your entire home. We bust out the cleaning attachments to test how well they can clean stubborn debris from upholstery.

The Shark PowerDetect did the best at cleaning the grounds from the pillow, leaving nothing behind. This model includes a duster crevice tool, HairPro brush, and a pet-multi tool. The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra and Stratos also cleaned up nearly all the coffee grounds. The Dyson includes a unique animal grooming tool, along with a tangle-free turbine, stair tool, and combination tool.

The Bissell CleanView has a nice selection of tools, including a mini motorized brush tool for pet hair. It left a small streak of coffee grounds behind, but otherwise impressed us. The Kenmore Intuition and Shark Rotator have similar pet tools that were both powerful and handy during our tests. The Eureka QuickShift has a unique design for its tools. The canister comes off of the metal rails and the tools attach to the base of the pod. This somewhat transforms the machine into a handheld vacuum. It includes a two-in-one dusting and upholstery tool, extended crevice tool, and a motorized pet tool. This motorized pet tool is large and very powerful. We found this attachment to be great on stairs, especially because you need to carry the canister with you.

Reach

Traditionally, upright vacuums have been the hardest to get under furniture. They have always been the bulkiest of the vacuum styles, with the canister located on the front. However, many improvements have been made in recent years to give them a better reach. Many models now have removable canisters, freeing the wand and nearly converting them into a canister vacuum. The Dyson Ball Animal has the longest hose and wand reach of 12 feet. This helped us clean stairs and high above on drapes. It also has a long 35.5-foot cord, reducing the number of times we needed to hunt for a wall outlet.

The Kenmore Intuition has an 8.5-foot hose and wand reach and a 30.5-foot reach. It features Lift-Up technology, which transforms it into a handheld option. The long cord makes it convenient to vacuum stairs. The Shark models also feature a similar Lift-Away feature, which allows the wand to be lifted overhead and makes it easier to clean stairs. Of these, the Shark Rotator has the best reach, with an eight-foot hose and wand and a standard 24-foot cord.

Overall Ease of Use

With all things considered, the Shark Stratos was the easiest upright vacuum to use. It went exactly where we wanted to go with almost no effort. Tight corners and hard-to-reach places were no problem for this vacuum, thanks to the swivel head and lift-away feature. Plus, this model tackled upholstery among the best. We love this vacuum for many reasons, and its ease of use is one of them. The Shark PowerDetect did very similarly here as the vacuums are constructed almost the same.

Ease of Use Performance

Product	Maneuverability	Maintenance	Reach	Upholstery
Shark Stratos	9.0	7.0	6.5	9.0
Shark PowerDetect AZ4002	9.0	7.0	6.3	9.0
Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra	3.0	9.0	9.0	9.0
Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse NEU801BL	6.6	9.0	5.9	7.0
Shark Rotator LA502	7.0	7.0	5.8	7.0
Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1	7.0	4.0	7.0	7.0
Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet	5.0	4.0	5.5	7.0
Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe NV360	5.0	5.0	5.8	5.0
Shark Navigator Lift Away NV352	5.0	5.0	5.8	5.0
Eureka PowerSpeed	4.0	4.0	7.0	4.0
Bissell MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet	5.0	4.0	5.8	4.0
Dirt Devil Endura Lite	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Eureka AirSpeed NEU100	3.0	4.0	3.5	3.0

The Dyson Ball is another overall favorite for ease of use, though it isn't as easy to get around due to the very high suction. While it is easy to maintain, we had to force it across the carpet. The Eureka QuickShift and Shark Rotator. are quite a bit easier to maneuver around, though they don't have the impressive 12-foot reach of the Dyson.

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.