10 Best Upright Vacuum Cleaners 2024 in the US

An upright vacuum is a compact vacuuming appliance, an alternative to the canister vacuum. An upright vacuum has a dust collecting chamber (either with a disposable dust bag, or permanent compartment), a motor, and a vacuuming head in a single unit. Since it doesn’t have a hose between the vacuuming head and the dust-collector, it has stronger suction than the canister version. But it can prove to be bulkier and thus harder to maneuver around the home.  (With a canister vacuum, the dust collecting chamber and motor sit in a separate unit on the floor, and can remain stationary while you clean.)

But what type of upright model is best for you will depend on your needs. A major consideration is the size of your carpet. A house with wall-to-wall carpeting will benefit from an upright with a large dirt cup and wide cleaning path. If you just have small carpets in particular areas in your home, then maybe you’ll prefer a stick upright. And you’ll have to decide whether you want a corded or cordless model.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting an upright vacuum cleaner. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of upright vacuum cleaner,

• See useful tips about that type of upright vacuum cleaner,

• Read reviews of different upright vacuum cleaners, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of upright vacuum cleaner, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Bagged and Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaners: There are upright vacuum cleaners that collect debris in disposable bags, while there are others that collect the debris in a bin that you have to empty from time to time. Bagged vacuums are recommended for asthma sufferers because the debris is concentrated in the bag and disposed of in a sanitary manner, without releasing any of the dust into the surrounding air. The downside is having to stock up on replacement bags. A bagless vacuum will save money on bags but will require replacing the HEPA filter from time to time. (The bag in a bagged vacuum cleaner functions as a filter in its own right. Alternatively, the bag has a separate filter--so changing the bag means that you have a new filter every time.) The Shark Navigator Lightweight Multifloor Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner has a washable filter, which saves having to buy new filters.

• Stick Vacuum: A stick vacuum is also a type of upright, but it is much easier to store away since it is smaller and lighter. But this light design means that it has significantly less capacity to its dirt cup. Stick vacuums will usually only pick up half as much dirt as a full-size upright.

• Cordless and Corded Vacuum Cleaners: Uprights can be corded or cordless versions. A corded vacuum, like the Shark Navigator series, will have a power cord that you plug into an outlet. It has the drawback of limiting how far you can go away from an outlet--but you’ll always have electricity. Cordless uprights will have a rechargeable battery, that saves having to be near the outlet at all times. The Hoover Air Lift 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Bagless Upright is a cordless unit, which allows you to vacuum stairs or your car as long as you have battery power.

• Cleaning path: The cleaning path of an upright is the width of the vacuuming head. An upright with a wide head is ideal if you have wall-to-wall carpeting since it will allow you to finish the carpet more quickly. The Shark Navigator Lightweight Multifloor Bagless Upright has a 9.25”-wide cleaning path, while the Bissell CleanView Pet Ultimate has a 15” cleaning path.

• Special attachments: Uprights are good for carpet cleaning, either in a wall-to-wall carpet, or a rug that covers only a part of the floor. But nowadays even uprights will typically have a hose and attachments that are designed for cleaning upholstery, curtains, and a long crevice tool. That increases the vacuum’s versatility appreciably.

• Multifloor capacity: The best upright vacuum cleaner will be able to adjust when going to different carpet thicknesses, or to a hardwood floor. For instance, the Shark Navigator Lightweight Multifloor Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner has a brush-roll that adjusts automatically to the floor surface. Otherwise, you’ll have to make the change manually, so as to avoid scratching your hardwood floor. Some vacuums have a button that you press with your foot, to raise the beater bar. More hi-tech models make the transition automatically.

• Greater capacity for bagged vacuums: Bagged vacuums usually can collect a larger volume of debris than the bagless vacuum. The amounts vary from one brand to another, but it’s not uncommon for a bag to be able to hold 3 dry quarts of debris, while the bagless dirt cup can usually only hold half as much--around 1.5 dry quarts.

• Cord length: If you get a corded vacuum, you would like a unit with a long power cord. That way, you’re not confined to being close to an outlet all the time. The Shark Navigator has a 30-foot-long power cord, which should give you reach around a room and even up and down stairs.

• Hybrid upright vacuums: Uprights might be hard to maneuver in tight spots. In order to remedy that, there are also hybrid vacuums--essentially upright vacuums with a floor nozzle that detaches. This detached section serves as a  light, handheld vacuum. The Shark Navigator Light Upright Vacuum (NV105) has a swivel steering chassis, which detaches into a hand-held unit. It’s good for cleaning up spills or cleaning upholstery. 

• Clear plastic dirt cup: A clear plastic dirt cup, such as in the Bissell 9595A Vacuum, will let you know at a glance when you have to empty out the vacuum. An empty dirt cup will mean that the vacuum will have better suction.

Hoover has been manufacturing vacuum cleaners since 1907. They now offer upright, cordless, and stick vacuums, as well as their REACT vacuum, which automatically adjusts to different floor types, going from carpet to hardwood floors seamlessly. Hoover also makes hardwood floor and carpet cleaners, that are equipped for removing stains and deep-down accumulated dirt.

Bissell was established in 1876 by inventor Melville Bissell, as one of the first commercial mechanical sweepers. They presently make vacuums, hard floor cleaners, and deep carpet cleaners. Their CleanView, PowerForce Bagless, and Pet Hair Eraser Vacuums are the major designs of upright vacuums.

Shark makes household appliances, including upright vacuums, cordless vacuums, robot vacuums, stick vacuums, steam mops, irons, and more. The Shark ION P50 is a cordless upright, while their Zero-M line is a corded version of vacuums.