8 Best Upright Vacuums for Hardwood Floors 2025

This game-changing upright vacuum delivers elite performance on hardwood floors without sacrificing power on carpets. At the heart of its brilliance is the DuoClean PowerFins technology, which combines a soft roller for polished floors and a PowerFin brushroll for carpets—ensuring seamless transitions and zero debris left behind. Add in the self-cleaning brushroll that eliminates hair wrap, and you’ve got a pet owner’s dream machine that tackles one of the most frustrating cleaning pain points with surgical precision.

In real-world testing, the LED headlights revealed dust bunnies and pet hair hiding under sofas like a forensic investigator, while the smooth swivel steering made it effortless to glide around dining chairs and coffee tables. The HEPA filter and anti-allergen seal captured 99.9% of dust and allergens—ideal for sensitive households—while the lift-away pod transformed it into a portable unit for stairs and upholstery. Though it’s optimized for hardwood, it doesn’t falter on thick rugs, though very low-pile rugs occasionally caused minor resistance due to the dual roller design.

Compared to the Shark NV752, this model offers nearly identical pet hair performance but with a lighter build and brighter LED guidance, making it more agile for daily use. It outshines budget models like the Amazon Basics in filtration and brushroll engineering, justifying its premium positioning. For homeowners who demand a single vacuum that masters both hardwood and carpet while erasing pet messes, this Shark stands tall—delivering top-tier versatility and deep-cleaning confidence in one sleek silver package.

The Shark NV360 enters the ring as a value heavyweight, packing pro-level features into a wallet-friendly design. Its large 0.9-quart dust cup means fewer interruptions during whole-home cleanups, while the brushroll shutoff lets you instantly switch from aggressive carpet scrubbing to gentle hardwood gliding—a must for mixed-floor homes. The anti-allergen seal paired with HEPA filtration traps fine dust and dander, making it a silent guardian for allergy sufferers.

During testing, the swivel steering proved remarkably responsive, allowing tight turns around kitchen islands and bedroom furniture with minimal effort. On hardwood, it picked up cereal crumbs, pet hair, and tracked-in dirt without scattering, though fine dust sometimes clung to the floor if the suction wasn’t maxed. The lift-away pod worked well for stairs and car interiors, but the detached unit felt slightly unbalanced without additional tools attached. While it handles pet hair decently, it lacks the specialized self-cleaning brushroll of higher-end Sharks, meaning occasional maintenance is required.

When stacked against the Shark LA502, the NV360 trades advanced brushroll tech for greater dust capacity and lower cost, making it a smarter pick for those who prioritize longer runtime over cutting-edge rollers. It’s not as flashy as the DuoClean models, but for homeowners who want reliable, multi-surface performance without overspending, this blue beast delivers real substance beneath its simple exterior—offering 90% of the functionality at half the premium price.

Don’t let the budget label fool you—this Amazon Basics upright is a surprisingly capable workhorse for small homes and apartments. Weighing just 8.4 pounds, it’s one of the most effortless uprights to push and carry, especially up stairs or between rooms. The massive 1.7L dust cup outclasses many premium models, enabling marathon cleaning sessions without constant emptying—a rare win in this price range.

In real use, it handled everyday dust, cereal spills, and pet hair on hardwood with acceptable efficiency, though fine particles occasionally escaped re-entrainment due to its basic cyclonic system. The 720W motor provides decent suction, but it struggles with deeply embedded carpet gunk, requiring multiple passes. The detachable handle doubles as a portable unit, ideal for quick cleanups on stairs or furniture, while the included tools snap neatly onboard. However, the lack of LED lights and swivel steering makes it harder to clean under low furniture or in dark corners.

Compared to the Eureka PowerSpeed, it offers larger capacity and lighter weight, but with less precise floor height control. It’s no match for the Shark LA502 in filtration or pet hair handling, but for renters or those needing a no-frills, reliable cleaner for hard floors and low-pile rugs, this Amazon Basics model punches above its weight. It’s the bare-essentials champion—delivering practical functionality where it matters most, making it a smart entry-level pick that doesn’t cut corners on capacity or convenience.

The Eureka PowerSpeed redefines lightweight performance, proving that low weight doesn’t mean low power. Its upgraded cyclone system generates impressive suction that pulls fine dust, flour spills, and pet dander from hardwood with a single pass, while the 5 height settings let you fine-tune contact pressure—critical for protecting delicate hardwood finishes. The wheels glide smoothly without scratching, and the onboard tool storage keeps the crevice tool and upholstery brush within reach.

During testing, it excelled at picking up cereal, sand, and pet hair on tile and hardwood, but long strands of hair occasionally wrapped around the brushroll, requiring biweekly maintenance as warned. The stretch hose and quick-release handle made above-floor cleaning surprisingly effective for a budget model, though the detached unit felt a bit top-heavy. Suction remains strong across surfaces, but the lack of LED headlights meant some debris stayed hidden under sofas until manually spotted.

Against the Amazon Basics, the PowerSpeed offers superior height adjustment and better edge cleaning, though with a smaller dust cup. It doesn’t match the Shark models in filtration or maneuverability, but for users who prioritize easy handling and strong suction in a featherlight frame, this Eureka delivers. It’s the go-to for quick daily sweeps and pet messes, offering nimble control and solid pickup—a lightweight powerhouse that balances simplicity and strength better than most in its class.

If your home is ruled by pets, the Shark NV752 is your new command center for mess control. Its 2-in-1 powered lift-away technology is a game-changer—unlike standard detachable pods, the brushroll keeps spinning when lifted, so you can deep-clean pet beds or car interiors with full suction power. The self-cleaning Pet Power Brush attacks embedded fur on stairs and furniture like a pro, while LED headlights expose every hidden hair strand along baseboards and under furniture.

In real-world use, it dominated on both carpet and hardwood, switching seamlessly via fingertip controls. The anti-allergen seal and HEPA filter captured 99.9% of dander, a relief for allergy-prone pet owners. The 0.88-quart dust cup held up well during full-home sessions, though heavy shedding days required mid-clean emptying. While it glides well on hardwood, the powered lift-away adds weight, making it slightly harder to carry upstairs than simpler models.

Next to the Shark LA502, the NV752 trades DuoClean rollers for a more specialized pet toolset and continuous brushroll power in lift mode—a clear win for serious pet owners. It doesn’t have the soft roller for ultra-gentle hardwood cleaning, but its targeted pet performance is unmatched. For households buried in fur and dander, this Bordeaux beast earns its title—delivering professional-grade pet cleanup with relentless precision, making it the ultimate ally in the war against pet messes.

The Bissell CleanView Rewind turns cord chaos into calm with its one-button automatic cord rewind—a small luxury that feels revolutionary after wrestling with tangled cords for years. The Active Wand extends up to 10 feet, letting you clean ceiling corners, drapes, and top shelves without a ladder, while Scatter-Free Technology keeps cereal and kibble corralled on hardwood instead of flung across the room. OnePass Technology ensures solid carpet pickup in a single sweep, reducing effort during busy cleanups.

In practice, the rewind feature is smooth and reliable, and the wand’s reach is genuinely useful for spring cleaning or homes with high furniture. On hardwood, it picks up dust and pet hair adequately, though fine powder sometimes escapes the airflow. The lack of swivel steering makes tight turns clunky, and the dust cup is smaller than competitors, requiring more frequent emptying. While it handles pet messes decently, it lacks specialized tools for deep fur removal.

Compared to the Bissell 2252, it trades swivel steering for automated cord management and extended reach, making it better suited for occasional deep cleans than daily touch-ups. It doesn’t match Shark models in maneuverability or pet tools, but for users tired of cord hassles and needing overhead access, this Bissell delivers smart convenience with practical performance—a time-saving specialist that prioritizes ease of storage and reach over raw cleaning power.

The Bissell 2252 is a swivel-steering superstar, built for navigating cluttered living rooms and tight bedroom corners with ballet-like grace. Its triple action brush roll aggressively loosens, lifts, and removes embedded pet hair from carpets, while edge-to-edge cleaning ensures no dirt hides along baseboards. The large dirt tank reduces emptying frequency, and the easy-empty trigger minimizes hand contact with debris—a small but meaningful win.

During testing, it excelled on mixed flooring, transitioning smoothly from area rugs to hardwood with Scatter-Free Technology keeping messes contained. The specialized pet tools made couch cleaning far more effective than basic models, though the vacuum itself lacks LED lights, making under-furniture cleanup a guessing game. Suction is strong but not elite—deep carpet cleaning requires slower passes. The airflow indicator is a helpful touch, signaling when maintenance is due.

Against the Bissell 3534, it swaps cord rewind for superior agility and edge cleaning, making it better for daily use in pet-heavy homes. While it doesn’t have a powered lift-away like the Shark NV752, it outmaneuvers most uprights in its class. For users who value nimble handling and strong pet hair pickup, this 2252 is a highly capable, well-rounded performer—delivering precision and practicality in a no-nonsense design that moves like it’s on rails.

The Kenmore DU4080 is a filtration powerhouse, engineered for those who breathe easier when allergens stay trapped. Its HEPA filtration system captures 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, backed by a completely sealed air path—a rare feature at this price that ensures zero leakage of dust back into the room. The 2-motor system delivers strong suction on both hardwood and carpet, while the lift-up pod transforms it into a portable cleaner for stairs and furniture with minimal setup.

In real use, it handled hardwood floors with precision, picking up fine dust and pet dander without scattering, thanks to its Swivels+ LED headlights that illuminated hidden debris. The 9-foot hose provided exceptional reach for cleaning under cabinets or above doors, and the dual tools—including a 3-in-1 combo—covered most household needs. However, the orange body attracts dust visibility, and the motor noise is slightly louder than competitors. It’s not the lightest in class, but still manageable at under 12 lbs.

Compared to the Shark LA502, it trades DuoClean rollers for superior filtration accuracy and extended hose reach, making it ideal for allergy sufferers and deep cleaners. It doesn’t match the Eureka in ultra-lightweight design, but its sealed HEPA system sets a high bar for air quality. For users who demand medical-grade filtration without sacrificing suction, this Kenmore is a silent health guardian—offering cleaner air and thorough pickup in a bright, bold package that means business.