6 Best Upright Vacuums Kirby of 2025

The Kirby Avalir isn’t just a vacuum—it’s a deep-cleaning powerhouse built for homeowners who refuse to compromise on cleanliness or longevity. With a staggering 114.7 CFM of suction power, it obliterates dust, allergens, and embedded debris that lesser uprights simply push around. Its HEPA filtration system captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, making it a lifesaver for allergy sufferers—no more doctor-recommended carpet removal when your vacuum actually works. Add in the self-propelled drive and you’ve got a machine that turns laborious cleaning into a one-finger glide, even across wall-to-wall carpeting.

In real-world testing, the Avalir dominates thick-pile carpets and holds its own on bare floors with the right attachment. The 32-pound weight feels substantial, but the self-propel feature neutralizes the heft—no dragging, no strain. It transitions smoothly between surfaces, and the renewed units undergo a full rebuild, ensuring motor, belt, and filtration systems perform like new. However, its size and weight make it less ideal for tight spaces or quick cleanups, and storing it requires dedicated space. Still, when you need maximum extraction from deep within carpet fibers, few uprights can match its brute-force efficacy.

Compared to the budget-friendly G6, the Avalir is in a different league—more suction, smarter engineering, and superior filtration. It shares DNA with the Sentria 2 and Ultimate G7 but edges ahead with its best-in-class CFM rating and updated Avalir platform. This is the go-to for serious deep cleaners, pet owners, and large homes with lots of carpeting. If you want the most powerful upright Kirby ever made and value long-term reliability over portability, the Avalir outperforms even the high-end G7 in raw cleaning muscle.

The Kirby G6 is the smart entry point into the world of professional-grade home cleaning—delivering core Kirby performance without the premium price tag. While it doesn’t boast the same CFM as the Avalir or G7, it still out-suctions most mainstream uprights thanks to Kirby’s signature sealed-system design and robust motor engineering. What makes it shine is its accessibility: a full-featured, renewed Kirby with a 5-year warranty, making it the most budget-conscious way to own a dependable, American-made vacuum that can last decades.

In daily use, the G6 handles low to medium-pile carpets with ease and transitions well to hard floors using the included tools. It lacks some of the refinements of newer models—like advanced self-propel sensitivity or turbo-powered attachments—but the core cleaning performance remains impressively consistent. The renewed process ensures reliability, with motors and belts checked and replaced as needed. That said, it doesn’t include a shampoo system or HEPA-grade filtration by default, so allergy sufferers or deep carpet cleaners may find it capable but incomplete out of the box.

When stacked against the Avalir or Sentria 2, the G6 is clearly the stripped-down sibling—but that’s the point. It’s perfect for renters, small homes, or first-time Kirby owners who want durability without over-investing. It beats budget bagged uprights in suction and build quality, and even outlasts most cordless stick vacuums. For those who want a no-frills, long-lasting workhorse without the deep-cleaning extras, the G6 offers unmatched value for long-term ownership—a true foundation model in the Kirby lineup.

The Kirby Sentria 2 is the ultimate deep-cleaning suite for households that treat carpet maintenance like a science. Equipped with the G10 edition motor and a full shampoo system, it doesn’t just vacuum—it revives, sanitizes, and extracts embedded grime that years of foot traffic leave behind. The inclusion of a 32mm air-powered turbo tool makes it a pet hair annihilator, especially on stairs and upholstery, where most vacuums fail. If your priority is total carpet restoration, not just surface pickup, the Sentria 2 is engineered for that mission.

In real-world use, the shampoo system transforms the cleaning experience: pre-treat, agitate, extract, and dry in one session. The vacuum’s sealed filtration and strong suction ensure dirty water and allergens don’t re-enter your air. It handles high-traffic areas with ease, and the turbo tool boosts performance on delicate fabrics without clogging. However, the shampoo process is time-consuming, requiring setup and drying time—so it’s not for quick daily cleanups. And while the suction is strong, it’s slightly below the Avalir’s 114.7 CFM, making it a hair less aggressive on ultra-dense carpets.

Compared to the Avalir, the Sentria 2 trades a bit of raw power for specialized deep-cleaning versatility. It’s a direct competitor to the Ultimate G7 but often includes more tools and better bundle value. Ideal for pet owners, families with kids, or homes with wall-to-wall carpeting, it’s the most complete all-in-one cleaning system in the Kirby lineup. If you want deep carpet revival with professional-level tools, the Sentria 2 delivers more functional depth than the high-end G7, even if it’s not the absolute strongest in suction.

The Kirby Sentria with Full Home Tool Kit is a cleaning Swiss Army knife—packed with everything you need to tackle every surface, crack, and corner in your home. With a 15-piece genuine Kirby tool set and tool caddy, it transforms from an upright beast into a handheld detailer, upholstery groomer, or crevice hunter in seconds. The Tech Drive self-propel system requires just 2 pounds of pressure to engage, making it one of the easiest heavy-duty vacuums to maneuver—ideal for aging users or those with joint pain.

In practice, the tool variety is unmatched: dusting brushes, motorized pet tools, spot cleaners, and even shampoo attachments mean no job is out of reach. The renewed process includes full sanitization, especially critical for the cloth bag filtration system, which traps allergens instead of recirculating them. It cleans carpets deeply, though not quite at Avalir levels, and the lack of HEPA certification (despite excellent filtration) may give pause to severe allergy sufferers. It’s also not lightweight, and storing all the tools requires organization—but for whole-home versatility, few vacuums come close.

Against the G6, the Sentria is clearly superior in features and flexibility. It overlaps with the Sentria 2 but lacks the shampoo system, making it a better fit for those who deep clean manually or prefer dry-only methods. This model is perfect for large homes with mixed surfaces and users who want maximum adaptability without upgrading to a G7. If you value comprehensive cleaning tools and seamless transitions between floor types, the Sentria offers broader functionality than the high-end G7—just without the shampoo automation.

The Kirby Ultimate G7 is the pinnacle of Kirby’s engineering legacy—a high-end, all-inclusive cleaning command center that blends raw power with refined versatility. As one of the most advanced models in the lineup, it delivers professional-grade suction, full shampoo capability, and a complete tool suite, making it the most comprehensive solution for homeowners who want everything in one machine. The reconditioned units are fully rebuilt, ensuring the motor, transmission, and filtration systems perform like factory-new—backed by a 5-year warranty that underscores its long-term value.

In real-world use, the G7 excels at whole-home deep cleaning, effortlessly switching from carpet extraction to bare floor care with the right attachments. The shampoo system penetrates deep into carpet fibers, lifting stains and odors that standard vacuums ignore. Its sealed HEPA-level filtration keeps air clean during and after use—ideal for homes with asthma or allergy concerns. That said, it’s not the most powerful Kirby—the Avalir still leads in CFM—and the shampoo process demands time and effort, so it’s not for lazy cleaning days. But for those who clean like a pro, the G7’s precision and completeness are unmatched.

Compared to the Sentria 2, the G7 offers similar features but with updated engineering and tighter build quality. It’s heavier and more complex than the G6 or Avalir, but it’s designed for users who want the ultimate in bundled capability and don’t mind the learning curve. This is the top-tier choice for large homes with pets, kids, and extensive carpeting. If you want the most complete, feature-rich Kirby package, the G7 delivers more integrated functionality than the Avalir, even if it’s not the absolute strongest in suction.

The Kirby Sentria with Complete Home Cleaning Kit is a deep-cleaning beast wrapped in a full-service package, designed for users who want both powerful vacuuming and carpet shampooing in one go. This model stands out by including a full shampoo system and comprehensive cleaning kit, making it the best choice for restoring dirty, high-traffic carpets without hiring a pro. The sealed suction and cloth bag filtration trap dust and allergens effectively, while the self-propelled drive ensures you can cover large areas without fatigue.

In testing, the shampoo function proves transformative—especially in homes with pets or kids where spills and odors accumulate. The vacuum extracts dirty water efficiently, and the included tools allow for pre-treatment, scrubbing, and spot cleaning with precision. It handles medium to thick carpets well, though it’s slightly less aggressive than the Avalir in dry suction power. The renewed unit is thoroughly sanitized, which is critical given the cloth bag’s role in filtration. However, like all shampoo models, it requires drying time and regular maintenance, so it’s not ideal for fast cleanups.

When compared to the Ultimate G7, this Sentria model offers nearly identical functionality at a lower price point, making it a smarter buy for budget-conscious deep cleaners. It outperforms the G6 and Sentria (no shampoo) models by offering true carpet restoration, not just surface pickup. This is the ideal pick for families needing allergen removal, odor control, and deep cleaning in one machine. If you want shampooing power that rivals the G7 but with better value, this Sentria delivers more deep-cleaning bang for your buck—just without the G7’s minor engineering upgrades.