Top Vacuum Picks
Our editor-vetted picks across every category, updated regularly.
Top 10 Best Upright Vacuums
What to Look for in an Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Bagged or bagless?
Bagged uprights seal dust and allergens inside the bag for disposal — ideal if someone in your home has allergies or asthma, since you're never exposed to the captured debris. Bags are an ongoing cost ($20–$40 for a pack) but maintenance is minimal. Bagless models have a reusable dustbin you empty after each session, saving money on consumables, but emptying the bin can release a puff of fine dust. Either design works well; the choice usually comes down to allergy sensitivity and how often you want to buy supplies.
Do I need a HEPA filter?
HEPA filtration captures 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger, including pet dander, pollen, dust mite debris, and fine particulate matter. If anyone in your home has allergies, asthma, or respiratory sensitivity, HEPA is worth the premium. Check whether the filter is "sealed-system" HEPA — meaning air can only exit through the filter — not just a HEPA-grade filter with air gaps around it. Dyson, Miele, and Shark offer sealed HEPA designs on most of their premium uprights.
Carpet, hard floors, or both?
Uprights excel on carpet — their beater bar agitates deep into pile to dislodge embedded grit. On hard floors, a spinning beater bar can scatter debris rather than picking it up, so look for a brush-roll on/off switch. Models with separate soft-roll heads or a 'hard floor mode' that slows or stops the brush bar transition well between surface types. If your home is predominantly hard floor, a canister or stick vacuum might serve you better than an upright.
Does suction power vary much between models?
Upright vacuums are sealed powerhouses — even budget uprights deliver more sustained suction than most stick vacuums. The differences show in how well suction is maintained as the dustbin fills (bagless) or the bag expands (bagged), and in airflow efficiency at the cleaning head. Shark and Dyson publish 'Sealed Suction' figures in AW; Hoover and Bissell tend to quote motor watts, which don't directly translate. For thick carpet or heavy pet hair, look for 200+ AW or a model explicitly rated for 'multi-surface deep cleaning'.
How much does weight matter?
Uprights range from about 8 lb to over 20 lb. Heavier models often have larger dustbins and more powerful motors but fatigue your wrist when carrying up stairs. Mid-weight models in the 12–16 lb range are the sweet spot for most homes. If you have multiple floors or regularly vacuum stairs, a lighter upright or a model that detaches into a handheld unit for stair cleaning will save you effort.
What attachments do upright vacuums include?
Most uprights include an on-board crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery nozzle accessible via a hose. Premium models add a motorized pet-hair attachment for stairs and furniture, an extension wand for reaching ceiling corners, and sometimes a specialized bare-floor head. Check hose reach — some uprights have very short hoses that limit how far you can clean above floor level. Shark's "DuoClean" and "Lift-Away" systems are particularly versatile for combining deep carpet cleaning with above-floor reach.