What is The Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner in 2020?

Have you ever had an upright? The design is only one of the things that set these apart from other popular vacuums on the market.

Still, it’s what plays the most significant role in how it performs and how easy it is to use.

Take a moment to read our reviews on upright vacuums and a buyer’s guide we’ve put together to help you decide.

And if you’re short on time, check out our favorite picks:

• Our #1 Upright Pick: BISSELL Cleanview Upright Vacuum Cleaner (Bagless)
• Best Lightweight Option: Eureka NEU180a Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner
• Best Choice for Allergy-Prone People: Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away Anti Allergy Vacuum Cleaner
• Strong Suction Option: Bissell 9595A CleanView Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
• Large Capacity Dirt Bin: Shark Navigator DLX Vacuum Cleaner

Buyer’s Guide

Cleaning Path

Upright vacuums usually have quite wide cleaning paths, which is why customers like buying them. Keep in mind that bigger vacuum cleaners have wider paths.

When the path is wide, the vacuum requires fewer passes when cleaning a particular area. This means you can clean bigger rooms in less time since you don’t have to go back and forth as many times.

Still, wide cleaning paths tend to make units less maneuverable. For this reason, consider swivel steering if you’re looking for a wider cleaning path so that you don’t struggle with mobility as much.

Steering Design

Upright vacuum cleaners are sometimes quite bulky and can be particularly heavy. As such, it tends to be challenging to maneuver with them around obstacles and across different floor surfaces.

For this reason, you should consider the steering design of the vacuum you’re interested in. Swivel steering is the best option among these cleaners since it makes maneuverability much more comfortable.

It helps move the heavy and bulky units across carpets and hardwood floors with equal ease. Also, swivel steering makes it easier to go around furniture and other such obstacles you can’t move away every time.

Keep in mind that lightweight and compact uprights don’t require any special steering design.

Accessories

An upright vacuum doesn’t usually come with many accessories and attachments. Their design relies on doing most of the work without as many additional tools.

However, most models come with hose attachments that help clean tighter areas where wide cleaner heads cannot fit. These accessories are best for cleaning couches, stairs, drapes, and other above-floor surfaces you probably wouldn’t be able to clean otherwise.

Additional tools help make the vacuum more versatile, so make sure to consider getting some. Even if you don’t have upholstery furniture or stairs, it won’t hurt to keep the attachments stored away just in case.

Some of the best upright vacuum cleaners tend to come with more attachments than affordable ones. However, the number of tools isn’t the most important thing since you also want to pay attention to their overall quality and durability when choosing the best vacuum.

Weight

A lightweight cleaner is usually considered the best option, as opposed to a heavy one. Lightweights are easy to maneuver with and carry around from room to room. However, you shouldn’t give up features or built quality for lower weight.

Keep in mind that these vacs tend to be heavier than sticks, robots, and handheld types. These weigh somewhat the same as canister vacuums, though their weight depends on many other factors as well.

If you have lots of hardwood floors, you should consider a more lightweight cleaner since those are less likely to damage the delicate surfaces.

Also, if you’re going for a bagless design, consider the additional weight of its dust cup once it’s full. Upright vacuums that are lightweight but have a massive dust canister can end up being quite heavy overall.

Additional accessories might also add to its overall weight.

Allergies

If you or someone in your family is prone to allergies, you should carefully consider the type of vacuum you’re getting. The best choice for you is a vacuum that can pick up even the smallest particles and allergens regardless of the floor surface.

However, you should also pay attention to its filtration system. The best filter traps and holds all the dust and allergens inside the vacuum while expelling only clean air back into your space.

Another thing you should consider if you’re allergy-prone is suction power. You want an upright vacuum for powerful cleaning, that’s able to suck in different kinds of dirt, dust, sand, and whatever else that might be on your floors and furniture.

Also, the dust cup should be easy to empty without putting you in touch with its contents. The best vacuum for allergy-prone people should have a sealed design as well.

Noise

It’s no secret that vacuum cleaners are noisy machines. However, gone are the days when vacs disturbed all your neighbors and household members.

Today, the technologies have evolved and developed to bring quieter units that are still as effective. You can still hear most vacuums since they have powerful motors that have to make some noise.

However, these noises aren’t nearly as loud as they used to be. Today, uprights differ, so you can find silent vacuums as well as those that are somewhat loud.

In most cases, it depends on the motor itself. Also, tighter attachments tend to make more noise than a wide cleaner head.

Keep in mind that, sometimes, loud sounds are the result of malfunction or clogging, so make sure to check for that now and then.

Filter

As we briefly mentioned, filters are critical when it comes to efficiency and safe use. Furthermore, if you or someone in your family is allergy-prone, you might want to invest in a good filtration system.

What is a good filtration system? A vacuum that has several different filters, possibly even HEPA, and a sealed design is considered to have a good filtration system.

This is important if you have pets or are sensitive to different particles, fine dust, and other such allergens.

HEPA is known to be among the best solutions when it comes to filters. It’s especially popular with allergy-prone people.

Filters can be quite different, so you can find replaceable and reusable types. Those that are reusable are also washable and aren’t the best for if you’re sensitive to dust. However, they’re more eco-friendly and are usually quite easy to wash and dry.

Height

As their name implies, these vacuums stand upright. In most cases, they’re tall because you’re supposed to have your back straight as you use them. Still, they range in height so everyone can find the size that works the best for them.

When it comes to height, you want to consider your storage space. These vacuums are sometimes tricky to store away due to their height and overall size.

Also, make sure that your vacuum can fit under furniture. In some cases, upright vacuums cannot lay flat or have large canisters that can’t fit in some tight places.

Cleaning under low-clearance furniture is difficult, so make sure to get a vacuum that has a low-profile beater head.

Cord or Cordless

Cordless vacuum cleaners are more popular nowadays, but it’s still hard to tell which is the more convenient option. Some people like battery-operated vacs, while others prefer power cables. In truth, there are pros and cons to both types.

Cordless upright vacuums run on battery, and though there’s no cable, their runtime is limited. You have to pay attention to the runtime that’s often reduced if you’re using powerful suction modes and motorized tools.

Corded models have unlimited runtime, but there’s the cord you’ll have to watch for. Also, you’ll probably have to change power sockets a few times during the process depending on the cable length.

If you opt for a corded one, make sure to consider it’s the length of the cable. Also, think about cable wraps or other storage solutions.

If you want a battery-operated vacuum, think about whether the batteries are rechargeable and how long do they last.

Hose Length

Uprights don’t usually reach as far, so consider getting a vacuum that comes with an extension hose. A hose is a useful accessory that helps you clean some hard-to-reach areas. It’s an excellent tool for cleaning above-floor surfaces such as curtains, furniture, and even stairs.

Keep in mind that the length of hose varies from cleaner to cleaner. Though longer ones are often more useful, a hose that’s too long can be a bit tricky to work with.

Warranty

This is an important aspect to consider when buying a new upright vacuum cleaner. A reliable warranty deal is critical, and it tells about how much confidence the brand has in its appliance.

Most brands offer one-year or two-year warranties that are quite limited. Some manufacturers provide five-year, seven-year or even ten-year warranties if it’s a high-end vacuum.

Keep in mind that warranties are often limited, so there are many things they don’t cover. This is something you want to check beforehand.

In most cases, a warranty covers damage due to a manufacturing error or faulty materials. It doesn’t cover damages caused by misuse, neglect, weather, and normal wear and tear. It also doesn’t cover parts like brushes, belts, filters, and bags.

Pets

We all know the mess our pets can make. If you’re a pet owner, you probably have to vacuum more often, sometimes at least only a single spot, usually due to their hair.

If that’s the case, the best upright vacuum cleaner for you will be one that’s specialized to tackle this type of tasks. Luckily, plenty of uprights are suitable for pet owners, and some even come with specialized tools for pet hair.

What you need is powerful suction so that the vacuum can pick up your pet’s hair. Also, you’ll want to consider having a reliable filtration

Another few things to consider if you’re a pet owner are canister capacity and motorized tools. Though motorized tools are efficient, they require more maintenance since pet hair tends to tangle around them.

Also, if your pet shreds, you want a vacuum with a larger dust cup.

Related Article: Best Vacuum for Pet Hair

Popular Vacuum Brands

• Bissell – the brand has been around since the late 1880s. Today, they are one of the biggest names in the industry, offering everything from uprights, to handheld and sticks.
• Shark – probably the most popular brand when it comes to these vacuums. Its Navigator and Rotator series features some of the best uprights we’ve seen. Still, the brand offers other types of vacs as well.
• Hoover – its story began in 1907, and since then, the brand has come up with some of the best upright vacuums. Its vacuum line is quite versatile and features vacs for both domestic and commercial use.
• Dirt Devil – the company was founded in 1905. It now offers stick vacs as well as some pretty powerful uprights and handheld cleaners.
• Oreck – the brand offers more than just vacuums. Its uprights are simple and easy to work with, which is precisely why they’re as popular.

Bagged or Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Upright vacuums are mostly bagless and feature a dust canister instead of a bag. Canisters range in size and location, so you can easily find what works the best for you.

Bigger vacuums tend to have larger canister vacuums, and that’s excellent for large houses and apartments. It’s also great for people who have pets and must clean more frequently to get rid of pet hair.

A smaller canister vacuum needs more frequent emptying but is more suitable for people who don’t clean such large areas.

If you opt for a bagged unit instead of a bagless vacuum, make sure that the replacement bags are easy to find. Sometimes, replacement parts can be tricky to come across.