If you need something with supreme suction power for proper deep cleaning, one of today's best best upright vacuum cleaners will often be the best tool for the job. They typically come with generous sized dirt canisters and larger cleaner heads, making them an efficient choice for vacuuming large spaces, too.
We've thoroughly tested every upright vacuum listed here, assessing how well they perform on a range of floor types, how easy and comfortable they are to use, and whether they deliver good value for money.
If you need something lightweight and easy to maneuver, and don't mind sacrificing a bit of power for that convenience, you're better off with one of the best cordless vacuums. And if you're undecided, our general best vacuum cleaner ranking will walk you though all your various options.
The quick list
Best for most people
Packed with essential features including Anti Hair Wrap and odor control plus a powered lift-away mode, this is an outstanding all-rounder.
Best affordable
Hugely cheaper than its main rival, the Hoover HL5 delivers great suction and many more features for its low price, but it's heavy and loud.
Best premium
This cordless Miele is light and versatile with intelligent floor type detection, although the dust canister's small and the battery life's short.
Best for hair
A cheaper alternative to the Shark Stratos, this one won't get clogged up with hair and has a lift-away design; you may find it a little bulky, though.
Best vacuum and mop
For keeping hard floors clean, this cordless upright is a fine option. It mops and vacuums and it's self-propelling, although battery life is short.
Best for pets
Designed with pet hair in mind, the Dyson Ball Animal is really maneuverable with terrific suction, but it's the heaviest option on our list.
The best upright vacuums 2024: tried and tested
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best upright vacuum for most people
This is without a doubt the best upright vacuum you can buy. It's known as the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum in the US and Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Anti-Odour Upright Vacuum [NZ860UK] in the UK. It has taken all the best features of a Shark vacuum and wrapped it all up with even more features that we didn't even realise we needed.
It boasts a Duo Clean floorhead with a Self-Cleaning Brushroll (US) / Anti Hair Wrap Plus (UK) to deliver a fantastic hair pick-up. Our reviewer found that this was her favorite feature by far, as well as the anti-odor technology that left her home smelling lovely and fresh after a vacuum. The use of Powered Lift-Away also came in handy on test, transforming the upright vacuum into a more portable handheld, making it much easier to clean the stairs and under furniture.
However, as an upright the Shark Stratos is heavy and less nimble to move around than a cordless vacuum. And although the large bin capacity is helpful for cleaning an entire house, debris does get wedged towards the top of the bin when it gets full.
Read more: Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum review
The best budget upright vacuum
If you're in the UK the best budget upright vacuum you can get is the Hoover HL5, which undercuts its main rival by almost £100. It comes in a standard spec, which we've reviewed, and a pet version that comes with a motorized pet tool. If looks are important to you, the Pets edition is available in a yellow/blue colorway, whereas this Homes edition is in a grey/red.
Performance-wise there's no difference between the two. The HL5 comes fully loaded with the tech spec we know and love from other brands, including an Anti-Twist brush bar which genuinely didn't get any hair wrapped around it, a generous 1.4-liter bin and the ability to transform into a more portable vacuum for reaching under furniture.
We found that the Hoover HL5 is loud, however. We measured between 78dB - 82dB using our decibel reader on our phones, from using the wand in portable mode through to using the motorized floor head on the floor. It is also mighty heavy and the bin had a tendency to lift off when we tried to lug the upright vacuum up the stairs.
Read more: Hoover HL5 Push&Lift Upright Vacuum Cleaner review
The best premium upright vacuum
This is Miele's most powerful vacuum cleaner. It boasts some fine-tuned spec over its predecessor – Miele HX1 Cat&Dog – with a Digital Efficiency Motor and longer battery runtime as well as being a lighter piece of kit overall, so it gets our vote for the best premium upright vacuum.
During our tests we found that it was really easy to maneuver around the home, scooting across floor surfaces and reaching higher up. The most impressive design feature for us was the 3-in-1 design, meaning that we could configure the HX2 to use as a cordless stick, cordless handled and cordless upright vacuum cleaner. Switching between these modes was really simple because it was just a matter of repositioning the main power unit (home to the motor, rechargeable battery and dust box).
Dirt, dust and debris pick up was also really good, with the extra-wide floorhead covering more floor space with each pass. The small 0.1 gallon / 0.5 liter bin interrupted a clean of a 3-bed house to empty far too often, though, and we were lucky to get 28 minutes out of one battery set on the lowest power setting. It also carries a heavy price tag (hence its position on our list) but if you're willing to spend the money you'll find that it's a good investment.
Read more: Miele Triflex HX2 Pro review
The best upright vacuum for hair pick-up
This upright vacuum from Shark, known as the Shark Apex Upright Vacuum with powered Lift-Away, Duo-Clean, and Self-Cleaning Brushroll in the US, is ideal if you end up sucking up lots of hair when cleaning your floors because it won't get in a tangle. It's our former #1 and held this position for over a year, but since we reviewed it newer tech has swept in to claim its position; that said, we still think that it is one of the best uprights.
During testing, the vacuum made light work of collecting fine dust and larger debris, including cereal from carpets and hard floors. It also converts into a portable vacuum simply by lifting out the main body to ensure you can easily clean stairs, upholstery, and up high. We also found it glided well on both short-pile carpet and hard floors.
However, our reviewer was disappointed there was only one power level, as she’d like to have been able to adjust the suction force, particularly on deep pile carpets, as you may find the vacuum hard to maneuver. It’s also a bulky appliance, which may cause storage issues for some.
Read more: Shark Anti Hair Wrap Upright Vacuum Cleaner with Powered Lift-Away NZ850UK review
The best upright vacuum and mob combo
Got hard floors? If you want to keep them really clean then the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro is your best option (at least if you're in the US; it's out of stock in the UK right now, but the Tineco Floor One S5 Extreme is a decent alternative). It's a wet-dry machine that both vacuums and mops, and it'll disinfect and deodorize at the same time.
It's a super-heavy model, weighing in at 21.5lbs / 9.76kg, but it's not a struggle to use as it's self-propelling and it'll glide across your floor with ease. The downside to this a a short battery life; at best you'll get 40 minutes out of one charge. It's also worth noting that there's no bin on this because there's no vacuum-only mode, and instead there's a clean water tank and a dirty water tank; you'll need to refill the first as well as emptying and rinsing the second on a regular basis.
The Floor One S7 Pro has an effective self-cleaning system, as well as voice prompts and an LED display, but what really matters is just how well it cleans. This one might not be cheap, but if you're tired of vacuuming and washing your hard floors separately, you'll almost certainly find it's worth the investment.
Read more: Tineco Floor One S7 Pro review
The best upright vacuum for pets
The Dyson Ball Animal (called the Ball Animal 3 in some territories) is the best upright vacuum for pet hair. Our tester has two "crazy-hairy" spaniels and invited a heavily molting Labrador over for a sleepover during their review period, and the Ball Animal cleared up all traces of shedding with no issues at all. The powered main floorhead is outstanding at pulling up hair from carpets, and a very effective tangle-free turbine tool tackles any stuck on furniture and between sofa cushions. The massive bin capacity also means you won't be traipsing to and from the trash can too often, too.
On test, we were also extremely impressed with the overall suction offered by this model. It aced our tests with large and small debris, requiring just a single pass to pick up both kinds of spillage on carpet. However, it didn't perform so well on hard floors, pinging around the oats rather than picking them up.
As is the case with all of today's best Dyson vacuums, the maneuverability of the floorhead is outstanding – it can pivot every which way, and get into any corner or crevice. However, overall this is a very cumbersome and heavy cleaner. Those used to lightweight stick vacuums will find it quite a departure – you'll find alternative recommendations in our dedicated guide to the best vacuums for pet hair.
Read more: Dyson Ball Animal review
How we test upright vacuums
Before it can appear in this guide, each upright vacuum undergoes a vigorous testing process. Here's a quick run-down of what that involves:
Suction tests
Our reviewers try out each vacuum on spillages of different kinds. So we spill fine dust (biscuit crumbs and flour) on the floor and see how thoroughly it cleans it, on each suction mode. We then repeat the test for dry oats, to see how it copes with larger debris. Both tests are run on hard floor and on carpet.
Testers will also use the vacuum as their regular cleaner for a couple of weeks or more, to get a feel for how it performs in real-world scenarios. During this time, we focus particularly on how well the vacuum copes with hair (pet and human) and how versatile it is for different cleaning tasks.
Usability tests
We assess how comfortable the vacuum is to use, how easily it can be maneuvered into different spots in the house, and if the cord is long enough to allow for general cleaning tasks. We consider how easy it is to put together and swap attachments, as well as trying out any included tools to see how effectively they do the job they were designed for.
We rate each model on how simple it is to empty the dust canister, how loud it is during use, and how durable it is. In addition, for cordless models (rare for upright vacuums), we record how long they last in each power mode, and how long they take to recharge.
Read more on how we test vacuum cleaners.
Tested by
All the upright vacuums in this ranking have been rigorously tested, either by one of the TechRadar Homes team or an experienced reviewer. Meet some of the expert reviewers who put these vacuums through their paces.
Jenny is now the editor of Top Ten Reviews, but prior to she was TechRadar's Homes Editor. As part of that role, she tested dozens of vacuum cleaners of all shapes and sizes, trying to find one that could deal with the levels of dust generated by her ongoing home renovation project.
Helen is a freelance writer who specializes in kitchen and home appliances, and has been testing vacuums since 2008. She has reviewed well over 100 different models, from the likes of Shark, Dyson and more. Although her preference is for a lightweight, maneuverable vacuum, she appreciates the extra suction power you get with an upright model.
Best upright vacuum FAQs
What to consider when buying an upright vacuum
There’s a range of upright models to choose from, which may leave you confused when selecting the right one for you. However, if you focus on these considerations, you’ll quickly be able to identify the model that’s best suited to you.
Start by deciding whether you want a corded or cordless upright vacuum. Those that rely on electrical sockets often have larger dust canisters and wide cleaning heads than cordless models, which means you can vacuum sessions will be completed quickly. However, they’re also heavier than the best cordless vacuums, which may be a problem when punching one around your floors. In addition, depending on how long the cable is, you cannot reach certain parts of your home without unplugging the vacuum and moving it to a closer electrical socket.
If you’ve opted for a cordless upright vacuum cleaner, check how long the battery will last between charges and whether it’s swappable. If the battery runs out of power mid-clean, you don’t have to wait for the vacuum to recharge before you can carry on.
If you have hard floors, look for an upright vacuum with different floor modes, which see the brush roller switched off, so it doesn’t damage the flooring, or for models that come with an additional cleaning head featuring a softer brush roll designed for this purpose.
Also, check the vacuum will be able to reach under furniture and in any tight spaces, you have in your home to ensure you’re thoroughly cleaning your floors every time you push a vacuum around.
If you’re still unsure, read our advice on which type of vacuum should you buy?
What's the difference between a stick and an upright vacuum?
With so many styles of vacuum to choose from, you may be left wondering exactly what the difference is between them - especially when it comes to stick and upright vacuums as they look very similar.
Upright vacuums tend to be larger and heavier than stick vacuums (a name they gained due to the long thin wand that connects the motor and dust canister and floor cleaning head), which are extremely compact and lightweight. However, upright vacuums have larger dust canisters and wider floor cleaning heads, so you'll be able to get through the chore of floor cleaning much quicker and with fewer interruptions than when using a stick vacuum.
Upright vacuums are also freestanding, so if you want to pause your floor cleaning session, perhaps you need to answer the door, or the telephone rings, then you can leave the vacuum in the middle of the floor, without worrying about leaning it somewhere. However, as they're larger they are harder to store.
The majority of stick vacuums (but not all) are powered by a rechargeable battery. This means that you do run the risk of running out of power mid-way through your floor cleaning session, depending upon how big your home is, whereas upright vacuums are mains-powered so you can vacuum for as long as you like.
Stick vacuums are also more versatile and can be converted into handheld cleaners by removing the wand and floor cleaning head. They usually ship with several attachments that can be used in handheld mode for cleaning everything from upholstery to crevices and hard-to-reach corners. Upright vacuums are only really suitable for floors, while the extension tube does enable you to clean in crevices and up high but it's far less flexible than a stick vacuum in handheld mode.
Are upright vacuums better than cylinder vacuums?
Traditionally, vacuum cleaners are wired and come in two styles; upright vacuums and cylinders, also referred to as canister vacuums, but which is better?
Canister vacuums are extremely compact, with the motor and dust bag contained in a tiny unit. This has a hose and floor cleaning head attached to it. Lighter and easy to maneuver around your home, cylinder vacuums make it far easier to clean flights of stairs. Still, the smaller size has a downside - it requires you to be hunched over when compact size means you'll be bent over far more than using an upright vacuum.
Meanwhile, Upright vacuums are bulkier and heavier, making them harder to push around your floors. As you'd expect given the name, the floor cleaning head is attached to a tall unit that holds the motor and dust canister or bag, with a handle usually at waist height or slightly above - so you can clean your floors without having to hunch over.
For a further in-depth look at how the two vacuum styles differ, read our comparison of canister vs upright vacuums.
How often should you vacuum?
How many times a week you need to vacuum your floors to keep them dust and allergen free is something that's been a concern since the first vacuum cleaners appeared on the market.
Is once a week really enough to keep your floors as clean as possible, or should you be vacuuming every couple of days? For those without one of the best robot vacuums on hand to help out, it's a hard question to answer.
We recommend vacuuming most floors once a week while increasing this to twice a week in high-traffic areas such as hallways and doorways. Especially if you have carpet, as the longer dust is left, the more it becomes embedded in the fibers making it hard to thoroughly clean.
While this may seem like a lot, vacuuming regularly will ensure there is less dust to suck up each time, making cleaning your floors quicker.
For more on this, head to our full feature on how often should you vacuum?
