Best upright vacuums for the way you use them

The Kenmore BU4050 pairs a floor roller that removes hair with a detachable pod and self-sealing bags. The Shark NV752 keeps its floor head powered even after the pod comes off. If hauling the whole machine upstairs is your main concern, look at the Kenmore DU4080.

Quick picks

Which upright makes pet hair easier to deal with?
Kenmore Intuition Hair Eliminator
The catch: You will keep buying replacement bags.
See price & reviews on Amazon
Clean stairs without having to balance the entire upright
Kenmore Intuition Hair Eliminator
The catch: You will keep buying replacement bags.
See price & reviews on Amazon
Match the controls to your floors
Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet
The catch: Nothing in the current Pet Power Brush wording confirms a separately powered electric tool.
See price & reviews on Amazon

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Kenmore, BU4050

Intuition Hair Eliminator

Good place to start

This bagged Lift-Up upright has a floor brush that clears wrapped hair on its own. You also get button-release bags, a 30 ft cord and a separate brushroll stop.

Best forPet-hair cleanup with bags and less untangling of the floor brush

Why it suits you

Power cord of 30 ft
Cleaning width of 11 in
Floor brushroll with Hair Eliminator

What you give up

You will keep buying replacement bags.
Even with the Hair Eliminator claim, the separate Pet HandiMate tool still needs its own upkeep.

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Shark, NV752

Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet

With the pod removed, Powered Lift-Away leaves the floorhead running. Hard Floor mode can stop the brushroll, and the current box comes with a Pet Power Brush.

Best forPowered floorhead reach, plus a way to turn the brushroll off

Why it suits you

With the pod detached, Powered Lift-Away keeps the floorhead brushroll running
The brushroll stops in Hard Floor mode
HEPA filtration, sealed

What you give up

Nothing in the current Pet Power Brush wording confirms a separately powered electric tool.
You still have to check the main floor brushroll for wrap and clear it by hand.

Kenmore, DU4080

Featherlite Lift-Up

Listed at under 12 lb, this bagless upright has a detachable pod and sealed HEPA filtration. The floor brush can be stopped for bare floors, and the specified cup size is 1.5 L.

Best forA lighter whole machine to carry upstairs, with no replacement bags to buy

Why it suits you

Manufacturer weight claim of under 12 lb
Power cord of 25 ft
1.5 L dust cup

What you give up

The included upholstery tools leave out a rotating Pet HandiMate.
At 25 ft, the cord falls short of the 30 ft cord on the Intuition models.

Kenmore, BU4022

Intuition

This bagged upright offers a detachable pod, a brushroll shutoff and a 30 ft cord. Self-sealing bags mean you throw the bag out instead of emptying an open dust cup.

Best forA detachable pod for stairs and furniture, with bags for disposal

Why it suits you

Power cord of 30 ft
Button-release disposal using self-sealing bags
Detachable Lift-Up pod

What you give up

Expect to keep buying replacement bags.
Its standard floor brush lacks the Hair Eliminator found on the BU4050.

Kenmore, DU3017

Crossover Max

This bagless upright has a detachable canister, sealed HEPA filtration and a 13 in cleaning path. An 11 ft attachment reach and an included Pet HandiMate make it well suited to furniture and stairs.

Best forCovering more floor per pass, with a detachable canister and a pet tool

Why it suits you

Power cord of 25 ft
Cleaning width of 13 in
Attachment reach of 11 ft

What you give up

You cannot wash the HEPA exhaust filter.
The 25 ft cord reaches less far from an outlet than the 30 ft cord on the Intuition models.

BISSELL, 2252

CleanView Swivel Pet

You get swivel steering, a manual carpet-height dial and a Pet TurboEraser tool on this bagless upright. The floor brush keeps turning, so factor that in for delicate floors or hose work.

Best forA pet tool and carpet height you set by hand

Why it suits you

Swivel steering
Carpet-height dial set by hand
The Pet TurboEraser tool

What you give up

The floor brush has no shutoff of its own.
After cleaning, you wind the cord up yourself.

BISSELL, 2254

CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet

Automatic cord rewind, swivel steering and a manual carpet-height dial come with this bagless upright, along with a 27 ft cord and a Pet TurboEraser. What it lacks is a separate floor-brush stop.

Best forWrapping up a cleaning session without coiling the power cord

Why it suits you

Automatic-rewind power cord, 27 ft
Cleaning path of 13.5 in
1 L dirt tank

What you give up

No separate shutoff exists for the floor brush.
When you use hose tools, the whole upright stays down on the floor.

BISSELL, 2998

MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet

This bagless upright has a removable Lift-Off pod, a 30 ft cord and a manual brushroll stop. A sealed HEPA system and an included TurboEraser let it handle both floor and above-floor jobs.

Best forA long cord, a detachable pod and manual control over the brush

Why it suits you

Manufacturer weight of 15.7 lb
Power cord of 30 ft
Dust cup of 0.75 L

What you give up

The specified 0.75 L dust cup holds less than the cup on the SurfaceSense 3418.
Even with the Tangle-Free floor brush, you still need to clean and inspect it regularly.

BISSELL, 3418

SurfaceSense Allergen Lift-Off Pet

The brushroll on this bagless Lift-Off upright adjusts itself to the floor surface. It comes with a 1 L cup, sealed HEPA filtration and an LED-lit combination tool, but no manual brushroll stop.

Best forMixed floors, with the vacuum sensing the surface for you

Why it suits you

Manufacturer weight of 15.5 lb
Power cord of 27 ft
1 L dust cup

What you give up

No manual brushroll on/off switch appears in the specification.
At 27 ft, the cord is shorter than the 30 ft cord on the MultiClean 2998.

Oreck, XL2100RHS

Commercial XL

This bagged upright is built for floors, with a 35 ft cord and a 12 in cleaning path. The layout is simple, with no onboard hose or pet tool, and the brush keeps turning while the machine stands upright.

Best forLong stretches of floor cleaning where you want bags

Why it suits you

Power cord of 35 ft
Cleaning path of 12 in
Dirt collected in a bag

What you give up

You will need another tool for stairs and upholstery.
The brushroll cannot be shut off separately.

Hoover, UH72625

WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet

This bagless upright has a 30 ft cord, a manual carpet-height dial and a pedal that shuts off the brushroll. The hose tools include a pet turbo tool, and the HEPA-media filter must never be washed.

Best forA long cord plus manual controls for floor height and the brush

Why it suits you

Power cord of 30 ft
Carpet height is adjusted by hand
Pedal to shut off brushroll

What you give up

Do not rinse or wash the HEPA-media exhaust filter.
Hose-tool work leaves the entire upright sitting on the floor.

Shark, NV360

Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe

Dry floors and hose-tool jobs are covered by a detachable pod and a true brushroll-off setting. You empty the dust cup by hand.

Best forHard floors with the brushroll off, plus a pod that detaches

Why it suits you

Standard Lift-Away pod that works with handle or wand tools
In Hard Floor mode, the floor brushroll is off
Anti-Allergen Complete Seal with a HEPA filter

What you give up

No powered brushroll is documented for the supplied upholstery tool.
Dust can be exposed when you empty the bin manually.

Shark, NV356E

Navigator Lift-Away Professional

The conventional brushroll, suction control and detachable pod add up to a straightforward dry-cleaning setup. Look at the box you select to see which accessories it contains.

Best forFloor modes you choose, plus dusting above the floor

Why it suits you

Standard Lift-Away pod that works with handle or wand tools
Carpet mode runs the brushroll, and Hard Floor mode stops it
Sealed system with HEPA filtration

What you give up

The bundle you select is not confirmed to include a rotating pet brush.
When the pod is detached for hose cleaning, the main floorhead is unpowered.

Shark, ZU503AMZ

Navigator Lift-Away Self-Cleaning

This Navigator brings a self-cleaning floor brushroll, and the pod still detaches for the supplied pet crevice and upholstery tools.

Best forPicking up hair from floors, using an ordinary detachable pod

Why it suits you

Main floor brushroll that cleans itself
Standard Lift-Away pod used with above-floor tools
Sealed filtration system with a HEPA filter

What you give up

No rotating brush is documented for the included upholstery tool.
The self-cleaning brush still leaves you to inspect it and clear any wrap that sticks around.

Shark, LA502

Rotator Lift-Away ADV

The floorhead pairs a soft roller with PowerFins in a two-roller design, and a pod released by pedal takes suction to stairs and upholstery tools.

Best forA two-roller floor tool and a pod that comes off for hose tools

Why it suits you

Two rollers work together in the DuoClean PowerFins floorhead
Main brushroll that cleans itself
A pedal releases the standard Lift-Away pod

What you give up

Once the pod is detached, the floorhead loses its powered connection.
Both floor rollers need to be inspected and cleaned.

Shark, ZU102

Rotator Pet

The pod on this upright is fixed, and the floor brushroll is a self-cleaning HairPro. An extendable hose handles occasional tool work, but the design leans toward floor sessions.

Best forCleaning hair off floors with no pod to detach

Why it suits you

Self-cleaning floor brushroll, PowerFins HairPro
Upright with a fixed pod, plus hose and handle tools
HEPA filtration, sealed

What you give up

For above-floor tool work, the pod remains attached to the upright.
Odor cartridges deal with smells inside the vacuum and do not extract urine.

Shark, AZ2002

Vertex Powered Lift-Away

For dry floors beneath low furniture, you get two floor rollers and Powered Lift-Away, plus separate tools for fabric and crevices.

Best forGetting a powered two-roller head under furniture

Why it suits you

Floorhead stays powered when the Lift-Away pod is detached
A main roller and a soft roller make up DuoClean PowerFins
Removable soft roller and a self-cleaning main brushroll

What you give up

Maintaining the soft roller is an extra chore.
Being bagless, it still means opening the dust cup to empty it.

Shark, AZ3002

Stratos Powered Lift-Away

The two-roller HairPro floorhead and Powered Lift-Away get under furniture, and the included compact pet brush covers suitable dry fabric.

Best forPowered Lift-Away plus hand-selected floor modes

Why it suits you

With the pod removed, Powered Lift-Away keeps motorized floorhead cleaning
Dual floor rollers from DuoClean PowerFins HairPro
LED headlights, sealed HEPA filtration and a self-cleaning main brushroll

What you give up

In Hard Floor mode the brushroll only slows down. It does not turn off.
Stubborn hair or fibers may still have to be cleared by hand.

Shark, AZ4002

PowerDetect Powered Lift-Away

Four sensing functions tune the floor cleaning, and Powered Lift-Away means the dual-roller floorhead still works once the pod is detached.

Best forPowered Lift-Away plus automatic adjustment to the floor

Why it suits you

Detection of floor, dirt, edge and direction
Suction and brushroll speed adjust automatically
Floorhead operation with Powered Lift-Away

What you give up

A rug maker's restrictions still apply, whatever the automatic settings do.
Each cleaning session still includes emptying the bagless cup by hand.

Shark, LA492

Detect Lift-Away ADV

Floor and direction sensors tune this single-roller upright. It has an ordinary detachable pod, and its pet tools for above-floor cleaning are passive.

Best forSensor-based floor cleaning from a machine with a 13.12-pound published weight

Why it suits you

Brushroll speed follows the surface that Floor Detect senses
Suction is redirected by Direction Detect on forward or reverse passes
A pedal releases the standard Lift-Away pod

What you give up

With the pod detached, power goes to the hose tools and not to the floorhead.
A rotating upholstery brush is not verified for the box you select.

Kenmore, DU1275

FeatherLite Hair Eliminator

This bagless upright has a fixed body, a floor roller that removes hair, four manual height settings, and a whole-machine weight under 11 lb.

Best forA light upright to carry between floors, with less hair upkeep on the floor brush

Why it suits you

Whole-machine specification of under 11 lb
10 in cleaning path and a 26 ft cord
Nozzle height has four manual settings

What you give up

Filtration is the standard foam and felt, and there is no AllergenSeal system.
The body stays attached when you use the hose.

Kenmore, 31150

Elite Pet-Friendly Bagged Upright

Weighing 21 lb, this bagged upright offers five manual height settings, a true brush-off floor mode and an included Pet HandiMate.

Best forCarpet-heavy rooms where you want to set the pile height deliberately and have a long cord

Why it suits you

Cord of 35 ft, wrapped by hand
Pile height has five manual settings
The agitator stops in FLOOR mode

What you give up

Carrying the complete 21 lb body up stairs is a substantial load.
No pod detaches from the body for cleaning stairs.

Eureka, NEU181A

PowerSpeed Pet Turbo

This bagless upright weighs 10 lb and has five manual height positions. A rotating Pet Turbo Brush covers suitable fabric and stairs.

Best forLight carpet cleaning where a rotating upholstery tool in the box is important to you

Why it suits you

Whole-machine specification of 10 lb
Height has five manual positions
2.6 L dust cup

What you give up

You have to pull accumulated hair and threads off the floor brush by hand.
With hose cleaning, the fixed upright body stays on the floor.

Eureka, NEU652

FlexReach Plus

Floor sensing, sealed HEPA filtration, a detachable pod and a rotating pet tool come together in this bagless upright.

Best forPet homes with mixed floors that want the vacuum to adapt on its own and clean with portable tools

Why it suits you

Power cord of 30 ft
Brush speed adjusts to the detected flooring with Floor Sense + React
HEPA filtration with Complete Seal

What you give up

You still have to empty the open dust cup by hand.
The anti-tangle design does not spare you from cleaning the brush by hand.

Buying advice

What to look for in a upright vacuum

These factors change which model suits you.

Where does the hair pile up?

Carpet hair is the floor roller's job, while sofas and stairs call for a small dedicated tool. Look at what the package gives you for both before you buy a pet model.

What runs when the pod is detached?

A standard detachable pod lets you clean with hose tools. Powered Lift-Away goes further and keeps the main floor head running after the bulky pod is lifted off, which makes getting under furniture easier.

How will you empty it?

With self-sealing bags you never tip a dust cup into a bin. Bagless models spare you from buying replacement bags, though the cup and filters still need upkeep.

Can your floor take a spinning brush?

On some models a hard-floor mode only slows the roller instead of stopping it. Check the exact controls against the care instructions for your flooring and rugs.

Guides

Narrow it down

Weigh two popular models against each other, or start from a shortlist built for one job.

Side-by-side comparisons

Kenmore BU4050 vs DU4080: Bag disposal or longer hose reach, and neither runs the floorhead once the pod is offBagged hair control on the Kenmore BU4050 against bagless Lift-Up cleaning on the DU4080, with pet tools, reach and filter care compared.Kenmore DU4080 vs DU3017: DU3017 gives more attachment reach, and their filters call for different care routinesThe Kenmore DU4080 and DU3017 side by side on bagless Lift-Up cleaning, hose reach, included pet tools and the exact filter-maintenance routine for each.BISSELL CleanView Rewind 2254 vs MultiClean 2998: 2254 has the cord rewind, and 2998 detaches for stairs and stops its brushBISSELL CleanView Rewind 2254 and MultiClean 2998 compared on cord storage, detachable stair cleaning, brush shutoff and pet-hair upkeep.BISSELL MultiClean 2998 vs SurfaceSense 3418: 2998 gives you a way to stop the brush, and 3418 adjusts on its own between floorsBISSELL MultiClean 2998 and SurfaceSense 3418 compared on manual brush shutoff, automatic floor adjustment, Lift-Off tools and filter cleaning.Oreck XL2100RHS vs Hoover UH72625: Oreck takes care of floors, and Hoover adds the sofa and stairsOreck XL2100RHS floor-only bagged cleaning set against Hoover UH72625 hose tools, brush shutoff, height adjustment and bagless disposal.Oreck XL2100RHS vs BISSELL CleanView 2252: BISSELL brings fabric tools, and neither has a floor mode with the brush offOreck XL2100RHS and BISSELL CleanView 2252 compared on bagged floor work, pet upholstery tools, carpet-height control and daily disposal.Shark NV360 vs Kenmore BU4022: Kenmore comes with self-sealing bags, more cord and a pet fabric toolShark NV360 and Kenmore BU4022 compared on bagless versus bagged disposal, detachable-pod cleaning, cord reach and included fabric tools.Shark NV752 vs Kenmore BU4050: Shark keeps the head powered under furniture, and Kenmore holds its dirt in bagsShark NV752 Powered Lift-Away against Kenmore BU4050 bagged hair control, looking at under-furniture cleaning, disposal and brush maintenance.Shark LA502 vs BISSELL MultiClean 2998: BISSELL brings extra outlet reach and a clear brush-off controlShark LA502 DuoClean and BISSELL MultiClean 2998 compared on floor-head design, cord reach, detachable-pod use and brush control.Shark NV356E vs Shark ZU102: NV356E detaches to use tools, and ZU102 cuts down hair wrapping with a fixed podShark NV356E and ZU102 compared on detachable-pod cleaning, brush shutoff, floor-brush hair removal and the exact pet tools included.Shark Vertex AZ2002 vs Detect LA492: Vertex alone keeps the main head powered when its pod comes offShark Vertex AZ2002 and Detect LA492 compared on powered under-furniture reach, automatic floor adjustment and the exact pet-tool packages.Shark ZU503AMZ vs Kenmore BU4050: Kenmore comes with a rotating fabric tool and bags, while Shark uses stationary toolsShark ZU503AMZ and Kenmore BU4050 compared on self-cleaning floor brushes, bagless versus bagged disposal and the included upholstery tools.Shark Stratos AZ3002 vs BISSELL SurfaceSense 3418: Shark keeps the main head powered without the pod, and BISSELL adjusts between floorsShark Stratos AZ3002 and BISSELL SurfaceSense 3418 compared on powered under-furniture access, automatic floor changes and the exact tools.Shark PowerDetect AZ4002 vs Hoover UH72625: Shark handles the floor response automatically, and Hoover offers manual height and brush controlShark PowerDetect AZ4002 and Hoover UH72625 compared on automatic controls, powered detached cleaning, manual nozzle height and brush shutoff.Kenmore BU4050 vs Shark Stratos AZ3002: Shark gets at fur under low furniture, and Kenmore keeps the dirt contained when emptiedSealed bag disposal, powered reach under a pet bed, sofa tools and cord reach, with the BU4050 and Stratos AZ3002 compared.Kenmore DU4080 vs Shark Detect LA492: Kenmore makes carrying upstairs easier, and Shark automates changes between mixed floorsCarrying weight, bare-floor brush control and pet tools, compared for anyone who moves a vacuum between floors.BISSELL CleanView Rewind 2254 vs Shark NV752: BISSELL rewinds the cord, and Shark keeps powered reach going beneath furnitureDecide between automatic cord storage and powered access below furniture, and keep brush behavior during fabric-tool use in mind.Oreck XL2100RHS vs Kenmore BU4050: Oreck suits long floor routes, and Kenmore also takes on the sofa and cat treeFloor-only bagged cleaning against a detachable pod for fur on stairs, sofas and cat trees, with brush control and cord reach compared.BISSELL MultiClean 2998 vs Kenmore BU4050: BISSELL makes floor passes wider, and Kenmore is lighter to carry and seals the bagBagless against self-sealing disposal, carried weight and cleaning width, compared for a home with pets and stairs.Shark Navigator NV360 vs Detect LA492: NV360 gives a clear brush shutoff, and LA492 is lighter to carry and adjusts itselfManual brush shutoff, floor sensing, supplied sofa tools and full-unit weight, compared for pet fur on mixed floors.Kenmore BU4050 vs BISSELL CleanView Rewind 2254: Kenmore detaches and keeps dirt sealed in bags, while BISSELL rewinds its cordSealed bag release or automatic cord rewind, with pod portability and brush behavior around rugs checked along the way.Oreck XL2100RHS vs BISSELL MultiClean 2998: Furniture and cat trees are covered by BISSELL, while Oreck needs a companion cleanerA floor-only bagged upright against one with a detachable pod for dry hair on sofas and stairs, with cord reach and brush control compared too.Shark Stratos AZ3002 vs Navigator NV360: Stratos brings powered reach under low furniture and a rotating pet fabric toolTwo different Lift-Away packages, compared on powered access under furniture, main-brush hair handling and the exact pet tools.Kenmore DU1275 vs BU4050: BU4050 comes with a stair pod and sealed bag disposal, though the whole machine weighs moreLight carrying, manual rug height, rotating sofa tools and dust disposal, compared between Kenmore DU1275 and the bagged BU4050.Kenmore DU1275 vs DU4080: DU1275 deals with hair on the floor roller, and DU4080 detaches and stops its brushA fixed upright that removes hair against a sealed HEPA Lift-Up model, compared on sofa fur, rug settings and brush-off floor cleaning.Kenmore Elite 31150 vs BU4050: Elite gives more cord reach, and BU4050 is lighter to carry and detaches for stairsFive-position carpet control, a 35 ft cord, stair carrying and self-sealing bag release, compared across two Kenmore bagged uprights.Kenmore Elite 31150 vs Oreck XL2100RHS: Elite takes on sofa hair and stairs, and Oreck stays with a lighter, floor-only routineHose tools, manual rug control, floor-brush shutoff and the load you carry upstairs, compared across two long-cord bagged uprights.Eureka PowerSpeed NEU181A vs Kenmore DU1275: Eureka comes with a fabric turbo, and Kenmore deals with hair on the floor rollerRotating sofa tools, floor-roller hair removal, manual rug height and carrying claims, compared across two light bagless uprights.Eureka PowerSpeed NEU181A vs Kenmore Elite 31150: Eureka cuts the carrying load, and Elite brings bag disposal and brush shutoffA 10 lb bagless upright set against a 21 lb bagged model on carrying, sofa tools, carpet height and true brush-off control.Eureka FlexReach NEU652 vs Kenmore BU4050: Eureka adjusts to floors automatically, and Kenmore seals its bags and stops the brushAutomatic floor response, sealed filtration, rotating pet tools, and open-cup versus self-sealing bag disposal, all compared.Eureka FlexReach NEU652 vs Kenmore DU4080: Eureka gives more cord reach, and Kenmore lifts lighter and has brush shutoffFloor sensing, anti-tangle design, five extra feet of cord and a true brush-off setting, compared across two bagless pod uprights.

Best picks for one job

Which upright makes pet hair easier to deal with?Compare Kenmore, Shark and BISSELL uprights for shedding pets by looking at floor-roller hair wrap, sofa tools and dust disposal one at a time.Clean stairs without having to balance the entire uprightLook for an upright with a detachable pod and the right small tool if you have carpeted stairs. Carrying, bagged disposal and powered attachments are compared.Match the controls to your floorsUprights for wood floors and rugs, compared on brush-stop controls, automatic surface changes and pile-height adjustment, with the trade-offs spelled out.Bagged disposal that still covers the jobs you needBagged uprights compared on disposal, pet-hair tools and floor-only limitations, plus when Kenmore BU4050, BU4022 or Oreck XL is the sensible pick.Carry less weight and still have the right tools for the jobComplete-machine weight is set against detachable-pod convenience here. The trade-off between Oreck floor cleaning and Kenmore above-floor tools is laid out.Do not pick by motor size when cleaning several roomsPick a corded upright for a home with several rooms by weighing cord routing, disposal and above-floor tools. Kenmore BU4050, Oreck XL and BISSELL 2998 are compared.A floor brush that keeps working under the bedLooking for uprights whose floor head stays powered with the pod removed? Shark NV752, Stratos and POWERDETECT are compared here, with no guesses about clearance.