The catch
Kenmore Elite Pet-Friendly Bagged Upright
Full machine weight is 21 lb.
Side by side
Elite 31150 is the choice for five manual carpet heights and a 35 ft cord. BU4050 is the choice for a lighter full machine, a pod for cleaning stairs and button-release self-sealing bags.
Before you buy
Elite 31150 weighs 21 lb, which is more than 6 lb above the under-15-lb specification of the BU4050. The BU4050 also detaches for stairs. If the vacuum has to travel between floors regularly, favor the BU4050. The complete-unit gap says nothing about how comfortable the detached pod is, so look at the carrying handle and balance too.
Where this comes from
Subtract a value below 15 from 21 and the gap is more than 6 lb.
The catch
Full machine weight is 21 lb.
The catch
Nozzle height has no manual dial.


We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money
Five-position carpet control, a 35 ft cord, stair carrying and self-sealing bag release, compared across two Kenmore bagged uprights.
Elite 31150 is the choice for five manual carpet heights and a 35 ft cord. BU4050 is the choice for a lighter full machine, a pod for cleaning stairs and button-release self-sealing bags.
Which one fits
The 31150 has five settings.
The BU4050's published weight for the whole unit is lower.
That mechanism is explicitly provided by the BU4050.
The 31150's cord is 35 ft, compared with 30 ft.
In practice
Elite 31150 weighs 21 lb, which is more than 6 lb above the under-15-lb specification of the BU4050. The BU4050 also detaches for stairs. If the vacuum has to travel between floors regularly, favor the BU4050. The complete-unit gap says nothing about how comfortable the detached pod is, so look at the carrying handle and balance too.
Subtract a value below 15 from 21 and the gap is more than 6 lb.
Five nozzle heights and a 35 ft cord come with the Elite 31150. The BU4050 has no manual height dial and a 30 ft cord. Choose the 31150 for varied permitted carpet piles over longer routes on one level. Those controls and dimensions do not show stronger suction or better removal of embedded hair.
The recommendation rests on documented nozzle adjustment together with a 5 ft difference in cord.
According to the 31150 guide, you remove the bag manually. The BU4050 adds a button release and a bag that seals as it leaves the cleaner. If handling dusty litter or loose fur at disposal worries you, choose the BU4050. A bagged label by itself does not mean both models seal the same way.
The disposal advice is based on the separate bag-removal procedures that are documented.

Kenmore, 31150
Weighing 21 lb, this bagged upright offers five manual height settings, a true brush-off floor mode and an included Pet HandiMate.

Kenmore, BU4050
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.
Spec by spec
| Spec | Kenmore Elite Pet-Friendly Bagged Upright | Kenmore Intuition Hair Eliminator | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual carpet height | Five manual nozzle-height settings | No manual nozzle-height dial | Deliberate nozzle-height adjustment is the 31150's addition. |
| Whole-unit weight | 21 lb complete vacuum | Under 15 lb full unit | The 31150 is listed at 21 lb and the BU4050 below 15 lb. |
| Stair configuration | Fixed upright body with hose and telescoping wand | Lift-Up pod for hose and accessory cleaning | A removable pod comes with BU4050. |
| Bag removal | Bagged collection with manual bag removal | Self-sealing bags released by a button | Self-sealing button release is explicitly specified for the BU4050. |
| Power cord | 35 ft cord with manual wrapping | 30 ft cord with manual storage | The 31150 has 5 ft more nominal cord. |
Trade-offs
Change of plan
Go with Kenmore Elite Pet-Friendly Bagged Upright. That route is served by the height dial and the longer cord.
Go with Kenmore Intuition Hair Eliminator. Lower whole-unit weight and self-sealing release come together in the BU4050.
Decision guide
Pick Elite 31150 for five manual carpet heights and a 35 ft cord. Pick BU4050 for a lighter full machine, a pod for stair cleaning and button-release self-sealing bags.
Elite 31150 weighs 21 lb, which is more than 6 lb above the under-15-lb specification of the BU4050. The BU4050 also detaches for stairs. If the vacuum has to travel between floors regularly, favor the BU4050. The complete-unit gap says nothing about how comfortable the detached pod is, so look at the carrying handle and balance too.
Five nozzle heights and a 35 ft cord come with the Elite 31150. The BU4050 has no manual height dial and a 30 ft cord. Choose the 31150 for varied permitted carpet piles over longer routes on one level. Those controls and dimensions do not show stronger suction or better removal of embedded hair.
According to the 31150 guide, you remove the bag manually. The BU4050 adds a button release and a bag that seals as it leaves the cleaner. If handling dusty litter or loose fur at disposal worries you, choose the BU4050. A bagged label by itself does not mean both models seal the same way.
By the numbers
What we found across the upright vacuums we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenmore Elite Pet-Friendly Bagged Upright |
|
|
|
| Kenmore Intuition Hair Eliminator |
|
|
|
Ready to buy
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.

Pick from five manual carpet heights
See price & reviews on Amazon
Park the floor base while you do stairs
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money