The Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

Flooring comes in all colors and styles from laminate and luxury vinyl to tile. The one thing all those materials have in common is the fact they are often made to resemble wood. That’s because there’s no substitute for the real thing. There are dozens of ways you can clean hardwood as well, although vacuum cleaners are built to make the job easy.

The best vacuum for hardwood floors may be a lightweight stick vacuum for one consumer or a powerful upright for another. That’s because there are a number of factors you need to consider in order to find the right choice. We’re going to go over those in our guide, and our team has put together a list featuring vacuums that are designed for hardwood and other bare flooring surfaces.

How to find the Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

Hardwood flooring is low maintenance from a cleaning standpoint. Dirty footprints can be a hassle, especially when it’s wet outside, but they are easier to clean up than a muddy carpet. In order to find the right vacuum cleaner for your home, it’s important to think about your floor plan, cleaning schedule and foot traffic.

Floor Plans

The best vacuum for hardwood floors will keep any type of species clean whether you have solid hardwood or engineered planks. With that in mind, not everyone has full hardwood throughout their homes. Bathrooms, kitchens, and below-grade rooms aren’t ideal for solid hardwood or any organic flooring if moisture and humidity is a concern.

The biggest thing to consider with your floor plan are the other types of flooring in your home aside from hardwood. It’s true, a vacuum that can suck up dirt from hardwood will do the same on luxury vinyl planks or tile. If you have carpet in your bedroom or den, you will want to choose your system carefully, however, as what works on hardwood isn’t always ideal for carpet and vice versa.

Brush Rolls and Hardwood Flooring  

One of the larger concerns for most homeowners looking for a vacuum built for hardwood is the brush roll. Companies can call these spinning cylinders by many names, but most have bristles that spin at high speeds. Those bristles can be a cause of concern for homeowners with hardwood although a machine is more likely to scatter debris than actually scratch your flooring.

If you do have hardwood and carpeted rooms in your home, you’ll want a system with a brush roll. If you are concerned about the brush roll, you’ll want a vacuum with an off-switch for this feature. There are also vacuums that automatically adjust their height, which can disengage the brush to a degree as well.

Suction only heads are ideal for hardwood, but not always an option – especially on uprights. Alternatively, you can also consider a vacuum that allows you to change heads, although that comes with a few trade-offs, something you’ll see from any style.

Upright, Canister, and Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

While there are dozens of variations on the traditional vacuum cleaner, there aren’t as many form factors. As we’re just focusing on hardwood this time around, we’re going to take a look at three different styles and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

How big is your home?

Do you live in a large home or rent an apartment or condo? An apartment can range from 600 to 900 square feet, while the “average” size of new residential homes in the United States has ballooned to around 2,600 square feet. Older homes from the 70s and earlier are typically smaller, but you don’t have to break out a tape measure to know how large of a vacuum you need.

If you live in a single-story home, your options are only limited by your floor plan and cord length, as any style will work. If you decide to go with a cordless vacuum, the battery life may come into play. You can get 30 to 40 minutes from high-end models, but only 15 to 20 minutes from a thin, cordless stick vacuum.

That’s not an issue with robot vacuums considering they will return to their base and recharge when they run out of juice. Stairs can be an issue, however, if you have a robot with poor cliff detection sensors. Stairs can also pose a problem for canister vacuums and traditional bagged uprights as they aren’t easy to drag up the stairs. Consider your current cleaning routine along with any issues you encounter now that you’d like to address with your new system.

Bin vs. Bagged Vacuums

This could be a major bump in the road, depending on the conditions in your home. Every vacuum cleaner has to do something with the dust and dirt it collects. That means it either goes into a dust bin or bag, depending on the style of the system.

Most vacuum cleaners on the market today are bin-based or have a clear cup that collects dust. These canisters usually detach from the machine and are emptied into a trash can. Sealed systems can ensure dust stays where it's intended, but some dust will go airborne when you dump the bin. While simple to use, the quality of the bin system can make or break a vacuum cleaner.

With bags, things are simple. As dirt comes into the vacuum cleaner, it goes into a sealed bag. When the bag gets full, you dump it and replace it with a new one. The advantage is there’s no mess to deal with, and plenty of systems have capped bags that keep things tidy as you dispose of the bag. You have to take the cost of replacement bags into account, however, while considering your cleaning frequency.

Bin or bagged is a big decision, but the size or capacity of the container is easy to wrap your head around. Commonly measured in quarts or gallons, the larger the dust bin or bag, the less you’ll need to dump it. There’s no average for sizes on either style, but you’ll get more capacity from an upright or canister vacuum than you will from a robot or stick vacuum.

Filtration

Do you go through countless boxes of Kleenex when allergy season rolls around? If so, you may want to consider a vacuum with a strong filtration system.  Hardwood flooring doesn’t collect hair and dander quite like carpet, but the vacuum cleaner you choose to use can still have an impact on your indoor air quality.

Vacuum power comes from airflow as the air gets sucked into your vacuum cleaner and comes back out again. Without a filter, all those nasty particles you suck up will be blown back into the air. Every system on our list will have a form of primary filtration, but how many stages are included and the types of filters used can vary wildly.

Foam filters are common in multi-stage filtration systems, and many can be washed and reused instead of being replaced. They can come into play before or after the motor, but a HEPA filter is what you’ll want if allergies or pet hair is an issue in your home. If you see the term “Allergen” filter, that doesn’t mean it’s rated as a HEPA filter, which is something to keep in mind when shopping for replacements as well.

Ease of use 

It doesn’t matter if you clean daily or once a week, nobody likes an overly complicated vacuum cleaner. While vacuuming isn’t considered a fun task, there are some features you should keep an eye out for if you want to make life easy.

Many systems will have several cleaning modes, but where those controls are placed is important. The same goes for hoses – a common feature on many uprights. You’ll want to check the length of that hose, or you could tip your machine over trying to clean. Vacuums with automatic cord rewind are an option, and so are machines that can propel themselves. You can even use your phone to control some robot vacuums or ask Alexa to start vacuuming for you.

Those are just a few features that can make your life easy, although weight and size should not be overlooked. A full-size corded upright can weigh close to 20 pounds, while a medium-sized canister vacuum will come in at half that weight. Cordless stick vacuums can weigh as little as 5 pounds, and are easy to handle, but may need to be hung on a charger because most can’t stand up.

Noise Levels

Carpet and the padding beneath it will deaden sound, whereas hardwood can amplify it. Vacuum cleaners aren’t considered quiet by any means, so the decibel level is something to consider if you’re worried about noise.

In most cases, vacuum cleaners can range from around 60 to 70 dB, although it depends on the style and design. A hardwood vacuum cleaner without a brush roll can be quieter than a system geared towards carpet, however. Everyone’s preference in this area will be different, but something to keep in mind if you have children or sensitive pets.

Accessories

Everyone likes to get something extra, whether it’s an overloaded container of French fries from your favorite drive-thru or an unexpected windfall at tax time. Sometimes you’ll need to pay extra for those “extras,” and that’s the case in the vacuum cleaner world more often than not. Most vacuum cleaners come with a few tools, but others are packed into bundles.

With some manufacturers, you’ll notice the same vacuum cleaner at different price points. Usually, that’s due to what’s included, and with base models, you can generally expect a crevice tool along with a 2-in-1 brush for upholstery. Extensions are common on canister vacuums, but they are hit or miss with an upright.

Systems that come with floor nozzles for hardwood often allow you to purchase a powerhead at an additional cost. Soft rollers and powered bristle rollers are the two most expensive add-ons, although far from the only options. Tools geared towards edges and pets are also available along with attachments that can clean mattresses and other things in your home.

Build Quality

Stick vacuums can be one of the more affordable styles of vacuum cleaner, but the best stick vacuums for hardwood or any surface can be more than an upright. Full-size uprights built for multiple floor sizes or specialized systems can set you back a few hundred to over a thousand dollars. That means a vacuum cleaner is an investment, so you’ll want to take a close look at the warranty and build quality.

Depending on the manufacturer, your warranty may encompass the unit as a whole or cover specific parts. With high-end brands, tiered warranties are common, and you’ll get longer guarantees on motors than basic parts. A 2-year warranty is average for most stick vacuums while a corded upright or canister typically has a longer guarantee. As with any product, it’s always a good idea to check the fine print for areas like shipping and labor as well.

The Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

You don’t need to have a degree in rocket science to find the best vacuum for hardwood floors, although it can be a time-consuming task. There is no category for hardwood floor vacuums, and most companies claim their vacuums can handle hardwood just as easily as they do carpeting. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Our experts chose systems that are geared towards hardwood flooring and treat carpet as an afterthought. That means there’s a nice mix of suction-only machines to go along with systems that have a gentle brush roll or one you can turn off entirely. We also kept coverage, capacity, and price points in mind when making our choices as everyone has different cleaning needs.

1. Miele Compact C2 Hard Floor Canister Vacuum 

Miele has an excellent array of vacuums, whether you have carpet or hardwood. The company has several systems that can deal with bare surfaces with a price point for almost everyone. The Miele Compact C2 is our favorite and a system we consider to be one of the best canister vacuums for hardwood floors.   

This vacuum cleaner comes with two cleaning heads that lock into place with ease. The XL Parquet Twister floorhead is gentle on hardwoods while the combination head can handle bare floors or low pile carpet and rugs. Suction is strong with either head, thanks to the company’s powerful Vortex Motor. The motor is rated at 1,200 watts, and has six power settings on a rotary dial.

Regardless of the power or surface you clean, you won’t have to worry about dust escaping this system. The company’s AirClean System provides a tight seal while the filter bags clip into place and are easy to remove. Those bags are rated at 4.75 dry quarts, so they will hold plenty of dust and debris. We’re also fans of the parking system from Miele, which allows you to take a quick break without breaking down the machine.

This vacuum tips the scales at close to 14 pounds but is easy to maneuver with a solid set of castor wheels. The cleaning path width is around 15” with the extra-large parquet tool, so it cuts a nice wide path through the dirt on your floors. The cord is a little shorter than what you’ll see from similar models at 23 feet but comes with a handy automatic rewind feature.

The Miele Compact C2 Hard Floor Vacuum is one of the company's more affordable options, and it has enough power to suck in dust from a distance. There are no drawbacks to this vacuum from a performance standpoint on hardwood flooring. It comes with a standard dusting brush, upholstery and crevice tool along with a 1-year general warranty and a 7-year guarantee on the motor.  

2. Dyson V7 Fluffy Cordless Stick Vacuum 

3. Severin Sensitive Power System Vacuum Cleaner

If you like what our top option brings to the table, but it’s a bit over your budget, Severin has a vacuum for you. The Severin Sensitive Power System BC 7055 is an affordable canister vacuum with powerful suction and a cleaning head that’s made for hardwood – not carpet.

The S Power is billed as a Sensitive Power System from Severin. That’s because it has a powerful airflow system combined with HEPA 14 filtration and a “soft sound” design. The vacuum is listed at 76 dB, which is nothing to scoff at, although we’re more impressed by other aspects of this machine. The Ergo-Soft-Grip XL handle is one noteworthy feature, and we’re fans of their telescoping tube and locking mechanisms as well.

A parquet nozzle is included with the S Power that’s 11” wide and provides excellent coverage on bare floors. There’s also a wide Eco soft sound floor nozzle with wheels to go along with a small selection of tools. It’s a bagged system, but one that uses Swirl NeutralizAir technology in a 4-layer microfiber bag. It will trap dirt and keep smells at bay while the H14 HEPA neutralizes 99.99%of the exhaust before it enters your home.

The capacity of the Severin Sensitive Power canister vacuum is 4.0 liters or around 1 gallon. A retractable 23-foot power cord provides you with solid coverage although far from what you’d get from an upright in the same class. This vacuum weighs 10.8 pounds and is easy to maneuver. It also has a parking slot in case you need to take a break while cleaning.

Severin designed and excellent system with the BC 7055, and it’s an excellent option for homes of any size. The short cord will be a drawback for some, but homeowners loved how simple it was to use and the low noise levels. This adjustable speed canister vacuum won’t break the bank and comes with a 3-year warranty from Severin.

4. Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hardwood Floor Vacuum 

Bissell is one of a few companies that managed to crack our list twice, and they are also responsible for one of the only uprights geared towards hardwood flooring. While it doesn’t look like a regular upright, the PowerEdge Pet and its unique design should be very high on your list.

This lightweight stick vacuum is 7.5 pounds with an ergonomic design and a 20-foot power cord. While not the best choice for huge homes, you certainly won’t have any trouble carrying it up stairs and it’s easy to store. Swivel steering is a perk, although it’s not the real draw of the Bissell PowerEdge Pet – that would be the cleaning head.

Bissell designed this stick vacuum with a V-shaped head, which funnels debris towards the center of the vacuum. It acts as a scoop to a degree by directing dirt and dust towards the suction but also has rubber squeegees lining the front. Those help collect pet hair along with anything else on your floor. The design also allows you to clean around furniture and appliances in an interesting way.

There aren’t many bells and whistles to speak of on the PowerEdge, as the design and how it performs on hardwood is the biggest advantage to this system. It’s not the sturdiest system or the easiest to clean, but it performs as advertised and has a budget-friendly price tag. The Bissell PowerEdge Pet comes with a 1-year guarantee.

5. Shark IQ Robot Vacuum Cleaner RV1001AE     

Roomba gets a lot of attention for their robot vacuum cleaners, and for a good reason as they are excellent systems. Shark is one of the few companies to take on the company’s flagship vacuums, and they did an outstanding job with the Shark IQ RV100AE.

Robot vacuum cleaners are handy, but there are dozens of models to choose from, and many have a similar set of features. Well, the Shark IQ has a unique feature only found on a handful of machines at this time. It can empty its own bin as needed, which means you only have to deal with maintenance once a month.

This robot can also recharge itself when the battery is low and resume cleaning where it left off. It’s connected, so you can access Google Assistant, Alexa, or use the company’s official mobile app. The app allows you to schedule cleaning or select specific rooms while unlocking some unique features.  You can view progress reports on its cleaning routines, switch modes or even locate the robot if it gets lost. If you have pets, you’ll be thrilled with the self-cleaning brush roll as well.

While the Shark IQ RV1001AE is rated for carpet and hardwood, this system is gentle on flooring and has dual edge and corner brushes. It deals with edges and corners well but has a small cleaning path that’s only 5.63” wide. It also has a filter that’s replaceable, not washable and a dust cup capacity of 0.17 quarts.

There’s a lot to like with Shark’s smart robot vacuum cleaner, and while it’s pricey, it’s considerably cheaper than Roomba’s robot with the same self-cleaning feature. It can take a while to get your home mapped properly and tuned in, but you’ll be impressed by its overall performance. The Shark IQ R1001AE is backed by a 1-year warranty.

6. Tineco A10 Master Cordless Vacuum 

We’re big fans of Dyson’s line of cordless stick vacuums, but they are far from the only company utilizing that design these days. A number of companies from the Far East have jumped on the bandwagon, but none measure up to Tineco’s lineup, which includes the A10 Master.

Lightweight and modular are the first two words to come to mind with the Tineco A10 Master. It’s under 3 pounds in handheld mode and comes with a handy 2-in-1 charger. It allows you to charge two batteries at once, which is noteworthy considering this cordless vacuum cleaner comes with two removable batteries.  Each battery is rated for around 25 minutes of power, depending on your usage.

A rinse-free filter tool is also included, which works alongside the 4-stage filtration system. While it’s not in the HEPA class, it’s sealed and consumers found the dust bin easy to deal with. Continuous power mode is another perk, especially if you’re not partial to holding a trigger while you clean. The “storehouse” is unique, but a simple storage substitute for the wall-mounted charging found on their higher-priced systems.

The main reason the A10 Master made the cut is its cleaning head. It has a powered soft brush roll, just like the V7, but this powered head has LED lighting across the front. There’s also a multi-tasker brush for carpet to go along with a mini powered brush, crevice tool, 2-in-1 dusting brush, and hair cleaning tool.  When you factor in this vacuum’s convertible design, it is a very versatile system.

The Tineco A10 Master is comparable to the V7 Fluffy but provides more bang for your buck from an accessory standpoint. The fact you get two batteries is impressive as well, even if each one only provides around 25 minutes of power. This vacuum cleaner is available in Metallic Gray or Vibrant Orange and comes with a 2-year guarantee.

7. Bissell Zing Bagged Canister Vacuum 2154A    

Bissell’s Zing lineup has been a popular option with consumers for years, and a colorful choice for your home if you’re interested in a canister vacuum. While available in several different styles, we chose the 2154A, a bagged beauty that’s easy to pull or carry around your home.

The Zing is one of the simpler canister vacuums, but highly effective at removing dirt and dust from hardwood flooring. It has powerful suction with an airflow regulator so you can adjust the suction to suit your needs. It will work on rugs as well, but the multi-surface floor tool is air powered and perfect for any type of bare flooring.

Bags are easy to remove and dispose of when they get full, but it doesn’t hold as much as other canister vacuums on our list at 2.5 liters. The machine itself is smaller as well, however, and only weighs 8 pounds. That’s just a few more pounds than a cordless stick vacuum, but with around 2 to 3 times the capacity. There’s also a full bag indicator light, an important and often overlooked feature.

The cleaning path on the Bissell Zing is listed at 10.3” wide. It has a 16-foot cord which is a bit short but fully retractable. It has a simple 2-stage filtration system as well with a pre and post-motor filter. Both are washable, but there is no HEPA filtration on this particular model. It comes with five extra dust bags, and replacements are easy to find and a little over a buck each.

This little canister vacuum has enough suction to satisfy anyone’s needs, and while it can’t hold as much as some canister vacuums, it’s price tag will give you sticker shock – in a good way. This budget-friendly vacuum is also available with a bagless design but a similar price tag if you don’t mind getting a little dusty when opening the bin.

8. Hoover LiNX Signature Stick Cordless Vacuum Cleaner 

Hoover is a brand name you can trust whether you need a vacuum for plush carpet or hardwood flooring. The LiNX is a vacuum we’ve touched on before, and one of the best options if you’re in the market for a cordless lightweight upright.

The LiNX is engineered to fit under low furniture and against baseboards with its low-profile streamlined design. It’s a good looking vacuum with clean lines and a weight just under 10 pounds. As it uses the company’s WindTunnel tech, you can also expect fade-free suction while you clean regardless of the power level.

There are two modes on the LiNX cordless stick vacuum with suction and brush roll or suction only. The latter is ideal for hardwood and bare surfaces, but the brush roll is gentle enough to use on hardwood as well. It has no problems changing levels if it encounters a rug, and we love the fact the controls are easy to access and the battery gauge on the handle.

Power to the LiNX comes from an 18-volt lithium-ion battery, which is removable and replaceable. It’s rated for 18 minutes of battery life and will require 3 hours to bring back up to a full charge. The filter is washable and the cleaning path width is impressive at 11” given how slim this unit is. The dust bin is a little underwhelming at 0.13 gallons but gets the job done.

Homeowners found the Hoover LiNX a joy to use and were impressed by the power for its size. It’s obviously not ideal for larger homes, but unless you spend over 20 minutes vacuuming, the battery life should suffice. The Hoover LiNX Signature comes with a 2-year warranty and has a very reasonable price point.

9. iLife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner 

Robot vacuum cleaners used to be a luxury reserved for consumers with deep pockets. Well, that’s not the case anymore as you can find dozens of bots that won’t break the bank. The iLife V3s Pro is one of them, and an outstanding choice for hardwood floors thanks to the way it’s designed.

The iLife V3s Pro is an efficient little robot that’s easy to use and can slide under any object under 3” high. That makes it more versatile than most systems on our list, and it comes with three operating modes you can access with a remote. You can have it clean automatically using a random pattern, clean along edges, or put it into space mode.

Scheduled cleaning is an option to a degree, and the robot can return to its dock and recharge itself as well. Navigation is handled through an array of 10 sensors, and stairs won’t be an issue thanks to cliff detection. It can climb over rugs although it’s built for hardwood as there is no roller brush beneath the V3s Pro. Two side brushes pull in debris from the edges, but your hardwood will be safe with this suction-only robot vacuum.

The dust bin on this robot is small compared to similar systems at 300ml, but the runtime is solid at around 100 minutes. It’s considerably quieter than an upright or canister vacuum at 55 dB and has a TPU bumper to keep both the filter and your furniture safe. On the downside, there is no boundary or virtual wall system, so you’ll need to shut doors to any rooms you want to keep this robot out of.

iLife produced a winner with the V3s, and it’s a great way entry-level robot that sucks dust and pet hair from hardwood with ease. It does not have the navigation or mapping system of a higher-end robot vacuum cleaner, however, so homes with simple floor plans are better suited for this bot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will a vacuum cleaner damage hardwood floors?

A: If you’re concerned about scratches on hard flooring surfaces, look for a vacuum that allows you to turn off the brush roll. There are suction-only systems as well, but you shouldn’t have to worry about scratches with any high-quality vacuum.  

Q: Does a cordless vacuum have enough battery life to clean an entire home?

A: It depends on the size of your home and the type of flooring. On average, you can expect 20 to 40 minutes from most systems although the runtime drops with powered heads and intense cleaning modes.

Q: Is a canister or upright vacuum better for my home?

A: It depends on the type of flooring. Canister vacuums can be just as efficient as a high powered upright, but are typically geared towards bare surfaces and rugs unless they have power brush heads. For carpet, an upright is typically your best choice.

Q: Is a beater bar the same as a brush roll?

A: No, although the terms are used interchangeably. A beater bar uses vibration to loosen dirt while a “brush” roll has bristles like a hair brush.