Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors: A Must-Read Buying Guide

Dyson’s line-up of cordless hybrid vacuums have always been popular due to their functional design and good performance. But with the V11 Torque Drive, Dyson has added even more value to the package by giving it a very unique feature that I haven’t seen many vacuums offer: a color LCD screen panel. For all of these reasons, and in spite of its high starting price, many people can easily justify investing money in this vacuum.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Via: Amazon

So how does it perform?

Well, many tests— from both consumers and third-parties— were conducted to quantify the vacuum’s performance and I’m happy to report that the V11 Torque Drive has aced each and every single one. The vacuum is versatile enough to handle both bare floors (hardwood, tiled, vinyl) and carpets of various thicknesses.

On hardwood in particular, the vacuum can pick up dirt and debris of various sizes, and even pet hair without posing too much of a challenge for the user.

The first reason behind the vacuum’s seemingly stellar performance is the high suction, which is provided by Dyson’s next-gen Digital Motor. The company has stated that it can provide more power, as well as being up to 40 times more energy efficiency than the motors found in older Dyson vacuums.

To give you a better idea of the performance improvements, compared to the Dyson V8, the revolutions per minute (RPM) ratings saw a 16-17% improvement. From 107,000 RPM in the V8 to 125,000 RPM in the V11. The faster the motor spins, the more power it outputs.

The next enhancement it has will be useful if, other than hardwood, you also have some carpets and rugs around the house. This best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors comes with a new component called Dynamic Load Sensor (DLS). It can analyze the thickness of a carpet or rug by calculating the resistance the carpet’s fiber makes against the brush roll. The vacuum will then automatically adjust its performance level to get the most optimal cleaning efficiency.

But that doesn’t mean the vacuum would handle everything for you. You can manually control the suction level, too, with the 3 cleaning modes that it offers.

• • Eco Mode: This mode will throttle down the motor and overall performance to give you a longer run time.
• • Auto Mode: Let the vacuum’s microprocessor handle everything, from adjusting suction to brush strength. This is the default cleaning mode.
• • Boost Mode: Sacrifices run-time to get more power, which will be useful for cleaning tough messes or high-pile carpets.

Since the motor is more energy efficient, it also has a good impact on battery life. The Li-ion battery cell of the V11 will give you around 60 minutes of cleaning time, while the V8 only offers 40 minutes (a whopping 50% increase.)

The V11 Torque Drive is quite light, weighing 6.6 pounds. It’s not the lightest Dyson, but it won’t cause you to feel achy or fatigued when you use it for a long period of time. Like many other stick vacuums, the V11 can be converted into a handheld vacuum for greater mobility. In this form, it can help you clean the stairs, counters, shelves, or the car, basically anywhere that a stick vacuum is impractical to use.

Its most distinctive feature is the color LCD screen panel at the back. It will display the approximate run-time you have left (in real-time as a countdown timer) and show the active cleaning mode.

The screen can even show you troubleshooting advice when the vacuum malfunctions, as well as telling you exactly what the problem is (a loose filter, for example.) In my opinion, this is the best use for the screen. Not having to dig through manuals or trawl the Internet to find answers whenever the vacuum runs into a problem is a huge timesaver.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive is a bagless vacuum, so it uses a 0.68 dry quarts dust cup. This is a pretty good capacity, though it certainly could have been bigger. Emptying process is simple and hygienic with a built-in dirt ejecting mechanism.

The filtering system of the V11 Torque Drive is quite impressive. It has a “lifetime” HEPA filter. As long as you maintain it frequently, the filter can be used for years up until the end of the vacuum’s service life. This is a big money-saver as HEPA filters are very expensive.

A small note about HEPA filters: these are the most efficient filtering system available. It can take out 99.97% of particles around 0.3 microns, which also includes microscopic bacteria and viruses. HEPA filtration is crucial for people who have allergies and respiratory conditions.

Furthermore, in light of this pandemic, the filter can be of significant help at keeping your family safe. HEPA filters have been reported to be effective against COVID-19.

The vacuum comes with a decent selection of accessories.

• • Mini motorized tool: Ideal for upholstery cleaning.
• • Combination tool: Has the combined function of a dusting brush and a crevice tool. Good for cleaning upholstery and cramped spaces like the car.
• • Crevice tool: Extends the vacuum’s reach, allowing it to clean dirt and debris from out of small corners and awkward crevices.
• • Mini soft dusting brush: Soft bristles that can enhance dusting performance on hard surfaces.
• • Stubborn dirt brush: Has stiff bristles to help you dislodge ground-in dirt from the floor.

Overall, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive would be a great investment for your home regardless of whether you have hardwood floors or not!

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The Complete C2 Hard Floor is Miele’s best rated vacuum for hardwood floors. True to its name, this iteration of the Complete C2 is specifically designed to cater to hard floors (hardwood, tile, linoleum, and vinyl).

Miele Complete C2 Via: Amazon

To help it achieve its “mission”, Miele has equipped it with their in-house 1,200-watt suction motor. The vacuum’s powerful suction is the thing that the majority of consumers are happy about, even people who are unhappy with some of its flaws.

With its strong suction, the vacuum can lift dirt and stubborn debris from bare floors without struggling too much.

Suction can be adjusted using the 6-mode Suction Control system. These modes are:

• • Curtains, drapery and fabric.
• • Upholstery and cushions.
• • Deep pile carpet and rugs.
• • Energy saving mode (or Quiet Mode).
• • Low pile carpet and rugs.
• • Bare floors and heavily soiled carpet and rugs.

Miele's Energy Saving mode Via: Amazon

The Energy Saving mode, in particular, is one of the more interesting offerings of Miele’s vacuums. Miele vacuums are best known for their quietness thanks to an acoustically-shielded design. But when tuned to Quiet Mode, the vacuum winds down the motor to become even quieter. Despite the lowered performance, it’s going to be immensely useful if you have small children or anxious pets who may not react well to loud vacuuming noises.

And yes, in case you’re a pet owner, the vacuum deals with pet hair well, according to many users.

Aside from the beefy suction motor, the vacuum also has the help of the 2 floorheads it is shipped with.

The first floorhead is the SBB 400-3 Parquet Twister XL Floorhead. This is the floorhead to go for if you’re seeking to clean parquet floors (a fancier term for hardwood floors.) According to the manual, the floorhead’s brush is made from a combination of soft polyamide (nylon) and “natural hair”. The soft bristles are inoffensive to your hard floors and won’t damage them.

The Parquet Twister XL has 180-degree swivel steering, which makes it highly maneuverable and can fit into tight crevices and corners easily.

In the box, you’ll also find the SBD 295-3 AllTeQ Combination Floorhead. Other than cleaning bare floors, this floorhead will also give you an additional cleaning mode for handling low-pile carpets and rugs, too. There is a foot pedal on top of the floorhead that will allow you to switch between either floor modes.

Speaking of carpet cleaning, this is the part where some consumers aren’t all that happy. The vacuum— despite having a combination floorhead— doesn’t deal with carpets very well except the short-pile types. When it is pitched against medium to high-pile carpets, the performance drop is quite significant.

In terms of design, this best vacuum for hardwood floors is quite lightweight at 8.8 pounds. When it’s laid on the floor, the series of caster wheels at the bottom of the vacuum will facilitate movements. Just tug on the suction hose and it will follow, sparing you from having to haul it around. The wheels are smooth and will not scratch your floors.

On the off-chance that you need to carry it (up and down the stairs, for example,) there is a carrying handle on top of the canister.

The power cord is 22 feet long and has an automatic retracting mechanism. Press the button on the canister and the cord will quickly recede into the canister.

Miele Canister C2 Hard Floor is a bagged vacuum and uses Miele’s Type GN dust bags. Each bag has a maximum capacity around 4 dry quarts, which is very large. You will not need to replace it often.

The bags have a 9-ply construction, which ensures durability. Additionally, they also come with an Auto Seal collar. When you remove the bag from the vacuum, the collar will automatically snap shut to prevent the dirt from leaking back out into the environment. For this reason, I highly recommend this vacuum (and any Miele’s C-series vacuums, as a matter of fact) for allergy sufferers and those with respiratory conditions.

The only drawback I can think of is that the bags are quite costly compared to other bags on the market. But it’s fair when considering how well-made they are.

The filtration system consists of a pre-motor and a post-motor filter. It also has a “Sealed System Construction'' (SCC), too. It simply means that the vacuum is built to be airtight and all of the dirty particles flowing through the vacuum must pass through the filter. Cheaper vacuums that don’t come with such a design often have fine dirt leaking out through cracks on the vacuum’s body.

Together, the system is said to be able to take out 99.9% of microscopic particles. However, I don’t think that this is a full HEPA filtering system. But fortunately, the vacuum is compatible with Miele’s HEPA filters (SF-HA 50), so you have the choice to go for it if you want/need to.

This best hardwood floor sweeper comes with 3 tools in the box: a dusting brush, an upholstery tool, and a crevice tool. It’s not a lot, but it will do for most vacuuming jobs around the house.

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Bissell is one of the more distinguished manufacturers in the affordable to mid-price tier. The Bissell PowerEdge 81L2A costs around $60, which might sound quite sketchy. Luckily, the vacuum has proven itself as a best sweeper for hardwood floors, receiving thousands of positive reviews from consumers. If you’re looking for a cheap investment, this vacuum will be a decent choice.

Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hardwood Floor 81L2A Via: Amazon

The vacuum has a 6-amp suction motor. It provides good enough suction for the vacuum to be able to deal with most particulates from dirt to sand, some small debris, and even pet hair on hardwood. Additionally, the vacuum has a cyclonic filtering system, which enhances dusting performance significantly.

Overall, on hardwood, this is one of the best vacuums for bare floors. But keep in mind that the vacuum is only designed for hardwood and doesn’t come with a brush roll. You won’t find a lot of use out for this vacuum on carpeting and rugs. It will even struggle on short-pile ones.

The Bissell PowerEdge 81L2A has a very unique design. The floorhead is V-shaped, which allows it to reach into crevices and corners more easily than traditional floorhead design.

It’s very lightweight at only 7 pounds. Most people won’t have any trouble navigating the house with the vacuum in hand. Its looped handle helps with comfort and the 20 feet power cord offers decent range.

Although the vacuum is bagless and has a dust cup, Bissell doesn’t tell us directly what the capacity is. But according to most reviews, the cup can hold enough content to last for a few days of low-intensity vacuuming.

When it’s time to empty, remove the cup from the vacuum and chuck everything inside into the trash can. Admittedly, it is not the most hygienic way to do it and the vacuum doesn’t come with any additional features to make the work less messy. Thus, this vacuum is not very high on my list of recommendations for allergy sufferers.

The bulk of the filtering work is done by a non-HEPA foam filter. There’s also a pleated filter at the back, serving as pre-motor filtration.

Only the primary foam filter can be washed and reused a couple times. Maintaining the pleated filter is a little bit more complicated because it’s not washable. You can either use another vacuum to clean it out, or you can tap it on the edge of a trash can to shake the accumulated dirt and debris loose.

Keep in mind that both filters must be replaced about once a year. But I recommend that you should consider a filter change immediately when there’s a performance drop.

Though it doesn’t have HEPA filtration, it’s understandable considering the low price point of this best rated vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum doesn’t come with any kind of accessories, which is a significant let-down. But for the price the Bissell 81L2A is a solid budget choice for hardwood floors.

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Although the Dyson V8 Absolute is 2 generations behind the previously reviewed Dyson V11 Torque Drive, it is still a highly capable and versatile vacuum cleaner. Especially now that it’s received a decent price dock, the V8 Absolute will be the best vacuum for wooden floors to get if you want a Dyson but can’t justify spending north of $500 to get one.

Dyson V8 Absolute Via: Amazon

Previously, I’ve mentioned a little bit about the lower performance level of the V8 compared to the V11. Specifically, due to the fact that the V8 has an older-gen suction motor, it outputs 16-17% less power than its newer, more advanced sibling.

But like I said, it doesn’t mean that the V8 is not a capable vacuum. When put to the test, the vacuum can handle various kinds of household cleaning tasks well. It performs admirably on hardwood and carpeting alike. Even in thicker carpets, the vacuum’s brush has no problem digging deep into the piling and pulling out all of the entrenched muck.

There are only 2 cleaning modes on the V8: a normal cleaning mode and a MAX mode. As you may have already expected, the MAX mode will significantly boost suction power. However, the vacuum’s battery life will take a hit.

Next: the design. If you’ve ever used a Dyson stick vacuum before, it won’t take you long to get used to the V8. Relatively lightweight at 6 pounds, the vacuum can be converted into a handheld for easier and more flexible wielding. In its handheld mode, this best vacuum for hardwood floor can prove its worth at cleaning small or cramped spaces like the car.

The dust cup of the vacuum can hold roughly 0.4 dry quarts, which is smaller compared to the V11’s 0.68 dry quarts cup. Nonetheless, it will still be able to last a whole-house cleaning session.

Emptying is done via a door at the bottom of the cup. Just press the ejection tab to the side of the cup and it will fall open. There’s also a dirt ejecting mechanism, which looks like a small rubber collar. It will slide along the cup and dislodge all of the debris that has gotten stuck in there.

Battery life is decent at 40 minutes on normal mode and down to about 7 minutes on MAX mode. Because the vacuum doesn’t come with Dyson’s Digital Motor, which is more energy efficient, it couldn’t reach the newer vacuum’s 60 minutes run-time mark.

Since it doesn’t have the V11 Torque Drive’s modern LCD screen, you will have to use the good-old-fashioned battery indicator to keep track of the remaining charge.

The V8’s filtration system consists of 2 parts: a cylindrical cyclonic motor and a post-motor HEPA filter. The cyclonic motor is to be inserted into the vacuum’s cyclonic system and will take care of heavy dust particulates. Finer particles will be filtered out by the HEPA filter in the later stage.

Both filters are washable and fully reusable. Provide them with adequate maintenance (a cold water wash once a month) and they shouldn’t ever need to be replaced.

Dyson ships many accessories with the V8. Other than the Direct Drive floorhead, there’s a soft roller cleaner head (ideal for hardwood), a mini motorized tool, a combination tool, and a crevice tool.

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Many people thought that tile floors are technically the same as hardwood. After all, both of them are considered bare floors, right?

Well, turns out tile floors can also pose a challenge to many vacuum cleaners. Dirt and grime can get stuck in-between the tiles and would require strong suction as well as a good brush to get them out.

With this in mind, I think that the Eureka Whirlwind NEN110A would be a good fit. It performs well on both types of floors and is quite affordable, so I reckon it would be an great choice for a lot of people.

Eureka Whirlwind NEN110A Via: Amazon

The bare floor performance of the vacuum is rated “excellent” by most customers. The strong suction makes it easy for the NEN110A to scoop up dust and debris. Even when pitted against large debris like cereal and chip crumbs, the vacuum usually does a great job at sorting them out.

This best vacuum for bare floors can also tackle pet hair on bare floors, though beware that the brush’s bristles are known to occasionally get tangled up. It’s not a serious issue, fortunately, and all you need to do is to pay attention and disentangle the hair when needed.

Eureka NEN110A has what it takes to clean up carpeting, too. On low-pile carpets, the vacuum generally does a good job at clearing out dust and large debris. Nonetheless, it may struggle a little bit when it comes to small and fine particulates like baking soda.

Performance on high-pile carpets is similar to low-pile: good with dust and large debris, but a little bit troubled against small, fine debris. Budget vacuums tend to not be properly equipped for dense carpet cleaning, so seeing this $70 vacuum taking care of it is surprising, to say the least.

Eureka provides the vacuum with 2 different cleaning modes. One mode for bare floors, and the other one for carpets and rugs. Just use the mode-changing switch on the canister to switch between them. Thus, aside from tile floors, it can also be considered as one of the best vacuums for hardwood floors and rugs, too.

As it is a canister vacuum, all of the critical components of this best vacuum for hardwood floors is packed inside of a wheel-equipped canister. The whole thing weighs about 10.8 pounds, but since it is meant to stay on the ground and moved around on wheels, the weight would rarely get in the way.

Only when you have to pick it up by hand would it be a potential issue. Regardless, most customers regarded this vacuum as lightweight. The carrying handle at the top of the canister makes it portable, too.

One thing that I don’t like about this vacuum is the very short cord. At 13.85 feet, the cord severely limits the cleaning range of this vacuum. As you move through the house, you are going to have to change the power outlet frequently or use an extension cord.

The dust cup of this canister vacuum is decent at 0.54 dry quarts, but Eureka certainly could have done better in this department.

You can detach the cup from the rest of the vacuum when it is time to empty. The cup opens up at the bottom so it’s quite sanitary.

The vacuum’s filtration system consists of a pre-motor filter and a post-motor filter. Both are washable (should be washed once every month) and reusable. They’re built to last so as long as you maintain them correctly and frequently, you won’t need to buy replacement filters. The only issue I have with the filtering system is the lack of HEPA filtration. Still, considering the price of the vacuum, this isn’t so bad.

Accessories are lackluster. You will only find 2 things in the box: an extension wand and a soft bristle brush attachment.

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The Dyson Ball Animal 2 can deal with pet hair on all common floor types, ranging from sensitive bare floors to plush carpets and rugs. Though a little bit expensive (as all Dyson vacuums usually are), I think it will be well worth the money spent if you’re looking for a good Dyson pet vacuum.

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Via: Amazon

Bare floor performance of the Ball Animal 2 is great, according to most of the reviews. It can pick up dust, both small and large debris, as well as pet hair without kicking up too much fuss. Large debris does get stuck under the floorhead sometimes, but the overall experience of most users on bare floors is highly positive.

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 managed to maintain its power on low-pile and high-pile carpets. On both types, the vacuum can sweep up most dust, debris, and pet hair. However, there’s a small quirk that some people have noticed about the vacuum on both carpet types: it performs better against large debris than small ones. So keep this in mind.

It can attain this due to several extra performance-enhancing features. The floorhead is capable of self-adjusting and will adapt to whatever kind of floor the vacuum is on. Additionally, there’s also a brushroll shutdown switch that you can use when you transition from hardwood to carpeting.

In conclusion, this vacuum will be a good fit not just for controlling your pets’ shedding, but also  for day-to-day cleaning.

Since it’s an upright, this best vacuum for hardwood floors is quite bulky and heavy. It weighs 17.20 pounds, but the well-designed carrying handle makes transporting and handling the vacuum relatively easy.

The power cord is very long at 35 feet. It is long enough that you would most likely be able to clean up a whole room without having to change the outlet.

There’s one thing that I’m not particularly happy about with this vacuum: the build design. In the hand, the vacuum feels quite flimsy due to its primarily plastic construction. Even some of the metal parts, like the wand, is said to be a bit wonky. For a pretty costly vacuum, Dyson’s approach to this vacuum’s design is a bit of a let-down.

Thanks to its upright design, this best vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floors has a big dust cup. Measuring 1 dry quart, the cup can last for several days without needing emptying. You will also find a fill line on the cup to indicate when it’s filled up.

There are 2 parts to the filtering system: a cylindrical HEPA cyclonic filter and a post-motor HEPA filter. Both are washable, reusable, and are expected to last through the vacuum’s service life.

Accessories are plentiful, reflecting the vacuum’s price point. There’s a turbo brush, a soft bristle brush, a hard bristle brush, a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, a hard floor tool, and a pet tool.

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This lavender-colored upright vacuum is one of the best rated vacuum cleaners in the affordable segment (below $200.) And for the price, the package has pretty high value: good performance, a highly versatile design, and strong filtering. In my opinion, it’s definitely one of the better candidates if you’re looking for an inexpensive upright for your hardwood floors.

Shark NV352 Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum Via: Amazon

The Shark NV352 can deliver the power needed to handle a messy hardwood floor (or any kind of bare floors.) It can suck up dust, all sorts of debris, and even pet hair.

In fact, a lot of pet owners have vouched for the vacuum’s capability as a pet hair vacuum. Thus, if the Dyson Ball Animal 2 is a little bit too expensive for you, this one can substitute as your best vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floors, too.

On carpeting, the vacuum also performs okay, but it works better on low-pile carpets than it does on high-pile ones.

To give you an easier time transitioning between bare floors and carpeting, there’s a dedicated brush switch-off on the vacuum. Simply turn the brush off while you’re on bare floors that could be damaged by the brush’s scrubbing motion. Once you’re back to cleaning carpets and rugs, turn it back on. For this reason alone, this vacuum is quite high on my “best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors and rugs” list.

For an upright vacuum, the Shark NV352 is quite lightweight at 13.7 pounds. Nonetheless, it’s quite bulky. A lot of people have had a hard time trying to fit the vacuum underneath the furniture.

The most distinguishing feature of the NV352 (and many other Shark vacuums) is the Lift-Away canister. This design allows you to detach the core canister— which holds the motor, dust cup, and filtering system— from the rest of the vacuum. Just like you can convert a stick vacuum to a handheld, the NV352 allows you to convert your upright to a canister vacuum.

This smaller, more mobile form gives the user significantly more flexibility. With it, you can clean up areas like ceilings,  high shelves, furniture, and even the car.

The vacuum comes with a high-capacity dust cup, capable of holding a maximum of 3 dry quarts. But according to some users, the cup can only hold about 1.2 dry quarts before the fill line is reached. Still, this is a size good enough for most households.

Despite being an entry-level upright, the Shark NV352 is equipped with a full-fledged HEPA filter. In addition, it also has what Shark called an “Anti-Allergen Seal” system. It’s similar to the Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor’s sealed construction in that it makes the vacuum airtight to prevent dirt and particles from leaking out.

While the vacuum technically comes with 3 tools, there are actually only 2. You get a wide upholstery tool and you get 2 crevice tools with different lengths.

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Although Atrix has been around for a long time, amidst household names like Hoover, Dyson, and Miele, its reputation is still quite unknown. It’s not a name that the industry gurus would even hear all that often.

Nonetheless, the company’s AHC-1 Turbo Red canister vacuum has managed to solidify itself a place on the best vacuum for wooden floors’ list. For a fairly affordable vacuum, the AHC-1 can give back quite a lot in return.

Atrix AHC-1 Turbo Red Via: Amazon

Suction is very strong because of a 1,400-watt motor. The motor can be throttled up and down using a suction control slider on the canister. This grants the vacuum excellent flexibility, giving it an edge on more delicate surfaces like draperies and tougher ones like dense carpets.

The floorhead is made for bare floors cleaning and comes with retractable bristles. On more delicate types of hardwood that scratch easily, so you can roll up the brush to prevent the vacuum from damaging the surface. When you need to deal with small carpets and rugs or remove stubborn dirt on the floor, deploy the brush and go to town!

Its carpet performance isn’t as good. The AHC-1 may be able to superficially clean low-pile carpets, but from medium-pile and over this vacuum wouldn’t be the best model for the job.

Getting down to the design, the Atrix AHC-1 has the same old canister-on-wheels design. The large pair of wheels give the vacuum quite good maneuverability on bare floors with no obstacles. However, on carpeted floors, the vacuum turns quite clunky and hard to handle. The AHC-1 even has trouble rolling across its own power cord. It’s not deal-breaking in any way, but it is certainly annoying.

It is a bagged vacuum and uses Atrix’s proprietary AHC-2 HEPA dust bags. They’re one of the roomiest bags I’ve seen so far with a max capacity of 6 quarts. Such a capacity makes this vacuum great for long cleaning sessions and also an excellent fit for large homes.

This has given rise to an interesting anecdote that I’ve read in the reviews for this best vacuum for hardwood floors. One customer has used this vacuum for their professional cleaning business with excellent results, praising its quality and dependability meanwhile. It’s quite rare to see a residential-grade vacuum cleaner doubling as a commercial-grade vacuum. Most of the time, household vacuums don’t have the power or some design aspects (like large dust capacity) for commercial work. This one fits the bill, apparently.

The vacuum’s HEPA dust bags also have limited filtering ability, too. That, coupled with a dedicated HEPA exhaust filter, filtering ability of this vacuum is very good.

This vacuum’s shipping box is densely packed with a multitude of accessories. Aside from the standard flexible hose (6-foot long) and telescopic extension wand (adjustable from 22-foot to 36-foot.) Atrix AHC-2 comes with a floor tool, an air-driven turbo brush, round dust brush, upholstery nozzle, and a crevice tool.

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Like the Eureka Whirlwind NEN110A, the RapidClean Pro NEC180 is a “budget” vacuum. Regardless of this, its performance, design, and overall value are marvelous despite the relatively affordable price. You won’t miss out on a lot of things while using this vacuum compared to using some of the more expensive and best rated vacuum cleaners.

Eureka RapidClean Pro NEC180 Via: Amazon

The NEC180’s areas of expertise are bare floors (all types, including laminated floors, vinyl, hardwood, tiles, and so on) and low-pile carpets. On these surfaces, most tests and customer feedback seem to universally agree that the vacuum’s suction and brush can pick up every little dust particle and piece of debris. Pet hair can also be handled with relative ease by this vacuum.

I do not recommend using this vacuum on medium to high-pile carpets, however. As great as its low-pile performance is, it’s not equipped to deal with thick carpeting.

There are 2 cleaning modes: High Suction (stubborn dirt and carpets) and Normal (dust and light debris.) When you first turn on the vacuum, it will automatically tune to High Suction first. If you want to get to Normal Mode, press the power button a second time.

The Eureka NEC180 weighs 5.26 pounds, which is light enough for you to deftly maneuver it around on floor and overhead. As a stick vacuum, you can convert the NEC180 to a handheld by removing the suction wand.

My favorite part of this vacuum is the handle design that allows a user’s hand to get into a comfortable, natural position. It reduces fatigue in longer cleaning sessions. Additionally, the conveniently-placed control button on the handle makes operating the vacuum intuitive.

Maneuverability is good. The floorhead comes equipped with a swivel steering mechanism. The wheels at the bottom don’t scratch up hardwood, so you can push it around with confidence!

The 0.27 dry quarts dust cup is quite small. But on the bright side, this best hardwood floor sweeper can be easily emptied. The cup is mounted beneath the motor, above the suction wand. That means you can detach the cup but don’t have to remove the whole suction wand like with other stick vacuums.

Detaching the whole cup is only one way for you to empty the cup. In handheld mode (with the suction wand removed,) hold up the whole machine, press the release tab and the bottom trap door will fall open. Gravity will pull all of the dirt and debris down into the trash.

Battery life of this vacuum is decent at 40 minutes in Normal Mode. That’s enough to handle most jobs around the house. Once the battery has been depleted, you will need to plug it in for around 3 to 4 hours to regain a full charge.

There isn't much to say about the filtering system, which is merely composed of a conventional foam filter. It is not HEPA, but it can be washed and reused.

Eureka NEC180 only has 2 standard tools: a crevice tool and a 2-in-1 dusting brush (seems like a combination between a dusting brush and an upholstery tool.)

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Though they are a relatively new brand, Tineco has come up in conversations about the best vacuums a lot lately. The company has generated quite a lot of buzz with their excellent vacuums in both affordable and premium price ranges. The Pure ONE S12 series is the company’s entry into the premium range and is meant to be a rival to Dyson V11 Torque Drive.

Why do I think so? 

It boils down to the most distinguishing feature of this best vacuum for hardwood floors: an LCD screen panel highly reminiscent of the V11 Torque Drive. As of now, the Tineco Pure ONE S12 and Dyson V11 Torque Drive are the only vacuums with a screen.

Tineco Pure ONE S12 Plus Via: Amazon

Before we go deeper into that, let’s go through the basics first, beginning with performance.

Tineco Pure ONE S12 Plus doesn’t just have a similar design to its close rival, performance— just like the V11 Torque Drive— is well-rounded, too.

The Tineco Pure ONE S12 performs great on bare floors as well as carpeting. In tests and customer reviews, the vacuum can suck up all loose dust and debris on bare floors. The brush roll has also been reported to be able to do a great job at agitating low-pile to high-pile carpets, picking out stubborn dirt, debris, and hair from within with relative ease.

There’s one thing worth mentioning about the Tineco Pure ONE S12 Plus, though. The model I’m recommending is the “Plus” model, which is a higher-end variant of the baseline Pure ONE S12. Though it’s a little bit more expensive, there’s a huge reason why I’ll stand by it: its upgraded soft brush roll.

The floorhead of the standard version is notorious for having a small suction mouth, which makes it challenging for the vacuum to suck up large debris on bare floors. Instead of sucking them up, the vacuum would merely push them around. The upgraded tool in the Plus version has a larger suction mouth, effectively rectifying this issue.

If hardwood is your primary floor type, do not get the baseline version instead of this one. The bulk of the negative reviews in the baseline version stemmed primarily from this issue.

The proverbial “meat” of this vacuum is in the design. At 6.6 pounds, the vacuum is very light. Furthermore, with the help of many comfort-boosting features like the ergonomic handle makes this vacuum very pleasant to use. Maneuverability is also good with a swivel floorhead and smooth-rolling wheels.

But like I said, the best part about this vacuum lies in the LCD screen panel mounted at the top of the motor block. It displays all of the telemetry data (battery life, the active cleaning mode, troubleshooting messages, and so on.) Most interesting feature that the display has, though, is the iLoop System.

It is basically a smart dirt-detecting system that uses sensors to tell just how dirty your floors are. The dirtier your floor is, the redder the circle around the screen (hence the name “iLoop”.) When you clean out the whole room and the sensor no longer detects anything, the circle would turn blue. It helps a huge deal at managing time.

The vacuum is capable of connecting to your home’s WiFi network (you can check the connectivity status via the screen.) Once it’s connected, you can download Tineco’s mobile app and tie your phone with the vacuum. You will be able to check battery charge, check the filter’s integrity, adjust suction power, and see all details about past’s cleaning sessions. It’s the only vacuum that I know of with a dedicated mobile app thus far.

The dust cup has a capacity of 0.54 dry quarts. That’s just about average and will be good for most households.

It is a cordless vacuum and is compatible with Tineco’s Li-ion batteries. Each cell can last about 50 minutes. The vacuum is shipped with an extra battery cell, so if one cell was to run out in the middle of a session, you can plug another in and resume your work. All in all, the vacuum is capable of working for up to 100 minutes straight. Extra cells can also be bought if you need extended cleaning time.

Filtering is done by a pre-motor filter and a post-motor HEPA filter. Both filters can be washed and reused. The smartphone app will tell you exactly when you need to remove and clean them out.

The accessories are plentiful. You get a soft roller power brush with LED headlights, a soft dusting brush, a mini power brush, a 2-in-1 dusting brush, a crevice tool, and a flexible long crevice tool.

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The Eureka Mighty Mite is quite a legend among veteran vacuum owners due to its longevity. Many people have claimed that even five to ten years later, their old Mighty Mite still works fine. That’s quite impressive for a relatively affordable canister vacuum. And with pretty decent performance on bare floors and a lightweight, convenient design, it’s a solid purchase if you need a lightweight best vacuum for hardwood floors.

Eureka Mighty Mite 3670M Via: Amazon

Performance on bare floors, like I said, is excellent. The vacuum’s suction is very strong, giving it the ability to lift anything from dust, all the way to large pieces of debris and even pet hair. In addition, cleaning performance is very consistent, too. Even when the dust bag starts to fill up, suction has been reported to remain strong.

On the other hand, carpeting performance is less impressive. Low-pile carpet performance is adequate, with the vacuum being able to deal with everything other than small debris. This vacuum is most definitely not made for use on high-pile carpets against debris (but some reports indicate that it can pick up pet hair on thick carpets and rugs just fine.)

The Mighty Mite 3670M’s canister weighs around 9 pounds, which is very manageable. It comes with a carrying handle for easier transportation from room to room. When it’s on the ground, the vacuum moves around via a pair of black plastic wheels at the bottom of the canister.

Despite the ease of transportation, the actual cleaning range of the vacuum is quite limited due to the short power cord (19.62 feet.) You will have to change the power outlet fairly often if you have a large space to clean.

For dirt storage, the Mighty Mite 3670M uses Eureka’s MM dust bags. Capacity is around 2.54 dry quarts per bag, which will last you a couple of weeks. Fortunately, Eureka includes 5 extra bags in the box, so you’ll be able to go without having to buy replacement bags for up to half a year.

Filtering system is mediocre. A pre-motor filter is installed in the slot behind the dust bag. It’s not HEPA, but it can be cleaned occasionally to extend its lifespan for a little bit. Still, after a month or two, it’s best that you replace it with a new one.

The vacuum comes with only 2 significant tools: a combination brush (upholstery tool/crevice tool) and a hard bristle dusting brush.

   ➜ RELATED: The Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair: Best Products of This Year

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Granted, it is obvious from the name that it is a pet hair vacuum, but the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 2390A is more than just a “pet hair eraser”. When put to the test against ordinary household dirt and debris, this small handheld vacuum can competently perform as a best sweeper for hardwood floors. And if you’re also a pet owner, well, that’s 2 birds with 1 stone!

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 2390A Via: Amazon

Anyhow, let’s get to the performance... In short, bare floors performance is excellent, carpeting - not so much.

The 2390A does a very good job against both household muck and grime along with pet hair on common bare floors (linoleum, vinyl, hardwood, tiles, and so on.)

However, because of its small suction motor and motorized brush, the 2390A’s effectiveness on carpets is very limited, especially on carpets that are thicker than low-pile. On these types of carpets, the vacuum will not be able to penetrate the piling in order to clean deeper down. It will merely pick up bits of dust and debris on the surface.

But where vacuums like the Bissell 2390A shine the most is upholstery. With the upholstery tool attached, the vacuum can demonstrate its cleaning prowess to great effect. Tight spots, too, are part of its specialty. Its lithe design allows it to squeeze deeper into small corners and crevices to take out all of the built-up dirt there.

While on the subject of design, this handheld weighs 4.18 pounds. The lightweight design gives this vacuum outstanding maneuverability. The carrying handle makes it easy for most people to use, too, since it provides a very comfortable grip on the vacuum itself. Control switches are conveniently located on the handle to make accessing functions easier and less fussy.

Its dust cup can hold 0.63 dry quarts, which is very good for a handheld vacuum. You will most likely not be able to fill up the cup with only one cleaning session alone.

Battery life is decent at around 20 minutes. Some of the more negative reviews I’ve read about this best vacuum for hardwood floors is mostly due to the short battery life. However, in my opinion, 20 minutes is good enough to sort out smaller tasks around the house like scooping up pet hair on furniture and taking out a small mess on the floor. The vacuum is not made for big cleaning projects, so keep that in mind before you make a purchase.

For filtering, the Bissell 2390A has a 3-tier filtering system. It includes a pleated filter inside of a filter basket (2 parts) and an extra exhaust filter made from felt. Though it will provide an acceptable level of filtering, it is not HEPA.

Accessories, counting out the primary motorized brush roll head, include an upholstery tool and a crevice tool.

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Unlike the Shark NV352 that we reviewed earlier that focuses on affordability, the Shark ZU561 is made for the mid-tier market. It has a more quality design, better overall performance, and also a couple advanced features.

Shark ZU561 Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum Via: Amazon

The bare floor performance of the ZU561 is regarded as excellent by most. Suction is strong, which results in great efficiency against most household dirt. The vacuum has no issue scooping up dust and small pieces of debris, and it can handle large debris with ease. Most tests found the suction performance to be consistent, even as the dust cup begins to fill up past the fill line.

Performance on carpeting is acceptable. On both low-pile and high-pile carpets, the vacuum can clean out the majority of debris on and inside the piling. Though its debris pick-up rate is a little less on dense carpets, efficiency is still very high regardless.

An aspect I quite like regarding this vacuum is the adjustable suction. There is a control slider located on the vacuum’s handle that allows you to flexibly change the suction output. A user can quickly fine-tune the vacuum to work on upholstery with gentler cleaning force, max it out for high-pile carpets, or anything in-between.

The vacuum’s true specialty lies in its pet hair performance. With its anti-tangle brush roll, the Shark ZU561 can take out all of the hair on both bare floors and carpets without clogging up or becoming tangled.

In terms of design, the vacuum has a more updated and modern exterior than the Shark NV352 that I reviewed earlier. However, it’s worth mentioning that most of the vacuum is still made of plastic, which, while it gives the vacuum a decent weight (13 pounds), gives it dubious durability.

It’s relatively portable with a carrying handle. But since it comes with Shark’s Lift-Away technology, transporting it will be far less of a hassle in its Lift-Away canister configuration. Incidentally, the smaller, more mobile form factor will make it easier to clean ceilings and other awkward areas, too.

The Shark ZU561 has a 24.7 feet power cord. This is a fairly decent range for most households, but it could have been better. Be prepared to have to occasionally switch between power outlets if you have large rooms to clean.

Dust cup has a decent size at 1 dry quart. The entire cup can be removed from the vacuum’s frame and has a bottom-emptying door for more hygienic unloading. There’s also a drawn line on the cup indicating when it should be cleaned out.

Filtering system has 2 parts: a pre-motor filter and a post-motor HEPA filter. Both of which are washable and reusable. The vacuum also has a sealed construction to prevent the leakage of harmful particles.

Accessories for the Shark ZU561 includes: an upholstery tool, a wide upholstery tool, a hard bristle brush, a soft bristle brush, and a crevice tool. The selection is quite diverse and will allow the vacuum to be adapted for a variety of cleaning tasks.

   ➜ RELATED: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 Upright Vacuum Cleaner

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I believe that the Dyson V11 Outsize is currently the best premium V-series vacuum that Dyson is selling. Yes, I place it on an even higher position than the V11 Torque Drive. However, as expensive as this vacuum is, Dyson has put in a lot of work to make it a vacuum worthy of its price tag.

Dyson V11 Outsize Via: Amazon

Compared to the V11 Torque Drive, the Outsize variant is significantly more powerful. While the former is only capable of producing 185 airwatts of suction, the Outsize can generate up to 220 airwatts (about 19% increase.) Thus, the Outsize variant is vastly more effective at bare floors cleaning than the Torque Drive, considering good suction is what makes the most difference in bare floor cleaning.

Carpeting performance is just as good and according to some, even better, with the enhanced power. The Outsize still sports the Dynamic Load Sensor-enhanced brush roll that automatically adjusts power based on the carpet’s thickness. The vacuum will have no issue clearing out large messes on your carpets and rugs. For those with area rugs, consider this my official recommendation for the title of “The best vacuum for wood floors and area rugs.”

This best vacuum for hardwood floors still comes with 3 cleaning modes: Eco, Auto, and Boost. Each mode will provide a different level of performance suited to different surfaces and tasks.

With all of that improvements, expectedly, the V11 Outsize is heavier  in comparison to the Torque Drive. At 7.85 pounds, it is about a pound heavier than its smaller sibling.

Still, Dyson’s designers have managed to retain a fairly compact and maneuverable overall design for the Outsize. Sure, when compared side by side, the Outsize is slightly bulkier than the Torque Drive. However, in practice, there aren’t notable differences between either model in terms of maneuverability and ease of use.

Of course, the most distinguishing feature of the V11 Torque Drive— the LCD screen panel, is still present on the Outsize. It still has the same functions like tracking battery charge, active cleaning mode, and so on. The screen is virtually unchanged from one model to another.

One of the most significant upgrades in the Outsize version is the larger dust cup. From 0.69 dry quarts in the Torque Drive, the dust cup in the Outsize is enlarged to be able to hold a maximum 1.7 dry quarts. You can clean out large houses and spaces without having  to fear running out of room in the cup.

Battery life is improved, too, doubling that of the Torque Drive’s. The Outsize’s battery can sustain operation for around 120 minutes. Furthermore, unlike the Torque Drive, you can swap out the battery with fresh ones for extended cleaning time.

Filtering is handled by a HEPA filtering system. It’s designed to last for “a lifetime”, so there’s no need for replacement. Just make sure to maintain it frequently.

As the premium model, the outsize comes with all of the accessories that Dyson has to offer: an XL-size Torque Drive cleaning head, a mini motorized brush roll, a combination tool, a crevice tool, a mini dusting brush, and a stubborn dirt brush.

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Why Should I Get A Hardwood Floor Vacuum?

All because of hardwood’s sensitivity.

Unlike linoleum, tile, or vinyl floors which are all capable of withstanding some abuse, hardwood can get scratches very easily. An abrasive brush roll or a roughly-textured vacuum wheel is going to leave ugly scratch marks on the floor. It doesn’t just defeat the purpose of having a hardwood floor in the first place but since hardwood floors are very expensive to fix, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny, too.

So picking the right vacuum that’s designed to be compatible with hardwood is a must. Accidentally buying and using vacuums that don’t work well with hardwood will definitely ruin your day.

It is also the reason why, if possible, I recommend that you pick up a quality vacuum even if it costs more. The investment is going to pay off greatly in the end. A $600 - $700 Dyson that you can use for several years is a much better purchase than a $1,200 hardwood floor repair.

Conclusion

So what is the best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors, then?

That, in my opinion, would be the Dyson V11 Torque Drive. Although it certainly costs quite a bit, with all of the capabilities it offers, it’s well worth it. Not to mention, Dyson’s vacuums are known for being very reliable and able to last for years on end. When you think of it as a long-term investment, it’s actually not that shabby a deal.

We hope you have found the best vacuum for hardwood floors in this in-depth review! But before I end this guide altogether, I have included some popular questions that buyers typically ask.  I think they would help new buyers a great deal when it comes to understanding hardwood vacuums.