What makes a vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors special? It picks up dust and debris without scratching the wood finish, and its design might include rubber wheels instead of plastic, and attachments with soft bristles or microfiber pads. Just as important, it may have a beater bar that turns off to protect the floor. You need the best vacuum for hardwood floors.

There are many vacuums for wood floors available, from uprights and canisters to stick and cordless models.

When you start shopping for the best vacuums for hardwood, consider whether you need one solely for bare floors or if versatility across carpet and upholstery is preferred. If maintaining clean floors is a priority, explore models like those from SocialGreg that cater to various surfaces, ensuring efficient cleaning across hardwood, carpet, and upholstery alike..

1. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum NV352

The Shark Navigator NV352 is one of the best upright vacuums for hardwood and all-around housecleaning and there are several reasons for this assessment.

The first is that it’s easy to turn off the brush roll to avoid scratching laminate and hardwood.

Next, one button press allows the user to separate the canister from the body of the vacuum. Also, it’s easy to clean stairs and furniture with the canister plus attachments, which include a wide brush for removing pet hair from upholstery, a narrow crevice tool, and a wide crevice tool.

In its upright configuration, the 12.5 pound Shark Navigator has swivel steering for sharp turns. Plus, its low-profile front fits underneath cabinets and sofas.

If you have area rugs to sweep, you can reduce the suction, too.

To sum up, the Navigator Lift-Away is protected by a warranty, includes a 25-foot power cord, and comes with washable HEPA filters.

2. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

The Shark Navigator NV356E weighs a little more than the NV352, but it has features that compensate for the weight.

While both vacuums have the same breakaway design that lets them convert into handheld canister vacuums, there are some important differences between them.

For one, although the NV356E lets you turn off the brush roller, it also comes with a Hard Floor Hero microfiber pad dusting attachment.

This tool is very effective for deep cleaning laminate and hardwood flooring because it removes debris that would otherwise stay stuck to the floor.

Plus, the two included pads are machine-washable.

The NV356E vacuum comes with other tools like a HEPA filter, a Pet Power brush, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush for lampshades and blinds.

It also has a 30-foot-long power cord, plus a larger debris bin than what the NV352 has.

3. Kenmore Elite Pet & Allergy Friendly Upright Vacuum

The Kenmore Elite 31150 is a smart choice if you have persons with allergies or asthma in your home.

It’s very good at removing pet fur, dander, and other allergens from a variety of surfaces, including hardwood, carpet, and furniture.

The standout feature that customers love is this vacuum’s ability to remove and retain dust and debris with its sealed nozzle system and HEPA filtration system. The filter system includes a bag.

This vacuum comes with a telescoping wand and three attachments like the Pet Handi-Mate to pick up hair.

It also has an LED headlight and a brush roller that turns off for bare floors.

4. Bissell Hard Floor Expert Deluxe Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

Bissell’s 1161 is a canister vacuum cleaner with rubber wheels that have felt treads that won’t mark hardwood or laminate.

It also has fingertip controls on the handle that manage the suction power. While it can handle low-nap carpets, it’s best for bare floors.

Users say that they appreciate the hard floor tool that has soft nylon bristles for picking up fine dust and unsticking debris from the floor.

There’s also a telescoping wand to help reach the tops of curtain rods and clean steps.

5. Miele Compact C1 Pure Suction Canister Vacuum

Miele’s Compact C1 is quiet and powerful, but it has no brush roller for cleaning carpets.

Instead, it comes with a floor attachment that has soft bristles for removing pet hair and dust from hardwood and low-pile rugs.

Other highlights of the Compact C1 include quiet 360-degree swivel wheels and six levels of suction power.

It requires a bag for debris collection, but on average, each bag lasts for months, and it’s covered by a seven-year warranty.

6. Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Like the Miele Compact C1, the Complete C3 Marin has six levels of suction.

It’s easy to select them by way of foot switches, or the vacuum will adjust it automatically for you.

Unlike the C1, the C3 is capable of cleaning medium to plush carpets and not just bare floors. It comes with a wide powered brush roller and an LED headlight.

Next, the Parquet Twister attachment is perfect for hardwood or linoleum.

Plus, there’s a telescoping steel wand and a long power cord that gives the C3 a 36-foot range. Of course, the cord has a one-touch rewind button.

Finally, the C3 is also a bagged vacuum with a HEPA filtration system, and it’s protected by Miele’s excellent warranty coverage.

7. Eureka Mighty Mite Corded Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Instead of a luxury vacuum, you might prefer a less expensive but still powerful Mighty Mite canister vacuum.

It only weighs nine pounds and has a 20-foot power cord, and it converts to a blower, too.

Users love its potent suction that removes tiny particles from bare floors.

Also, it comes with a HEPA filter and disposable debris bag system that’s great for eliminating allergens.

Plus, it includes two extension wands and attachments for cleaning upholstery.

8. Shark Rocket DeluxePro Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

Shark’s Ultra-Light Upright HV321 separates into a smaller hand vacuum with the press of a pedal.

With the small canister at hand, it’s easy to clean overhead and on stairs, and there are two speed settings to select for either bare floors or high-pile carpets.

The 30-foot power cord and the LED headlights make cleaning hardwood easier.

Also, the selection of attachments make sure you can reach into every corner and crevice. Its design is especially convenient for cleaning vehicles, too.

9. Dirt Devil Power Air Corded Bagless Stick Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

If you’re on a budget and don’t mind a little noise if it means you’ll have a powerful vacuum, try the Dirt Devil Power Air SD20505.

It’s very lightweight at just under seven pounds, plus it has a dirt cup that pops open at the bottom, which keeps your hands away from the dirt inside.

It comes with a 20-foot long power cord and a two-year warranty.

10. Bissell PowerEdge Hardwood Floor Bagless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

The Bissell stick vacuum cleaner 81L2A has a V-shape floor head that does a great job of edging around baseboards and fitting into corners.

Its head swivels for quick turns while it rounds up debris in front for quick pickup, too. This is a model that’s specifically made for bare floors, not carpet.

Customers comment that they like the easy-to-empty bagless vacuum design and the fact that it only weighs seven pounds. Pet owners love how it sucks up hair and fur in the blink of an eye.

11. SharkNinja NV801 Duoclean Powered Lift-Away Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

The Shark Duoclean NV801 is another lift-away vacuum that pulls apart for cleaning upholstery in cars or dusting drapes.

When you need to sweep bare floors, there’s a button on the side that switches off the brush roller that helps it clean carpets.

Although there’s a HEPA filter, you won’t need to empty the bagless vacuum canister often for the vacuum to maintain suction.

Plus, the Pet Multi-tool simplifies fur removal from carpets and fabrics.

12. VonHaus 2-in-1 Corded Stick and Handheld Vacuum with HEPA Filtration

The VonHaus bagless stick cleaner is surprisingly popular among customers with wood floors.

Although it’s small, it’s mighty in suction power, with plenty for area rugs, too.

The washable HEPA filter traps allergens without increasing expenses for replacement filters.

Then, the 19.5-foot cord, shoulder strap, and extension wand and attachments simplify cleaning all around the home.

13. Dyson V6 Cord-Free Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

While many of the best vacuums for hardwood come with long power cords, they can’t beat the freedom of a cordless vacuum for a hardwood floor.

The Dyson V6 and later iterations like the V8 provide powerful suction even though they run on rechargeable batteries. They also pull apart into convenient hand vacuums.

Its only downside is the short runtime. The V6 offers 20 minutes of cleaning while the V8 doubles that to 40 minutes.

If you’re shopping for a vacuum that lets you do daily maintenance, the Dyson is a good choice.

14. BLACK+DECKER Cordless 20V Max Lithium 2-in-1 Stick Vacuum

If a Dyson doesn’t fit into your budget, try this cordless vacuum from Black+Decker.

It’s both a stick and a hand vacuum, and customers say it has a longer runtime than the Dyson V6.

Consumer Reports says that it offers “superb cleaning across bare floors,” and the brush roll pops off for no-mar vacuuming of delicate surfaces like laminate.

15. Hoover Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

The venerable Hoover Company also makes the Linx cordless stick vacuum that merits mentioning.

It runs off an 18-volt lithium-ion battery that keeps powerful suction steady for about 20 minutes of cleaning.

Customers say it’s just as powerful as an upright vacuum and you can turn off the motorized brush for bare floors and extend the runtime.

16. iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum with Wi-Fi Connectivity

Instead of 20 minutes to clean up the house yourself, why not set the Roomba 690 to work for you?

Its battery lasts up to an hour, and it can dock itself, recharge, and return to where it left off before.

When it’s connected to your home Wi-Fi, you can control the Roomba with the HOME app or by voice control with Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant.

This model of the Roomba series has a three-stage system that performs much better than earlier generations of robot vacuums.

It won’t fall down stairs, and it knows the difference between carpet and hard floors.

17. ECOVACS DEEBOT N79S Robot Vacuum Cleaner

The DEEBOT N79S from ECOVACS is relatively quiet at 70dBA when running on bare floors.

It innovates on the Roomba 690 with more cleaning modes (like edge cleaning) and a slightly longer battery life.

Of course, it’s compatible with voice control, or you can control it with the ECOVACS app, too.

18. eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S Best Vacuum Cleaner for Hardwood Floors

eufy’s RoboVac 11s is garnering a lot of positive reviews because it runs up to 100 minutes on a charge, plus it works well on low-pile carpets and bare floors.

It has BoostIQ that automatically increases its power to clean tough spots.

While it’s not Wi-Fi connected or compatible with voice control, it’s easy to manage with the remote included.

19. Bissell Symphony Pet Steam Mop and Steam Best Vacuum Cleaner for Hardwood Floors

It’s great to vacuum, but what about mopping those bare floors afterward? That’s the only way to remove the rest of the dirt and debris.

A steamer is possibly the best method to achieve a disinfecting deep clean without using chemicals.

The Bissell Symphony Steam Mop is safe to use on sealed hardwood, tile, stone, and vinyl floors.

You can adjust it between vacuum, low steam, and high steam modes, and it comes with washable mop heads or disposable Swiffer mop pads, too.

When you’re cleaning hardwood floors, you can pop in a scented disc for a pleasant fragrance.

After you’re done, the tank emptying system makes it possible to dump out hair and debris without getting the mess on your hands.

Conclusion

When you shop for a vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors, consider whether you’ll also be using it to clean area rugs, carpets, stairs, drapes, and furniture.

Chances are you’ll find the perfect combination of features whether you prefer canister vacuums, upright vacuums, or stick vacuums.

You can also choose from corded or cordless, as well as bagged or bagless. There are many powerful and efficient vacuums to help you maintain your home in top shape.