10 Best Rated Vacuums 2026 in the United States

The Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away NV356E, is a versatile vacuum suitable for various cleaning needs, including pet hair and hard-to-reach areas. One of its main strengths is the Lift-Away functionality, allowing you to detach the pod for easy cleaning of stairs and furniture. Its Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology combined with a HEPA filter ensures that 99.9% of dust and allergens are trapped inside the vacuum, making it a great option for allergy sufferers.

The vacuum's powerful suction is effective on both carpets and hard floors, thanks to the brushroll shutoff feature. At 13.7 pounds, it is relatively lightweight and maneuverable with swivel steering, which helps navigate around furniture and tight spaces. The extra-large dust cup allows for longer cleaning sessions without frequent emptying. It comes with useful attachments like a pet power brush, dusting brush, and crevice tool, enhancing its versatility for different cleaning tasks.

However, it is a corded model, which may limit mobility compared to cordless vacuums. Additionally, the noise level is at 80 dB, which could be considered loud by some users. Despite these minor drawbacks, its strong suction, HEPA filtration, and practical features make it an excellent choice for households with pets and those needing a reliable upright vacuum.

The Shark NV352 Navigator is a corded upright vacuum designed to handle a variety of surfaces including carpets, hard floors, stairs, and upholstery. It offers strong suction with a 1.61 horsepower motor, which is powerful enough for deep cleaning carpets and lifting pet hair. Its Lift-Away feature lets you detach the canister for easier cleaning in hard-to-reach places like stairs and furniture. The vacuum uses a washable HEPA filter combined with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, making it a good choice if you need to reduce dust and allergens in your home. It’s bagless, so you won’t have to buy replacement bags, and the 1.1-quart dust cup is easy to empty. Weighing 12.5 pounds, it’s relatively lightweight for an upright, and the swivel steering helps with maneuverability around furniture and tight spots.

The vacuum includes useful attachments like a wide upholstery tool and a crevice tool, which improve its versatility, especially for pet hair and narrow spaces. However, it operates at about 80 decibels, which is somewhat noisy compared to some other models, so it may not be the quietest option. Also, being corded means you’ll need access to power outlets and may find the cord a bit limiting for large areas. This vacuum is well suited for those looking for a dependable, hypoallergenic machine that balances power and portability, especially in homes with pets, carpets, and mixed floor types.

The Shark NV501 Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum is a solid choice for home cleaning, especially if you want versatility and strong allergen control. It offers a powerful 1.6 horsepower motor and decent suction, suitable for carpets and hard floors. The vacuum uses a HEPA filter combined with anti-allergen complete seal technology, which helps trap dust and allergens effectively—great if allergy relief is important to you.

This model is bagless, so you won’t need to buy bags, but you’ll need to empty the 0.88-quart dust cup regularly. At 15.5 pounds, it’s moderately heavy compared to some lightweight models, but the advanced swivel steering and lift-away feature make it easier to maneuver around furniture and clean above floors or stairs. The LED headlights on the nozzle are handy for spotting hidden dust and pet hair. In terms of noise, it runs at about 80 dB, which is average and might be noticeable but not overly loud for most people.

It comes with useful attachments like a wide upholstery tool for furniture, a dusting brush for delicate surfaces, and a crevice tool for tight spaces. This vacuum is corded, so you don’t have to worry about battery life, but you’ll be limited by the cord length (around 8.4 feet hose). Assembly is required but straightforward. If you want a reliable upright vacuum with strong allergen filtering and good versatility for various surfaces, the Shark NV501 is a dependable pick, though it may feel a bit heavy and the cord can limit reach.