12 Best Upright Vacuums with HEPA Filters of 2023 | Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
Every household deals with two types of pollutants i.e. the one we can see and the one we rather feel. For instance, food leftovers, liquid spills, dirt, and other similar messes are pretty visible to the naked eye. Their presence indicates the untidy and unhygienic state of a household and that’s why homeowners are quick […]
Every household deals with two types of pollutants i.e. the one we can see and the one we rather feel. For instance, food leftovers, liquid spills, dirt, and other similar messes are pretty visible to the naked eye. Their presence indicates the untidy and unhygienic state of a household and that’s why homeowners are quick in dealing with them.
On the other hand, there are fine dust, pollen, pet dander, and other micro-particles that remain unnoticeable in most cases. Their presence doesn’t make the house look messy. However, you eventually get to notice them, and not in the most pleasant of ways.
You get to know about these invisible pollutants with asthma aggravations, respiratory complications, runny noses, watery eyes, and different sorts of allergies. On top of that, you can’t get rid of these too small to see yet dangerous pollutants with regular mopping and cleaning.
This is where vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters come into the equation. Upright vacuums are already quite popular among US households. And now people are also waking up to the upright models with HEPA filters due to their effectiveness against those micro-pollutants.
How long a HEPA filter can last? What is a sealed HEPA vacuum cleaner? We will answer these and other similar questions in this piece along with a comprehensive buying guide. But first, let’s review 12 of the best upright vacuums with HEPA filters of this year.
It is important to mention here that the reviewed upright HEPA vacuum cleaners are not listed in any particular order. The numbering is done just for easy reading.
Best Upright Vacuums with HEPA Filters
Here is the list of the 12 best upright vacuums with HEPA filters that you can use to keep your living space free of dust, pet dander, and other allergens.
1. Dyson Cyclone V10 – Most Powerful HEPA Vacuum
- Powerful V10 motor with 125,000 rpm
- Cyclone technology: 14 concentric cyclones
- Requires 3.5-hours charging before first use
We are starting our list with a very powerful yet sleek upright HEPA vacuum. Dyson is a reliable name among vacuum cleaner manufacturers and its Cyclone V10 Absolute is a machine that you want every cordless vacuum to be.
It features the most powerful V10 motor designed by Dyson. This motor delivers over 120,000 rpm let you use it like any powerful corded upright unit. With a single charge, you can use it for up to 60 minutes in normal vacuuming mode. You can also run it on fade-free power mode for 40 minutes to get rid of both fine dust particles and debris. Then, there is the third and most powerful suction mode that can run for 20 minutes to capture deeply ingrained dust particles in carpets and upholsteries.
Moreover, the HEPA filtration system covers the entire internal space so no trapped pathogen and micro-pollutant can seep back into the vacuumed area. Apart from offering such powerful vacuuming in Cyclone V10 Absolute, Dyson has succeeded in introducing some of the winning design features as well. To begin with, its sleek construction is fitted with an ergonomic handle that allows you to easily use it on both vertical and horizontal surfaces.
Then, you can collapse its telescoping rod to convert it into a handheld gadget. This configuration comes in really handy when you want to use it in cars or other constricted spaces. Lastly, the drop-in mounting dock of Cyclone V10 Absolute lets you easily charge it from any wall-mounted power outlet. This Shark upright vacuum cleaner is an improvement to DuoClean APEX in more than one way. To begin with, it features a fingertip control that lets you quickly switch between carpet and hard floor mode while moving the powered-on vacuum. Moreover, Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet also has dynamic swivel steering.
When you clean an area decked with obstacles in the form of furniture and appliances, it gets quite hectic to rightly maneuver a bulky vacuum in the right direction. This swiveling steering will come in really handy to move around the vacuum on obstructed floors without straining your hands and arms.
When you use a vacuum in a lift-away mode, you often deal with spaces that are entirely dark or very poorly lit. Shark has eased this difficult vacuuming by adding LEDs to the handle and nozzle of this lift-away and upright vacuum. Now, you can maneuver better and see the dust you are intended to clean. In short, these LEDs will only streamline your vacuuming.
We also like the large canister of Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet. It can hold up to 3.3 dry quarts of dust. And lastly, the HEPA filtration makes sure that all those allergens and fine particles captured from tight corners and spots in the house don’t bother you again. We have to give it to Dyson for making some of the sleekest upright vacuum units on the block. This is yet another slim upright that stands apart from other Dyson vacuum machines for many of its unique features.
For starters, Dyson Ball Multi Floor offers the easiest maneuverability that you can find in any upright vacuum. The cleaner head of this Dyson Unit is fitted with a ball. This unique assembly let you move the vacuum around every floor obstacle with a flick of the wrist. Moreover, its self-adjusting head is adaptable to all sorts of floor surfaces (tile, vinyl, carpet, etc) while maintaining the same Radial Root Cyclone suction that captures all the microscopic dust.
We also like the hygienic way to empty the dust bin of the Dyson Ball Multi Floor Vacuum. You don’t need to open any lid and come into contact with the trapped dirt. Just push a button on the canister and it will release all the dirt and dust.
Dyson has also made sure that you can use this vacuum for versatile cleaning work. Whether it’s dusting the window sills or cleaning beneath the low-profile appliances, its long instant-release wands will come in handy. And not to forget the whole machine HEPA filtration that ensures allergen-free vacuuming. It is never easy to vacuum clean soft-style carpets. Their plushy and spaced construction makes for comfortable floor lining but you need to be extra diligent in cleaning them. It has been noticed that using regular vacuums for such carpets eventually razes their finish. Soniclean has understood the predicament of the owners of those carpets and introduced an upright unit, particularly for such cleaning.
Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Cleaner features large wheels and an adjustable vent system, ensuring that the vacuum ‘floats’ over a carpet while cleaning it. Moreover, a special soft bristle brush roll is used in the cleaner head so that that the knits and yarn of any soft-style rug remain unharmed while vacuuming.
Apart from making its vacuum a perfect cleaning tool for soft plush carpets, Soniclean has made it certain that it can deliver optimal vacuuming performance as well— just like any top-quality vacuum cleaner. For that matter, it features a patented Sonic Cleaning Technology that vibrates a bar (fitted inside the head) at the frequency of 200 Hz to dislodge those severely implanted dust particles in the carpet piles.
The HEPA filtration mechanism of Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Cleaner is also worth mentioning. It features H-13 hospital-grade HEPA filters that capture almost all particles of 0.3 microns and prevent their expelling back in the air. Homeowners with mixed flooring often face a dilemma while choosing a vacuum cleaner for their abode. For instance, a unit giving good results on carpets and rugs may not give equally good results on hard surfaces and other floor types. Similarly, a vacuum delivering optimal cleaning on tiles and vinyl may give subpar results on carpets.
All such people can get around this impasse by getting Miele Complete C3 Calima Canister Vacuum. It is an upright unit that is equally good on both carpets and hard floors. Its air-driven Turbo Comfort rolling brush simultaneously loosens the deep-rooted dust and dirt while collecting it. Moreover, its unique Parquet Twister is designed to give effortless cleaning results on all hard, smooth yet delicate floorings.
All flooring options don’t need similar suction power. For that matter, Miele has featured six-speed settings in its upright unit so you can adjust its suction according to the given surface. We also like the extended telescopic wands of this machine that give vacuuming operations for a 36-feet radius without changing power outlets. Moreover, upholstery and crevice nozzle is given to vacuum clean every nook and corner of the house.
Bagged upright vacuum cleaners are not usually considered suitable for homes with people sensitive to dust and other airborne allergens. But not all bagged vacuums are created equal. Case in point: Oreck Magnesium RS Swivel-Steering Bagged Upright Vacuum. It is an upright vacuum unit with an inner HEPA-lined filter bag that captures almost 99% of fine dust particles and pathogens.
Apart from the state-of-the-art HEPA filtration, this Oreck unit is also good with its other features as well. For instance, it has swiveling steering that makes its maneuverability around sharp corners and baseboards a breeze. Moreover, its helix roller brush is also worth mentioning.
This inverted roller brush is powered by a high-performance motor that rotates it at a whopping 7,000 rpm to give optimal cleaning results. But what we like most about Oreck Magnesium RS Swivel-Steering Upright Vacuum is its flexible construction. You can lay it virtually flat to use under furniture and appliances. The LEDs fitted on the front further help in cleaning those tricky spots.
Even with all this detailed and powerful vacuuming mechanism, Oreck Magnesium RS Swivel-Steering Bagged Upright Vacuum weighs just above seven pounds. The lightweight construction also makes it an easy-to-maneuver upright vacuum unit. If your family includes a pet member, then it is inevitable to face the problem of stray hair and dander. Although they don’t pose any significant harm, their unattended presence in the house can lead to cause allergies and aggravate asthmatic conditions. While all vacuum manufacturers promise to give effective results against pet dander, there are very few models that live up to the claim.
And one of them is Kenmore Elite 31150 Pet-Friendly Upright Vacuum. This unit comes with a particular Pet Handimate that let you get rid of all stubborn dander and other fine debris in a more effective and hassle-free manner. The Handimate has been designed such that you can use it on carpets, furniture, and car interiors with the same ease.
The powerful motor of Kenmore Elite 31150 is also worth mentioning. It is a 2-motor system that gives you 20% more air power than traditional vacuum machines. As a result, you can capture all those deeply affixed invisible dander and lint.
With a cord length of 32 feet, a cleaning width of 12.75 inches, and a wand that can be adjusted at five different lengths, Kenmore Elite 31150 is surely a handy upright vacuum to use. If you are looking for a heavy-duty dry/wet vac machine that is compliant with HEPA filtration for a large floor area of any commercial establishment, then Vacmaster 8 Gallon HEPA Vacuum is the option you must consider. It is an upright vacuum unit fitted on a caster wheel assembly for easy maneuvering.
Although it features an 8-gallon canister, this doesn’t make the unit bulky— thanks to its crush-proof polypropylene construction. Moreover, a 10-foot crushproof hose along with stainless steel wands (including one elbow) ensure that Vacmaster 8 Gallon HEPA Vacuum can work in all sorts of rough and tough conditions without wearing and tearing.
Since it is an industry-grade vacuum, it is important to talk about its one-of-a-kind motor. Vacmaster 8 Gallon features a 2-stage industrial motor that can generate the vacuum with a max water lift of 106 inches to give uncompromised vacuuming against all sorts of wet and dry dirt and debris.
Vacmaster has also made sure that users can use this heavy-duty machine for all sorts of vacuuming. Therefore, it also features a crevice tool, a combo floor nozzle, and a horsehair round brush. Vacmaster 8 Gallon HEPA Vac is a great long-term investment for large commercial spaces for a HEPA-compliant cleaning regimen. The handheld uprights are supposed to be used for light dusting and vacuuming. But your perception regarding handheld vacuums is going to change with Housmile Upgraded 810 UV Anti-dust Mites Vacuum Cleaner. It is an ergonomic vacuum design that you can easily hold just like an iron with a comfortable handle. All the controls are given on the handle top so you can make all vacuuming adjustments with a flick of a finger.
This Housmile handheld vacuum features powerful suction and a double-rolling brush with a 6000 rpm rating. Both these components work in tandem to help you get rid of even dust mites and bed bugs from the carpeting and upholstery. Moreover, this upgraded version features a chamber with 20% stronger UV rays that exterminate all those allergy-causing microorganisms then and there.
Even in such compact construction, Housmile Upgraded 810 UV Anti-dust Mite Vacuum has a dust can that doesn’t need frequent emptying. Apart from HEPA filtration sealing, this UV handheld vacuum also has carbon filters that make sure no trapped allergen and accompanying odors can be expelled back into the air. It is a dream of many homeowners to have the power and vacuuming dexterity of a corded upright vacuum unit in a portable one. But it is not possible to get the full specs of a corded unit. So, what to do? Well, Shark has reached an interesting solution to that problem with its Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E.
It is actually a corded upright vacuum unit but very light in weight and easy in maneuvering, giving it almost the feeling of a cordless portable vacuum machine. It features an easy-to-use lift-away button so you can make it portable while cleaning stairs, above-floor, or similar tricky unsmooth surfaces.
We also like the holistic pathogen-free vacuuming mechanism of this machine. Apart from bearing a HEPA filter, it also features advanced Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology that makes sure no microparticles get back to the recently vacuumed space. Furthermore, its brush roll shutoff button is also worth mentioning which lets you easily switch between bare floor and carpet cleaning modes. This is the second Kenmore upright vacuum on our list that has bagged canister construction and uses a dual motor system to offer the best results. The machine comes with five different nozzle accessories including pet PowerMate and a unique fan sweeper as well. Moreover, it’s equally good on all surfaces. It offers scratch-free cleaning on hardwood floors and deep cleaning on low-pile carpets.
However, what we like in Kenmore Elite 21814 HEPA Vacuum is its one-of-a-kind stair grip that guarantees fall-free movement on stairs. Moreover, its 11-foot telescopic wand is also quite something. The wand along with a 26-foot power cord allows you to use this bagged canister vacuum in large spaces without going back and forth between power outlets.
Moreover, the powerful inducer suction mechanism offers 20% more air power than similar upright models. It guarantees you the deep cleaning you strive for with an upright vacuum cleaner. All these valuable features come with a HEPA filtration that makes sure all dust particles and allergens as small as 0.3 microns remain trapped inside the machine and don’t escape into the air again. If you are looking to make a long-term investment in a sturdy upright vacuum cleaning unit, then we will strongly recommend you consider ProTeam ProForce 1500XP. This heavy-duty vacuuming unit features a dual-motor action that powers both the rolling brush and suction chamber to give optimal vacuum cleaning results.
Usually, large upright vacuum units have really beefy cleaner heads and stiff hoses that are not particularly good for cleaning narrow and hard-to-reach surfaces. ProTeam has broken this convention by giving its hardwearing unit a sleek and low-profile L-shaped cleaner head that is attached to a flexible 5-foot hose. This combination lets you use this powerful machine in every nook and corner of the house.
ProTeam has also tried an extra-long power cord in ProForce 1500XP. And we think this test has paid off. With a 50-foot-long power cord, it feels as if you are using this heavy-duty vacuum machine in a portable setting. The three-level HEPA filtration along with such powerful suction power proves to be the icing on the cake. Before we move on to discuss a brief buying guide for high-quality upright HEPA vacuum cleaners, it is really important to answer some most common queries about them.
Usually, we see the wattage rating of a machine to be sure about its power. However, that’s not the case with upright HEPA vacuums. You can’t tell how strong their suction power is just by weighing in their watts. To be sure about the suction characteristics of a vacuum, you need to factor in its CFM and water lift (air watts). These values are usually given along with other specs.
And if you can’t find them, ask the seller, particularly about these two values. The greater the CFM and air watts, the better the suction power of a vacuum. Upright vacuums designed for home use usually have CFM ratings anywhere between 50 and 100.
You may find the word “sealed” in the titles of some of the upright HEPA vacs. But what does that mean? The term sealed indicates that the entire body of the vacuum cleaner including the housing and hose has been positively tested for zero air leaks. The prefix “sealed” actually guarantees that you are getting the optimal suction power from the machine.
Not all HEPA filters are made equally. For instance, the regular ones fitted in every other upright vacuum can last for 2 to 3 months. However, some high-quality filters can serve you for over six months. Lastly, there are some top-of-the-line vacuum cleaners fitted with a reusable HEPA filter. You can clean and get these HEPA filters back to work with a simple water wash.
How long a HEPA filter works depends on the media it is made from. The high-quality fibrous material that can continue to trap particles as small as 0.3 microns makes for a long-lasting HEPA filter.
While you may not need to mull over any other option outside of this list comprehensive list, we are still going to share a list of features that you must factor in whenever buying an upright vacuum unit from either online sellers or an electric appliance shop.
If you don’t want to compromise on the allergen and pollutant-free aspect of vacuuming, then always insist on machines with HEPA filtration. Keep in mind that titles such as “HEPA-like” or “HEPA-type” are wrongfully used by some manufacturers to sell their products. Vacuums with those imposter filtration mechanisms can’t deliver the same HEPA results that trap more than 95% of the micro-particles and allergens.
To provide a holistic filtration mechanism, some manufacturers use various filters along with HEPA. For instance, there is a pre-filtration component that ensures clog prevention and uncompromised suction. Then some upright HEPA vacs are fitted with carbon filters that take care of the bad odors along with the dust and debris (recommended for pet owners).
Lastly, some upright vacuums also have a post-motor filtration system. These machines take allergen trapping to the next level and take care of those fractions of micro-particles that the HEPA filter misses to capture.
If you don’t have any qualms about the cost, then we would say it is always better to go for vacuums where the HEPA filtration is reinforced by supporting filters.
Usually, anything around 20 pounds is deemed suitable for an upright vacuum cleaner for home use. However, you can get the bulkier ones if your vacuuming is confined to the single story of the building. However, factor in the weight of the machine if you have to deal with more than one continuous floor cleaning.
For instance, go for lighter options (16 pounds or below) if you have to vacuum the stairs or frequently move it up and downstairs. Similarly, lightweight models are also suitable for senior users.
For regular and low-pile carpets a regular-bristle brush Roll is good enough given that it is accompanied by strong suction. However, we will recommend a long-bristled brush roll for high-pile carpets. For hard and bare floors, manufacturers often offer the second one or else give the option to stop the rotation of the existing brush roll fitted in the floor head.
Bagged vacuums are only good if you are not concerned with some particles of dust permeating into your house again. But with uprights with HEPA filters, even such little dust escape is not acceptable. This is the reason why our list only has upright vacuums that have in-built canisters (except one). The sealed canister construction ensures that no dust can get expelled back into the air.
And while choosing the canister uprights, try to get one where you don’t need to turn over and dump the canister to empty it. There are models available where you just need to push a single button to empty the canister from the bottom.
While factoring in canister capacity, suction power, and attachment accessories, many buyers often overlook the design of the handle. Keep in mind that in an upright vacuum cleaner, the handle plays an important role to make it a user-friendly appliance.
If the handle is not easy-to-hold, you find it difficult to move the vacuum while increasing the risk of a strained hand and wrist. Therefore, look for models that come with angled and looped handles. You can also find vacuum machines that have a proper D-shaped handle to provide a better grip. Some handles also come with added grip and cushion to ensure the utmost convenience.
For homes with smaller square footage, the length of the power cord doesn’t matter. However, for houses with large floor plans, you must have an upright vacuum with an extended power cord. It let you use the vacuum without the hassle of switching the power outlet while moving a vacuum from one room to the other. Also, prefer the models with retractable cords for easy use.
Apart from featuring a suction inlet and a brush roll, floor heads now come with a range of other features as well. For instance, some floor heads have bumpers to offer scuff-free vacuuming. Moreover, LEDs are given for easy maneuvering around dark furniture undersides. Similarly, a swiveling function is also given in some heads for hassle-free maneuverability. For floor head accessories we would like to say: the more the merrier.
We hope that this comprehensive buying guide along with reviews of 19 of the best upright vacuums with HEPA filters will help you in picking the right option for allergen and pathogen-free cleaning and vacuuming of your abode.
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2. Shark Rotator NV752 – Easy-to-Maneuver Vacuum Cleaner
3. Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 – Upright Vacuum with Ball Maneuvering Device
4. Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright – Best Vacuum Cleaner for Soft-Style Carpets
5. MieleC3 Calima – Ideal Upright Vacuum for Flat and Soft Surfaces
6. Oreck Magnesium RS – Best Bagged HEPA Vacuum
7. Kenmore Elite 31150 – Best Vacuum Cleaner Against Pet Dander
8. Vacmaster 8 – Most Powerful HEPA Vacuum for Residential and Commercial Use
9. Housmile Upgraded 810 – HEPA Vacuum with UV Extermination Chamber
10. Shark Navigator NV356E- Upright HEPA Vacuum with Lift-Away Mechanism
11. Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet Friendly CrossOver – HEPA Vacuum with Stair Grip
12. ProTeam ProForce 1500XP – HEPA Upright Vacuum with an Extra-Long Cord
Product
Dimensions
Weight
Power Source
Voltage
Wattage
Capacity
Warranty
Dyson Cyclone V10
9.84″ x 10.08″ x 49.17″
5.88lbs
Battery-Powered
110 Volts
115W
0.76L
2 Years
Shark Rotator NV752
13.2″ x 11.9″ x 45″
15.4lbs
Corded Electric
120V
1150W
0.83L
5 Years
Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2
15.59″ x 13.39″ x 41.93″
15.6lbs
Corded Electric
120V
1400W
N/A
5 Years
Soniclean Soft Carpet Upright
11.5″ x 14″ x 43.5″
10.5lbs
AC
120V
1200W
N/A
5 Years (Motor) & 1 Year (Parts)
Miele C3 Calima
N/A
20lbs
Corded Electric
120V
1200W
4.54L
2 Years
Oreck Magnesium RS
12″ x 10.5″ x 47.5″
7.7lbs
Corded Electric
N/A
700W
N/A
7 Years
Kenmore Elite 31150
14.25″ x 13.75″ x 45.75″
20lbs
Corded Electric
12V
120W
1.5L
1 Year
Vacmaster 8
12″ x 19″ x 12″
19.4lbs
Corded Electric
120V
1450W
30.28L
1 Year
Housmile Upgraded 810
14″ x 11″ x 7″
4.5lbs
Battery-Powered
120V
350W
0.24L
1 Year
Shark Navigator NV356E
14.96″ x 11.4″ x 45.5″
13.7lbs
Corded Electric
120V
1200W
2.08L
5 Years
Kenmore Elite 21814
27.76″ x 17.91″ x 13.98″
23lbs
Corded Electric
12V
120W
N/A
1 Year
ProTeam ProForce 1500XP
48″ x 15″ x 7.9″
18lbs
Corded Electric
120V
924W
3.07L
3 Years
Important Note
How to Know If an Upright Vacuum Has Strong Suction?
What Are Sealed Upright HEPA Vacuums?
How Long Is the Service Life of a HEPA Filter?
Buying Guide For The Best Upright HEPA Vacuum
HEPA Filter
Supplementary Filters
Weight
Brush Roll
Bag/Canister
Handle
Cord
Floor Heads
