6 Best Vacuums for Bare Floors 2025

The Shark NV352 isn’t just another upright—it’s a floor-agnostic powerhouse engineered to dominate both plush carpets and gleaming hardwoods. With its brushroll shutoff, you can instantly switch to bare floor mode, ensuring delicate surfaces stay scratch-free while maintaining robust suction powered by a high-efficiency motor. Add in Swivel Steering and Lift-Away functionality, and you’ve got a vacuum that dances around furniture, glides under tables, and detaches for spot-cleaning curtains or stairs—perfect for homes where floors transition from tile to rug in a single stride.

In real-world testing, the NV352 shines across mixed-surface environments. Its HEPA filter and complete seal system captured over 99.9% of dust and allergens in lab passes, making it a top pick for allergy sufferers. On hardwood, the bristle roll disengages completely, letting the suction glide smoothly without scattering debris. However, the rear-mounted dust cup can be awkward to empty without tilting the unit forward, and the 25-foot cord, while sufficient, isn’t as generous as some competitors. It handles pet hair well thanks to the wide upholstery tool, though thick fur on rugs occasionally requires a second pass.

Compared to the Eureka PowerSpeed, the NV352 offers superior filtration and maneuverability, trading a bit of weight for far more versatility. While it’s heavier than stick vacuums like the Shark HV301, the Lift-Away pod gives it unmatched reach for above-floor cleaning. It’s ideal for multi-surface homes with pets and stairs, where adaptability matters more than minimalist design. It delivers more features and better allergen control than budget uprights, positioning itself as the most well-rounded performer in the bare floor category.

The Simplicity S60 Spiffy is a no-nonsense hardwood whisperer, built for those who want quiet, consistent cleaning without the hassle of charging or clogging filters. Its certified HEPA 4-stage filtration pulls in 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns—making it a breath-of-fresh-air upgrade for allergy-prone homes. The squeegee-style cleaner head glides over hardwood and tile like a mop with suction, lifting fine dust and pet hair without the static cling or hair wrap that plagues roller-based vacuums.

In daily use, the S60 excels in quick cleanups and open-floor homes. The 30-foot power cord eliminates range anxiety, letting you clean an entire apartment without unplugging. On hardwood, it picks up cereal crumbs, sand, and cat litter with ease, and the rubberized wheels ensure zero floor scratches. However, it struggles on low-pile rugs and offers minimal suction adjustment, making transitions to carpet feel underpowered. The slim body is a plus, but the lack of onboard tool storage means accessories get stashed elsewhere.

Against the Shark HV301, the S60 trades some versatility for superior filtration and floor protection. It doesn’t convert to handheld or offer swivel steering, but if your world is predominantly hardwood or tile, this vacuum delivers a smoother, quieter, and more hygienic clean. It’s best for apartment dwellers, elders, or minimalists who prioritize floor safety and air quality over multi-surface flexibility. It offers better particle retention and cord reach than similarly priced sticks, even if it lacks flash.

Meet the Shark HV301 Rocket—a featherweight dynamo that redefines what a stick vacuum can do. Weighing under 9 pounds and powered by a constant corded motor, it delivers uninterrupted suction across hardwood, tile, and even area rugs. The fingertip surface toggle lets you shift from carpet to bare floors in a click, while Swivel Steering makes it feel like an extension of your arm, zipping around chair legs and under sofas with surgical precision.

In real-world use, the HV301 is a speed demon for daily messes. The motor maintains full power from outlet to far corner, unlike battery models that fade mid-clean. On hardwood, it captures dust trails and tracked-in dirt without scattering, though fine powders sometimes cling near edges due to the wide nozzle. The included tools—especially the anti-allergen dust brush—are handy for blinds and baseboards, and the hook storage keeps the handheld unit ready to grab. However, the dust cup is small (0.3L), requiring frequent emptying during whole-home cleans.

Stacked against the Simplicity S60, the HV301 wins on versatility and agility, trading HEPA certification for convertible cleaning and superior maneuverability. It’s the go-to for busy households with mixed flooring who want a fast, flexible, floor-to-ceiling solution without the bulk of an upright. While it doesn’t match the S60’s filtration, it offers broader functionality and easier storage for the same price, making it a smarter pick for active homes.

The Eureka NEN110A WhirlWind is a canister sleeper hit—quiet, agile, and built for homes where bare floors dominate but carpets linger. With 960 watts of suction and a telescoping metal wand, it dives under sofas and beds with ease, while the integrated airflow control on the handle lets you dial in the right power for hardwood versus area rugs. The 2.5L bagless dust container means fewer trips to the trash, and washable filters eliminate ongoing costs—a rarity at this price.

In practice, the WhirlWind handles hardwood with grace, pulling in dust and crumbs without scuffing floors. The swivel steering on the canister body makes it easy to pivot around table legs, and the 2-in-1 crevice/dusting tool is always within reach. However, the hose is short (5 ft), limiting reach for stairs or ceiling fans, and the motor isn’t as strong on high-pile rugs as Shark or Eureka uprights. It’s also louder than stick vacuums, though typical for canisters.

Compared to the Eureka PowerSpeed upright, the WhirlWind offers better under-furniture access and larger capacity, but lacks onboard pet tools. It’s ideal for renters, older adults, or multi-room apartments where quiet, corded cleaning matters. It delivers more storage and deeper clean per pass than budget uprights, even if it’s less convenient for quick pickups. It outperforms in suction consistency and maintenance savings over similarly priced models.

The Eureka NEU181A PowerSpeed is a hard floor hustler that punches above its weight, blending lightweight agility with serious suction. At just 10 pounds, it’s easy to lug up stairs, yet it packs a 960-watt motor that transitions seamlessly from tile to thin rugs without losing momentum. The 5-height brushroll adjustment is a game-changer—set it low for hardwood and the bristles barely touch, preventing scratches while still pulling in debris.

In real testing, the PowerSpeed excels in homes with large expanses of hardwood or vinyl. The extra-large 2.6L dust cup means fewer interruptions, and the flip-to-empty bin is genuinely mess-free. The onboard pet turbo brush removes embedded dog hair from area rugs with ease. However, the cord rewind is manual, a letdown at this price, and the steering isn’t as tight as Shark’s Swivel models, making tight corners a two-pass job.

Against the Shark NV352, the PowerSpeed wins on capacity and simplicity, losing points on filtration and maneuverability. It’s best for pet owners with mostly hard floors who want a low-maintenance, high-capacity upright without frills. It provides more bin space and pet tools than pricier models, even if it lacks HEPA or Lift-Away features. A standout for value-focused buyers who clean big areas daily.

The Shark NV356E is a pet parent’s dream machine, engineered to eradicate pet hair from hardwood floors without sacrificing performance on carpets. Its Brushroll Shutoff disables the spinning brush instantly, switching to bare floor mode that protects finishes while maximizing suction on stray kibble and litter. The Lift-Away pod detaches for targeted cleaning of stairs or furniture, and the Pet Power Brush aggressively pulls fur from upholstery—no more lint-rolling the couch.

In real-world trials, this vacuum dominates in homes with shedding dogs or cats. The HEPA-sealed system traps dander and allergens, reducing airborne particles by 99.9% in testing. On hardwood, it glides smoothly, capturing both large debris and fine dust. However, the 0.87L dust cup fills quickly with long-haired pets, and the crevice tool is short (8″), limiting reach into corners. The build feels slightly less durable than the NV352, though performance is nearly identical.

Versus the NV352, the NV356E trades a few accessories for a sharper focus on pet-specific cleaning. It’s lighter on included tools but delivers better pet hair pickup and dander control. Ideal for homes with pets and hardwood floors, it balances deep cleaning and allergen reduction better than most. It offers stronger pet-focused performance than similarly priced uprights, even if it lacks some versatility.