19 Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors Options

Apr 26, 2023

By Terri Williams

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The right vacuum can make life infinitely easier; however, you can't use just any hoover on hardwood. The best vacuum for hardwood floors won't scratch or cause damage, so we tested dozens of highly rated models and spoke to experts to recommend the most ideal for your home.

"The vacuum should have soft rubber wheels, so scratching or marring does not occur when moving and manipulating the vacuum across the wood floors," explains Paul Henthorn, owner of Slaughterbeck Floors in Campbell, California. "And power brushes on canister vacuums should be avoided in favor of the soft brush attachments." What's wrong with power brushes? Paul says they can potentially remove the finish and wood fibers from the grain of the floors. Beater bars can also be too hard on this type of floor.

Keeping this as well as usability in mind, we focused on cordless stick vacuums, instead of heavy corded upright vacuums (because who wants to lug around and trip over power cords?), since they are ideal for avoiding unnecessary wear and tear on your floor and your body.

We’re also including the best robot vacuums, which are not only lightweight enough that they won't harm your hardwood floors, but offer an unparalleled level of convenience, including features such as mopping and vacuuming, self-charging, self-emptying, and programmable options.

Paul says the best way to maintain hardwood flooring is by vacuuming or sweeping them. "Vacuuming is optimal, as sweeping makes the dust/pathogens go up in the air, only to come back down."

And that's why Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, president of ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba in Chicago, Illinois, recommends vacuums with HEPA filters. "They’re best for hardwood floors because floors tend to accumulate a ton of dust, pollen, and other allergens that can easily become airborne once disturbed," she explains. "HEPA filters effectively eliminate these pollutants from your floors without spreading them in the air and contaminating your home."

John Milligan, R&D product development manager at N-Hance Wood Refinishing in Logan, Utah, says it's also important to understand which type of vacuum to use and when. "Robotic vacuums are for daily cleaning, so you’ll likely want to do your research and invest in one that is capable of learning your floor plan and covering the entire main floor throughout the day," he says.

For heavier cleaning, John recommends stick vacuums above all. "Make sure your stick vacuum can go on both hardwood and carpet and that it is padded in some way, so that it glides over your flooring without risk of scratches." In addition, he suggests looking at very flexible vacuums with attachments that can fit into every area.

At the bottom of the article, we’ve included tips from these experts on how to maintain your floor. But first, these are the best cordless stick and robot vacuums for hardwood floors.

Best Vacuum Cleaner Overall: LG Cordless A9 Kompressor with Power Mop

This is the Swiss army knife of vacuums and the one I reach for most often because it's so versatile. The LG Cordless A9 Kompressor with Power Mop, which weighs about five pounds, has a smart inverter motor to suck up dirt and debris, and a soft power floor nozzle that's gentle on my hardwood floors. It also has a Kompressor lever that compresses all of the hair and dirt to less than half of its original size, which allows me to vacuum more without having to stop and empty the bin. Two batteries, both with 60 minutes of runtime, can be swapped out so one battery can charge, while the other one is being used in the vacuum, resulting in a total of 120 minutes of time. I’m rather tall, but the telescopic wand is adjustable, so I don't have to bend over when vacuuming, and the wand and swivel nozzle also make it convenient to vacuum under furniture.

The Kompressor can also mop and vacuum, although not at the same time. The Power Mop has a swappable water tank and mop nozzle, along with dual spinning microfiber pads, and only requires tap water as opposed to special cleaning solutions. The five-step filter system captures all of the yucky stuff on the floors, and a push of the lever releases it into the trashcan. The cyclonic mesh filter, pre-filter, and exhaust filter can also be cleaned under running water. My LG sits on its floor stand dock in my laundry room. However, if you need to save floor space, you could also choose to mount it on the wall. And although the LG Cordless A9 Kompressor with Power Mop is perfect for hardwood floors, it also includes several attachments for cleaning other areas of the home, including the power carpet nozzle, combination tool, crevice tool, hard-dirt tool, mattress tool, multi-angle tool, flexible crevice tool, flexible hose extension, and even an accessory bag.

Best Flexibility: Dyson Omni-glide

The Dyson Omni-glide is the mechanical equivalent of a contortionist. It's the company's slimmest vacuum, and it's designed to clean in any direction. The omnidirectional, soft-roller cleaner head can move not only backwards and forwards, but also sideways. In other words, the articulating neck and stabilizing casters allow it to seamlessly roll north, south, east, and west. This feat is accomplished by merely twisting the handle, and in addition to rotating the cleaner head to go in any direction, it can even lay flat to vacuum under furniture. The cordless, bagless vacuum also cleans around and in corners. It's a Dyson, so you already know the suction is great, and it's easy to clean. The vacuum has a 20-minute runtime.

Best Smart Vacuum: Tineco Pure One S12 Smart Cordless Stick Vacuum

Everything else in your home is smart, so why shouldn't your vacuum be as well? The Tineco Pure One S12 Smart Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner connects with the Tineco app and allows its user to get maintenance reminders and cleaning reports. It also provides real-time cleaning performance information, but honestly, I don't multitask that well to read statistics on my phone while I’m vacuuming. In addition, the Tineco Pure One uses iLoop Smart Sensor Technology to automatically adjust the suction power when it detects invisible dust and debris. The lightweight vacuum has a 70-minute runtime, and uses a four-stage HEPA filtration system. It includes several attachments and can be mounted on the wall to save floor space.

Best Self-Cleaning: Shark Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum

By Erika Owen

By Rachel Davies

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Who enjoys cleaning individual vacuum components? I love the Shark Pet Plus Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner (and also the Shark Rocket Pet Pro) because the floor nozzle has a self-cleaning brushroll and PowerFins. The soft brushroll and PowerFins work together to pick up debris and ensure that no hair gets tangled up in the vacuum. The fins are made of flexible silicone instead of bristles, so it's easy on hard surfaces, and the LED light on the floor nozzle helps me find more dirt than I would care to know about. The Shark Pet Plus uses anti-allergen complete-seal technology and a HEPA filter to keep all of the dust and debris inside of the vacuum. It's super easy to empty the dust cup: Just slide the Clean Touch Dirt Ejector lever down and the trash comes out. The lightweight vacuum lasts 40 minutes and includes a crevice tool and pet multitool.

Best Noise Control: Dreametech T10 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuums can get quite loud, but the Dreametech T10 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner has an eight-layer noise-reduction system that allows me to actually hear my surroundings when I’m vacuuming. (Be advised, on the highest power level, it does get pretty loud, but I tend not to use the highest level often.) The Dreametech T10 also uses a five-stage filtration system to capture dust and debris, which it can release in the trash at the touch of a button. Also, the V-shaped roller brush is designed to avoid tangles. The vacuum, which has a 60-minute runtime, includes several attachments, including a two-in-one brush and a crevice tool, and it can be mounted on the wall.

Best Budget Vacuum: Proscenic P10 PRO Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

If you’re looking for a less expensive vacuum for hardwood floors, the Proscenic P10 Pro is economically priced, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this cordless stick vacuum cleaner has many of the features found in more expensive competitors. The P10 PRO has powerful suction, and the anti-tangle roller brush is gentle on my hardwood floors. The LED lights allow me to see into dark areas. Additionally, the touch display lets me quickly check the battery level (which lasts 55 minutes), change suction power levels, and check for any errors. The four-stage HEPA filter does a good job of reducing allergens, and the dust bin is easy to empty. The Proscenic P10 Pro includes a round brush, mini motorized tool, and a crevice tool.

Best for Tight Spaces: Shark Wandavac System

The Shark Wandavac Vacuum is quite slim, which makes it ideal for tight spaces, like cleaning the floor space in between my appliances and in the corners of rooms. The filtration technology grabs everything from dust to larger objects. And because it's so compact, I can set it practically anywhere to charge. The Wandavac is also available in a variety of colors, including blue, green, navy, graphite, cove, and rose gold.

Best Design: Samsung Bespoke Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum

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By Rachel Davies

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While cordless stick vacuums are much more stylish than their traditional counterparts, they are still vacuum cleaners at the end of the day. However, Samsung's Bespoke vacuum cleaners actually look like works of art, so they’re not only one of the best cordless vacuums, but also one of the best-looking. It comes in three colors: navy, forest green, and white. The space-saving Clean Station charger holds the vacuum when not in use and, when docked, the clean station automatically empties the dustbin. There's also a separate accessory cradle to hold the combination and crevice tools, pet tool, flexible tool, and dust bags. The vacuum itself has strong suction, a dual brush for cleaning both hard floors and carpet, and two batteries, both lasting 60 minutes each.

Best Auto Empty: LG Cord Zero All-In-One Auto Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum

The LG Cordless A9 Kompressor is our choice for the best all around cordless stick vacuum. However, we think the LG Cord Zero All-in-One Auto Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum has the best storage, charging, and self-emptying features. The vacuum has many of the same cool features as the A9 Kompressor, such as the telescopic wand, power nozzle for both hardwood floors and carpets, 2-in-1 combination tool, and crevice tool. It also has a washable cyclone and filters, power mop nozzle, and can be easily transformed into a handheld vac. However, this model also includes a tower that holds not only the vacuum, but also all of the attachments. And my favorite feature is the auto-empty feature. When I place the stick vacuum cleaner on the dock, and press auto empty, the debris goes into a disposable bag so I never have to touch the bin's contents. The battery can last up to 120 minutes.

Best Wet/Dry: Roborock Dyad Wet Dry Cordless Stick Vac

Cordless stick vacuums that both vacuum and mop are rare, but the Dyad is the best of both worlds. It vacuums and mops hardwood floors at the same time, using dual motors and intense suction. The vacuum also has two water tanks to separate the clean water coming out of the machine from the dirty water being collected. The vacuum can be used with water alone, or there's an option to add Roborock's floor cleaner solution. In addition, the vacuum even has a floor drying mode for cleaning up water from the bathroom floor. However, my favorite feature is the self-cleaning mode. After placing the vacuum cleaner on the dock and activating the self-clean function, it cleans the rollers so I don't have to. The Roborock Dyad has a 35-minute battery life.

Best Stick to Handheld: Levoit Vortex IQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum

The Levoit Vortex IQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum is relatively inexpensive, but it doesn't skimp on features. The stick vacuum cleaner is surprisingly light, and I was surprised to discover that it had strong suction power and the vacuum head was easy to swivel around furniture. There's also an LED light, which makes it easy to see in dark spaces. It's really easy to switch out the parts and change from a stick vacuum to a handheld vacuum. It includes a telescoping crevice tool and a 2-in-1 dusting brush. The battery lasts for 40 minutes.

Best to See in the Dark: Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

By Erika Owen

By Rachel Davies

By Eva Morell

Cordless stick vacuums with LED lights on the front make it a lot easier to clean. However, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Stick Vacuum has an angled laser that detects a surprising amount of dust particles on the floor. This might not seem like a big deal, but, trust me, thinking your floor is clean and then seeing debris you couldn't detect with the naked eye (and wouldn‘t have tried to pick up) never ceases to be downright shocking. And if that's not enough, the Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner has a color-coded LCD screen to reveal the types of particles being sucked up by the deep suction motor and passing through the detangling motorbar cleaner head. Fortunately, I can empty the bin without touching the contents. The Dyson V12 includes several attachments, including a hair screw tool, crevice tool, fabric and mattress toll, and mini soft dusting brush and combination tool, making it easy to clean up. The battery lasts for 60 minutes.

Best Overall Robot Vacuum for Hardwood Floors: Shark IQ Self-Empty Base Robot Vacuum

The Sharp IQ Self-Empty Base Robot Vacuum has everything I wanted—and more—when searching for the best vacuums for hardwood floors. For starters, I can go a month without having to empty it; I don't, but I could. That's because the robot empties itself into the base, and it can hold 30 days of dirt. The beauty of robot vacuums is that they don't require much human interaction except for mapping your home and emptying the vacuum. But Sharp eliminates the latter task for a very long time. It even has a self-cleaning brushroll to ensure that pet hair won't get tangled in it. And when the robot vac needs to recharge, it does that on its own as well, and then picks up cleaning where it left off. Since the robot uses IQ navigation, it cleans in an orderly row-by-row fashion, instead or zigzagging all over the place. After I mapped my home, I was able to schedule cleanings via my iPhone. The robot vac can also be activated using Alexa or Google Assistant. The battery lasts over 90 minutes.

Best Hybrid Vacuum and Mop: Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop

Back when there were only a handful of robots that could vacuum and mop, we thought the Roborock S7 was the best robot vacuum money could buy. The company continues to set the standard with the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra. The vacuum has strong suction and a sonic mopping system, so it can remove even dried stains and dirt. My favorite feature is the two-way video that lets me see what's happening at home when I’m away (and you could even use it to view and talk to your pets). The camera also serves to identify objects on the floor and avoid them—in addition to avoiding carpets. The Roborock S7 Max V Ultra automatically empties dust into the dock (and holds up to seven weeks of dust), and it also automatically cleans the brushes, washes the mop, and refills the water tank. Battery runtime is 180 minutes.

Best Corner-to-Corner Clean: Neato D8 Robot Vacuum

By Erika Owen

By Rachel Davies

By Eva Morell

One criticism of robot vacuums is that their round shape makes it impossible to clean in corners. The Neato D8 Intelligent Robot Vacuum is the solution to that problem: The D-shaped robot can boldly go where other robot vacs can't, eliminating dust in corners and along walls. It's not a very big machine, but it has a large dirt bin and runs for up to 100 minutes, so it doesn't require much maintenance. In addition, it can recharge on its own and resume where it left off. The Neato D8 uses lasers to clean more efficiently and effectively, and, using my iPhone, I can control it when not at home.

Best Battery Life: Ecovacs Deebot X1 Turbo

The Ecovacs Deebot X1 Turbo has a 260-minute runtime when the vacuum is sweeping in silent mode, which far exceeds most other robot vacs out there. The battery lasts 195 minutes when sweeping bare floors in standard mode, 170 minutes when sweeping and mopping in silent mode, and 140 minutes when sweeping and mopping in standard mode. However, my favorite features are the automatic cleaning and the automatic water refill functions, which leave less work for me. Also, the mop pads are rapidly dried to avoid the growth of bacteria. This is one of the most expensive robot vacuums on the list, but it's easy to see why.

Best for Pet Hair: Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid Robot

The Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid Robot Vacuum is designed, among other things, to be a pet hair magnet. It does this by using twin-turbine technology to capture hair wherever it may be, helped along by the rolling brush that's able to uncover hair (and other debris) hiding in cracks and tiles. The Eufy RoboVac X8 is also in that rare group of vacuums that can mop floors without creating a mess. It uses iPath laser navigation to avoid obstacles and can create multifloor plans and no-go zones. The robot vac has a runtime of 180 minutes and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also connect via the app to control the RoboVac.

Best Budget Choice: Ultenic D5S Pro Robot Vacuum

If you’re looking for a more economical choice for the best vacuums for hardwood floors, consider the Ultenic D5S Pro Robot Vacuum. It pleasantly surprised me for more than one reason. For starters, it has a simultaneous mopping function that effectively dispenses water, and it can distinguish between carpets and hard floors to adjust suction power accordingly. In addition, the robot vac runs for 120 minutes and will return to the charging dock when low, then continue cleaning where it left off. The Ultenic D5S also creates accurate maps and allows me to set no-go zones. The robot vac can be used controlled via the Ultenic app, and also through Alexa and Google Home.

Best Self-Cleaning Mop: Narwal T10 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo

The Narwal T10 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo uses dual mops with a triangular design, which helps the vacuum fit into corners and clean better. But what I really like about this robot vacuum, which has both sweep and mop modes, is that it can clean itself—and not just at the end of a cleaning session. When it senses that the microfiber mops are too dirty to effectively clean any longer, it will automatically return to the base state and clean the mops, then pick up where it left off during cleaning. I can also create maps of my home and the vacuum remembers which areas to clean and which to avoid. And since it has side brushes, the vacuum does a good job of removing dirt and debris along the wall and baseboards.

We all know that hardwood floors can be a serious investment and you should be cleaning them on a regular basis. Though Paul says the average is weekly, he recommends daily cleaning depending on your floor's usage.

By Erika Owen

By Rachel Davies

By Eva Morell

In terms of cleaning solutions for hardwoods, Diana offers the following advice: "You can keep your floors clean by mixing equal parts vinegar and water and using this as a solution for cleaning your floors–just don't saturate your floors because they will buckle," she says. "There is a product called Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner that you can find at your local store, and it's a good product to keep your hardwood floors looking great."

Amanda Oninski, interior designer at Floor 360 in Madison, Wisconsin, also recommends Bona. Otherwise, she suggests using a spray bottle containing a cleaning solution. "Spray lightly on a dust mop and mop back and forth lengthwise along floorboards." However, Amanda warns against using wax, oil-based soap, or household cleaners. "Always follow the manufacturer's instructions if you have them; if you know the brand of hardwood, you can find it online or contact your local flooring showroom."

With proper care, your hardwood floors can last a long time. John admits that over time, dust, dings, scratches, and general wear and tear can make them look dull. "But don't stress too much, though, as it's a dulling of the clear coat, and buffing or refinishing of hardwood floors can easily bring the life back," he says. "That's the amazing thing about hardwood floors: They can be restained, buffed, refinished from glossy to matte, you name it."

To keep your beautiful bare floors looking good, Amanda recommends the following: