15 Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors Options (2024)

The right vacuum can make life infinitely easier; however, you can’t use just any old 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 model 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 all this, as well as usability, in mind, we focused on bagless, cordless stick vacuums (with one exception) instead of heavy corded upright vacuums. Even the best upright vacuum is going to cause unnecessary wear and tear on your floor and your body, and they don’t target tight spaces very well.

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

Our top picks:

1. Best Vacuum Overall: LG Cordless A9 Kompressor with Power Mop
2. Best Robot Vacuum for Hardwood Floors: Shark IQ Self-Empty Base Robot Vacuum
3. Best Wet/Dry Stick Vacuum for Hardwood Floors: Dyson V15 Detect Submarine
4. Best Budget Vacuum: Bissell CleanView XR Cordless Vacuum
5. Most Well-Designed Vacuum: Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Vacuum Cleaner

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 vacuum cleaners, smart robot vacuums, and more to keep your hard wood floors totally clean.

Cordless Stick Vacuums

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, as well as 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. It's got two batteries (both with a 60 minute runtime) you can swap out, so one battery charges while the other's being used in the vacuum—giving you a total of 120 minutes. I’m tall, but the adjustable telescopic wand means I don't need to bend over while vacuuming. 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 Wet/Dry Stick Vacuum: Dyson V15 Detect Submarine

Some people like the idea of one vacuum that vacuums and mops hardwood floors—but they’d rather have these functions completely separated rather than integrated into the same machine. If that’s your preference, the Dyson V15 Detect Submarine actually has three swappable cleaner heads. There’s the digital motorbar cleaner head for multi floor use, the fluffy optic cleaner head for hardwood floors, and the submarine wet roller head. But instead of loading water into a water tank on the vacuum, the water is poured directly into (and subsequently contained within) the wet roller head. And since the vacuum has the same articulating head used on Dyson’s other stick vacuums, I found it easy to swivel around furniture legs and reach underneath my couch when mopping. There’s also a drip tray to store the wet roller head on, and the vacuum includes (dry use) accessories, such as the combination tool, crevice tool, and hair screw tool.

Best Self-Cleaning: Shark Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum

I love the Shark Pet Plus Lightweight Cordless Stick VacuumCleaner (and also the Shark Rocket Pet Pro) because the floor nozzle has a self-cleaning soft brushroll and PowerFins. Both 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 probably 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 lightweightvacuum lasts 40 minutes and includes a crevice tool and pet multitool.

Best Budget Vacuum: Bissell CleanView XR Cordless Vacuum

We tend not to test “cheap” vacuums. Instead, we look for economical choices that are still high-quality items with the features you want. The Bissell CleanView XR fits the bill. It has a tangle-free brushroll to keep hair from getting snarled, and it has three cleaning modes—standard, medium, and turbo—to fit various needs. The LED headlights illuminate dirt in hidden places and the vacuum has swivel steering features, meaning it easily maneuvers around furniture legs. It can easily convert to a handheld model, allowing me to use the crevice tool, combination dusting brush, and upholstery tool. Run time is only 35 minutes—but at this price, you can purchase an additional battery and swap them out.

Best Design: Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Vacuum Cleaner

The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI cordless stick vacuum cleaner actually looks like a work of art, so it’s not only one of the best cordless vacuums (based on our very hands-on experience), but also one of the best-looking. The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI comes in a gorgeous satin black color and has an AI cleaning mode that detects the floor type to adjust suction accordingly. The space-saving clean station charger holds the vacuum when not in use. When docked, the clean station automatically empties the vacuum’s 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 the battery lasts up to 100 minutes.

Best Smart Vacuum: Tineco Pure ONE S15 Pro Smart

Everything else in your home is smart, so why shouldn’t your vacuum be as well? The Tineco Pure One S15 Pro Smart cordless stick vacuumcleaner connects with the Tineco app to adjust settings, plus review maintenance reminders and cleaning reports. It also provides real-time cleaning performance information (but honestly, I don’t multitask well enough 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 dust and debris. The vacuum’s technology also separates dust and air to avoid suction loss and pre-filter clogging, and uses LED headlights on the brush to see into corners and under furniture. An anti-tangle roller brush and five-stage HEPA filtration system are other handy features. The vacuum also has three attachments, including the mini-power brush, two-in-one dust brush, and crevice tool—which can be used on couches and other upholstered items. The freestanding charging base neatly holds the vacuum and accessories.

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. 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 lasts up to 120 minutes.

Best Vacuum with all the Bells and Whistles: Roborock Dyad Pro 5-in-1

Cordless stick vacuums that both vacuum and mop are becoming more popular, but the Roborock Dyad Pro 5-in-1 is ahead of the curve. 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. The vacuum even has a floor drying mode for cleaning up water from the bathroom floor. The self-cleaning mode makes cleaning even easier. After placing the vacuum cleaner on the dock and activating the self-clean function, it cleans the rollers so I don’t have to and dries them. The Roborock Dyad also has a 35-minute battery life and is compatible with voice alerts.

Best for Large Homes: Dyson Gen 5 Outsize Vacuum

It takes considerably longer to clean the hardwood floors in a large home. However, the Dyson Gen5 Outsize is designed to make the process quicker and easier. The digital motorbar cleaner head on this model is 25% wider than on some of Dyson’s other cordless stick vacuums. Although I don’t have a large home, the wider cleaner head allows me to cover more space, which results in faster vacuuming (and it has detangling vanes to stop hair from getting wrapped around it). However, most of the time I’m using the regular-size fluffy optic cleaner head, which includes an angled light blade to reveal invisible dust. And since the Dyson Gen5 Outsize also has a larger vacuum bin, I never have to stop and empty it. Dyson also includes two swappable batteries. Each one lasts for 70 minutes, which provides a total of 140 minutes of battery life. In addition, the vacuum can convert to a handheld to use with the built-in dusting tool and the crevice tool.

Best for Pet Owners: Electrolux Ergorapido Stick Pet

Meg Kernahan, senior manager of commerce partnerships here at Condé Nast, has an Electrolux Ergorapido Stick Pet vacuum and she loves it. As someone with a dog who sheds like crazy and a toddler who loves to make a mess, Meg says her floors have seen better days. “I use this vacuum daily to quickly clean up food scraps after dinner,” she tells me. “I love how the head pivots smoothly and responsively around tight turns underneath a high chair and into nooks and crannies below kitchen cabinets.” Meg has also swapped her broom for this vacuum to pick up dog hair. “The head features a light that clearly shows where attention is needed," she says. "Sometimes the dog hair blends in with the floor, and this ensures I never miss a spot.” She also loves that the vacuum is lightweight and stores upright on a sleek charger. The vacuum has a runtime of 48 minutes and includes a short crevice tool and a small dusting brush.

Best Corded Vacuum For Hardwood Floors: Miele Complete C3 Calima Canister Vacuum

Our one exception to the cordless rule. In a growing world of cordless stick vacuums and smart robot vacs, one brand still stands out for expertly utilizing corded power: Miele. The brand’s Complete C3 Canister Vacuum deserves a shout, even if that type of vacuum isn’t necessarily en vogue right now. It makes us remember just how powerful a corded vacuum can be. With six suction levels, this power is optimized for any surface, but really thrives on hardwood floors.

The included Turbo Brush is ideal for pet hair, while the Parquet Twister floorhead is perfect for protecting hard floors that require a more gentle touch. Since all the weight is on the floor, the stick has the feel of a lightweight handheld vacuum, while a 33-foot cleaning radius ensures you get around your home nimbly and without too much extra movement. One-touch cord rewind prevents knots and all of the accessories can be stored within the actual vacuum itself, keeping everything right where it needs to be when you need it.

Robot Vacuums

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 worth 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 Shark 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 mid-clean, it does that on its own as well and then picks up right 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 All-In-One Cleaning Station: Samsung Bespoke Jet All-in-One Clean Station with Auto Steam

If you’re looking for a vacuum that truly does everything for you, this is one of the best picks of the bunch. Not only is the robot vacuum itself packed with power and features, but the cleaning station takes care of the grunt work for you—like cleaning the mop pads, emptying the dust bin, and refilling the robot with water.

The best part, though, might be the LiDAR Navigation with 3D Mapping tech, which creates a 3D map of your home to clean rooms with precision, avoiding obstacles and moving efficiently through the space. We love the ease of use. It’s smart features make it a set-and-forget appliance that can largely function without your help, keeping your floors clear of dirt and debris while also mopping up spills and tougher stains.

Best for Pet Hair: Eufy X8 Pro Robotic Vacuum

The Eufy X8 Pro Robotic Vacuum is designed, among other things, to be a pet hair magnet. It does this by using twin-turbine suction technology to capture hair wherever it may be, helped along by the roller brush that’s able to uncover hair (and other debris) hiding in cracks and tiles. The roller brush also untangles hair automatically—so you don’t have to do it yourself post-clean. I like that it uses AI to create a map of my home, which results in a highly efficient cleaning process that also avoids obstacles in the floor. The vacuum comes with a self-empty station that can hold roughly 45 days worth of debris in an antibacterial dust bag.

Best for Pet Messes: iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop

The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ makes it easy to clean up behind pets. That’s because it uses smart scrub technology, meaning it can scrub in back and forth motions and it applies 1.6 pounds of pressure to remove paw prints and other messes created by your beloved pets. It’s intelligent enough to recognize carpet and lift the mopping pads accordingly, so you don’t have to stop and change cleaning modes. Obstacle avoidance and dirt detect technology allow the robot vacuum to provide more functionality. It can be used with your smartphone and paired with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands.

What type of vacuum is right for your home?

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,” he says

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. Specifically he points to models that work on hardwood and carpet, and that are 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.

Tips for cleaning hardwood floors and keeping them looking new

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.

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,” Amanda advises. 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.”

Preventative care for your hardwood floors

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

• Avoid exposing floors to direct sunlight or bright lights—window coverings are your friend.
• Install felt runners under furniture and chair legs to avoid scratches.
• Wipe up spills immediately. Place rugs in areas where liquids may spill or accumulate and cause damage, and prioritize quick cleanups.
• When moving furniture, lift to avoid scratching on the floor.
• Don’t oversaturate with water when cleaning.