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In addition to elevating the look of your home, hardwood floors can be easy to keep clean — especially if you have the help of the right vacuum cleaner in your corner.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab continually tests the top vacuums to determine which models offer the best bang for your buck. So many brands constantly release updated models and features, and we put them through rigorous performance tests. Not only do we make sure they can pick up debris and hair without tangling, but we also confirm that they’re easy to operate, aren't too heavy to lug up and down stairs and feature easy-to-clean dust cups or easy-to-remove bags.
Since hardwood floors can require some special care, we’ve rounded up the best options with those needs in mind. We prioritize vacuums with soft bristles and even vacuums with no brush rollers (or those with removable brush rollers) to ensure your vacuum won't scratch or scuff delicate floors. We’ve also highlighted canister, cordless and robot options so that you can choose the one best suited to your home and cleaning style.
At the end of this guide, you'll find more information on how we test vacuum cleaners and how to shop for the best vacuum for hardwood floors. Check out our guide to the best mops for the right wet cleaner for your hardwood floors and our top-tested handheld vacuums to clean up quick messes.
Miele vacuums consistently perform well in all of our tests, and the Boost CX1 is no exception. With a sleek, compact design and flexible hose, this canister vacuum impressed us in both the looks department and, more importantly, the performance department, earning a spot in our round-up of the best canister vacuums. It picked up dry oats from all of our test floors and carpets with no problem and showed no signs of pushing debris forward instead of suctioning, which is a common complaint with other vacuum models.
The universal floor head only requires the flip of one switch when going from carpet to hardwood floors, so there's no need to change attachments. But if you want to ensure your hardwood floors are getting the best treatment, the Miele comes with a parquet floor brush attachment for even better performance on hardwood flooring. The Boost CX1 is bagless, but with a Hygiene AirClean filter that keeps even the smallest particles in the canister. Allergy sufferers can rest assured that they aren't releasing dust back into the air with this canister vacuum.
This Bissell model has a unique, air-powered soft brush designed to sweep particles from the crevices of hardwood floors without damaging them. Its compact design also makes it easy to carry from room to room. Though we haven’t tested this model, we've tested dozens of others from Bissell and they always do well in our Cleaning Lab tests. They often have impressively innovative features, so we expect this one to perform to the high standards we set for vacuums. It's priced a little higher than some of our other best-tested affordable vacuums, but it is still available at a great price.
Dyson produces some of the most technologically advanced vacuums on the market, and the V12 Detect impressed us in the Lab. This vacuum uses soft nylon and anti-static carbon fiber filaments on its brush roll to remove dust from hardwood floors without leaving scratches in its wake. It also has a detangling brush bar that allows it to suck hair up into the dust bin without it wrapping around the brush.
To help you get in all of the nooks and crannies around your home, it has a very impressive light on the front of the vacuum head that illuminates tiny particles of dust and debris so that no speck is left behind. The digital display shows the amount and size of the particles it's grabbing, as well as the remaining run time and battery life.
The V12 Detect comes with useful attachments, and we were especially impressed by a cone-shaped tool intended for picking up pet hair. It also has powerful suction and it can run for up to 50 minutes. It only comes with one battery though, so if you have a large home to clean, you may have to vacuum in shifts to give it a break to recharge.
Every accessory you could ever wish for with your canister vacuum is included with the Pet Friendly Pop-N-Go Canister Vacuum from Kenmore. The hardwood floor brush on this vacuum lives right on the canister and is easily accessed with the press of a button and snaps on hands-free. We found this vacuum easy to maneuver over both carpet and hard flooring thanks to its large wheels and super flexible hose. It picked up dry oats from all of our test floors quickly, leaving very little, if any, behind after just a few passes.
With the motorized Pet PowerMate attachment, you can go from floor cleanup to couch cleaning with just one appliance. The Pop-N-Go is a bagged canister vacuum, meaning you won’t have to empty a messy dirt-filled cup and risk having dust end up in the air of your home again.
Shark makes great user-friendly vacuums that typically perform very well in our Lab tests. While we haven't tested this exact model in our Lab, it packs a few distinct features that set it apart from the competition that we think are worth it. It has a combination brush roll and soft fluffy roller that are particularly effective on hardwood floors and gentle enough not to scuff or scratch. It also has an odor-neutralizing capability that keeps the dust bin from developing any scents inside the vacuum.
Another great feature is that it can operate as an upright vacuum or a stick vacuum, which is perfect for both deep-cleaning days and moments when you need to quickly spruce up your floors. It can also transform into a portable canister vacuum for above-the-floor cleaning and vacuuming stairs. The bagless vacuum has a sealed body and a HEPA filter to keep dust and dirt locked away. While it is on the heavier side, online reviewers love that it can tackle lots of different surfaces.
When we tested this Dyson stick vacuum at home, we were impressed with how well it worked on wood floors. In our ease-of-use tests, we were able to maneuver it around small and big obstacles alike, going in any direction (even sideways) and it was the perfect size for stair treads, the edges of the room and around area rugs. With two soft, fluffy rollers, the Omni-Glide picks up both large debris and fine particles with ease, all without scratching hardwood floors. Plus, it's lightweight and rechargeable.
We loved how easy it was to transform the Omni-Glide into a hand vacuum with just one click. The hygienic, easy-to-use ejection mechanism empties the dust bin quickly. Other impressive features include a washable filter and a sealed whole-machine filtration system that traps 99.9% of dust and allergens — ideal for allergy sufferers.
A vacuum that suctions dry debris and mops at the same time? Yes, please! This two-in-one vacuum and wet mop from Bissell is a cordless version of a corded model we previously tested and featured in this round-up of best vacuum cleaners for hardwood floors. In our recent category test of vacuum mops, the Crosswave earned great scores in dry debris pickup tests of cereal, coffee grounds and baking powder. A bowl of cereal and milk was history in just one pass forward and back. With a 30-minute runtime, you can get through plenty of cleaning on just one charge. Impressively, this vacuum mop has a self-cleaning cycle you can run with the click of one button when you're done cleaning.
While the included brush roll isn't specifically for hardwood floors, it uses a soft brush roll with a few stiff bristles throughout to vacuum up dry and wet debris from hard floors and area rugs. You control how much water and cleaner are dispensed, which is especially important for wood floors that can be damaged with excessive water. And, it leaves floors only slightly moist to the touch after cleaning.
For maintenance cleaning you barely have to think about, there's the iRobot Roomba S9+. The top performer in our most recent test of 15 robot vacuums on the market, the S9+ earned the highest scores in cleaning hard floors, spot cleaning and overall performance. It has a charging base that also acts as a large dust bin for the robot, meaning less frequent emptying. The rubber brush rolls are self-cleaning too, minimizing annoying hair tangles.
With the app, you can set your robot to clean on a schedule of your choice, clean a specific room of your home or use a double pass feature for extra cleaning performance. The S9+ will stop cleaning if the battery is running low but pick up right where it left off after it's done charging. For busy homes with little free floor space, the iRobot S9+ expertly avoids obstacles in its path.
Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we test all types of vacuums, from canister vacuums to robot vacuums and handheld vacuums, following the ASTM International industry-standard test methods. We test new vacuums as they are made available, sometimes before they are even released to consumers. Every year, we also open submissions for our Best Cleaning and Organizing Awards, which has us testing dozens more vacuum cleaners. Every single vacuum is put through the same rigorous tests and only the models that perform to our high standards are included in our vacuum buying guides.
Our performance tests include evaluating how well each vacuum cleaner removes dirt, debris and simulated pet hair from hard flooring like wood, tile and vinyl, plus medium pile carpets. We also look at how well vacuums clean along floor edges and how effective their suction is. Because hardwood floors can be damaged by rough cleaning methods, we also take a close look at the features each vacuum offers, like soft brush rolls, brush rolls that can be turned off and hard-floor-specific settings.
Our second set of tests, called ease-of-use tests, include testing each vacuum for ease of cleaning, maneuverability, maintenance, weight, battery run-time for cordless models and the clarity of the owner's manual. In addition to our in-Lab tests, we recruit our colleagues to try the vacuums for themselves and share their opinions.
There is no one-size-fits-all vacuum for hardwood floors. Different vacuums will suit different needs. Here’s what to look for when shopping for a hardwood floor vacuum:
✔️ Attachments: Brush rollers are great for cleaning plush carpeting but can cause fine scratches on wood flooring. For safety, make sure your hardwood vacuum either has multiple brush rolls, attachments for carpet vs. hardwood or an option to turn the brush roll off. Look for soft brush rollers or attachments specifically for hardwood floors. These soft brushes will sweep away debris from the cracks and crevices between wood floorboards and nab the finest dust particles for a more thorough cleaning. Brush attachments are also usually low enough to get to hard-to-reach places like under furniture.
✔️ Suction Power: Strong suction power is important in a good hardwood vacuum. Not only will good suction power pick up large debris, but it will also pick up pet hair and fine dirt or dust, and it will do a better job of nabbing particles lodged between the planks of wood.
✔️ Vacuum Type: Each style of vacuum will suit different needs. Cordless vacuums are ideal if you switch rooms frequently while vacuuming. Canister vacuums are extremely versatile and do a great job cleaning floors, stairs, furniture, lampshades and more. A robot vacuum will do the vacuuming for you with the push of a button. Stick vacuums are often convenient to store, take up little space and tend to be lightweight.
✔️ Weight: Be sure to check the weight of the vacuum and take into consideration how much weight you’re willing to push around while vacuuming or carrying around the house.
As Executive Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home and Cleaning Lab, Carolyn Forté has tested and reviewed hundreds of vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, dishwashers, washing machines and other major home appliances for over 40 years. She is an active member of the ASTM Committee on Vacuum Cleaners and chairman of the consumer information sub-committee.
Brittany Loggins most recently updated this story. She has tested hundreds of tech, home and beauty products over the course of her eight years as a journalist. She’s currently a full-time freelance journalist who contributes to GQ, Architectural Digest and The New York Times. Before moving into freelance, Brittany was a staff writer at TODAY.com and CBS News. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in consumer journalism from the University of Georgia.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
Jamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.
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