10 Best Lightweight Upright Vacuums 2025 in the United States

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E is a strong contender in the lightweight upright vacuum category, particularly for pet owners and those looking for effective allergen control. Weighing in at 13.7 pounds, it’s relatively easy to maneuver, especially with its swivel steering feature that allows you to navigate furniture and tight spaces with ease. The lift-away functionality is a standout, enabling you to detach the pod for cleaning stairs and other above-floor areas without much hassle. This can be very handy for those who need flexibility in their cleaning routine.

The vacuum is equipped with a HEPA filter and an anti-allergen complete seal, which effectively traps 99.9% of dust and allergens. This is a significant advantage for allergy sufferers, making it a solid choice for maintaining cleaner indoor air quality. Additionally, the extra-large dust cup (0.87 liters) is a plus, allowing for longer cleaning sessions without frequent emptying, which is especially useful during heavy cleaning tasks.

In terms of performance, the brush roll shutoff feature allows you to switch between deep carpet cleaning and gentler bare floor cleaning, providing versatility across different surfaces. The included attachments, such as the dusting brush and crevice tool, enhance its usability for detailed cleaning. However, there are some drawbacks. While the vacuum is effective, its corded design may limit mobility compared to cordless options, particularly in larger spaces. Moreover, with a noise level of 80 dB, it may be quite loud during operation, which could be a concern for some users. Finally, while it excels with pet hair, those with larger homes or extensive carpeting might find it slightly heavy to push over long periods.

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E is a robust vacuum that excels in pet hair removal and allergen filtration, making it a great choice for households with pets or allergy concerns.

The Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum is a versatile and efficient cleaning tool that balances power and portability. At 12.5 pounds, it's lightweight enough for easy maneuverability and carrying around the house, including up and down stairs. The vacuum's powerful suction makes it effective on both carpets and bare floors, and it includes a brushroll shutoff feature for seamless transitions between different surfaces.

The HEPA filtration system combined with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology ensures that dust and allergens are trapped inside, making it a good choice for allergy sufferers. The vacuum is also pet-friendly, coming with useful attachments like a wide upholstery tool for pet hair and a crevice tool for tight spaces. The 8-foot hose and 25-foot power cord provide ample reach, though the cord might feel short for those with larger spaces. The dustbin capacity of 1.1 quarts is reasonable, but it may require frequent emptying during extensive cleaning sessions.

Assembly is required, but the vacuum comes with a 5-year limited warranty for added peace of mind. Some users may find the noise level of 80 dB a bit high. The Lavender color adds a touch of style to its functional design. With strong customer reviews and being a bestseller in its category, the Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum is well-suited for homes with carpets, bare floors, pets, and those needing a lightweight, effective vacuum cleaner.

The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Vacuum is a great choice if you're looking for a lightweight and easy-to-handle vacuum for everyday cleaning. Weighing just 7.6 pounds, it's one of the lighter options in the upright stick vacuum category, making it simple to carry and maneuver around furniture or up stairs. It offers strong suction power with a 0.67 horsepower motor and 500 watts of power, which works well on both carpets and hard floors. The vacuum features a HEPA filter, which is excellent for trapping allergens and improving air quality during cleaning.

With a 0.31-quart dustbin, it’s fairly small, so you might need to empty it often if you have a lot of cleaning to do. Its cord length is around 3.8 feet (1.17 meters for the hose), which is a bit limited, meaning you may need to switch plugs frequently in bigger rooms. The swivel steering helps you easily navigate tight spaces and around furniture, a useful feature for homes with many obstacles. Along with the main vacuum, it includes handy attachments like an upholstery tool, anti-allergen dust brush, and crevice tool, which add versatility beyond just floor cleaning.

A nice bonus is the ability to convert it into a handheld vacuum for above-floor areas. While it isn’t cordless, the continuous power from the cord means you won’t lose suction as the battery drains, but the restricted cord length could be inconvenient. If you want a lightweight, powerful, and versatile vacuum for regular cleaning on multiple surfaces and don’t mind moving the plug around, this Shark Rocket model fits the bill well.