The 13 Best Vacuums, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall Upright Vacuum

Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra

$479 at Amazon


$500 at Target


$500 at Walmart

We thought our previous vacuums had been picking up most of the debris on our floors, but then we tried the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra. We were shocked by the amount of dust, dirt, and hair it picked up. Heavy-duty messes—especially pet hair and long hair—stand no chance against this powerful and substantial upright vacuum. Whether it be coffee grounds, cereal, corn kernels, hair, or lint, all debris was removed in just a few passes using this vacuum. 

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra is designed with pet owners in mind, equipped with a powerful Motorbar cleaner head with hair de-tangling removal vanes that automatically clear the hair as you clean. It swiftly removed even the longest and thickest hair in a single pass, resulting in no entanglement on the roller afterward. It also comes with hair-specific attachments one being the tangle-free turbine tool, which features counter-rotating heads for removing hair from carpets, cars, and upholstery. And a major bonus for pet owners: The included pet groom tool can be used to brush your pet’s fur, sending the hair directly into the vacuum. 

The vacuum transitions easily from hard surfaces to carpets, allowing you to toggle between three different suction modes depending on the floor type and pile height. With the help of the hose, wand, and various attachments, the vacuum had no problem maneuvering around furniture and cleaning upholstery. Plus, the generous 35-foot cord allows you to work within large rooms and open floor plans without constantly switching outlets. The extra-large dust cup had lots of excess capacity, even after we completed our Lab testing, leading us to believe this vacuum is well-suited to tackle large spaces. Given its power, the vacuum doesn’t exactly have a quiet operation, though it’s not any louder than similar competitor models. We also commend this pick for its durability—even after six months of use, the vacuum continued working as well as new. 

We did find two weaknesses in this model, the first being its tendency to split larger debris while in the upright position (as opposed to using the hose). The unit itself is also fairly heavy, and even though the included hose allows you to tackle stairs without lifting the base, we found it to have some resistance, which could make cleaning the stairs a bit difficult for those with limited mobility. Even so, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra remains our favorite upright vacuum for its powerful suction and anti-tangle design.

Type: Upright | Weight: 17.3 pounds | Cord Length: 35 feet | Battery Life/Runtime: N/A | Dust Capacity: 1.7 liters | Attachments: Motorbar cleaner head, tangle-free turbine tool, combination tool, stair tool, pet groom tool, wand, hose