Kenmore Bagless Upright Vacuum Lift

3.8

(9)

Bottom Line

Choose it for strong pickup and sealed HEPA cleaning on mixed floors; Skip if you need ultra-quiet use or frequent under-bed cleaning without switching to tools.

Best for

Homes with mixed carpet and hard floors that want strong corded suction, sealed HEPA containment, and practical pet/stair tools without paying premium pricing.

Not for

Shoppers who prioritize ultra-quiet cleaning, very low under-bed access with the main head, or who want higher confidence in long warranty coverage and long-term durability.

Verdict

Kenmore’s bagless upright Lift models in these reviews deliver above-average suction and consistently strong debris pickup on both carpet and hard floors, with a sealed HEPA path that performs well in smoke-style leakage tests. Owners and testers also like the lift-up/away versatility, long reach wands, and useful pet tools for stairs and upholstery. The tradeoffs are real: noise can be high for a corded upright, the main head struggles to get under low furniture, and hair can wrap on the brush roll on some versions unless you clean it regularly. Long-term reliability looks mixed, with at least one report of early motor/hose failure and short warranty comparisons against competitors.

Pros

Filtration / Dust Containment 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.5

Multiple testers call out a sealed HEPA air path that keeps fine dust and allergens contained, and smoke/leakage style tests are reported as passing well for the price tier.
Emptying & Mess Control 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.5

Emptying is commonly described as quick and low-effort with push-button release, though routine upkeep (filters/brushroll) matters for maintaining performance.
Suction & Airflow 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.5

Across reviews, Kenmore’s Lift bagless uprights are described as very strong for a corded upright, with suction readings around the low-20 kPa range in testing and noticeably aggressive pull on carpet in home use.
Carpet — Medium-Pile Pickup 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.5

Medium-pile pickup is a standout, including at least one report of a 100% deep-clean style test and other tests in the high-90% range.
Carpet — Low-Pile Pickup 4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.4

Low-pile carpet pickup is consistently rated strong, with lab-style tests and user demos showing thorough debris removal.
Cord length 4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.4

Cord length is repeatedly called out as generous (around 30 ft), improving room-to-room reach without frequent outlet changes.
Assembly and Setup 4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.4

Assembly/setup is described as straightforward in an unboxing-style review, with quick connections for wand and hose and minimal fuss.
Ease of use 4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.4

Ease of use is repeatedly framed as a highlight due to swivel steering, lift-up/away versatility, and simple emptying, with only under-bed access and weight as recurring friction points.
Comparative performance 4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.4

In head-to-head comparisons, reviewers often rank Kenmore favorably versus similarly priced uprights for suction, usability, and pickup, while conceding competitors may offer longer warranties or different conveniences.
Hair Pickup — Carpets 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3

On carpet, testers report very high pickup performance (often high-90% results) and strong pet hair removal, especially in medium/low pile situations.
Hard Floor — Large Debris Intake 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.3

Large debris intake is noted as unusually capable on some variants due to wider front gates, improving chunky pickup versus many uprights at similar prices.
Accessories & Tools 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.3

Most reviews mention a useful kit including a 3-in-1 combo tool (crevice/dusting/upholstery) plus a powered or rotating pet handymate tool for stairs and furniture.
Hard Floor — Fine Dust Pickup 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.3

Fine dust pickup on hard floors is described as above average, supported by strong suction/airflow measurements and visible debris capture with headlights.
Hair Pickup — Hard Floors 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3

Hard-floor hair pickup is generally described as effective, helped by strong airflow and floorhead design; some versions emphasize better performance than similarly priced rivals.
Stair Cleaning 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3

Stair cleaning is a strong use case when leveraging lift-up/away mode and the pet tool, making the weight less of a barrier than a traditional full-unit carry.
Maneuverability & Handling 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.2

Handling is generally praised with responsive swivel steering and easy navigation around furniture, though the weight can still feel cumbersome for carries.
Pet-Ready Features 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.2

Pet capability is repeatedly highlighted via the included pet tool and strong carpet pickup, though brushroll hair management varies by model and user cleaning habits.
Bin & Bag 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.2

The bin is described as adequately sized and easy to remove, with users noting it can capture surprising amounts even after a recent cleaning with another vacuum.
Controls & UI 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.2

Controls are generally simple and intuitive, including floor-type switching on some models and suction-control vents on the hose/wand in at least one review.
Upholstery / Above-Floor Pickup 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.2

Above-floor performance is supported by long reach wands and the included tools, with upholstery and ceiling reach called out as practical benefits.
Tool-change simplicity 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.2

Tool changes are described as easy, with combo tools that switch modes quickly and attachments that lock into place without much effort.
Headlight & LED lights 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.1

LED headlights are mentioned as genuinely helpful for spotting debris in darker areas and along typical cleaning paths.
Price & Value 3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 3.9

Value is a consistent strength: reviews frame these Kenmore uprights as delivering near-premium pickup and sealed HEPA features at a notably lower price.
Carpet — High-Pile Pickup 3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.8

High-pile performance is described as good but more situational; at least one user notes using the brushroll on very high pile despite some carpet guidance against it.
Under-Furniture Pickup 3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 3.7

Under-furniture access is a common tradeoff: the main head may not fit under low beds, but lift-up/away plus hose/tools can partially compensate.
Maintenance requirements 3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.6

Maintenance is emphasized for bagless performance: multiple reviews mention regular filter cleaning and occasional brushroll hair removal, with outcomes (tangles, suction consistency) improving when upkeep is done.
Weight 3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.6

Weight is consistently in the mid-teens (about 14–15 lb), which is manageable for a corded upright but noticeably heavier than cordless options.
Hair‑Wrap / Tangle Resistance 3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.6

Tangle resistance is mixed: some tests show hair wrapping on the brushroll (especially longer hair), while other variants include hair-eliminator features that reduce buildup.
Overall opinion 3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 3.5

Overall sentiment skews positive in test-focused and owner demo reviews, but there is at least one strongly negative experience centered on early failure and repairability.

Cons

Crevice / Groove Pickup (Hard Floors) 3.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.4

Crevice/groove pickup is a reported weak spot on some versions, tied to design choices that reduce sealing at the floor for better large-debris intake.
Cord management 3.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.4

Cord management is functional but not premium; wrapping is often manual, and retractable-cord convenience is referenced as a feature competitors may offer instead.
Noise level 3.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 3.3

Noise is commonly described as loud for a corded upright, with test numbers around the high-70 dB range and user notes that it can be noticeable at higher power.
Support & Reliability 2.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 2.8

Reliability and warranty confidence is mixed, with comparisons noting shorter warranty terms than some competitors and at least one report of repeated shutdown/no-power issues.
Build quality & durability 2.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 2.8

Build quality impressions are mixed: several reviewers describe the unit as solid and well-built for the price, but at least one owner reports cracked hose components.
Ongoing ownership costs (bags, filters, batteries) 2.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0

Ongoing costs come up mainly via filters, with one complaint that replacements feel expensive; multiple reviewers stress routine filter cleaning to preserve bagless performance.
Hose length 1.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 1.8

Hose durability is specifically criticized in one report that mentions cracking and snapping, suggesting the hose can be a weak point if stressed or used heavily.
Overall durability/longevity 1.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 1.5

Durability/longevity is the most polarized theme: some short-term impressions are positive, while a negative owner report describes early motor failure within months.

FAQ

Does it work well on both carpet and hard floors?

Yes. The reviews consistently report strong pickup on carpet and effective debris pickup on hard floors, with several lab-style tests landing in the high-90% range overall.

Is it good for pet hair?

Generally yes thanks to the included pet tool and strong carpet pickup, but some versions can wrap longer hair on the brush roll, so occasional brushroll cleaning may be needed.

Can it clean under beds easily?

The main head may not fit under low beds, but the lift-up/away design and hose tools let you clean under furniture with a bit more effort than a low-profile head.

How loud is it?

Expect a typical loud corded-upright sound profile; one test reports about 79 dB, and multiple reviewers call it noisy at higher power.

What upkeep does it need?

Filter cleaning is a recurring theme for maintaining bagless performance, and hair removal from the brush roll may be required depending on hair length and model features.