To find the best brooms, we spent hours researching the various options on the market, considering factors like broom style, bristle material, handle design, and overall value when coming up with our picks. We also spoke to two cleaning experts—Renee Kraus, CEO of Renee’s Cleaning Services, and Johnny Pallares, owner of De La Rosa House Cleaning—for advice on how to choose the best brooms for different cleaning tasks and surface types. “Good brooms have angled bristles to get into cracks and crevices,” Kraus says. “[But] it does depend on what you are trying to clean. Push brooms are [great] for large areas and larger debris. Small angled brooms with softer bristles are better for small particles and softer surfaces.” Our top pick, the O-Cedar PowerCorner Pet Pro Broom and Step-On Dust Pan, is effective at cleaning dust and debris from every nook and cranny thanks to its angled head, feathered ends, and durable plastic bristles. Here are the best brooms to make cleaning your floors feel like less of a chore. Who it isn’t for: People who want a broom they can also use outside. This pick from O-Cedar has everything you could want from a broom. It’s highly effective and easy to use, and it comes at a budget-friendly price, too. The broom is designed with an angled head—a feature our experts recommend for cleaning in corners, under furniture, and in other hard-to-reach spots. Its bristles are made of recycled plastic, which is sturdier than straw but gentle enough to use on tile and hardwood. We especially like that they’re arranged in a V-shaped pattern to give your broom more contact with the floor. Half of the bristles are firm enough to sweep up large debris, while the rest are softer for clinging to fine dust and pet hair. And all the bristles are bend-resistant, so you can dig into corners without ruining your broom. While this broom isn’t ideal for outdoor use, it should cover your indoor cleaning bases. And it comes with a unique step-on dust pan that’s equipped with a comb, which lets you skip the worst part of sweeping: pulling clumps of dust, hair, and lint off the end of your broom. This sets O’Cedar’s broom apart from the rest—and it’s what makes it our best overall pick. Even though this broom is technically designed for pet owners, we think the dust pan’s features are important for households without furry friends, too.
Broom Style: Indoor broomBristle Material: Recycled plasticHandle Length: 45 inches
Who it isn’t for: People who are looking for a more traditional broom with a dust pan. Pet owners know cleaning up fur is no easy feat. That’s why there are so many pet-specific cleaning products on the market. And when it comes to brooms, we recommend this one from FURemover. It has rubber bristles, which are designed to attract pet hair much better than other materials. The rake-style head is ideal for removing fur from thick carpets and rugs, something that isn’t really possible with other broom types that are designed for cleaning hard surfaces. We also like that this broom has a telescopic handle, which adjusts from 36 to 60 inches to accommodate family members of all heights. Plus, the rubber broom for pet hair doubles as a squeegee, so you can use the same tool for cleaning windows and shower doors. Those huge clumps of fur that you find piling up on your floors will be so much easier to clean up with the FURemover broom. Just note that this version is designed for indoor use only, but the brand also makes a broom with a bigger head that can be used outdoors, as well in large areas of your home.
Broom Style: Indoor broom for pet hairBristle Material: RubberHandle Length: 36–60 inches
Who it isn’t for: People who prefer to keep their sweeping and vacuuming tools separate. Black + Decker’s Cordless Powered Floor Sweeper combines the flexibility of a broom with the efficiency of a vacuum, giving you a hybrid cleaning tool that’s really easy to use. The top of the broom looks like any other: It has a long, skinny handle that’s lightweight and easy to wield. But the bottom looks more like a vacuum. Instead of boasting traditional bristles made of plastic or rubber, the broom’s head is lined with rolling brushes that collect dust, hair, and debris. It’s also equipped with a 12.5-ounce dustbin, which stores all the mess you’ve swept up. Just keep in mind that it won’t be able to replace your existing vacuum, which likely has a bigger dustbin. But thanks to its hybrid design, this electric broom can do things ordinary brooms and upright vacuums just can’t. It’s super lightweight and cordless, so you can pick it up and carry it anywhere without being tethered by a cord or an outlet. You can also use the broom one-handed, stand it up straight, and slide it flat under furniture—things you just can’t do with a standard broom. One downside? You can only use the broom for 50 minutes at a time, so we wouldn’t recommend it for deep cleans. Still, it’s an ultra-efficient option for everyday upkeep—like cleaning up small messes and casually sweeping your space.
Broom Style: Electric broomBristle Material: PlasticHandle Length: 34.5 inches
Who it isn’t for: People who want a broom that can be used inside, too. When cleaning outdoor spaces, you usually don’t need anything fancy. Our experts say you can often use an indoor broom to get the job done. But for the best results, they recommend using a push broom—and this one from Yocada is a great option. The broom is designed with a sturdy iron handle, which you can adjust between 50.8 and 65.3 inches. And its large head (either 17.8 or 23.6 inches) is wide enough to sweep up loads of dirt and debris—without making the broom feel bulky or difficult to hold. Unlike an ordinary broom, Yocada’s broom isn’t straight from top to bottom. Instead, its handle is tilted at a 45-degree angle—making it easy to comfortably push the broom every time you need to use it. The broom is also lined with heavy-duty bristles, which can handle the wear and tear of tough outdoor surfaces. The bristles are dense and firm, so they’re perfect for patios, sidewalks, and garages. They’re also feathered at the ends, which helps the broom collect fine dust just as easily as it can push big debris aside. But since this pick is so big and industrial, you probably won’t want to use it indoors.
Broom Style: Outdoor push broomBristle Material: PlasticHandle Length: 50.8–65.3 inches
Who it isn’t for: People who have lots of pet hair to sweep up. When it comes to cleaning delicate floors (especially tile and hardwood), our experts have some advice: Use a gentle broom. And that’s why the Casabella Basics Angled Broom is another one of our picks. The broom is lined with flagged poly-fiber bristles, which split at the tips—an intricate detail that makes it great for cleaning hardwood floors, tile, laminate, and other scratch-prone materials. These feathered ends are gentle on your floors but tough on dirt, clinging to dust in a way ordinary bristles can’t. The broom is designed with a long steel handle, which breaks down into three pieces for easy storage. And its angled head is ideal for cleaning because it can comfortably reach into corners, slide under furniture, and trace baseboards and trim. The snap-on dust pan makes it an even better cleaning tool. Lined with ridges, the dust pan collects all the dust and debris your broom has swept up—instead of leaving it all stuck to the bristles.
Broom Style: Indoor broomBristle Material: Poly fiberHandle Length: 44 inches
Who it isn’t for: People who want a gentle broom they can definitely use indoors. Quickie’s Bulldozer Multi-Surface Push Broom is our favorite push broom for one simple reason: You can use it on a variety of surfaces. While many push brooms are designed for smooth surfaces or rough surfaces, this one is designed for both—and that’s what ultimately made it our favorite. You can use the broom on concrete sidewalks, wooden patios, and asphalt driveways. And according to the brand, you can even use it inside—though we suggest double-checking your floor material before taking such a heavy-duty broom to it. The broom’s long handle is made of powder-coated steel, while its wide head is lined with polypropylene bristles. These bristles are heavy-duty—they can handle grass clippings, mulch, and even drywall debris. And though the bristles are pretty stiff, their ends are feathered and soft—so they’re great at cleaning up fine materials, like dust and sand, too. These bristles are affixed to a sturdy resin block, which is just as durable as the rest of the broom. The block won’t rot, even if it gets wet. And since it won’t warp or crack, you can leave it in a hot garage without giving it a second thought.
Broom Style: Indoor/outdoor push broomBristle Material: PolypropyleneHandle Length: 60 inches
Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want to fuss with an adjustable broom head. Experts recommend using a soft-bristled, angled broom to clean up fine dust. Why? Soft bristles cling to dust, pushing it into a pile instead of flinging it into the air. Angled brooms, on the other hand, slide into corners and crevices with ease. We’ve found a lot of brooms that fit the bill, but what sets the Oxo Good Grips Any-Angle Broom apart is that it isn’t just a soft-bristled, angled broom—it also has an adjustable head that can reach into more nooks and crannies than other angled brooms on the market. At first glance, the broom looks like any other. It has a sturdy pole, a grippy handle, and an angled head that’s lined with durable polyethylene bristles, which are feathered at the ends to cling to dust and debris. But the broom’s head is completely adjustable. With a tap of your foot, you can shift the broom head to different angles—making it easy to slide into whatever crevice you’re cleaning. This unique feature makes the broom great for cleaning fine dust that accumulates under furniture and in other hard-to-reach corners. It isn’t a one-trick pony, either. When locked in an upright position, this broom looks and acts like any other traditional broom. That means you can use it for all of your indoor sweeping.
Broom Style: Indoor broomBristle Material: PolyethyleneHandle Length: 52 inches
How to Shop for Brooms Like a Pro
Broom Style
Different brooms are suited to different jobs, so consider the cleaning tasks on your to-do list before picking one. Push brooms are great for heavy-duty cleaning, while electric brooms are ideal for small piles of dust. Soft-bristled brooms, on the other hand, are good for scratch-prone surfaces like tile and hardwood floors.
Bristle Material
When it comes to bristles, there are two things to consider: hardness and durability. To judge hardness, pay attention to how the bristles feel. Stiff bristles are good for heavy-duty cleaning tasks, like sweeping your garage or patio. Soft bristles are better for gentle jobs, like cleaning tile or hardwood floors inside your home. To judge durability, check what material the bristles are made of. “A lower-quality broom is a traditional straw broom that breaks really easily,” Pallares says. “A standard broom is made out of a plastic material and holds up much better over time.”
Handle Design
Before buying a broom, double-check its handle length. You’ll want a broom that’s long enough to reach into nooks and crannies, but not so big that it’s hard to wield. And if you can, find a broom that’s easy to store. “A great broom has a hole in the handle to hang it with,” Kraus says. “You never want to leave a broom standing on its bristles—it may break [or] bend the bristles and put undue strain on the broom.”
Questions You Might Ask
How do you clean a broom?
Even though you use them to clean other surfaces, brooms themselves have to be cleaned regularly, too. First, tap it against a hard surface to shake off loose dust and debris. Then, fill a bucket with warm water, a few drops of dish soap, and a half-cup of vinegar. “If it’s a natural bristled broom, only let it soak for 10-15 minutes,” Kraus says. “If your broom has synthetic bristles, 30 minutes will do the trick.” Once your broom is done soaking, rinse it off and hang it up to dry before you use it again.
How do you properly use a push broom?
The best (and easiest) way to use a push broom is to hold it in front of you and push it forward. Keep these pushes brief—just like you would if you were sweeping with a standard broom. “Sweep using short strokes—or ‘pushes’—to make a pile,” Kraus says. Each time you push, gently press your broom’s bristles into the ground so they can collect dust and debris.
Can a broom replace a vacuum?
“Brooms and vacuums do similar jobs, [but] you should own both,” Kraus says. That’s because brooms are designed for cleaning slick surfaces, like tile and hardwood floors. But vacuums are significantly better at cleaning rugs and carpets. And while your broom may be able to reach areas you can’t get to with a bulky corded vacuum, it can’t clean your entire home nearly as quickly or efficiently as a vacuum can.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Lindsey Lanquist, a contributing writer for Real Simple with seven years of experience writing lifestyle content. To find the best brooms, Lindsey spent hours researching popular options, considering broom style, bristle material, handle design, and overall value. She also interviewed two cleaning experts—Renee Kraus, CEO of Renee’s Cleaning Services, and Johnny Pallares, owner of De La Rosa House Cleaning—for advice on what to look for when buying brooms and which brooms to use for different cleaning tasks.
