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Best Floor Machines in 2023: Buying Guide

Whether you work in the janitorial services industry, have a home improvement project to tackle or simply want to clean your floors like a professional, you need a floor machine. However, you have to consider your purpose for buying one.

Do you want to burnish or buff, or do you need to scrub and strip? You also have to think about what type of floors you intend to clean because there are floor machines that only work on hard floors while others work on hard floors and carpets.

Best Floor Machines


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12) Mercury Floor Machines PRO21 PRO-175-21 Floor Machine

Out of the five models in Mercury’s Lo-Boy line, the L-21E is the largest floor machine. Ideal for use on all hard-surface floors in big areas, the Mercury L-21E Lo-Boy Super Heavy-Duty Floor Machine is perfect for large retail spaces, schools and other commercial spaces.

Mercury Floor Machines PRO21 PRO-175-21 Floor Machine

The chassis is constructed from polished aluminum that is durable and easy to maintain, and the bell-shaped housing holds a strong 66-frame motor with 1.5 horsepower and a triple planetary gearbox built for high-torque applications. Mercury offers a 5-year warranty on the chassis and motor, so you know you are getting a floor machine that will last a long time.

With its robust motor, the 105-pound floor machine rotates the cleaning pad at 175 revolutions per minute. Since it has a 21-inch cleaning path, you can tackle heavy-duty jobs.

The 19-inch pad driver can hold an 18-inch rotary brush as well as a riser for times with efficiency is of the utmost importance. All this power means you can strip dull protective coatings, scrub dirt and scuffs and polish surfaces until they shine.

Mercury Floor Machines PRO21
Mercury Floor Machines PRO21

As you are busy scrubbing, stripping and polishing, the broad bumper helps you avoid marking the baseboards and chipping the walls. The 6-inch wheels are also designed to not leave marks thanks to their soft-rubber material, and there are two non-conductive handle-bar triggers to prevent electrical shocks.

You can lock and adjust the 48-inch handle, so anyone can use the floor machine without difficulty. The 14-gauge yellow safety cord extends 50 feet for a long reach. Plus, you get a 1-year warranty on service repairs.

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11) Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber

Just because a floor machine is big, that doesn’t always mean it’s the best. The Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber is proof that great things come in small packages. For hardwood floors, this machine is a gem. Using the microfiber pad that comes with the Gloss Boss, you can make your tile, vinyl, laminate or hardwood floors shine.

Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber
Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber

If you want to wet clean the floors, simply spray them with the cleaning solution of your choice first. For added convenience, the machine comes with an extra microfiber pad, so you can wash one while you use the other.

Besides buffing, polishing and protecting your hard-surface floors, the Gloss Boss is able to clean carpets. Instead of using a microfiber pad, you can take advantage of the two dual spinning brushes.

These nylon brushes spin at 470 revolutions per minute, making them extremely capable of lifting dirt hidden beneath the surface, making your carpet clean and stain-free.

With its compact design, you can fit the floor head in tight areas without having to move furniture. It only stands 15 inches tall, so it doesn’t take up a lot of room wherever you store it.

Since the Gloss Boss weighs a feather-light 7 pounds, you will never feel it drag. Although the machine is light enough to lift, there are two non-marking wheels that make transport even easier. Assembly is a breeze too.

Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber Review
Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber

All you need to do is connect the three-piece steel handle, and the machine is ready to clean as soon as you plug in the 18-foot cord and press the power pedal with your foot. If a break down occurs in the first year you own the machine, you are covered by a 12-month limited warranty.

10) Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner (ZZ550)

Shark is known for its innovation in the scope of residential floor care, and the Shark ZZ550 Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner is perhaps one of the company’s most ingenious designs. This appliance is able to polish hard floors as well as clean carpets.

Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner (ZZ550)
Shark ZZ550

In order to give you a customized clean, you can choose from among two modes on the Sonic Duo. One mode is tailored to hard floors while the other is meant for carpets. Underneath the floor driver, there are two pads that vibrate in opposite directions at a rate of 1,000 scrubs every minute, giving you a deep clean.

Thanks to its enhanced maneuverability and powerful scrubbing action, it requires little effort to brighten your floors. The 18-pound floor cleaner is lightweight, and it features Shark’s AirGlide technology that includes swivel steering, which allows you to get into narrow spaces with ease. The appliance is also equipped with a pair of headlights that are situated on either side of the spray nozzle.

With this floor machine, you get all the washable microfiber pads you need. It comes with two hard-floor cleaning pads and one hard-floor polisher. For carpets, there is a cleaning pad as well as a scrubbing pad for stain removal.

Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner (ZZ550)
Shark ZZ550

You also get a hard-floor cleaning solution, carpet cleaning solution, carpet spot remover and hard-floor polishing liquid, all of which are easy to load into the removable tank. In addition, Shark offers 2 years of warranty coverage on the Sonic Duo.

Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaner...
  • 2 scrub modes for Hard floors and Carpets - 1000 scrubs per minute
  • 7 to 1 Concentrated Non-Toxic Gentle Cleaning Solutions - safe for family & pets

9) Koblenz P-2600 Commercial Floor and Carpet Shampoo/Polisher

If you have laminate hardwood in your living room, tile in your kitchen and carpet in your bedroom, you are probably tired of pulling out multiple appliances and tools to clean and maintain your floors.

You can consolidate your cleaning tasks by using one machine – the Koblenz P-2600 Commercial Floor and Carpet Shampoo/Polisher.

Koblenz P-2600
Koblenz P-2600

This floor machine not only scrubs and polishes floors but also buffs and waxes them by using two fast-spinning plates that turn in opposite directions and clean in a 12-inch path.

The bronze gears in the 4.2-amp motor ensure that this machine will last for many years. To help you keep a firm grip on this powerful floor machine, the T-bar handle has finger grooves to prevent slipping. Since the P-2600 only weighs 12.4 pounds, you won’t struggle to push it.Even the power cord and water tank are designed to make cleaning easier.

The power cord gives you an 18-foot cleaning radius, and the 1.125-gallon tank lets you add enough water and detergent to last through an entire cleaning session.With this floor machine, you get five pairs of brushes and pads for all types of cleaning applications.

Koblenz P-2600
Koblenz P-2600

There are two carpet shampooer brushes with gentle polyethylene bristles that won’t tear up carpet fibers as the brushes lift embedded dirt.There is also a pair of scrubbing brushes for cleaning heavily-soiled areas.

Plus, you a set of nylon scrubbing pads to remove wax build-up on hard floors. Finally, there are two polishing pads and two lambswool pads to buff your floor to a light shine. To protect your purchase, the Koblenz P-2600 comes with a 1-year warranty.

Koblenz P-2600 Commercial Floor and Carpet...
  • Nullify
  • The koblenz p-2600 carpet shampooer and floor polisher scrubs and polishes all kinds of...

8) Powr-Flite M171HD-3 Millennium Edition Floor Machine

Stripping and grinding floors require a tough, durable floor machine like the Powr-Flite M171HD-3 Millennium Edition Floor Machine. What if you want to use the machine for buffing jobs too? Well, this floor machine can buff without leaving gouges or swirls.

Powr-Flite M171HD-3 Millennium Edition Floor Machine

It features a 1.5-horsepower motor that is encased in a one-piece housing, which means many of the vibrations caused by the machine’s movement are absorbed. The floor machine also contains a solid-steel triple planetary gearbox that runs smooth and lasts a long time.

Since the brush spins at 175 revolutions per minute in an orbital fashion, so you can achieve a perfect finish. Thanks to the machine’s 109 pounds of weight, you can scrape, strip and grind floors as long as you use the correct type of 15-inch pad for the 17-inch floor head.

No matter how often you use the Powr-Flite Millennium, you don’t have to worry about the housing cracking from heavy-duty use since the housing is made of polyethylene. For extra durability, the 1.5-inch-wide wand is constructed from steel.

Powr-Flite M171HD-3
Powr-Flite M171HD-3

The floor machine is equipped with a 50-foot power cord, so you can keep the machine plugged into the same electrical outlet while you work, and it has a set of 2.5-inch self-lubricating wheels that are guaranteed not to scuff the floor. On the handlebars, there are levers for easy operation.

Plus, the bars are soft to the touch, so you can keep a sturdy grip. In the center of the handle assembly, there is a rocker safety switch. Every aspect of this floor cleaner is covered by a warranty. You get 3 years of coverage on the gearbox, 5 years on the motor, 10 years on the housing and 1 year on all other parts.

Powr-Flite M171HD-3 Millennium Edition Floor...
  • Patented rotationally molded one-piece housing reduces noise and vibration
  • Powerful 1.5 hp, 175 RPM motor can handle any job with ease

7) Viper Cleaning Equipment 50000226 AS430C Cord/Electric Scrubber

The mop-and-bucket method of cleaning floors is cumbersome and time consuming. In commercial settings, this method becomes highly inefficient. In places such as offices, hospitals and schools, you need a machine that can do the job right and do it fast.

The Viper Cleaning Equipment 50000226 AS430C Cord/Electric Scrubber can stand up to daily use in commercial buildings. This automatic scrubber’s motor is completely enclosed to protect it from water splashes. Although it weighs a hefty 154 pounds, it can still clean five times faster than a standard mop.

Viper Cleaning Equipment AS430C
Viper Cleaning Equipment AS430C

Is it powerful? Absolutely! The electric scrubber has two motors. A 0.47-horsepower motor and a 1-horsepower brush motor. The brush motor turns the 17-inch brush and cast-aluminum squeegee assembly at a speed of 160 revolutions per minute and applies 77 pounds of pressure, allowing the machine to remove every speck of dirt from any hard surface. Despite the strong motors and large size, the scrubber never gets louder than 70 decibels.

The handle has dual controls and three rocker switches underneath, all of which are within reach of your fingertips. Inside of the machine, there are two 13-gallon tanks – one for dispersing cleaning solution and the other for recovering dirty water.

Viper Cleaning Equipment AS430C Review
Viper Cleaning Equipment AS430C

To make sure that no accidents occur, the floor machine is equipped with a 66-foot yellow power cord. Thanks to the floor scrubber’s large water capacity, wide brush and powerful motor, you can cover 1,184 square meters of flooring on a single job. Viper offers a 5-year parts warranty and 2-year labor warranty on this incredible scrubbing machine.

Viper Cleaning Equipment 50000226 AS430C...
  • Easy-to-use, fingertip controls
  • Compact design, simple to maneuver in tight areas

6) Mercury L-17E Lo-Boy Floor Machine

The Mercury L-17E Lo-Boy Floor Machine is built to be tough and rugged, just as you would expect from a commercial-use floor machine. The chassis only consists of metal, so there are no plastic parts that can easily crack. It also has a 66-frame motor with a planetary gearbox to meet the power and torque needs of heavy-duty floor buffing and polishing applications.

Mercury L-17E
Mercury L-17E Lo-Boy Floor Machine

The machine’s working components and 1.5-horsepower motor are protected by a bell-shaped housing that offers a 17-inch cleaning path, making it suitable for use in institutional settings.

Drawing 15 amps, the Lo-Boy oscillates and rotates the floor head at 175 revolutions per minute to efficiently scrub, strip and polish hard floors as well as dry clean carpets. Thanks to its orbital movement, the Lo-Boy is able to get into more angles on rough floors than traditional machines. With its 50-inch cord, you get a large range of motion.

This floor machine is made to use with a 16-inch pad driver and a 15-inch rotary brush. You may also attach a separately purchased riser in order to get a closer reach to the floor’s surface.

To help you transport the 106-pound floor machine, there are two 6-inch retractable wheels that don’t make scuffs or marks. Plus, the 48-inch wand can be adjusted to different heights and locked while moving the machine to the storage closet.

Mercury L-17E Review
Mercury L-17E Lo-Boy Floor Machine

At the top of the wand, there is a dual-trigger handle for ease of use, and at the bottom of the floor bell, there is a thick, protective bumper. The L-17E Lo-Boy’s motor, gearbox and other components are covered by a 5-year warranty, and it comes with a 1-year warranty on any service that Mercury performs.

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5) Bissell BigGreen Commercial Easy Motion Floor Machine BGEM9000

Another Bissell BigGreen Commercial BGEM9000 Easy Motion Floor Machine makes our list because this unit is extremely user-friendly and versatile. The BigGreen Commercial Easy Motion is a do-it-all floor machine.

It can buff hard floors, sand wood, strip vinyl and scrub stone, brick and concrete. This machine is able to get deep into grout, blasting away embedded dirt and grime. With its 2.4-liter tank, you can use the BigGreen to soak the cleaning pad with solution and clean your berber carpets, which is great for tackling allergens.

Bissell BGEM9000
Bissell BigGreen Commercial BGEM9000

Within the floor machine, there is a strong 0.75-horsepower motor that moves the 12-inch pad drive in an orbital motion of 175 revolutions per minute, oscillating it in several directions at once. Therefore, you’ll never see evidence of swirling or gouging on your floors.

All this power and efficiency is easy to control. The floor machine features an ergonomically designed dual-handle bar. The on-off switch is positioned in the center of each handle, so you can still hold the bar while you turn it on or off, ensuring the machine never slips from your grasp.

Because the Bissell BigGreen Easy Motion weighs just 27 pounds, you will have no problems in terms of mobility. As far as height goes, the machine is 48 inches tall, so it can accommodate a wide range of user heights without causing discomfort.

Bissell BGEM9000 Review
Bissell BigGreen Commercial BGEM9000

Thanks to its 13-inch cleaning path and 30-inch cord, you can go over a lot of square footage before you have to switch electrical outlets. For your protection as a consumer, Bissell offers a 5-year warranty on the motor and a 1-year warranty on the machine itself.

Bissell BigGreen Commercial Easy Motion Floor...
  • Dry cleans carpet and removes allergens
  • Buffs and sands hard wood floors. Pad speed: 175 RPM

4) Clarke CFP Pro 17HD Polisher

When light-duty just won’t do, the Clarke CFP Pro 17HD Polisher is the floor machine for you. This beast weighs 101 pounds and stands 4 feet tall, and it offers a cleaning diameter of 17 inches.

This is a high-performance machine designed to scrub, grind and polish concrete, granite, marble, wood and other hard floors in classrooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums and wide corridors. For further versatility, the machine can even perform bonnet cleaning to agitate and absorb dirt from commercial carpets.

Clarke CFP Pro 17HD Polisher
Clarke CFP Pro 17HD Polisher

Its 1.5-horsepower motor rotates the pad at 175 revolutions per minute, making it an excellent machine to use for stripping floors. Clarke constructed the floor polisher’s outer components from steel and chassis from cast aluminum to ensure the machine’s overall durability. The 17HD features a 66-frame motor that is specifically designed to optimize the cleaning power of floor scrubbers and polishers. Plus, it has a triple planetary gearbox.

Compared to gear trains on a parallel axis, this type of gearbox lasts longer, produces less noise and evenly distributes torque. As a matter of fact, the floor polisher only generates 63 decibels of sound, which is akin to the noise output of a normal conversation.

The Clarke CFP Pro 17HD comes with a 16-inch pad driver and a universal clutch plate, so you can interchange pads without any hassles. The fingertip controls on the handle are easy to use, and there is even a foot-engaging lock-out switch to make sure a passerby doesn’t accidentally turn on the polisher.

Clarke CFP Pro 17HD Polisher Review
Clarke CFP Pro 17HD Polisher

The 50-foot cord is bright yellow for high visibility, which prevents trips and falls, and the floor machine is equipped with two 5-inch wheels that don’t leave marks. With this floor polisher, you get a 3-year warranty on the motor and housing as well as a 5-year warranty on parts and labor.

Clarke by Nilfisk CFP Pro 17HD Polisher...
  • Sold as 1 Each.
  • Polisher. 17" deck. Pad drive with universal clutch plate.

3) Bissell BigGreen BGFS650 Hercules Scrub and Clean Floor Machine

Often, people are intimidated by floor cleaners because they are large and loud. If you need a tool to make your floors look like new, but you are worried about the learning curve that comes with using a floor machine, take a look at the Bissell BigGreen Hercules.

Although its name suggests otherwise, the Bissell BigGreen BGFS650 Hercules Scrub and Clean Floor Machine is actually a light-duty floor machine. It weighs a mere 8.5 pounds and stands 41 inches tall, so it is lightweight and compact enough for anyone to handle.

Bissell BigGreen BGFS650 Hercules Review
Bissell BigGreen BGFS650 Hercules

Don’t be fooled by its size. This floor machine’s head spins at a fast speed. Rotating at 2,200 revolutions per minute, the BigGreen is capable of burnishing your marble, granite, tile, laminate and wood floors to a high gloss. To get started with the 160-watt floor machine, you don’t have to fiddle with any buttons or complicated controls.

Instead, hold the base down with your foot and gently pull back on the handle. To turn it off, push the handle forward until the wand is in an upright position.

Thanks to its 9-inch cleaning path, you can cover 1 square meter of floor space per minute, which means it won’t take all day for you to buff or polish the floor in a small room. Plus, the cord is 30 inches long, so you get a lot of reach from the wall outlet.

Bissell BigGreen BGFS650 Hercules
Bissell BigGreen BGFS650 Hercules

The machine produces 80 decibels of sound, which is similar to the volume of a moderately loud radio, so you won’t go damage your hearing using the BigGreen. The machine is even equipped with a protective bumper to keep your furniture safe. You also get a 12-month limited warranty and three sets of pads for scrubbing, polishing and buffing.

2) Oreck Orbiter All-In-One Floor Cleaner ORB700MB

If your hardwoods have lost their luster or your tile looks dingy no matter how often you mop, the Oreck Orbiter Ultra Multi-Purpose Floor Machine can help.

Oreck Orbiter All-In-One Floor Cleaner ORB700MB
Floor Polisher

This Oreck floor machine is designed for home use, and it works well in small or crowded areas thanks to its compact size. It only weighs 22.2 pounds and measures 57 inches tall, so it’s definitely a back saver. Plus, it has a 30-foot power cord, which means you won’t need to change electrical outlets as you work your way through a room.

This machine has a simple-to-operate rocker-style switch located on the handle, allowing you to maintain your grip as you flip the switch and power up the 0.5-horsepower motor. It’s also a low-maintenance machine thanks to the way the motor is designed. Since it’s made of strong steel and zinc, the motor is durable.

Additionally, the induction motor works without the aid of brushes, belts or gears, so there are few moving parts that will need to be replaced in the future.

Oreck Orbiter ORB700MB
Oreck Orbiter ORB700MB

As it moves over the floor in a random orbit, the machine cleans and buffs in various directions, never leaving behind any gouges or marks. The 13-inch cleaning path on this machine means that you can use 12-inch brushes and pads to take care of your cleaning tasks.

Since it moves at 175 revolutions per minute, the floor machine is highly adept at scrubbing away stains on commercial carpets, buffing stone and tile until they gleam and restoring the shine on hardwood floors. With this floor machine, you are covered by Oreck’s generous 10-year limited warranty, which will give you peace of mind for years to come.

Oreck Orbiter All-In-One Floor Cleaner,...
  • TILE CLEANER: Helps remove grout stains of tile floors and helps to restore marble
  • DEEP CLEAN CARPETS: Removes those tough to remove set in stains and dirt

Check out our best Oreck floor machines buying guide.

1) Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine

The Oreck ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine is ideal for those who are new to floor machines. This electric buffer is powered by a durable 5.4-amp brushless motor, and it’s equipped with one of the latest advancements in floor care – orbital technology.

Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine
Oreck Commercial ORB550MC

This technology takes the best aspects of a traditional and automatic scrubber to create a floor machine that simultaneously cleans in multiple directions. Since it rotates with no gouging, swirling or torque, the Oreck Commercial is easy to hold, and the only control is right at your fingertips on the handle.

For a domestic-use floor machine, the Oreck Commercial Orbiter is versatile. Thanks to its 0.75 horsepower, the machine oscillates at 175 revolutions per minute, helping it eliminate oil stains from concrete, scrub grime from tile and grout, clean all types of stone, polish marble and buff wood.

This machine is even able to loosen dirt from tough-to-clean institutional carpet, making it a breeze to vacuum. Since it doesn’t require any water, you don’t have to worry about damaging your hardwood floors.

Since it has a 13-inch cleaning path, the machine is suitable for use in homes, daycare facilities, small offices and workshops of less than 2,000 square feet. With its weight of 24 pounds and height of 49.6 inches, you won’t struggle to maneuver the floor machine.

Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine Review
Oreck Commercial ORB550MC

However, the weight is enough to prevent it from flying out of your hand. You will also appreciate the lengthy 50-foot power cord as well as the 5-year motor warranty and the 1-year machine warranty.

Oreck Commercial Orbiter Hard Floor Cleaner...
  • MULTI-PURPOSE CLEANING: Commercial grade cleaner and effective on all types of flooring...
  • EASY TO MANEUVER: Brush head rotates in a random orbital pattern to glide over the floor...

Floor Machine Buying Guide

Although they certainly have their use in hospitals and schools, floor buffers aren’t just for maintaining the floors of large institutions. Whether you run a small business or want a better way to care for your home’s floors, there is a floor buffer that can meet your needs. Here’s what you should know before buying one for your home or business.

The longevity of the motor always matters. Dual-capacitor floor buffers tend to be more durable than their single-capacitor counterparts, and steel gears are always preferable to plastic ones.

An enclosed motor that keeps out dust and a thermal protector that prevents overheating also maximize the floor buffer’s lifespan. If the noise level is important to you, a brushless motor and a triple-planetary gearbox will lower the sound to a tolerable number of decibels.

Best Floor Polishers
Best Floor Polishers

Horsepower or Amps

Pay attention to the amount of power (horsepower, that is) that the motor produces. Floor buffers range from 0.5 to 2.5 horsepower. A higher horsepower is ideal for high-traffic areas and concrete surfaces. Manufacturers of small residential floor polishers may measure the machine’s power in amps instead of horsepower.

Pad Driver Motion

Floor buffers move in an orbital or a rotary fashion. Orbital buffers are the newer type of floor machine, and they are quickly becoming a favorite among janitorial professionals. Orbital machines oscillate, meaning they move in every direction as the pad spins. You can move them in a straight line, and they have an easier time reaching wall edges and corners.

While the pad still spins the same, rotary machines move from side to side. Rotary machines excel at basic buffing jobs, but they may leave you scrubbing the corners they can’t reach by hand.

The Drivetrain

The drivetrain in a floor buffer is not much different than that of a lawnmower. Walk-behind or manual, floor buffers get the power they need to move forward for you, the user.

Self-propelled, or automatic, floor buffers are equipped with a drive system that engages when you squeeze a trigger bar; all you have to do is guide the buffer. There are also ride-on floor buffers. If weight is a concern for you, stick with a self-propelled model.

Best Floor Machines Guide

Pad Driver Speed

Floor buffers come in low-speed and high-speed versions, both of which are categorized as either single-speed or dual-speed machines. Low-speed machines reach speeds of 175 to 200 rpm, and they’re the most common because they can handle a variety of tasks, including buffing, polishing, scrubbing and stripping. A dual-speed machine allows you to buff a floor in less time.

High-speed floor buffers are also called burnishers. Ranging in speed from 1,000 to 3,000 rpm, burnishers can make hard floors glossy. Those that fall on the high end of the range are suitable for dusty environments.

Pad Size

Determining the pad size you need is simple. The bigger the pad you use, the quicker the job gets done. Large pads are efficient at working big areas. If the rooms in which you’ll be working have a lot of corners and angles, you may want to consider a smaller pad size to get a closer reach.

Pads diameters may be as small as 6 inches or as wide as 27 inches. However, the average diameter ranges from 12 to 20 inches. Note that you can’t choose any size for a particular machine. For the pad to fit, its diameter must be 1 inch smaller than the pad driver or 2 inches smaller than the floor head.

Top Floor Machines

Combining Speed and Size

Certain combinations of pad driver speed and size will net you the best results for specific floor-care tasks. Low-speed machines with pads 15 inches or smaller work well for polishing, scrubbing and stripping areas under 2,000 square feet. Larger pads on a low dual-speed machine perform well at the same tasks in bigger areas.

Large pads are the norm on high-speed floor machines. Those with 17-inch to 20-inch pads can buff and shine a floor quickly. High-speed machines with pads bigger than 20 inches are designed for commercial and industrial applications.

Handling and Maneuverability

Weight plays the most significant role in a floor buffer’s maneuverability. These machines can easily surpass 100 pounds, but compact polishers can weigh as little as 10 pounds. Some buffers are compatible with driver weight that improves the efficiency of a machine’s ability to buff and strip.

Features like an adjustable wand give tall users a few extra inches, and many handles have rubber covers for added comfort. Bumpers and anti-scuff wheels prevent the occurrence of ugly marks. Some models are equipped with dual-side power controls to cater to right-handed and left-handed people.

The Type of Flooring

Soft flooring such as wood is easier to buff than hard floors like ceramic tile. If a high shine is your end goal, a floor that is finished with a polymer coat will net the best result. Additionally, the material of the floor pad also contributes to the look of the buffed floor.

Many residential floor buffers are equipped with interchangeable floor heads and work with a variety of attachments. These machines let you tackle all kinds of jobs from stripping wax to brightening grout. Some models even clean carpeting.

The Power Supply

The most common power supply used for floor buffers is a power cord. If you are going the corded route, look for a model with a yellow power cord.

A yellow safety cord is easier to see, reducing the likelihood of accidental injuries. Of course, the length of the cord is important, particularly in large areas. Most floor buffers range in cord length from 25 to 50 feet; some are as short as 15 feet or as long as 75 feet.

If you have a small home or business, you aren’t limited to corded models. Some floor machines contain a rechargeable battery. Make sure the battery offers a long runtime. Lithium-ion batteries offer lengthy working times and strong power. The fastest and most powerful buffers run on propane. However, these are considered commercial buffers, and they’re unsuitable for residential use.

Best Floor Cleaning Machines

What features to Look For?

There are individual features to take into account that determine the machine’s overall quality and efficiency. These are some of the features we looked at when compiling our list of the best floor machines your money can buy.

Horsepower

Horsepower is perhaps one of the most important features, especially if you plan on performing heavy-duty jobs like grinding and bonnet cleaning. The higher the machine’s horsepower, the bigger the job it can handle. Ideally, you should use a machine with at least a 1.5-horsepower motor for the tough jobs.

Speed

Floor machines usually range in speed from 150 revolutions per minute to 2,500 revolutions per minute. Those on the lower end of the scale are great for scrubbing, stripping and light polishing. However, you need a higher-speed machine for projects like high-gloss polishing.

Best Floor Machines

Pad Diameter

Obviously, the faster you can complete a job, the better. Any floor machine with a 17-inch or wider pad helps you quicken the pace, and these measurements are a must for covering a lot of square feet. On the other hand, a 13-inch floor head is suitable for small areas and residential use.

Power Source

The majority of floor machines operate off either electricity or batteries. Electric-powered floor machines allow you to run the machine without stopping, but if you are using one in a large space with anything less than a 50-foot cord, you’ll end up needing to switch outlets often. On the other hand, battery-powered floor machines let you go anywhere; however, you must recharge the battery when it dies.

Comfort

Comfort is an aspect people all too often forget to consider until after they purchase a floor machine. Don’t make the same mistake. Look at the wand length; some wands are even adjustable to accommodate the individual’s height. Since you’ll spend a lot of time holding the handle, you’ll want one with soft or ergonomic grip.

Safety

Accidents can easily occur when operating a high-powered machine. To decrease the likelihood of an unfortunate event, manufacturers integrate certain safety features into their floor machines like bright yellow power cords and safety shut-off switches. Some machines even have protective bumpers and no-scuff wheels, so the floors and walls don’t get riddled with marks.

Floor Machines

Final Words

Before you open your wallet, make sure the floor machine you choose is suitable for its intended application. The speed, horsepower and pad size are the three main determiners you should consider. Once you find one that meets your parameters in those categories, find the one that is the most comfortable, safe and convenient.

Now that you’ve seen our list of the 14 best floor machines, you have a better idea of the options available to you, and you’ll soon be on your way to owning an efficient and durable floor machine.

Our Recommended Special Floor Cleaning Machines

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BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood Floor Mop...
Bissell Commercial BigGreen BGFS650 Hercules...
Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter...
Bissell Spinwave
Bissell BGFS650
Oreck ORB550MC
• Floor Scrubber
• 2 Pads
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• Floor Buffer/Scrubber/Polisher
• Protective Bumper
• 8.5 Pounds
• 30 ft. Power Cord
• Floor Buffer/Scrubber/Polisher
• 1 Pad
• 24 Pounds
• 50 ft. Power Cord
The Bissell Spinwave is safe for cleaning hard-surface floors like tile, linoleum, vinyl flooring, and hardwood floors. It comes with a set of soft touch cleaning pads for everyday cleaning and scrubby pads for tough, sticky messes.
The Bissell BGFS650 BigGreen Commercial Hercules Scrub & Clean is simple to use, compact and suitable for all types of bare floor surfaces. Its lightweight design provides much needed mobility to those awkward areas around the home.
The Oreck Commercial ORB550MC makes it simple to scrub and polish all floor surfaces as well as deep clean institutional grade carpets. Most conventional floor scrubbers can be difficult to use.
Floor Mop
BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood Floor Mop...
Bissell Spinwave
• Floor Scrubber
• 2 Pads
• 9.5 Pounds
• 22 ft. Power Cord
The Bissell Spinwave is safe for cleaning hard-surface floors like tile, linoleum, vinyl flooring, and hardwood floors. It comes with a set of soft touch cleaning pads for everyday cleaning and scrubby pads for tough, sticky messes.
Scrubbing Floor Machine
Bissell Commercial BigGreen BGFS650 Hercules...
Bissell BGFS650
• Floor Buffer/Scrubber/Polisher
• Protective Bumper
• 8.5 Pounds
• 30 ft. Power Cord
The Bissell BGFS650 BigGreen Commercial Hercules Scrub & Clean is simple to use, compact and suitable for all types of bare floor surfaces. Its lightweight design provides much needed mobility to those awkward areas around the home.
Commercial Orbiter
Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter...
Oreck ORB550MC
• Floor Buffer/Scrubber/Polisher
• 1 Pad
• 24 Pounds
• 50 ft. Power Cord
The Oreck Commercial ORB550MC makes it simple to scrub and polish all floor surfaces as well as deep clean institutional grade carpets. Most conventional floor scrubbers can be difficult to use.

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Last Update: 2024-03-28 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Hi I’m Alex, founder of HouseholdMe.com and I’d like to say thank you for dropping by. Like most of you, the first thing I look at before buying something online is reviews or buying guides. By reading what other people say will help me gauge whether or not a product is good or not.  I am trying to help people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired.

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