You probably don't spend much time contemplating brooms, but a quality broom could make all the difference when you're sweeping up. It's also important that you choose the right broom for the job. The following guide is designed to help you find the best broom to fit your needs, plus we've listed our favorite models. Our top recommendation is the O-Cedar Professional Multi-Surface Maxi-Lok Push Broom, a wide broom that's great for sweeping large outdoor areas and does a great job of picking up dirt. Considerations when choosing brooms Push vs. lobby While you can find some other options on the market, there are two main types of brooms: Push brooms have deep heads with medium-length bristles and are meant to be pushed in front of you. These are used outdoors more often than indoors, but they are useful for sweeping large rooms. They're great for heavy-duty tasks, but they can be trickier to maneuver for those fiddly jobs, like sweeping in corners. Lobby brooms have fairly shallow heads with long bristles. You generally sweep with these brooms by pulling them toward you, rather than pushing them ahead of you. This makes sweeping slower, so they're better for cleaning up smaller areas or spot-cleaning messes as well as for reaching into corners. Bristle materials The majority of modern brooms have synthetic bristles made from polyester or other plastics. If you're concerned about the environmental impact of plastic, you can buy brooms with bristles made from recycled plastic. You can also find brooms with natural bristles like tampico, bass, or other plant materials, with varying degrees of stiffness. Remember that soft bristles are best at sweeping fine particles, and stiff bristles are best at sweeping up large pieces of debris. Features Head width The wider the head of your broom, the more dirt it sweeps up in one motion. As such, it's quicker to sweep with a wide-headed broom. The wider the head, the trickier a broom is to maneuver, especially in tight spaces, so you need to find balance. Dustpan Some brooms come with a tall-handled dustpan to sweep the collected dirt into. Wet/dry You can find brooms suited to both wet and dry use, but your average model will struggle sweeping wet surfaces. Color The color of your broom won't make a difference to its performance, so it shouldn't rank highly in your considerations. However, if you've chosen a broom that's available in a few different colors, you might as well pick the hue you like best. Price You can find brooms priced anywhere between $10 and $80, but you generally need to pay at least $20 for a decent model. The most expensive brooms tend to be designed for commercial use. FAQ Q. Can I use my broom indoors and outdoors? A. Some brooms are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, whereas others are recommended for only one or the other. If you do own a broom suitable for indoor and outdoor use, it's better to stick to one area because it's not especially hygenic to sweep indoor floors with a broom that's been used outside. Q. Can I use a broom on all types of flooring? A. There's a broom for all types of flooring, but you need to exercise some caution. Stiff-bristled brooms are great for removing dirt from carpets, but they can scratch hardwood floors. Soft-bristled brooms tend to work better on hardwood, tile, and other hard flooring. Brooms we recommend Best of the best: O-Cedar Professional Multi-Surface Maxi-Lok Push Broom Our take: With soft outer bristles and stiff inner bristles, this broom gives you the best of both worlds, picking up both large pieces of dirt and small dirt particles. What we like: Synthetic bristles made from 80% recycled material. Wide head means fewer passes. Rugged construction.  What we dislike: Designed for outdoor-use only. Best bang for your buck: Libman Precision Angle Broom Our take: This affordable angled broom can reach in those tight corners and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. What we like: Wide 11-inch sweeping path. Features long durable bristles made from recycled water bottles. Sturdy powder-coated steel handle. What we dislike: Metal handle becomes too cold to hold for long periods if using outside in snowy or icy weather. Choice 3: Carlisle Duo-Pan Dustpan & Lobby Broom Combo Our take: A basic lobby broom with a long-handled dustpan that's perfect for spot cleaning or cleaning up spills. What we like: A reasonably priced option. Dustpan and broom clip together for easier storage. Serrated dustpan edge helps remove debris from broom bristles. What we dislike: Some users would prefer a longer handle. Lauren Corona is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money. 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