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December 7, 2025 Kellen Briggs

Choosing the Right Tennant Floor Scrubber for Your Facility

Which Tennant Floor Scrubber Fits Your Facility? Twenty Models Sorted by Floor Size and Workload

Quick answer: For tight spaces and small shops, start with a micro or compact model such as the Tennant CS16 ($3,797) or Tennant T260 ($3,799). For schools, hospitals and mid-size retail, look at the wide-path walk-behinds, from the Tennant T360 ($6,499) up to the Tennant T391 ($12,999). For large floors and long shifts, move to a ride-on, from the Tennant T560 ($9,499) to the Tennant T1581 ($41,465). Last updated: October 2026.

Tennant is the brand most Australian facilities ask for by name, and the range is wide enough that the model choice matters more than the brand choice. This guide sorts the 20 Tennant scrubbers we supply by floor size, layout, noise and workload, using the figures on each product page. If you are still deciding between machine types, start with our walk-behind vs ride-on floor scrubber guide or our what a commercial floor scrubber is.

Tennant Scrubber Comparison Table

Model Price from (AUD) Class Path / output (as listed) Best for
Tennant CS5 $3,325 Micro See product page Restrooms, small rooms, back-of-house
Tennant CS16 $3,797 Micro 350 mm Narrow aisles, patient rooms, checkout lanes
Tennant T1 $5,318 Micro, corded 380 mm Doorways and aisles a mop would otherwise cover
Tennant T1B $8,549 Compact, battery 380 mm Lobbies, hallways, restrooms
Tennant T260 $3,799 Compact walk-behind 500 mm — Up to 1,950 m²/h Retail, clinics, cafés, offices
Tennant T2 $8,999 Compact walk-behind 430 mm — Up to 1,900 m²/h Small to medium retail, schools, healthcare
Tennant T290 $9,816 Compact walk-behind See product page Tight retail and school floors
Tennant T291 $10,199 Mid-size walk-behind 550 mm — Up to 2,285 m²/h Hospitals, schools, hotels, offices
Tennant T360 $6,499 Wide-path walk-behind 700 mm — Up to 2,940 m²/h Schools, hospitals, retail
Tennant T391 $12,999 Wide-path walk-behind 700 mm — See product page Large retail floors, school halls, corridors
Tennant T300 $20,437 Heavy-duty walk-behind See product page — Disk, orbital or cylindrical heads Stone, grout, finished concrete
Tennant T500 $25,609 Heavy-duty walk-behind 650, 700 or 800 mm — 85 L / 102 L tanks Large facilities, floor finish removal
Tennant T600 $38,892 Heavy-duty walk-behind 700, 800 or 900 mm — Up to 4,415 m² as listed Large, demanding facilities
Tennant T560 $9,499 Micro ride-on 700 mm — Up to 4,200 m²/h Corridors and aisles at ride-on speed
Tennant T581 $16,364 Micro ride-on See product page — Up to 3,645 m² per shift Narrow aisles, checkout lanes
Tennant T681 $23,734 Compact ride-on 700 mm — Up to 4,192 m² per shift Retail, hospitals, schools
Tennant T7 $29,717 Ride-on See product page — Up to 5,230 m² per shift Large areas and tight spaces
Tennant T981 $32,225 Ride-on 900 mm disk or 750 mm cylindrical — Up to 5,300 m² per shift Retail, logistics, light industry
Tennant T1581 $41,465 Mid-size ride-on 1,050 mm disk or 1,000 mm cylindrical — Up to 7,085 m²/h Light industrial, large floors
Tennant T12 $47,071 Compact ride-on See product page — Up to 6,660 m² per shift Tough jobs across large indoor spaces

Output figures are manufacturer maximums and are quoted per hour or per shift as listed on each product page, so compare within a column rather than across it. Real-world output is lower. Prices include GST and are current starting prices as of October 2026.

Clean flat-style infographic on a white background showing four floor scrubber silhouettes in a row from smallest to largest (micro, compact walk-behind, wide-path walk-behind, ride-on), neutral greys with one accent colour, simple labels, no brand names, 16:9.

Start With Floor Area and Access, Not the Model Name

Three questions narrow twenty models to three or four before you compare prices:

  • How wide is your narrowest access point? A machine that cannot reach the work saves nothing, so measure doorways, aisles and lift entries first. The CS16 is 450 mm wide, the T1 is 500 mm wide and the T360 is 750 mm wide.
  • How much floor do you clean per visit? Use a realistic figure below the listed maximum, because turns, refills and obstacles cut real output.
  • Is the floor cleaned during opening hours? If yes, noise becomes a selection factor. See the noise section below.

Micro and Compact Scrubbers for Tight Spaces

These machines replace the mop in areas where a standard scrubber does not fit.

  • Tennant CS5 ($3,325): built to replace mop-and-bucket cleaning in restrooms, small rooms and tight back-of-house areas, so floors are scrubbed with fresh solution and dirty water goes into a separate recovery tank instead of being spread around. Our Cleanstar Dryft vs Tennant CS5 comparison covers how it compares with a rival micro machine.
  • Tennant CS16 ($3,797): 350 mm path, 15 L solution tank, 450 mm width and a handle that folds to 665 mm, so it moves through patient rooms and checkout lanes and stores in a small janitorial closet. Eco Mode reduces noise and extends runtime.
  • Tennant T1 ($5,318): corded, with a 380 mm path, a 500 mm overall width and a 15 m power cord, so there is no battery to manage and it fits checkout aisles and narrow corridors. It runs at 72 dBA.
  • Tennant T1B ($8,549): the cordless version, with a 380 mm path and 68 dBA operation, so staff clean lobbies and hallways without extension cords while people are present. The optional lithium-ion battery runs up to 60 minutes.

Compact Walk-Behinds for Small and Mid-Size Sites

  • Tennant T260 ($3,799): a 500 mm disc head with up to 1,950 m² per hour, 40 L solution and 45 L recovery tanks and a 772 mm squeegee, so a retail store, clinic or café gets daily machine cleaning without a large machine footprint. It is the lowest-priced model above the micro class.
  • Tennant T2 ($8,999): 430 mm path, 695 mm squeegee, 23 kg of down pressure and 68 dBA operation, so it suits sites moving from mopping to machine scrubbing during opening hours. Runtime is up to 2 hours on the standard battery or up to 3 hours with the optional lead-acid upgrade, and it carries Tennant’s 24-month parts and 12-month labour warranty.
  • Tennant T290 ($9,816): available in pad-assist or self-propel configuration, with a tilt-back recovery tank and an in-line solution filter, so it suits tight retail and school floors where a larger machine will not fit.
  • Tennant T291 ($10,199): 550 mm path, 50 L tanks, up to 2,285 m² per hour and up to 3.5 hours of runtime, so a full shift is usually covered on one charge. ECO mode at 56 dBA suits aged care, healthcare and education sites.

Wide-Path and Heavy-Duty Walk-Behinds

  • Tennant T360 ($6,499): 700 mm path and up to 2,940 m² per hour in a 750 mm-wide frame, with a self-propelled drive and up to 3 hours of runtime, so larger floors are finished in fewer labour hours while the machine still fits through aisles and doorways.
  • Tennant T391 ($12,999): 700 mm path, 70 L solution and recovery tanks, up to 29 kg of down pressure and up to 3.5 hours of runtime, so it handles school halls, large retail floors and hospital corridors with fewer refills.
  • Tennant T300 ($20,437): disk, orbital or cylindrical heads, up to 49 kg of down pressure and Quiet Mode as low as 57.6 dBA, so one machine cleans stone, grout and finished concrete without disrupting a school or office.
  • Tennant T500 ($25,609): 650, 700 or 800 mm paths, 85 L and 102 L tanks, up to 5.9 hours of runtime and Smart-Fill automatic battery watering, so large sites run long shifts with minimal battery maintenance. The orbital option removes floor finish without stripping chemicals.
  • Tennant T600 ($38,892): 700, 800 or 900 mm paths, 121 L and 140 L tanks, up to 6.9 hours of runtime and a corrosion-resistant deck and body, so demanding facilities have fewer fill, dump and charge stops.

Ride-On Scrubbers for Large Floors

  • Tennant T560 ($9,499): 700 mm path, up to 4,200 m² per hour, a 1 m turning radius and 72 dBA, so operators get ride-on speed in places that normally need a walk-behind.
  • Tennant T581 ($16,364): up to 3,645 m² per shift at 65 dBA with one-button start-up, so narrow aisles and checkout lanes are cleaned from a seat. ECO mode extends runtime by nearly 20%.
  • Tennant T681 ($23,734): 700 mm path, a 100 L solution tank and up to 4,192 m² per shift, with standard Chem-Dose dosing and ramp climbing up to a 16% gradient, so retail, hospital and school sites reach more of the building.
  • Tennant T7 ($29,717): up to 5,230 m² per shift at 67 dBA. Adding the ec-H2O NanoClean option allows cleaning with up to 70% less water and less detergent.
  • Tennant T981 ($32,225): a 900 mm disk or 750 mm cylindrical deck, a 125 L solution tank and up to 5,300 m² per shift, so retail, logistics and light industry sites fill less often. It climbs ramps up to a 16% gradient.
  • Tennant T1581 ($41,465): a 1,050 mm disk or 1,000 mm cylindrical deck, 218 L and 237 L tanks and up to 7,085 m² per hour, so light industrial floors are covered in fewer passes.
  • Tennant T12 ($47,071): up to 114 kg of main scrub head down pressure and up to 6,660 m² per shift at as low as 62 dBA, so tough jobs on large indoor floors are done with a compact footprint. An optional side brush extends the scrub path by 28%.

If a ride-on is under consideration for sweeping rather than scrubbing, our commercial floor sweeper guide covers that decision.

Photorealistic image of a mid-size battery floor scrubber cleaning a school corridor with lockers and polished vinyl flooring, soft daylight from windows, no people in focus, no logos or text,

Walk-Behind or Ride-On?

A walk-behind is the better choice when the floor is under a few thousand square metres per clean, access is tight, storage is limited, or budget matters most. A ride-on pays back when operator time is the main cost and the floor is large and open enough to use the wider path. The listed outputs show the gap: the T360 lists up to 2,940 m² per hour, while the T1581 lists up to 7,085 m² per hour. Our walk-behind vs ride-on floor scrubber guide sets out the decision in more detail.

Quiet Cleaning During Opening Hours

If customers, patients or students are present, noise decides the shortlist. The lowest figures listed on the product pages are:

A lower figure suits quiet spaces such as aged care and libraries. Higher figures are acceptable in retail and corridors with background noise.

Batteries, Maintenance and Servicing

  • Yellow touch points on many Tennant models mark the parts operators handle during routine checks, so training is short and maintenance does not depend on a technician.
  • Smart-Fill automatic battery watering on the T500 and optional on the T600 removes manual battery checks, so battery life and runtime are protected without routine watering.
  • No-tool squeegee or brush changes on models such as the T291, T681, T981 and T1581, so consumables are swapped on site.
  • Warranty: the T2 carries 24 months on parts and 12 months on labour. The CS16 carries 12 months on parts and 12 months on labour. Ask us for the exact terms on any model before you order.
  • Service network: Tennant machines are supported by Tennant’s Australian service network, and we can connect you with the right contact for your state.

Working Out the Payback Against Mopping

Payback is hours saved per clean, multiplied by your loaded labour rate and the number of cleans per week. The figures below are an illustration only. Replace the mopping rate with your own, because it varies with the layout and the team. Take a 3,000 m² floor mopped at an assumed 400 m² per hour, which is 7.5 hours per clean. A Tennant T360 listed at up to 2,940 m² per hour, run at half that figure in practice, takes about 2 hours. The saving is about 5.5 hours per clean, which you then multiply by your hourly rate and your cleans per week. Our mop and bucket vs floor scrubber guide and guide to how often to scrub commercial floors help you test the numbers for your site.

How to Choose the Right Tennant Scrubber

  • Floor area per clean: match listed output to the area, using a realistic figure below the maximum.
  • Narrowest access point: measure doorways, aisles and lift entries first.
  • Floor type: disk heads suit most hard floors. Cylindrical heads suit textured floors and grit. The T300, T500 and T600 offer disk, cylindrical and orbital options.
  • Noise: use the dBA list above if the floor is cleaned while people are present.
  • Power source: corded suits small areas near outlets, and battery suits everything else. Plan a charging spot with good ventilation.
  • Storage: ride-ons and wide walk-behinds need more space, so measure the parking and charging spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest Tennant floor scrubber?

The Tennant CS5 Micro Floor Scrubber starts at $3,325, followed by the CS16 at $3,797 and the T260 at $3,799. Emu Money finance is available on products over $2,000, which covers every model in this guide.

Which Tennant scrubber is best for a small shop or café?

The T260 suits small commercial sites that want daily machine cleaning, with up to 1,950 m² per hour in a frame that fits through standard doorways. For very tight areas, the CS16 and the T1 are narrower.

Which Tennant scrubber is quietest?

Among the models listed here, the T291 lists 56 dBA in ECO mode, the T300 lists as low as 57.6 dBA in Quiet Mode, and the T500 lists as low as 61.7 dBA. See the noise list above for the full range.

Do I need a ride-on or will a walk-behind do?

A walk-behind suits most small to mid-size sites. A ride-on is worth considering when floors are large and open, shifts are long and operator time is your main cost. The T560 is the lowest-priced ride-on in the range at $9,499.

Can a Tennant scrubber clean while customers are in the building?

Yes, with the quieter models. Several run at 56 to 68 dBA, and each scrubber picks up water as it goes, so floors are left dry. Wet floor signage is still good practice.

What floors can Tennant scrubbers clean?

Most models clean sealed hard floors such as tile, vinyl, concrete and polished surfaces. The T300 is listed for porous stone, grout and finished concrete, and the cylindrical options suit textured floors. Call us if your floor is unusual.

How long do the batteries last?

Listed runtimes range from up to 2 hours on the T2 to up to 6.9 hours on the T600. Actual runtime depends on mode, floor type and load.

Can I buy a scrubber on a purchase order?

Yes. We supply businesses, schools and government facilities on a purchase order basis. Send us your order details and we will issue a pro-forma invoice.

Next step: Browse all Tennant commercial cleaning equipment, or call us on 1300 404 226 and we will match a scrubber to your floor area, access points and noise limits.

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