Tennant T300 vs T500

Tennant is known for making some of the best commercial floor scrubber machines on the market, including the T300 vs T500. These are two of the most popular walk-behind floor scrubber machines we sell here at SweepScrub. Which is the ideal fit for YOUR facility?

The Tennant T300 is built for flexibility as you can choose between disc and orbital heads in multiple widths. It’s equipped with Quiet-Mode for daytime cleaning and supports runtimes between 3-5 hours. Great for facilities that clean 5-7 times a week/have multiple flooring types. Up to 24,000 sq ft of productivity

The Tennant T500 steps things up with larger tanks, stronger down pressure, wider cleaning paths, and advanced control options so your team can cover more expansive routes without stopping to empty/refill tanks. Up to 35,200 sq ft of productivity.

We’ll walk you through a side-by-side comparison of what matters most for facilities struggling to choose between the Tennant T300 vs T500 below. But just know you can always connect with our customer service team for more personalized guidance. We know these machines inside and out, and we can help you find the right fit for YOUR cleaning needs. Reach out now! 

Tennant T300 vs T500 At a Glance

Spec / Feature	Tennant T300	Tennant T500
Machine Type	Walk-behind floor scrubber	Walk-behind floor scrubber
Cleaning Path Options	17", 20", 24" disc; 20" orbital	28", 32" disc; 28" orbital or cylindrical
Scrub Head Types	Disc or orbital	Disc, orbital, or cylindrical (sweeper-scrubber setups available)
Solution / Recovery Tanks	11-gallon solution / 14-gallon recovery	22.5-gallon solution / 27-gallon recovery
Down Pressure	51 or 90 lbs (disc); orbital up to 2,200 RPM for finish removal	40, 80, or 120 lbs (disk)
Brush / Pad Speed	230 RPM (disc), 285 RPM (dual disc), 2,200 RPM (orbital)	220 RPM (disc)
Productivity	Up to 24,000 sq ft per hour	Up to 35,200 sq ft per hour
Noise Level	~64.9 dBA standard, ~57.8 dBA in Quiet-Mode	~67 dBA standard, ~62 dBA in Quiet-Mode
Battery Options	Lead acid, AGM, or lithium; onboard charger	Lead acid, AGM, TPPL, or lithium-ion; onboard or offboard charger
Runtime	Approx. 3–5 hours (battery and application dependent)	Built for longer routes with larger tanks and higher down pressure
Key Technologies	ec-H2O NanoClean®, Quiet-Mode, magnetic Insta-Fit head	ec-H2O NanoClean® option, Smart-Fill battery watering, Pro-Panel controls
Approx. Price Range	Roughly $9,000–$13,000 (configuration dependent)	Roughly $16,000–$19,000 (configuration dependent)

Overview of the Tennant T300 Scrubber

The Tennant T300 scrubber works really well for facilities that need a compact, highly adaptable walk-behind scrubber capable of handling mixed flooring, noise-sensitive areas, and frequent daily use. 

You can choose from a number of scrub head options to fit your building’s layout. You get strong down-pressure capabilities, long battery runtimes, and an intuitive design for operators. Here are some of the most noteworthy specs and features:

Scrub Head & Cleaning Performance

 

• 17”, 20”, or 24” disc scrub deck

 

• 20” orbital scrub deck for chemical-free finish removal
• Down pressure: 51 lbs or 90 lbs (disc), orbital has high-speed agitation (2,200 RPM)
• Disc RPM: 230 RPM (standard), 285 RPM (dual disc)

Tank & Battery Specs

 

• 11-gallon solution tank

• 14-gallon recovery tank

 

• Battery choices: Lead-acid, AGM, or lithium-ion

 

• Onboard charger included

 

• Up to 24,000 sq ft of productivity

More Reasons to Love the Tennant T300

This is a great floor scrubber for sealed floors, LVT, VCT, rubber, stone, and textured flooring. Standard noise levels are roughly 64.9 dBA, but quiet mode brings that down to 57.8 dBA so you can clean during the day without disrupting the rest of the building. 

The Tennant T300 also has a Magnetic Insta-Fit™ scrub head for fast pad/brush changes. The controls are clear and simple, so even beginners can get the hang of this machine quickly. 

It thrives in schools, hospitals, assisted living centers, office buildings, and any facility cleaning 5-7 days per week. It handles multiple flooring types and supports chemical-free applications with the orbital head. But, how does the Tennant T500 compare? 

Overview of the Tennant T500 Scrubber 

The Tennant T500 is a heavier-duty walk-behind scrubber for larger routes with tougher soil. You get more power and tank capacity than the T300 can deliver.

The machine also comes in wider scrub paths with stronger down pressure. The control system is really simple, too. Here are all the most important features and specs you need to know:

Scrub Head & Cleaning Performance

 

• 28” or 32” disc scrub decks

 

• 28” orbital deck for chemical-free finish removal
• 28” cylindrical deck for light sweeping and scrubbing in one pass
• Down pressure: 40 lbs, 80 lbs, or 120 lbs (disc)
• Disc RPM: 220 RPM

Tank & Battery Specs

 

• 22.5-gallon solution tank

• 27-gallon recovery tank

 

• Battery choices: Lead-acid, AGM, TPPL, or lithium-ion

 

• Onboard or offboard charger available

• Up to 35,200 sq ft of productivity

 

More Reasons to Love the Tennant T500

This floor scrubber is loaded with features. You can effortlessly change pads/brushes without tools, and there are yellow maintenance touch points for clear daily checks. It runs pretty quietly at 67 dBA (62 dBA in quiet mode).

There is also an integrated P-trap and redesigned squeegee for better water pickup with fewer drips. The T300 handles heavy-traffic zones, kitchens, cafeterias, corridors, and athletic flooring with ease. 

You could make the case this is the best floor scrubber for vinyl floors or the best floor scrubber for concrete - but is it the optimal fit for YOUR facility? Let’s take a closer look at the Tennant T300 vs T500 side-by-side below. 

Tennant T300 vs T500: Which Walk-Behind Floor Scrubber is Right For Your Facility? 

The Tennant T300 and T500 are both machines we recommend with full confidence. It’s not a matter of one being inherently better than the other; it all comes down to what makes sense for your budget, facility layout, and cleaning needs. Here’s what you need to know. 

Cleaning Power and Down Pressure

The T300 delivers solid scrubbing power for a compact machine with 51 or 90 lbs of down pressure on the disc heads and high-speed orbital agitation. It handles routine soil, scuffs, and finish removal on a wide variety of flooring.

The T500 brings a lot more muscle to your flooring with down pressure options of 40, 80, or 120 lbs. It hits harder on kitchen buildup, cafeteria spills, entryway grime, and athletic flooring. An added bonus - the cylindrical option also helps collect light debris before it hits the squeegee.

Tank Sizes, Runtime, and Route Length

There are tangible differences between the Tennant T300 vs T500 in terms of tank capacity. The T300 has an 11-gallon solution tank and a 14-gallon recovery tank, whereas the T500 has a 22.5-gallon solution tank and a 27-gallon recovery tank.

This translates to much longer runtime for the T500 next to the T300. Larger tanks mean fewer dump and refill stops over the duration of your cleaning process. 

Maneuverability and Footprint

You need to balance productivity with practicality - especially if your facility has tight corridors and/or other things to maneuver around. 

This is where the T300 has an edge over the T500. Its smaller footprint makes it easier to work around desks, patient beds, dining areas, and tight storage rooms. It also loads into smaller janitor closets without eating up space.

On the other hand, the T500 is built for wider paths. It’ll feel cumbersome in tighter spaces, but it works exceptionally well for long straight runs in lobbies, warehouses, open cafeteria layouts, and sports courts. You can cover more ground without needing as many turns.

This leads to the next point of comparison between the Tennant T300 vs T500…

Productivity Ratings and Square Footage Per Hour

Where the Tennant T500 falls short in maneuverability, it more than makes up for in productivity for expansive spaces. It can clean up to 35,200 sq ft per hour, giving it a clear advantage when the goal is to finish large sections with fewer passes. 

For comparison, the Tennant T300 only cleans 24,000 sq ft per hour. It depends on deck size, though. At any rate, you’re getting a capable machine for steady, repeatable routes where consistency matters more than raw coverage speed.

Best Match by Facility Type, Soil Level, and Flooring Mix

You can narrow it down between the Tennant T300 vs T500 based on your building. Here’s a quick comparison chart breaking it down:

When to Choose	Tennant T300	Tennant T500
Best For	Mixed flooring types Noise-sensitive areas Frequent start-and-stop cleaning zones Multiple users sharing the same machine Chemical-free stripping with the orbital head	Large continuous routes Higher soil loads Food service areas Gyms or sports floors Long hallways and open layouts

There is some crossover in what these machines are capable of doing, for what it’s worth.

Budgeting For Your Floor Scrubber

You can also think about which machine makes more sense between the Tennant T300 vs T500 based on your budget. As you can imagine, the more compact T300 is the more affordable pick - but the cost for both machines depends on the configuration you go with:

• Tennant T300: Ranging from $9,500 to $12,800+
• Tennant T500: Ranging from $16,700 to $19,500+

We do have some refurbished options available here at SweepScrub. For instance, you can get a used Tennant T500 for under $8,000. On that note, the only thing left to do is get the right Tennant floor scrubber at SweepScrub today!

Let SweepScrub Help You Choose the Right Floor Scrubber

By now, you should have a strong sense of which floor scrubber makes the most sense for your needs between the Tennant T300 vs T500. But if not, a personalized recommendation is just a click or call away. 

We carry both these units in multiple deck styles, battery options, and configurations, along with the pads, brushes, squeegees, and parts teams need to run them every day. 

Our team works with healthcare, K-12, warehousing, retail, and hospitality on a daily basis, so we can match your layout, soil load, and shifts to the right machine. You’ll get the most competitive prices online and world-class service - what more could you ask for?

Whether you’re looking for a walk-behind model like the Tennant T300 or T500, or you want a commercial ride-on floor scrubber or floor sweeper scrubber, we’ve got you covered. 

Final Thoughts on the Tennant T300 vs T500 Floor Scrubbers

That does it for our Tennant T300 vs T500 comparison. These are great machines from a dependable brand, but the differences are clear when you consider square footage, floor types, and daily workload.

Our blog has more tips if you want help choosing between the Tennant T260 vs T291. We also have resources on the best floor scrubber for laminate or tile floor cleaner machine. This is your one-stop shop for all your floor care needs, so get in touch today to take the next step!