An upright surface cleaning apparatus is has a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to an upper portion that is pivotally mounted to a surface cleaning head. The surface cleaning apparatus is operable in a floor cleaning mode in which the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the upper portion and the above floor cleaning wand is inserted in an open upper end of the upper portion. The surface cleaning apparatus is also operable in an above floor cleaning mode in which the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the upper portion and the above floor cleaning wand is removed from the open upper end of the upper portion. When the surface cleaning apparatus is in the floor cleaning mode, the first mounting members of the portable surface cleaning unit engage the wand mounting members.