Bundles of sticks formed the earliest and most primitive types of brooms. Tree brush and branches were used in the United States for sweeping the ashes around cooking fires until Massachusetts farmer Levi Dickinson created the first corn broom in 1797. Dickinson's corn brooms were manufactured in 1810 using a foot-treadle broom making machine. After production of the corn broom, the whisk broom and the push broom became other popular types of manufactured brooms and all three brooms are still used regularly, both commercially and residentially, today.

Corn brooms are triangular in shape with rows of stitching to hold the corn fiber strands in place. The handle is traditionally made of wood, but some corn brooms may have plastic handles and some types may even have plastic bristles. Corn brooms with natural fiber strands are thought to be able to hold even the smallest particles of dirt, while most plastic varieties of corn broom have been treated with chemicals that help them pick up debris. Industrial corn brooms are made to be used on rough commercial floors and often have denser strands and a heavier-duty design than standard household corn brooms.

Whisk brooms are hand-held brooms that are made for quick touch-ups in small areas such as tents, picnic tables or to use in tight spaces such as behind appliances like washing machines. Some whisk brooms look like miniature corn brooms without the long handle and are made from natural corn fiber and have rows of stitching similar to regular corn brooms. Other whisk brooms may be made with synthetic fibers and have a plastic handle that gives them an appearance that is more like a brush than a broom.

Push brooms are rectangular in shape and the bristles are attached to a wooden block that is attached to a wooden, or sometimes metal, handle. Push brooms are available in many different widths and can cover large areas in a short amount of time. The sweeper holds the handle of the broom out in front while walking and the broom head sweeps the surface.

Push brooms are often used for sweeping driveways and usually have synthetic bristles so that the bristles can be easily washed. Industrial push brooms have long-lasting and durable synthetic bristles. Some industrial push brooms are designed to resist solvents, greases and oils.