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Solving pet hair woes is a breeze with the best vacuum for pet hair. These cleaning powerhouses, engineered to extract hair, dust, and other debris, are a pet owner’s best friend. A pet vacuum not only makes your home spotless but also hypoallergenic – a blessing when allergy season kicks in.
NAVIGATING PET HAIR VACUUMS
Our team of seasoned reviewers painstakingly tested the top contenders for the title of the best pet hair vacuums, so you can rest assured that our recommendations are reliable. We’ve personally tested these vacuums in our homes, ensuring each is worth your consideration.
Esteemed brands like Dyson, Shark, and Bissell have each designed models with features specifically aimed at combating pet messes, solidifying their place among the best vacuum cleaners.
THE SHORTLIST
If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick rundown of the top picks. For more details, keep reading.
CREAM OF THE CROP
Dyson Outsize+
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair
This potent cordless vacuum is a pet hair nemesis. It’s so powerful, it even picks up the dirt invisible to the naked eye.
BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Shark Stratos
Best Value Vacuum for Pet Hair
This agile upright vacuum offers efficient pet hair removal at a reasonable price. Its odor-neutralizing technology also takes care of pet smells.
TOP PICK FOR ALLERGY SUFFERERS
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Best Pet Hair Vacuum for Allergies
Samsung’s Bespoke Jet merges HEPA filtration and a unique bagged base to shield you from fur and allergies.
BEST UPRIGHT
Dyson Ball Animal 3
Best Upright Vacuum for Pet Hair
This powerful upright vacuum shows no mercy to fur and dander.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY CHOICE
Hoover ONEPWR Pet Max
Best Budget Cordless Pet Hair Vacuum
This efficient cordless vacuum won’t drain your wallet.
BEST AUTOMATED CLEANER
iRobot Roomba j7+
Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair
Enjoy hands-free pet hair removal, controlled right from your phone.
IDEAL FOR SMALL SPACES
Bissell ICONpet
Best Vacuum for Apartments
This compact cleaner is perfect for managing pet messes in smaller homes like apartments.
BEST CYLINDER MODEL
Miele C1 Cat and Dog
Best Cylinder Pet Hair Vacuum
The sealed bag system in this compact cylinder model makes it a top pick for allergy sufferers.
TOP BAGGED UPRIGHT
Sebo X4 Automatic
Best Bagged Upright for Pet Hair
This traditional upright vacuum effectively traps and seals pet fur and odors.
The Best Vacuum for Pet Hair in 2023
Our expert reviewers dedicate hours to testing and comparing the newest products, guiding you to the best choice for your needs. If you’re after a more in-depth look, we’ve provided a detailed analysis of the top-rated vacuums for pet hair, each tested personally for their performance with pet fur.
DYSON OUTSIZE+
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Cordless Stick
- Power: 220AW
- Dust bin: 0.5 gallons
- Weight: 7.98lb
- Battery life: Up to 120 minutes of run time (across two batteries)
WHY IT STANDS OUT
+Large dust bin
+Impressive 220AW suction
+Revolutionary de-tangling brush bar technology
+Robust battery life
+Matches the power of a plug-in vacuum
DRAWBACKS
-Somewhat cumbersome to lug around
Why This Vacuum is Worth Your Investment
The Dyson Outsize+ reigns as the best vacuum for pet hair on the market. Its unrivaled performance makes it a top pick.
What We Loved in Our Tests
The Dyson Outsize+ leaves nothing to be desired. Boasting a 220 AW suction, this cordless vacuum rivals the power of traditional plug-in models. Packed with Dyson’s latest tech, the updated de-tangling brush bar ensures hair doesn’t get entwined, and integrated sensors adapt the suction power for different floor types. To top it all off, there’s a handy LCD screen that displays the remaining battery life and even provides useful maintenance videos.
One of its standout features is the laser mounted on the hard floor head. Far from a mere novelty, this laser illuminates hidden dust and dirt. The spacious half-gallon dust bin saves you frequent trips to the trash, and the various attachments, especially the mini motorized tool, are a godsend for pet hair on stairs and upholstery.
What You Should Know
The hefty half-gallon capacity makes the Outsize a bit bulkier than other cordless vacuums, making it a bit heavy when cleaning moldings and stairs. The dust bin’s eject system usually works well, but if you overfill the bin, you might need to manually remove dust clumps. As with all Dysons, it carries a substantial price tag.
SHARK STRATOS UPRIGHT VACUUM
Best Value Vacuum for Pet Hair
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Upright
- Power: 1344W
- Dust bin: 1.48 quart
- Weight: 17.2lb
WHY IT STANDS OUT
+Powerful suction
+Versatile design
+Easy to maneuver
+Odor-neutralizing cartridge
+Self-cleaning brushroll
DRAWBACKS
-Somewhat bulky
-Small dust bin
Why This Vacuum is Worth Your Investment
The Shark Stratos offers exceptional suction and an odor neutralizer to keep pet odors at bay.
What We Loved in Our Tests
Our expert tester loved this vacuum, reporting excellent performance in a home with two long-haired dogs. Its dual hard and soft rollers work together to uncover dust and debris from carpets and hard floors alike. Like many Shark vacuums, it’s designed to prevent hair from wrapping around the floor brush, sparing you the unpleasant task of detangling your vacuum.
While upright vacuums can be too bulky for delicate jobs, the Shark Stratos features a Powered Lift-Away mode that turns the vacuum into a smaller, more nimble handheld cleaner for reaching under furniture and into tight spaces.
A unique feature we love is the Odor Neutralizer Technology, an innovation that releases a light, fresh scent, making the room feel cleaner – a welcome feature for pet owners.
The bin is easy to empty and clean, and it’s just as simple to clean the two HEPA filters.
What You Should Know
While the Power Lift-Away feature does make it lighter, this vacuum still weighs 17lbs, which could be a problem for people with mobility issues. Be aware that there are two versions of this model. The AZ3000 is a simple vacuum, while the AZ3002 comes with a handy motor
SAMSUNG BESPOKE JET CORDLESS STICK VACUUM WITH ALL IN ONE CLEAN STATION
Best pet hair vacuum for allergies
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dust bin capacity: .5 liter
- Weight: 6.28lb
- Power: 200W
- Noise: N/A
- Battery life: Up to 60 minutes
- Warranty: 1 year
REASONS TO BUY
+Exceptional cleaning on all surfaces including hard-to-reach areas we often miss
+Versatile with loads of accessories and attachments
+Easy to maneuver
+Hassle-free emptying
+Plenty of accessories
REASONS TO AVOID
-Set up is complicated
-0.5L bin would be small for a large home
-Heavy clean station
-Telescopic tube doesn’t extend by much
Why you should buy it
The best cordless vacuum for allergies. The Samsung Bespoke comes with a 5-layer HEPA filtration system to trap allergen particles inside the dustbin. The vacuum charges on a ‘clean station’, which also sucks out any collected dust into a sealed bag. This feature removes the chance of breathing in any allergens when emptying the vacuum.
Despite being very loud in the powerful Jet mode, this vacuum is easy to maneuver and has a good 60-minute runtime. The digital screen provides notifications of the power level and alerts about airflow issues, clogs, missing filters, and more.
DYSON BALL ANIMAL 3
Best upright for pet hair
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dust bin capacity: .55 gal
- Weight: 17.5 lb
- Power: 270AW
- Noise: ~90 dba
- Cord length: 35 feet
- Warranty: 2 years
REASONS TO BUY
+Very powerful
+Particular excellent on carpet
+Long hose and extension reach
+Maneuvers easily
+Large dustbin
REASONS TO AVOID
-Hair wraps around the brush roll
-Only one power setting
-Heavy to carry between levels
Why you should buy it
The Dyson’s Ball Animal 3 is an incredibly effective vacuum on all floor types, particularly good at getting pet hair up from carpets. With a 35-foot cord, you can cover whole rooms without needing to unplug and replug, and the hose has a 40-foot reach, making it easy to clean stairs and catch cobwebs in the corner of your rooms. Despite its size, the famous ball design makes it nimble when moving around furniture.
HOOVER ONEPWR PET MAX
Best budget cordless pet hair vacuum
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Cordless stick
- Dust bin: 0.13gal
- Weight: 8.5lbs
- Battery life: 90 mins (45 mins per battery)
REASONS TO BUY
+Deep cleaning performance
+Digital display
+Good run time
+Can handle different surfaces
REASONS TO AVOID
-Heavy after a long time
-Doesn’t stand up on its own
-Bin can be messy to empty
-Quite loud
Why you should buy it
An inexpensive but effective vacuum cleaner. The Hoover ONEPWR Pet Max was excellent on all the debris tested, and performed well on the pet hair test. Special settings for different surfaces are effective and easy to switch, and it’s incredibly agile, gliding smoothly across all surfaces and turning quickly on its wheels.
It’s a good choice for small apartments and weaving around furniture. The wide range of accessories is also a plus for precise vacuuming. However, the vacuum isn’t free-standing, can feel heavy after a few minutes’ use, and the bin can be messy to open.
IROBOT ROOMBA J7+
Best robot vacuum for pet hair
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Robot
- Dust bin size: .42 gallons
- Battery life: 75-minutes
- Warranty: 1-year
REASONS TO BUY
+Accurate Obstacle Detection
+Self-emptying
+Superb cleaning
+Intelligently maps and shows where it cleans
+Beautiful design
REASONS TO AVOID
-Replacement bags cost extra
-Can’t set Keep Out Zones until after a map is complete
Why you should buy it
The iRobot Roomba j7+ is the best robot vacuum for pet hair. It operates in clean, methodical lines and spots any obstacles in its path, even taking a photo of the obstacle so you can mark out no-go areas if needed. The vacuum is incredibly effective at pulling up pet hair, eradicating crumbs, and navigating throughout the home.
It comes with a self-emptying base that automatically ejects into a Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal, a sealed system that can hold up to 60 days of debris. However, you can’t set Keep Out zones until after a map is finished, the app can be glitchy, and like all robot vacuums, it’s not always effective when cleaning tight corners.
Bissell ICONpet
BEST PET HAIR VACUUM FOR APARTMENTS
If you live in an apartment and you have pets, the Bissell ICONpet could be a great fit for you. The vacuum’s powerful suction and tangle-free brushes make it efficient at trapping pet hair and dander. It’s particularly effective on hard floors and low pile carpet.
Some of its notable features include a LED crevice tool, a 22V Lithium-Ion battery providing up to 50 minutes of fade-free suction, and a wall bracket for convenient charging. However, it may struggle on high-pile rugs and carpets, and its edge cleaning could be better.
Miele Classic C1 Cat and Dog Canister
BEST CYLINDER PET HAIR VACUUM
This vacuum is particularly great for allergy sufferers due to its sealed bag system. It comes with spacious 4.5qt bags that self-seal on removal, providing extra filtration. This model also boasts a wide 29ft cleaning radius and a powerful 1500W motor for impressive suction power.
The downside is the recurring cost of replacement bags, which could be quite expensive.
SEBO Automatic X4 Boost Upright
BEST BAGGED UPRIGHT FOR PET HAIR
This vacuum performs exceptionally well on pet hair, picking up hair without it getting caught in the rollers. It’s also great for cleaning under furniture and comes with a generous 40ft power cord. However, its size and weight can make it difficult to maneuver and store. It’s also pretty noisy.
HOW TO CHOOSE A VACUUM CLEANER FOR PET HAIR
When choosing a vacuum cleaner for pet hair, there are several factors to consider. You need a vacuum with good suction, the right types of accessories, and HEPA filters. For carpets or rugs, a motorized brush bar can help agitate and loosen hair for easier pickup. For hard floors, a cleaner with a soft brush is preferable. Tools like a mini motorized brush can be great for cleaning up pet beds and upholstery.
The best cordless vacuum for pet hair is the Dyson Outsize+, while the best vacuum for pet hair on a carpet is the Dyson Ball Animal 3. For hardwood floors, the Shark Stratos and Shark Vertex collections are excellent choices. The iRobot Roomba j7+ is the top robot vacuum for pet hair, and the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Lithium Ion Hand Vacuum is ideal for cleaning pet hair from cars.
HEPA filters are definitely worth it, especially if there are allergy sufferers in the household. These filters prevent microscopic dust and pet dander from escaping the vacuum cleaner, helping to reduce allergic reactions.
As for bagless versus bagged vacuums, both have their pros and cons. Bagless cleaners can release dust back into the air when being emptied, which could cause problems for those with allergies. Bagged vacuum cleaners, on the other hand, offer an extra level of protection, with bags acting as additional filters and also containing the dirt when being thrown away.
Many have effective ways of sealing dust bins when you empty them, and the advantage is that you can see at a glance when the bin needs emptying. Plus, you don’t have the ongoing cost of replacement bags.
WHICH BRAND MAKES THE BEST VACUUM FOR PET HAIR?
This can often be down to personal preference, as all the major brands offer high-quality vacuums for pet hair. However, Dyson is often cited as the leading brand due to its advanced technology, powerful suction, and range of pet hair-specific tools and features. Other brands like Shark, Bissell, and Miele also offer strong contenders, each with their own unique selling points.
Dyson is renowned for its powerful suction and innovative design, which often make its vacuums a top choice for pet owners. Its vacuums come with a range of specialized attachments for dealing with pet hair, and its advanced filtration systems are ideal for those with allergies.
Shark is also a popular choice for pet owners, with its Anti Hair Wrap technology being a standout feature. This technology actively removes hair from the brush roll as you clean, which prevents the vacuum from getting clogged with hair over time.
Bissell is another reputable brand, known for its focus on pet-friendly products. Their vacuum cleaners often come with specialized pet tools, and the company is committed to helping animals in need, with a portion of every purchase going towards the Bissell Pet Foundation.
Miele, a high-end German brand, is known for its canister vacuums which often come with HEPA filtration and self-sealing bags – making them a good option for allergy sufferers. They’re also known for their durability and longevity, which can make them a worthwhile investment.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO VACUUM PET HAIR?
- Use the right tools: Most vacuums come with a range of attachments designed for specific tasks. A motorized brush tool is great for deep-cleaning carpets and upholstery, while a crevice tool can get into hard-to-reach places. If your vacuum comes with a pet tool, this can often be the most effective at picking up hair.
- Go slow: It can be tempting to rush through vacuuming, but going slow, especially on carpets and upholstery, can allow the vacuum to effectively lift and remove pet hair.
- Vacuum in multiple directions: Pet hair can get embedded into carpets and upholstery fibers and may require multiple passes from different directions to fully remove.
- Regularly empty the bin or change the bag: A vacuum loses suction power when the bin or bag is full. Regularly emptying the bin or changing the bag can ensure your vacuum is always working at its best.
- Keep the vacuum clean: Regularly check the brush roll for tangled hair and clean or replace filters as needed. A well-maintained vacuum performs better and lasts longer.
In conclusion, choosing the best vacuum for pet hair depends on a variety of factors including your home’s layout, floor type, the amount of pet hair, and any allergy concerns. By considering these factors and the specific features and benefits of each vacuum, you can find a model that makes managing pet hair a breeze.