If your vacuum isn’t standing up to the task of ridding your home of pet hair, then you may need to find a better vacuum. A vacuum that has enough power to lift hair and a series of bristles to pull the hair from the fibers of your carpet is invaluable in a pet-friendly home. You may have lived in your home with your old vacuum for several years with great success, but the moment your pet begins shedding or you start sneezing, you are going to want to look into the features that make your home a more comfortable one. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t stress – we have you covered!
We reviewed dozens of vacuums for pet hair to identify the best of the best. We looked for the lightweight stick pet vacuums that you can carry and push for hours, as well as the robust upright vacuums that are up to any task. We found the handheld and battery-powered pet vacuums as well as the canisters to make sure no matter what your specific need is, we have the best option for you.
While on the topic of pet hair, though, you may want to take a moment to think about your cat’s struggle with hairballs and read through The Best Cat Hairball Remedies.
From nearly the beginning of our research, it was an easy pick for best overall vacuum for pet hair. The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum has multiple modes for multiple surfaces, which means your pet’s hair won’t escape, no matter where it lands.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Vacuums for Pet Hair
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Vacuum for Pet Hair Overall | Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum | 4.4 |
| Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair | eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S | 4.4 |
| Best Budget Vacuum for Pet Hair | Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner | 4.3 |
| Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair | Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum | 4.4 |
| Best Canister Vacuum for Pet Hair | Eureka Mighty Mite Canister Vacuum Cleaner | 4.1 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair Overall: Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum
The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum has plenty of features that make it invaluable for any pet owner. The HEPA filter will make sure the pet dander your furry friend releases won’t be as harmful to your home – and if you have a member of your family with any kind of allergies, this is going to be a big help. It also has an anti-allergy seal to make sure that, at no point in the vacuum’s use, will it make living in a pet-friendly home more difficult.
There is a large-capacity dust cup – 1.5 quarts, and that means you’ll be stopping to empty the debris and dirt fewer times – maybe you’ll even make it through your vacuuming entirely before you need to empty it. The brush roll is powered to keep spinning, even when not in movement so that you’ll catch more pet hair than ever.
With over 3,400 customer reviews on Amazon, you can trust the accuracy of the overall rating; and when that rating is as impressive as this vacuum’s – 4.4 stars! – you know this is a quality vacuum that’s perfectly suited to the pet-cleaning task.
Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum Key Features:
- 6′ hose length
- Hard floor and carpet modes
- LED lights to navigate dark corners
Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair: eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S
The eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S has a strong suction of 1300 Pa and somehow still remains quiet enough to not disturb anyone in your home. (Not even your pet!) The transition of this robot vacuum from hard flooring to carpets is a seamless one, and because it can get under furniture with ease, there is no place for pet hair to go that it won’t find.
Possibly the best part of any robot vacuum is the convenience. With this vacuum, you won’t need to push or pull a vacuum to get all the pet hair up – in fact, you don’t even need to be home! You can set this vacuum up to operate while you’re gone during the day and it will rid your home of pet hair without you ever needing to give it a second thought.
Over 11,000 customers can’t be wrong and with 84% of the 10k+ reviews left on Amazon being positive, it’s no surprise it has an impressive overall rating of 4.4 stars.
eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S Key Features:
- 2 color options
- Remote-controlled; programmable
- 1-year warranty
Best Budget Vacuum for Pet Hair: Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
The Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner is an ideal lightweight vacuum for a pet-friendly home that just doesn’t want the extra pet hair in their lives. With five height settings, this one vacuum can tackle any type of flooring and you can count on the wide, 12.6″ vacuum head with a sturdy brush roll to not miss anything.
The four-liter dust cup will keep you from stopping before your vacuum job is done. With a weight of only ten pounds, you also won’t need to worry about the struggle of pushing it holding you back from completing your job. In fact, the cord of twenty-five feet won’t limit your job, either, so you’ll genuinely have less stopping you than ever before when you’re using this vacuum.
The numbers are excellent on this vacuum. It has over 3,000 customer reviews on Amazon and an overall rating of 4.3 stars – definitely nothing to scoff at! But our favorite number for this vacuum is unquestionably the price: You can get this budget-friendly vac for under $70.
Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner Key Features:
- 960-watts of power
- 2 colors available
- on-board storage of accessories
Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum gives you all the power you need to remove the pet hair in your home, and all in a compact, ultra-portable package. There is a specialized rubber nozzle that will allow you to pick up even more hair, and if your pet spends his time on your upholstered furniture, this is such a valuable little tool, you won’t want to be without it.
The dirt cup holds 1.8 liters of dust and debris and that means you’ll likely be able to get the furniture or stairs before you need to dump it. It’s not a whole-house vacuum, but if you need something that’ more convenient than switching around the configuration of your bigger home vacuum, this is probably the best bet for any pet-friendly home.
This vacuum has an overall rating of 4.4 stars on Amazon, and that’s a pretty solid rating; that it’s awarded by over 7,000 customer reviews makes it more than just a little tempting.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum Key Features:
- 4-amp motor
- Includes 2 nozzles
- Multi-layer filtration
Best Canister Vacuum for Pet Hair: Eureka Mighty Mite Canister Vacuum Cleaner
The Eureka Mighty Mite Canister Vacuum Cleaner gives the kind of power you’ll appreciate when you’re trying to rid your home of pet hair. The 10-amp motor is strong enough that it can stand up to the shedding of even a Saint Bernard.
If you want a bit of versatility, then this is the vacuum you’ll want to consider; not only will it give you plenty of power to tackle any job, but you can reverse the position of the hose for a blower, too. Included with your canister pet vac, you’ll also get four different nozzles, two extender wands, and hose. And with a twenty-foot power cord, this canister will go where you want it.
Well over 7,000 customer reviews on Amazon have earned this canister van an overall rating of 4.2 stars and that’s no small feat. The chance of your satisfaction is not only possible, with this vacuum it’s statistically likely.
Eureka Mighty Mite Canister Vacuum Cleaner Key Features:
- 2.5 L dust cup capacity
- 10-amp motor
- 3 color options available
Who Should Buy a Vacuum for Pet Hair
If you have a pet, that has free reign in your home, then you’ll very likely need a vacuum that cleans up the messes and dander he leaves behind. A house-training puppy will certainly benefit from a wet/dry vacuum that’s able to tackle stains and for his rambunctious behavior, a deep cleaning vacuum to get the dry messes is crucial. For your pet who sleeps on your upholstered furniture, the pet hair attachments that come with some of the pet-specific vacuums are critical for getting pet hair out of the upholsterer furniture. Multiple speeds and power settings will allow you to get the clinging pet hair and height adjustments will make transitioning from carpet and hard floors easier; just as your pet does, so too should your vacuum.
For a pet lover who happens to also have allergies that make life with a pet less comfortable, the struggle is a daily one. Even dogs who don’t shed will still release dander (though less, of course) and that can still make the allergies flare. Taking medication may be the smartest move if you intend on staying in a home with your beloved pet, but the effects of his presence can be minimized by regularly vacuuming. Of course, without the pet vacuum features, you may not notice any improvement, so be sure you’re getting the vacuum that will help your home the most. A HEPA filter in the vacuum will prevent the dander from being released back into the air.
Important Features to Consider
A vacuum for pet hair should do several things well. Here’s what to consider when selecting a vacuum for pet hair:
- Robot. While the idea of a set and forget vacuum may be ideal, you won’t want to get caught up and forget a few limitations of the robot vacuum. Yes, it can operate while you’re away and you never have to see it at all. You will need to make sure the floors are free of clutter and cords because the robot will get stuck if any are out. The dust cup capacity is small, so you will need to dump it after every use and your pet, left alone with the robot, may not react well to it. The worst-case scenario, however, is if you have a pet that has an accident, and your robot runs over it, then smears your pet’s waste all over your home.
- Bagless. The new industry standard for vacuums is bagless with a dust cup that will store the dirt and debris your vacuum picks up. But keep in mind that may not be the best thing for you. Airborne allergens swept up in the cleaning process will face the potential of releasing back into the air during the dump if you’re not careful. For those particularly sensitive allergic responses, you may want to seek out a vacuum that utilizes disposable bags.
- Handheld. If you don’t have to lug a giant vacuum up and down stairs or from one room to another to remove the cat hair and dander that your cat has left all over your home, then you may want to consider a handheld. If you can hold it in your hand, there’s more than a small chance it’s a lightweight vacuum and in our experience, a vacuum that is easier to use gets used more often. So if you find yourself thinking you should vacuum more often, perhaps a handheld will be a nice way to trick yourself into a more hygienic home.
- Battery life. You may love that you can take your pet vacuum everywhere that your pet goes, but the one thing you’ll still need to consider how long you use the vacuum each time. If you only use it for the two or three rooms they live in to just touch up a few times a week, then you won’t likely need to stress over the battery life. However, if the pet vacuum is responsible for your entire home, then you may want to take a closer look at that battery life. If it only works for 20 minutes on high before dying, then you won’t be able to do the whole house in one sitting. Of course, that may still be perfect if you just vacuum a room or two a day. Whether a cordless vacuum is right for your pet-friendly home is entirely based on your lifestyle and preferences, but you will want to consider all sides before deciding.
- Wet/dry. A pet, particularly a cat, will likely leave behind all sorts of messes you weren’t expecting over the course of your life together. Dry vacuums will deal best with airborne dander and allergens as well as pet hair, but that doesn’t mean dry is all your pet will ever need. While you may not use the wet function often, when you find the hairball that’s dried on your carpet under your bed, you’ll be grateful for to already have the perfect method to clean it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vacuum for pet hair and how does it work?
The first and most important feature you want in a pet vacuum is a brush roll. You’ll need the brushing action to pull the hair up from the fibers of your carpet or from the upholstery. Most pet vacuums will have specific attachments with robust brush rolls that achieve this well. The next feature you’ll want to look for is that of power: you’ll need strong suction to make sure that after pulled loose, the hair is forced into the vacuum’s dust cup.
There are a few other features that can set a vacuum apart as a specific pet vacuum, too. A robust filter for allergies will help mitigate the allergens released into the air or on the surfaces of your home where your pet lies. A HEPA filter will be the most robust, but any filter will help and if you’re sensitive to your pet’s specific allergens, then you’ll need to make sure you’re getting a vacuum with that.
Can you vacuum dog hair?
You absolutely can vacuum your dog’s hair. Depending on the surface, a vacuum may just be the most efficient way to do so, in fact. For example, using a vacuum on a wood floor will help gather the pet hair, unlike any other method. While you may traditionally sweep with a broom, the vacuum will get pet hair that is too fine to see and you would normally miss with a broom. And you’ll never see the hair in the carpet, but a quality vacuum can get rid of it before it causes you any bother. In order for your vacuum to be effective at ridding your home of pet hair, you’ll want to make sure you’re vacuuming regularly.
Keep in mind, though, you could also vacuum the hair off your pet directly. If your pet will tolerate it, then you’re in for a treat: Using the vacuum on your pet will avoid any stray hairs and prevent allergens from releasing at all. Note: Don’t vacuum your pet with a loud vacuum, though; and if he hates it – stop. It isn’t worth the stress to your pet for a bit easier clean up.
How do you control pet hair in the house?
It depends on your pet’s breed how much hair you’ll have in your home. During shedding season, you’ll undoubtedly have more than other times, but there’s a good chance the battle against pet hair is a year-round process. You can manage it with regular vacuuming, of course. That may be the most effective method and the daily vacuuming may be the strategy with which you see the most improvement. You’ll also want to look into your home’s air filter. You can minimize hair some by changing the filters as prescribed and opt for a pet version of the filter.
Our favorite way to get rid of pet hair will very likely be your pet’s favorite, too: grooming. If you invest in a de-shedding glove and just pet your dog or cat idly while you’re watching TV or reading a few times a week, you’ll likely see a dramatic improvement in your home’s pet hair and you may just bond with your pet tremendously.
Are stick vacuums good for pet hair?
Stick vacuums have come a long way in recent years. Traditionally, they’d be exclusively for quick clean situations, where you only use it for a minute or less to clean up a mess, but that’s certainly changed. They can be battery-powered or use a power cord, so you won’t have to worry about battery life. Though, even if you do opt for a cordless, the battery life is certainly greater and more consistent than it once was. In fact, a stick vacuum may very well be your home’s primary vacuum these days. Not only will they be lightweight and easier to operate, making it more tempting to use more frequently, but they can also offer you strong enough suction to
Keep in mind, the quality depends on the specific model, though. Not all stick vacuums will deal well with the pet hair in your home, but you can find plenty that do.
Other Vacuums for Pet Hair We Reviewed
We looked at 20 other vacuums for pet hair. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best vacuums for pet hair list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your home. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
- Handheld Vacuums for Pet Hair
- Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair
- Stick Vacuums for Pet Hair
- Upright Vacuums for Pet Hair
Handheld Vacuums for Pet Hair
LOZAYI Lightweight Wet/Dry Handheld Vacuum Cleaner for Home Pet Hair
This rechargeable handheld pet vac will pull or scrub to get pet hair on virtually any surface in your home.
Key Features:
- 304 stainless steel reusable filter
- 100-watts of power
- Includes 4 accessories
Cost: $45
Shark Pet-Perfect II Cordless Bagless Hand Vacuum
This bagless vacuum will ergonomically fit in your hand and the power is controlled with just one flip of your thumb.
Key Features:
- Perfect for car
- 0.56-quart dust cup capacity
- Includes reusable filter
Cost: $60
ZesGood Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
You won’t ever wonder how much time left you have with this handheld, battery-powered vacuum: it has an LCD display of how much of the battery remains.
Key Features:
- Washable HEPA filter
- 550 ML dust cup capacity
- 2-3 hours to full charge
Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair
This vacuum can remove the hair from your floors – from a hard surface to a medium pile carpet.
Key Features:
- 120-minute battery life
- 1700 PA Strong Suction
- 4 cleaning modes
Cost: $180
With large wheels, this robot can handle your plush carpet and even tackle the ledges it needs to transition from one type of flooring to the next.
Key Features:
- 1600 Pa suction
- Remote control (2 AAA batteries included)
- Multiple clean modes
Cost: $190
While they don’t come standard, if you’re interested in purchasing an upgrade kit with this vacuum, you can create virtual barriers for this robot to make sure it doesn’t go anywhere it shouldn’t.
Key Features:
- Works with Alexa
- 3-stage cleaning system
- 90 minutes of continuous use
Cost: $200
You’ll easily be able to program this vacuum so that it operates while you’re gone and you simply empty the dust cup when you get home.
Key Features:
- App-controlled
- 1800 Pa of suction
- 1-year warranty
Stick Vacuums for Pet Hair
BISSELL ICONpet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
This stick vacuum will convert to a handheld if you choose, to make it perfect for whole-home use or just the upholstery; your choice.
Key Features:
- Digital motor moves @ 420 miles per hour
- LED-lit brush roll
- Tangle-free brush: 3200 rpm
Cost: $250
Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
You won’t have to worry about the pet dander destroying the filter on this vacuum; it comes with a lifetime, reusable and washable filter.
Key Features:
- Up to 25 minutes of continuous use
- 0.14-gallon dust cup
- Filter catches allergens and releases clean air
Cost: $290
JASHEN Powerful Stick Vacuum Cleaner
This lightweight vacuum is easy to use for as long as you need and with a powerful suction, each swipe of the brush roll will capture an impressive amount of pet hair.
Key Features:
- 2-in-1 cordless stick or handheld vac
- 2 color options
- LED front lights
Cost: $85
Handheld or stick, you’ll appreciate the versatility of this vacuum for ridding your home of pet hair.
Key Features:
- 10,000 Pa of suction
- 2 adjustable cleaning modes
- 2-year warranty
Cost: $120
NEQUARE Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
This stick vacuum is perfect to use all over your home and because it’s so lightweight (only 6.5 pounds), you can use it for as long as you need without getting tired.
Key Features:
- Up to 35 minutes of continuous power
- 200-Watts of power
- LED-lit brush roll
Cost: $150
Tineco A11 Hero+ Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Depending on your choice of packaging, you can get a wide variety of accessories for this vacuum that will allow you to customize your vacuum specifically for your home’s needs.
Key Features:
- 3 packaging options
- 120-watts of power
- 2-year warranty
Upright Vacuums for Pet Hair
BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
The triple-action brush roll on this vacuum will get deep into your carpets to remove embedded dirt and pet hair.
Key Features:
- Edge-to-edge cleaning
- 1.0L dust cup capacity
- Disposable filter
Cost: $100
Dirt Devil Razor Pet Upright Vacuum Cleaner
This vacuum features all the best parts of the Dirt Devil Razor, as well as a TURBOCLAW pet turbo tool to make sure you’re getting the most pet hair possible.
Key Features:
- Includes on-board storage
- 10′ extension wand
- 180-degree swivel head
Cost: $80
Dyson DC65 Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner
This vacuum takes the best of Dyson and adds an additional 25% power to its brush roll to drive its bristles deeper into carpets, getting even more dirt and pet hair.
Key Features:
- Radial Root Cyclone technology
- Self-adjusting cleaner head
- 5-year warranty
Cost: $695
Hoover Pet Max Complete Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
If you’re interested in a vacuum that will tackle your whole home, floors, and furniture included, this vacuum can give you that with its attachments.
Key Features:
- Captures 97% pet dander
- Includes pet turbo tool
- Bonus, spare washable filter
Cost: $180
Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Upright Vacuum Cleaner
With three channels of suction, this vacuum gives plenty of airflow to ensure your pet hair is removed from any surface.
Key Features:
- Carbon HEPA filter included
- 2 color options
- On/Off brush roll
Cost: $145
Prolux LED Upright Sealed H-Grade HEPA Allergen Pet Vacuum
With a robust HEPA filter, this bagged vacuum will minimize the dander content in your home, for sure.
Key Features:
- 30′ power cord
- 7-year motor and 3-year unit warranty
- Robust, 19 lbs
Cost: $300
Shark Navigator Zero-M Self-Cleaning Brush Roll Pet Pro Upright Vacuum
On this vacuum, you can be assured of nonstop hair removal with its continuous, self-cleaning zero-M brush roll.
Key Features:
- 12′ extended reach with tube and wand
- Anti-allergen complete seal
- 2.8-quart dust cup
Cost: $220
