The 6 best vacuums for pet hair of 2026, tested and reviewed
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Camryn Rabideau;James Brains/Business Insider
When we're equipped with one of the best vacuums for pet hair, there's nothing we can't handle. Let the shedding, fur, and general chaos our pets create have its moment, because once we pull out these pet vacuums, consider the mess, tackled.
The best pet vacuums align with characteristics we like in the best vacuums; they have powerful suction, advanced filtration, brushrolls that resist tangling with hair, and even accessories specifically for removing embedded hair.
The Business Insider Reviews team tested over 30 of the best vacuums for pet hair to evaluate how they clean an assortment of cat and dog hair, cat litter, flour, coffee grounds, and Cheerios on carpet, hardwood floors, and furniture. The best vacuum for pet hair is the Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty, an overall solid performer with a dual-brushroll construction that easily suctions up debris large and small resists tangling with hair and cleans for up to 70 minutes. It also has a nifty base station like many of the best robot vacuums to offload debris into. The Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum is our favorite budget option; it's a powerful and reliable upright with easy swivel steering and special pet tools for cleaning upholstery.
Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and research home products here.
Our top picks for the best vacuums for pet hair
Best overall: Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty - See at Amazon
Best budget: Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Vacuum Cleaner - See at Amazon
Best upgrade: Dyson V15 Detect - See at Dyson
Most powerful: Dyson Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum Cleaner- See at Dyson
Best for allergies: Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Vacuum - See at Wayfair
Best handheld: Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum (model CHV1410L) - See at Walmart
Best overall
Shark's anti-hair wrap technology delivers. In fact, we're pretty confident in every Shark vacuum we've tested and they're ability to handle pet hair. However, the Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean and Empty, takes the performance and features a bit further, with excellent pick up performance from microscopic particles to clumps of hair, automatically adjusting suction and a base station to deposit dirt into.
- See more of the best cordless vacuums
It aced our standardized tests on hardwood and carpet. The Shark PowerDetect easily picked up kibble, ground coffee, flour, dog hair, and everyday household dirt. The PowerDetect incorporates a dual brushroll design: a soft front brushroll captures fine particles and stops larger debris from spitting out, and a back brushroll with rigid bristles that gets deep into carpeting and pulls up dirt. For larger particles, it quickly and efficiently suctions them right up, while very fine substances like flour did require a few extra passes.
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It automatically adjusts suction power based on floor type and amount of dust detected. Sensors detect changes in dust present, floor type, or if you're near the edges of a wall to automatically increase or decrease power. You see this in practice with purple LEDS (and audibly as enhanced suction kicks into gear — but not too loud). It also features LED headlights to gently light up the cleaning path ahead of you and a display with a battery life indicator.
It's easy to maneuver. Thanks to its bendable stick and swivel head design, it easily slides underneath low spots like the bed or sofa and gets into tough corners. The design however is a bit top-heavy and can't stand on it's own.
The auto-empty dust bin minimizes contact with dust. One of my biggest gripes of cordless vacuums are their tiny dustbins that make me stop and empty the bin every 10 or so minutes. The onboard dustbin is also still sizeable enough that I don't have to stop cleaning to empty it midway through. Though, with the auto-empty bin, it's a solid two months before I even think about emptying the base, in which it just neatly releases into the garbage. It's noisy, but brief, two gushes of wind suction out even the most impacted debris. If I did want to empty the dustbin on the vacuum however, that process is a little clunky to remove.
The attachments also store on the dock. ThePowerDetect comes with a Crevice Tool and a Pet Multi-Tool for cleaning upholstery. It's fine, but not as good as the mini-motorized attachments offered with many of the best Dyson vacuums, like the splurgey Dyson V15 Detect. The base also has a spot to incorporates Shark's odor-neutralizing technology, which uses a scented puck, but our testers are ambivalent about this feature and most did not plan to purchase the replacements once the cartridges lost their scent. This time around, I never even bothered to install mine, and haven't had any odor problems.
If you want the power and performance of the PowerDetect, but don't care for the auto-empty base station or have the space to dedicate to a dock, PowerDetect Essential shaves a $100 off the retail price. It has a standard bin, while keeping all the power and performance.
See how the Shark compares to Dyson's top model.
Best budget
For around $175, the Bissell has powerful suction and good performance at a value price. The CleanView Swivel Rewind was one of three of the best vacuums for pet hair that picked up all the pet hair on all of the surfaces in our tests. Also, the hair didn't get tangled in the brush. The four vacuums I tested that cost less than the Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Vacuum Cleaner (model 2254) performed so poorly that I can't recommend any of them.
- See the best cheap vacuum cleaners
It picked up the most debris on hard floors, and was average on carpet and furniture. While its ability to pick up other debris was just average on carpeting and furniture, it did exceptionally well on hardwood. It picked up all of the cat litter and Cheerios on every surface. It struggled with the coffee grounds on carpeting and only did a so-so job of collecting flour in all of the tests.
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I appreciated how simple the Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind was to use. The swivel head makes it easy to maneuver with one hand. The cord never got in my way thanks to the easy retraction feature (the "Rewind" in the name), and since it's upright, I didn't have to support the weight of the vac. I just guided it as it made quick work of messes. And the hose detached effortlessly to reach elevated areas.
However, I had difficulty emptying the dust bin without getting my hands dirty or inadvertently sending gunk flying outside the trash can. Your best bet is to release the trap-door mechanism with the bottom inside your trash receptacle. The vacuum is also not HEPA rated; it uses a multi-layer filtration system of carbon and foam filters, and is not sealed to keep particles from escaping back into the air. Most people will do just fine, but if you do have serious allergy sensitivities, you may want to consider a different model.
Best upgrade
Dust and hair hunting features like no other. Dyson is one of the brands I trust to rid my home of the smallest particles of dust. It's even gamified cleaning with a piezo sensor that tells you just how many particles it's scooped up (we're talking billions. The real stand out is the green laser headlights on the dedicated hardfloor cleaner head that light up the floor to reveal what the eye can't see. It's like turning on the lights to see just how much my blonde-dog sheds on my wood floors.
It's expertly designed.The V15 Detect also features automatic suction adjustment that detects floor type and the amount of debris detected, which also helps conserve the battery life, which can last for up to an hour. The LCD will also show you exactly how much runtime is left. This model is lightweight and easy to manuever around, too, and it comes with a variety of attachments to clean areas all around your home. It's also maneuver thanks to a spherical wheel on the cleaner head. I could move it from side to side by gently rotating my wrist. The non-Dyson vacuums I tested required more effort to turn.My only design critique is the trigger-style button that must be pressed to power. If that's a dealbreaker for you, the Gen5Detect offers a power button, but we don't think it's worth the $200 price difference unless on sale.
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This Dyson vacuum was the best vacuum for pet hair on every surface in our tests without getting tangled. This is in part due to the Digital Motorbar cleaner head (found on many of the best Dyson vacuums) that has plastic detangling vanes to keep hair from wrapping. It works on both hardwood and carpets, which it was great on both surfaces, picking up all debris except a trace of coffee grounds on carpets and nominal amounts of flour on both surfaces. The Fluffy Optic Cleaner head, which has the green laser, alternatively is for hard floors only, and you will need to switch between the two if you have rugs or carpet. I also like converting the V15 Detect into a handheld and using the hair screw tool for pulling out embedded hair from pet beds and upholstery, and making them look like new.
The Dyson has a trapdoor mechanism for emptying the dust bin, so you can avoid coming in contact with debris. However, you have to remove the attachments before emptying the bin, and you may miss your trash receptacle if you don't position the dust bin just right. Sometimes I have to reach in to the bin to remove clumps if I clean past the MAX fill line.
Most powerful
Unrelenting and powerful suction is what you need to keep your home dust and dander-free from shedding fur or kitty litter. The Dyson Ball Animal 3 is particularly effective on thick carpeting, with stiff bristles that dig deep into the fibers to pull out hair and dirt and resist hair wrap around the brush roll. It also performed well on hard floors, picking up both large pieces of debris like cereal and fine particles of flour.
- See more of the best upright vacuums.
Despite being bulky, it's still is easy to use. At 17 pounds, this upright vacuum isn't necessarily lightweight for carrying up and down stairs, but its unique ball design at the base swivels to help facilitate maneuverability. It has three suction settings that you can adjust via a slider on the floorhead. If you have trouble pushing the vacuum, adjusting the suction settings will typically get you on your way again. The spacious 0.45-gallon dust bin can handle large amounts of pet hair and empties via a button on the handle. The Dyson's washable post-motor filter traps allergens as small as 0.3 microns and should be cleaned once a month.
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There are multiple versions available with varying attachments. The basic version of this vacuum comes with two tools: a combo crevice and dusting brush and a stair tool. Models like Extra and Complete offer a more comprehensive accessories package with pet-specific options like a tangle-free turbine tool, carbon fiber dusting brush, and even a pet grooming brush. These accessories connect with the hose, which stretches to 15 feet. However, our reviewer found it stiff, requiring extra effort to keep it extended while the vacuum was running.
Best for allergies
If you have severe allergies, a vacuum with a bagged dustbin will be your best solution for limiting exposure to extra dust. Our top pick, the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Vacuum is also a canister vacuum that provides a powerful yet quiet and mess-free way to clean up after your pet.
The Classic C1 was the best overall at picking up debris. In addition to picking up all of the pet hair on all of the surfaces we tested — while remaining free of pet hair tangles — the vacuum picked up almost all of the other materials on carpeting, hardwood, and furniture. The only substance it seemed to have any difficulty with was flour, but it still picked up at least 90% of the flour on each surface.
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My main gripes with the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum have to do with how user-unfriendly it can be. At over 20 pounds, it's the heaviest vacuum we tested. Fortunately, you don't have to support the weight. The motor and debris collect in the wheeled canister, which is connected by a hose to the handle and vacuum head.
However, I didn't like the feel of dragging the canister behind me as I cleaned. While the hard plastic handle felt durable, it wasn't comfortable in my hand. Also, the bulky power brushhead didn't lend itself to easy maneuverability.
Bagged dustbins are a smart solution for allergy-suffers. The 4.5-liter bag holds an impressive amount of debris, and it did a great job of keeping particles contained. Miele prides itself on having one of the most comprehensive HEPA filtration systems that minimize, or cut down the chances of coming into contact with dirt. How often you need to change the bag depends on a variety of factors, but I didn't come close to filling it despite sucking up more than two pounds of debris in my tests.
They do create recurring expenses, however. I have mixed feelings about the disposable dust bag, in general. I don't like the idea of producing more garbage, and replacement bags are an added expense ($23 for four replacement bags and two filters). Though if coming into contact with further dust is a big concern, this is your best bet. Miele also makes a bagless version of its pet vacuum, the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog.
Best handheld
It out-performed other handhelds at cleaning up pet hair. In fact, the Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum was the only handheld to clean up all pet hair on every surface — hardwood, carpet, and the car.
It's well-balanced and weighs just 2.6 pounds. I didn't experience arm fatigue when cleaning with the Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum. You can quickly flip the brush in place as it's attached to the head, a feature I liked because I tend to lose attachments when they aren't connected.
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The charging station is also simple and intuitive. Just place the Dustbuster on it. The charging indicator light turns off once the vacuum is charged, and the vacuum will then run for 14 minutes.
Emptying the big dust bin without getting dirty is simple. You remove the forward section and shake the debris out or remove the entire dust bin and pull out the filter. Regardless of how you empty it, the vacuum takes some finessing to snap back together.
The Dustbuster AdvancedClean vacuum is about as loud as a hairdryer, making it louder than most.
Read our guide to the best handheld vacuums.
What to look for in a vacuum for pet hair
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Anti-hair tangle technology: Whether dealing with clumps of fur or long strands of hair, the last thing you want is for the vacuum to clog or stop working because hair got wrapped around the brushroll. Not to forget how gross it can be to have to cut hair out of the brushroll. Brands like Dyson and Shark have pioneered technology to combat hair wrap and direct it straight to the dust bin, where it belongs.
Attachments: Most vacuums will come with a crevice tool and dusting brush, but when it comes to vacuums for pet hair, a pet tool or upholstery tool, which typically have a bristled or motorized design, are incredibly useful for cleaning sofas, pet beds, or other surfaces that need a close clean. It's also becoming common for brands to offer grooming tools alongside their vacuums, like Dyson's $70 pet grooming attachment that includes a slicker brush that also suctions away loose fur.
Weight: Like any vacuum, the best vacuum for pet hair needs to be comfortable to hold for extended cleaning sessions and easy enough to push around your floors. If weight is a concern, be sure to consider size and opt for something lighter and smaller. Cordless stick vacuums are by default lighter than upright vacuums, which can offer stability but can be harder to carry between floors if your home has stairs.
Corded vs cordless: Corded vacuums offer unrelenting power for cleaning but you'll be bound by the length of the cord, and may need to unplug and replug as you move around your home. There's no downtime though. Cordless vacuums rely on batteries, which make them lightweight and easy to take around the house, but battery life can vary based on the setting you use and require time to recharge before they can be used again. We find that models that offer at least 40 minutes of battery carry us through our cleaning needs.
Noise: Some animals may be sensitive to the noise emitted from a vacuum. If you have a skittish animal in your household, a vacuum that operates on the quiet side will minimize disruptions.
Dust bin: Though light in weight, pet hair can definitely take up its fair share of space in the dust bin. We like bins around 0.2 gallons. They also need to be easy to open and direct into the trashcan and don't require too much reaching up into the bin to cull out collected hair and dust.
Filter: All vacuums will feature a filtration system, but the golden standard is HEPA, which stands for "High-Efficiency Particulate Air" and, as defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency, will trap and remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. Know that models marketed as HEPA-style or HEPA-like, or anti-allergen are not True HEPA, and may not have been put through the same standards as those labeled as HEPA. Most filters are washable, though some designs may require replacements.
Warranty: Vacuums typically have a warranty of one to five years, which gives peace of mind should anything go wrong within the first few months or years of ownership.
How we tested vacuums for pet hair
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We put all of the best vacuums for pet hair in this guide through several tests. The most important factors to consider when buying a vacuum are how well it picks up pet hair on a variety of surfaces and how easy it is to use, empty, and maintain.
Here's a breakdown of how much of each material the top picks cleaned up on each surface in our tests:
| Surface - Material | Shark PowerDetect | Dyson V15 Detect | Bissell CleanView | Miele Classic C1 | Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean |
| Carpet - Cheerios | 100% | 90% | 100% | 100% | 88% |
| Carpet - Litter | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 85% |
| Carpet - Coffee | 97% | 100% | 77% | 96% | 905 |
| Carpet - Hair | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Carpet - Flour | 90% | 92% | 88% | 92% | 45% |
| Hardwood - Cheerios | 100% | 90% | 100% | 100% | 94% |
| Hardwood - Litter | 100% | 100% | 100% | 97% | 91% |
| Hardwood - Coffee | 100% | 100% | 97% | 98% | 1005 |
| Hardwood - Hair | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Hardwood - Flour | 93% | 94% Motorbar; 96% Fluffy | 93% | 93% | 48% |
Here are the main attributes we look at and how we test them:
Floor cleaning: I poured different substances on a 5-square-foot patch of carpeting, followed by hardwood flooring, one at a time. I used 100 grams of flour, coffee grounds, and cat litter; 50 grams of Cheerios; and a 1-gram mix of cat and dog fur of varying lengths. Then, I vacuumed up as much of each substance as possible in 30 seconds. Finally, I compared the weight of the dust bin after vacuuming to its starting weight to determine how much of each material the vacuum collected.
Furniture cleaning: I poured 50 grams each of cat litter and flour plus 1 gram of pet hair mix on a chair with fabric upholstery. I used the manufacturer-recommended cleaning configuration for furniture. Again, to determine how much debris the vacuum collected in 30 seconds, I compared the weights of the dust bin before and after sucking up each material.
Battery (if applicable): I fully charged the vacuum and timed how long it could run on top power until the battery died. Lastly, I timed how long it took to charge the vacuum fully.
Ease of use: This is a somewhat subjective experience measurement. As I used each vacuum, I observed what made it difficult or easy to use. For example, the Dyson Outsize requires you to keep your finger on the trigger to keep the vacuum running and is heavy in the handheld configuration, making it harder to use. The cord got in the way with some of the corded vacuums I tested. The Miele lost points because of its suboptimal maneuverability.
Disposal: Aside from the Miele, which has a disposable vacuum bag, I emptied the dust bins of the vacuums at least a dozen times each. As I did this, I noted how messy the process was and if I came into contact with the debris. Preference was given to vacuums that were easy to empty and didn't send dust flying outside the trash bin.
Pet vacuum FAQs
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What is the difference between a pet vacuum and a regular vacuum?
Many vacuums that aren't specifically marketed for pet hair work just fine, but the main features that qualify as the best pet vacuums are strong suction, excellent filtration, and specialized cleaner heads and attachments.
Are robot vacuums good for pet hair?
Robot vacs are a great way to pick up loose pet hair before it becomes embedded in carpets. Run them daily or every other day for the best results to help capture shed hair and whatever dirt and debris our favorite furry friends trek throughout. However, they don't work on stairs or elevated surfaces. With pets around you'll also want to consider options with advanced obstacle detection for the errant toy or worse, accident, sprinkled about the house. Auto-empty stations also help automate the cleaning task so you'll only need to clean out the collected debris, for one less thing to have to baby-, we mean, pet-sit.
What kind of filter should I look for in a pet vacuum?
A well-sealed filtration system will ensure the debris doesn't end up back in the air you breathe. If you're concerned about allergens in your air, choose a vacuum with a true HEPA filter. These filters (commonly found in air purifiers) capture 99.7% of 0.3-micron particles.
What are the best attachments for pet hair?
Brushrolls on the main head of most vacuum cleaners loosen pet hair enough for the vac to suck it up. But for furniture, cat trees, and dog beds, look for attachments with mini-motorized brushrolls or bristles that will loosen the fur. Also consider one of the best pet hair removers for quickly pulling up embedded hair from furniture, carpet, and even clothing.
How do you clean a pet vacuum?
Consult your user manual for the most accurate information, but most models can benefit from regular filter cleaning, checking the brushroll for blockages, and removing any debris that's built up.
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