Looking for a vacuum for cat hair? Or the best vacuum for dog hair?
Keeping a tidy home can be a tedious task and choosing the right vacuum cleaner for your home can make a huge difference to your family’s wellbeing. If you happen to own a dog, cat or any other kind of pet (especially one with lots of curly, fluffy or even wiry hair), maintaining a clean house can be an even bigger challenge. So putting some thought into choosing the best vacuum for pet hair can save you hours of house cleaning.
Trying to get cat or dog hair out of carpet or from between cracks in a hardwood floor can be frustrating. Without the right vacuum for pets, you could spend hours cleaning. Don’t despair. You can have pets and keep a clean house. Recent improvements in pet hair vacuum cleaners over the last few years can help keep your home spotless.
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Choosing the best vacuum for pet hair
Wouldn’t life be easier if you had the best vacuum for dog hair?
These days, there are so many models on the market it can be confusing to pick the right one. What should you consider when buying a vacuum for pet hair? Is a pet hair vacuum better than a regular vacuum? More importantly, what is the best pet vacuum for the money?
Choosing one that suits your lifestyle can be a bit bewildering. So, here’s a guide that will save you hours of research when buying the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair.
PetVacuumButler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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Overall Winner - 9/109/10
Our Top Pick
Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet (NV752)
Best vacuum for pet hair comparison table
Best Vacuums For Pet Hair At A Glance
| Image | Type | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upright/Stick/Canister | Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet (NV752) | $$$ |
|
| Upright | Hoover FH50150 Carpet Basics Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner | $$ |
|
| Upright | Hoover Vacuum Cleaner T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind Bagless Corded Upright Vacuum | $$ |
|
| Upright | BISSELL PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Corded Vacuum, 81L2A | $ |
|
| Upright | Hoover Air Cordless Series 20V Lithium Ion Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner BH50140 | $$ |
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| Canister | Dyson DC39 Bagless Animal canister vacuum cleaner | $$$ |
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| TBA | Canister | Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Cleaner | $$$$ |
| Stick | Dyson V6 Animal Cord-free Vacuum | $$$ |
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| Robot | Neato Botvac D80 Robot Vacuum for Pets and Allergies | $$$ |
|
| Handheld | Black+Decker BDH2000PL MAX Lithium Pivot Vacuum, 20-volt | $ |
Some things to consider when choosing a pet hair vacuum
Ten years ago, selecting a vacuum cleaner for pet hair meant selecting a vacuum cleaner with the strongest suction. These days, pets have become important members of the family, and there are pet hair vacuum cleaners with features like HEPA filters, to remove dust particles from the air, and a variety of pet hair vacuum attachment tools, such as dusting and upholstery brushes.
Before you spend hundreds of dollars, here are some things to consider when selecting a good vacuum for pet hair
Is your home carpeted?
Carpet cleaning for pet lovers is an art
If you have carpet, there are two kinds of systems that work well to vacuum pet hair.
Look for a canister vacuum cleaner with a motorised power head. Some of the top vacuums for pet hair are canister models with strong suction to suck up those stubborn hairs that cling to carpet fibres.
Upright vacuums with a brush roll that you can adjust to suit the height of your carpet pile is another good choice of vacuum cleaner for pets.
Do you have hardwood floors?
Looking for the best vacuum for pet hair on hardwood floors ?
Hardwood floors scratch easily so choosing the best vacuum for hard floors and pet hair requires a bit more thought than selecting the best vacuum for tile floors and pet hair.
Don’t go for one with beater brushes or rotator brushes, especially if the brushes have thick bristles. Look for vacuums with rubber or felt padding that will protect your floors from being scratched.
Most importantly, the best vacuum for hardwood floors and pets is one with strong suction capable of sucking up excessive pet hair that can lodge in cracks.
Do you have stairs?
If you have stairs in your home, pick the best lightweight vacuum for pet hair you can find. Lifting heavy vacuum cleaners up and down stairs can be bad for your back. Choosing one that is too heavy can turn vacuuming your stairs into an annoying chore.
Stick vacuum cleaners work well on stairs and combining a stick vacuum with another type of cat hair vacuum or a vacuum dog hair to use in the main area of your home is something to consider.
Is your pet allowed on the furniture?
Removing pet hair from your favourite sofa can be frustrating and time-consuming. Short hairs are usually harder to remove than long ones.
So if Fido or Fifi love making themselves comfortable on your couch, look for a pet vacuum cleaner with a decent rotating brush designed to remove stubborn animal hairs from carpets and upholstery.
Does anyone in your home suffer from allergies?
A vacuum with a poorly designed filtration system can spread dust and germs into the air. If you suffer from allergies, choosing the best vacuum for allergies and pet hair should be high on your list. Select a sealed vacuum system that traps dust and allergens inside the vacuum. Don’t forget that pets can suffer from allergies too!
How much time do you have to vacuum?
If you hate doing the cleaning, or simply don’t have the time, a robotic vacuum cleaner could be the solution for you. In recent years, robotic vacuum cleaner technology has improved significantly.
These days, there are several options with tangle-free suction suitable for homes with pets. However, the technology is still developing, and a robot vacuum for pet hair can be a bit costly.
Want to know the best vacuum for dog hair? Kitty has some ideas!
What is your budget?
If you are on a budget, you may be hesitant to spend hundreds of dollars on the best-rated vacuum for pet hair. Don’t despair. Owning a vacuum good for pet hair is more affordable than you might think. Actually, the best vacuum for pets is the one that keeps your home clean and free of dust, fluff and dander. We’ve found several that do the job. Our guide has a good selection of vacuums to suit most budgets.
What about a warranty?
For peace of mind, stick to recognized brands that come with a warranty. Some examples are Hoover, Dyson, Dirt Devil vacuum and Shark vacuum for pets.
Best pet vacuum types
When choosing a vacuum cleaner, especially if your aim is to get the best vacuum for hair, the first thing to decide is whether you want one with a bag or without.
Are bagged vacuums better than bagless?
Bagged vacuum cleaners are traditional vacuum cleaners with a replaceable bag that traps dirt. Air flows through the bag while the vacuum is in use and bags need to be replaced when they are full. This type of vacuum is the best vacuum cleaner for dog hair if you want to avoid the mess of emptying a chamber.
Replacing the bag is simple and usually inexpensive, but it’s a good idea to check the price of bags of the model you’re interested in. Bagless vacuum cleaners use filters to trap dirt in a chamber that can be emptied. One benefit of a bagless vacuum cleaner is you’ll be able to see when the chamber is full and you’re not likely to forget to empty it.
Should you buy a cordless vacuum cleaner?
There are plenty of top-rated vacuums for pet hair that come with or without cords. The main reason to choose a cordless vacuum cleaner is they are light, easy to use and you can use it anywhere without tripping over cords or needing to be close to a socket. If you’re keen on a cordless vacuum cleaner, choices include stick, robot and handheld devices as well as a few good upright models. If you’re happy to get one with a cord, there’s an even bigger range of upright or canister models, some with bags and others without. Many top-rated pet vacuum cleaners are of the upright variety.
Here are the pros and cons of the different kinds of vacuum cleaners for your home.
Upright
Upright vacuum cleaners are perfect for larger homes and usually have powerful suction to pick-up on both carpets and hard floors. Most have large capacities to hold dust and long cords. Some come with attachments like hoses and tools. In our pet vacuum reviews below we focus on those designed with a vacuum brush for dogs.
Pros
- Large range of choices and designs
- Models to suit most budgets
- Rotating brush to suck up dust and pet hair
- Good for cleaning thick carpets and rugs
- Good for bad backs as you won’t have to bend
- Easy to store standing up and packs away neatly
- No assembly required
Cons
- Can be a bit noisy
- Heavy (up to 20 pounds) and bulky to drag around the house
- Difficult to carry up and downstairs
- Not effective for cleaning corners unless equipped with a small hose
Canister
Canister vacuum cleaners are a cross between upright vacuum cleaners and stick models. This type of cleaner is portable and easy to move around the house. They have stretch hoses and attachments that suck up dirt right up against edges and under furniture. Some canister vacuums come with a specially designed dog hair vacuum brush
Pros
- Powerful motors, good suction, and flow rate
- Smaller, lighter and easy to carry
- Maneuverable and good for cleaning stairs
- Can reach behind furniture and tight spaces with the wand
- Good vacuum for hair as there are a variety of tool choices such as crevice nozzles, upholstery brushes and mechanized brushes for carpets and rugs.
Cons
- Requires assembly
- Messy to store and may need to be disassembled to fit in a small closet.
- Dragging the canister around the house means there’s a chance it can get wedged under furniture or scratch wooden floors
- Requires bending to use the canister vacuum cleaner so may not be good for people with bad backs
Stick
Although stick vacuum cleaners are not as powerful as uprights or canisters, they are handy to use in narrow spaces. This type of vacuum has a long stick-like handle and is usually lightweight and extremely portable. As pets tend to shed hair all the time, stick vacuums can be the best vacuum cleaner for pets if you live in a small house or apartment.
Pros
- Light and easy to move around
- Easy to store
- Great for hardwood floors and stairs
- Excellent for cleaning up small messes quickly and regularly
- Usually cordless
- Lightweight and bagless
- No bending down to clean
Cons
- Weaker motors
- Not the best pet hair vacuum cleaner if you have lots of carpet
- Less filtration due to limited space
- Battery-powered stick vacuums have limited operating time
- Sacrifices helpful features, such as hoses, attachment tools, and bags for lighter weight
Robot
Set and forget: robot vacuums for pet hair are becoming more popular
Robot vacuum cleaners have gained a lot of popularity in recent years, mainly because they require little effort on your end. These vacuums can roam freely around your home, sucking up loose dirt, dust and (of course) pet hair lying in its path.
They save you time and can reach places that larger vacuums can’t, such as under the couch. If you’re a fan of technology, choosing the best robot vacuum for dog hair or cat hair can be fun. The range keeps growing, and new features are introduced every few months. In a few years, the best vacuums for pet hair are likely to be a robot vacuum.
Pros
- Hands-free and no manual labor required
- Perfect for people who are busy
Cons
- Programming the software can be frustrating and time-consuming
- Not as thorough and may miss crucial spots that need cleaning the most
- Potential to get trapped in one room
Handheld
Handheld vacuums are perfect for getting those hard-to-reach areas that are difficult to clean, such as cars, and to clean up unexpected messes swiftly. Buying a handheld vacuum for pet hair is affordable and an easy way to clean up unexpected messes your pet might make.
Pros
- Extremely lightweight and easy to handle
- Works well on low-pile carpets, bare floors, and quick pickups
- Best vacuum for pet owners needing to clean in hard-to-reach places
- Easy to store
Cons
- Weak motors
- Small and can only pick up less capacity than other vacuum styles
- Cordless handheld vacuums have a limited battery life
- Corded handheld vacuums usually have short cords and limited reach
PetVacuumButler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Best pet hair vacuum reviews
Best bagless vacuum for pet hair
Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet (NV752)
At a glance, the shark looks like a standard upright, but this vacuum is an upright with some unique features.
The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away design gives you the benefits of all the different kinds of vacuums in one neat package.
The vacuum transforms into a canister by removing the canister from the stick and hose. So, the Shark combines the benefits of upright, canister and stick in one machine. It’s certainly the most versatile and up there with best Shark vacuum for pets on the market.
Controls for the adjustable brush for the bare floor setting are conveniently located on the handle. This feature along with the LED light that shines at floor level makes it the best vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floors.
On hardwood floors, the light shows up the pet fur you probably didn’t realize was there. The Shark also has a motorized brush attachment tool and an anti-allergen design to keep most of the dust inside the vacuum.
For the price, this Shark animal vacuum packs in a lot of features and comes with a seven-year warranty.
Pros:
- Powered Lift-Away design is great for reaching under furniture
- The design combines the benefits of three types of vacuums in one
- Special attachment for hard floors with a washable microfiber pad
- Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology + HEPA / Washable Filters
- TruePet Mini-Motorized Brush attachment for cleaning pet fur in hard to reach places
Best upright vacuum for pet hair
Hoover Vacuum Cleaner T-Series WindTunnel Pet Rewind Bagless Corded Upright Vacuum UH70210
Who says a vacuum cleaner for pet hair needs to be expensive? It’s amazing how much value Hoover has packed in this model. This value-for-money Hoover is a firm consumer favorite.
If you’re after a vacuum for dog hair, the Hoover is a popular choice as it comes with tools designed to remove pet hair from floors, stairs, and furniture. The Pet Upholstery Tool is a nifty attachment that will suck up stubborn strands of pet hair off your couch. One of the things that makes it the best vacuum pet hair are the attachments like Path Light an Air Powered Pet Hand Tool which easily removes pet hair from floors.
It has good suction that enables it to pick up anything from dust particles, crumbs to small sticks brought in by the dog. Removing pet hair is a breeze with the aid of pet hair attachment.
The main cleaner body is disassembled for regular cleaning and regular cleaning of the filters is quick and easy.
Depending on how often the cleaner is used, a complete clean of both the vacuum cleaner and filters with soap and water should be done around every three to four months.
The cleaner is well built and robust, so it will stand a bit of rough use like bumping into corners and furniture legs. The cleaner has a 25ft power cord and power cord retractor. All that is required to rewind the cord is a gentle press of the retractor pedal.
The cleaner is bagless, fitted with a folding handle for ease of storage and a 5-position carpet height adjustment handle which, as well as carpets, can be used on all floor surfaces.
Pros:
- Light (under 18 pounds)
- Adjustable for carpets with a five-position carpet height adjustment feature
- Easy to store with folding handle
- Foot cord rewind
- Strong suction
- Lots of pet tools and other accessories like a 12-inch extension wand and crevice tool
Cons:
- No attachment to vacuum delicate items
- Short hose
Best canister vacuum for pet hair
Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Cleaner
Well-known and respected throughout the world, Miele produces high-quality white goods, home products and a range of top-end vacuum cleaners.
The Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Cleaner is a technologically advanced vacuum cleaner designed to capture pet hair from a range of surfaces, including floors, walls, and furniture.
If you’re thinking of a canister vacuum, the Miele is the best vacuum for pet hair. The vacuum is well engineered and has innovative and practical features including an AirClean filtration system which uses activated charcoal to remove pet odor from the air as well as allergens.
It has high suction power but is quiet and is very easy to steer under, around and over all surfaces. Reaching under furniture is easy as you can lower the body of the vacuum to floor level, making it easy to get under furniture.
The downside is the Miele is expensive but an excellent machine.
Pros
- Technologically advanced design
- Robust construction
- Lots of suction power
- Very quiet
- Swivel neck feature for ease of steering
- Can lower the body of the vacuum to the floor
- A handheld turbo brush provided
- Dirt collection in self-sealing bags is a hygienic solution
Cons
- Expensive compared to others
- Quite heavy
- Need to buy bags as dirt collection is in self-sealing bags
Best handheld vacuum for pet hair
Black+Decker BDH2000PL MAX Lithium Pivot Vacuum, 20-volt
If you shopping for the best handheld pet vacuum is high on your list, take a look at this compact handheld with an 18-volt high-performance motor. The Black+Decker BDH2000PL MAX Lithium Pivot Vacuum is a cordless that comes with a brush and handy extendable crevice tool.
We like its foldable design, which makes it easy to store and there are no loose accessories that can be misplaced. Looking for the best dog hair vacuum to use in your car? This one is easy to handle, and the pivoting nozzle makes it easy to pick up those loose strands of dog hair.
Pros
- Lithium Technology for strong suction
- Pivoting nozzle makes it easy to use
- High-performance motor provides strong suction
- Great for sucking up loose strands of hair in small spaces like cars
Cons
- Filter is a little difficult to access as you need to remove the chute and canister first
- Battery life could be improved
Best stick vacuum for pet hair
Dyson V6 Animal Cord-free Vacuum
The Dyson V6 Animal Cord-free Vacuum is one of a series of Dyson V6 specialist vacuums. The family consists of the base V6 Handstick, the V6 Motorhead Handstick for carpets, the V6 Fluffy Handstick for hard floors, the V6 Absolute. The best Dyson vacuum for pets, the V6 Animal, is specially designed for pet hair as well as hard and soft floors.
The V6 Animal model comes with a large motorized attachment that works well on carpet and hardwood floors. It has a small motorized attachment for furniture, a neat crevice tool and keyboard brush.
It’s extremely light and easy to use. It’s the best vacuum for animal hair for pet owners who like whipping out the vacuum cleaner regularly to suck up stray pet hair and grit.
Pros
- Class-leading suction power
- Outstanding on hard floors
- Handheld and upright versatility
- Easy to use clips, bin and tools
- Handy wall dock charger
- Great on pet hair
- Easy on stairs
Cons
- Single battery
- Small bin
- Short battery life
Best robot vacuum for pet hair
Neato Botvac D80 Robot Vacuum for Pets and Allergies
Robot vacuums have come a long way since they first came on the market. In the 21st century, robotics are creeping into many aspects of our daily lives. So, it’s not surprising that robotics have now reached our homes.
The Neato robot vacuum cleaner is our pick as best robot vacuum for dog hair, cat hair or even long human hair as it has a uniquely designed brush to pick up pet hair.
It works really well on wood and tile floors and Neato’s patented laser-guided technology scans and maps each room. Its ability to automatically navigate from room to room is a significant advanced feature and design compared to some other earlier models.
The Neato has some great time-saving features, such as a program to schedule daily cleanings or you can push a button for instant multi-room or spot cleaning. The unit senses when the battery is running low and automatically returns to base to charge. When fully loaded, it has the intelligence to find its way back to the spot it left off.
Pros
- Scans and maps the room to determine its cleaning pattern and cleans without bumping into obstacles.
- D-shaped design picks up pet hair in corners and close to walls
- Three kinds of brushes – combo brush, spiral blade brush and side brush.
- Returns to base and charges itself when it needs more power then automatically returns to finish the job
- 90 minutes of battery life
Cons
- More expensive than other kinds of vacuums
- Needs programming although that is a requirement of most smart electronic devices
- Potential to get trapped in one room
- No remote control, however, the device is designed to set and forget
Best vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floors
BISSELL PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Corded Vacuum, 81L2A
In our hunt for the best vacuum for hardwood floors and pet hair, this light-weight vacuum cleaner came up trumps. Specially designed for hard floors, the Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Corded Vacuum is easy to maneuver and great for cleaning along edges. and tight spaces without using a hose or edging attachments.
The V-shaped swivel head is designed to pull hair from corners and around furniture. What makes it a great pet hair vacuum cleaner is it’s easy to clean and doesn’t have bristles that can create a tangle when cleaning hair off floors.
Pros
- Picks up pet hair on hardwood floors
- Easy to empty cup to see what has been vacuumed up, like pet hair and fur.
- Good for edges and corners without using a hose attachment
- Good cord length
- Powerful motor
- Easy to clean
Cons
- It’s a little noisy
- Doesn’t work as well on thick carpet
Best vacuum for pet hair on carpet
Hoover FH50150 Carpet Basics Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner
This Hoover is the best pet vacuum cleaner for homes with carpet as it comes with some serious carpet cleaning features. Hoover’s SpinScrub technology enables it to loosen dirt lodged in carpets and upholstery. The Dual Tank System allows you to first wash your carpets with soap and water then rinse the soap residue off your carpets with water with the flip of a switch.
It’s like having a portable carpet cleaning system at home, with an automatic detergent mixer that can measure the right mix of detergent and water to give your carpets a thorough clean.
It’s light (19 pounds) and easy to carry and has lots of attachments for quick clean ups of pet hair, like the SpinScrub Powered Hand Tool, Stair Tool, Upholstery Tool and Crevice Tool.
Pros
- Deep cleans carpet and upholstery with soap and water
- Ideal for use in high traffic areas
- Easy to fill, empty and clean
- Various tools and attachments for cleaning pet hair
Cons
- Uses a lot of detergent
Best small vacuum for pet hair
Dyson DC39 Bagless Animal canister vacuum cleaner
If you’re looking for a vacuum that is light but has more features that a stick vacuum, the DC39 performs fantastically for the removal of pet hair from all floor surfaces and those hard to get places such as under beds, cupboards, and stairs. It’s another one contender for best vacuum for wood floors and pet hair.
It’s stable, quiet, light and easy to maneuver around floor areas and furniture.
The ability to turn the brush head on and off when vacuuming is a great feature, especially when vacuuming floor rugs. It’s the best dog vacuum cleaner and a good vacuum for pets. Most of the pet hair capturing is done by the turbine head and Mini Turbine Tool which it does with ease.
Attachments include a combination accessory tool, crevice tool, and stair tool. These attachments are easily stored in a tool holster mounted on the suction extension tube.
The extension tube can be easily adjusted to different heights and the turbine head has a Dyson ball-type joint enabling the suction pipe and head to lie extremely flat and rotate in all directions making it very easy to vacuum under furniture and cabinets.
When vacuuming it feels like you are taking the dog for a walk as the unit glides smoothly along behind you. It’s a compact vacuum cleaner for dog hair. It is light weight and has the best suction of any comparable vacuum cleaner and does not lose suction.
The recommendation of it being the vacuum cleaner to buy for hardwood floors and capturing pet hair is very much justified.
Being bagless it is easy to empty and store due to its smaller size and low profile.
The retractable power cord is 21ft long with retraction a simple function which works reliably every time.
The hose length provides a cleaning radius of 33ft. Cleaning of the vacuum and filters is easy and can be done by washing recommended components and filters with suitable soap and water.
Unfortunately, nothing is perfect. It appears the DC39 is a poor performer when it comes to vacuuming wall to wall carpets. The problem lies with the roller brush head, which is smaller and narrower than most. Although the DC39 has excellent suction and doesn’t jam or clog, it fails to extract deeper dirt particles and hair from carpet compared to other models in particular uprights. The message given if you are looking for a vacuum cleaner to clean larger areas of carpet, the DC39 is not the one for you and consideration should be given to purchasing an upright.
Pros
- Light and easy to use
- Long retractable cord
- Lots of attachments
- Brush head turns on and off
- Excellent suction
Cons
- Not great for carpet
