7 Best vacuum cleaners for pet hair

Shark Rotator TruePet NV752 is the best vacuum for pet hair in 2021. Below you can find several other interesting models.

BEST CHOICE

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SHARK ROTATOR TRUEPET NV752
  • Fingertip controls
  • Detachable canister
  • TruePet motorized brush and pet-multi tool
  • Hard floor hero
  • Anti-allergen complete seal technology
  • HEPA filter

Dogs and cats are wonderful and unselfish creatures that make our lives happier. They are part of our family; standing with us through every challenge and success. As pet owners, we are willing to make compromises and let go of many things, except one – a clean home. Whether you have a dog or a cat, you know how difficult is to remove their hair from carpets and furniture. But, that’s where the pet hair vacuum comes in. It will help you get rid of pet hair on a regular basis and hence keep your home clean so that everyone can enjoy the cozy and friendly atmosphere of your home. With a good vac, you will certainly notice the difference in cleaning your entire home. In this article, we want to provide you with information that can help you make an informed decision and choose the best vacuum for pet hair. Stick with us for more.

What to keep in mind when looking for the vacuum for pet hair

Take a look at our short buyer’s guide if you’d like to learn what makes a good vacuum cleaner.

Types of vacuums

Buying the best pet hair vacuum requires the careful examination of features that the unit must have as well as of those that you are willing to sacrifice. That said, the first thing you would like to do is consider different types of vacuums. Some of the options are an upright vacuum, a handheld unit, a stick vacuum, a canister vacuum, an all-around unit, etc.

While upright vacuums are great for a thorough cleaning, they are heavier than other models. On the other hand, stick vacuums are lightweight and slim, making them easy to maneuver around furniture. However, they cannot provide such deep and powerful cleaning as canister and all-around vacuums. So, you would definitely want to research these types and see which one would be great for your needs and budget.

Suction power

When buying a vacuum cleaner, look for the one with higher suction power as it will provide a deeper clean of the carpets and will also be able to pull in more dirt and pet hair.

Weight

Another feature to think about is how heavy or lightweight the vacuum is. Of course, this has much to do with the type of vacuum you opt for. However, make sure to buy the one that you won’t struggle to move around or control.

Corded or cordless

This is just another factor to take into account. If you’d like to buy a corded model, check how long the cord is and if there’s an automatic cord rewind.

Cordless models are easier to move but the battery may not last long for the whole cleaning session. So, if you do want a cordless vacuum, check for how long the battery will last.

LED lights

LED lights are a great addition to a pet hair vacuum cleaner as they offer better visibility, allowing you to vacuum pet hair under the furniture and in other low-light places.

Attachments

If you’d like to vacuum and clean more than just your floors, look for a model that comes with all kinds of attachments, such as upholstery tool, hardwood floor attachment, etc. This way, you can easily switch attachments and clean furniture, curtains, and much more, while saving time.

Budget

While you may be dreaming of buying the best pet vacuum that’s on the higher end of the scale, perhaps reality is slightly different and you cannot afford it right now. Determining how much money you can spend on a vacuum cleaner is a step that you should not skip; as it will help you narrow down your choices and speed up the selection process. Besides, even if you buy a cheaper or mid-priced vacuum, you can always upgrade later if your budget allows.

Best vacuums for pet hair in 2021

Take a look at our pet hair vacuum overview to get a better understanding of what each model offers. Then, read on to discover more details about each model.

PreviewProduct nameCleaning path widthWeightCorded or cordlessHEPA filtersWarrantyMore information
Shark Rotator TruePet NV752 – Best upright vacuum for pet hairShark Rotator TruePet NV7529.5 in.15.4 lbs.Corded (30ft)Yes7-year limited warranty
Bissell 1650A Pet Hair Eraser - Best vacuum for pet hairBissell 1650A Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum12 in.18 lbs.Corded (30ft)NoLimited 5-year warranty
Dyson V8 Animal – Best cordless vacuum for pet hairDyson V8 Animal-----5.64 lbs.CordlessYes2-year
Shark Rocket TruePet Ultra-Light HV322 – Best vacuum for pet hair for quick cleanupsShark Rocket TruePet Ultra-Light HV32210 in.8.6 lbs.Corded ( 32ft)No5-year limited warranty
BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser - Best handheld vacuum for pet hairBISSELL 1782 Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Vacuum4.5 in.3 lbs.CordlessNo1 year
Miele Compact C2 - Best canister vacuum for pet hairMiele Compact C2 Electro+13 in.18.7 lbs.Corded (20 ft)Yes1 year limited warranty on parts; 7 years warranty on motor
Kenmore 81614 – Best vacuum for dog hairKenmore 8161414 in.22.6 lbs.Corded (28 ft)Yes1 year

Shark Rotator TruePet NV752 – Best upright vacuum for pet hair

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SHARK ROTATOR TRUEPET NV752

KEY FEATURES

  • Fingertip controls
  • Detachable canister
  • TruePet motorized brush and pet-multi tool
  • Hard floor hero
  • Anti-allergen complete seal technology
  • HEPA filter

The Shark Rotator is a vacuum that cleans great and also comes at a great price. Thanks to all great features of the Shark Rotator, this model is also known as the best Shark vacuum for pet hair.

Since this model comes with a variety of attachments, its versatility outperforms so many vacuums out there. You can vacuum furniture, pick up dust from shelves and cabinets, and use TruePet Motorized Brush and Pet-Multi Tool to vacuum pet hair from all kinds of surfaces. What’s more, the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and a HEPA filter ensure that 99.9% of dust and allergens stay trapped in the vacuum.

This upright vacuum will help you eliminate pet hair, dust, debris and allergens from both the carpets and bare floors thanks to the fingertip controls. The controls are placed on the handle for easy reach and effortless switch between these two types of surfaces.

Swivel steering and the option to remove the canister from the handle is something we find impressive about the Shark Rotator. The advanced steering technology helps you maneuver around furniture without having to move the furniture pieces. You can even vacuum under the coffee table or sofa with ease. Simply detach the canister from the handle and you have a brush that will hunt down dust and pet hair in these hard-to-reach areas. Oh, and LED lights will light up the dark spots to help you see all of the dirt.

On the downside, the Shark Rotator is a bit heavy and some people find it hard to maneuver because of that.

What we like:

  • Highly versatile
  • Great at picking up pet hair from all types of surfaces
  • Provides deep and thorough cleaning on carpets
  • LED Lights for vacuuming dark areas
  • Swivel steering for easy navigation around furniture and obstacles
  • Reasonably priced

What we didn’t like:

  • Bit heavy

Bissell 1650A Pet Hair Eraser – Best vacuum for long hair

BISSELL 1650A PET HAIR ERASER

KEY FEATURES

  • Swivel Steering
  • SmartSeal Allergen System
  • Pet Tools
  • Febreze Pet Odor Eliminator
  • SuctionChannel Technology

Vacuuming long pet hair is a time-consuming job because most vacuums cannot handle long hair efficiently. As a consequence, you have to cut hair with scissors in order to free the brush and move on with vacuuming. Well, Bissell wanted to help pet owners solve this problem, so they created the best vacuum for long hair – the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser. This model uses special tangle-free brush roll so the long pet hair is pulled in effortlessly. In addition, the SuctionChannel technology offers a wide cleaning path that helps you remove the maximum amount of pet hair, dust, and debris in every go. This model comes with attachments so you can clean every part of your home, including tight places and corners.

SmartSeal Allergen System doesn’t send the allergens and dust back in the air, while Febreze pet odor eliminator gives a home fresh scent.

This model is so easy to empty. You won’t have to touch the dirt and all that hair when emptying the canister. Thanks to the internal hair-management system the hair is coupled together for a hands-free emptying.

While the Pet Hair Eraser works well when vacuuming carpets and hardwood floors but it cannot pick up all pet hair and dirt on tile flooring.

What we like:

  • Great for picking up long pet hair
  • Traps allergens and dust
  • Works well on carpets and hardwood flooring
  • Easy to empty
  • Powerful

What we didn’t like:

  • Not for tile flooring

Dyson V8 Animal – Best cordless vacuum for pet hair

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DYSON V8 ANIMAL

KEY FEATURES

  • Cord-free
  • HEPA filtration
  • Max power mode
  • Hygienic dirt ejector

The Dyson pet vacuum is a cordless model that makes easy work of vacuuming stubborn pet hair and dirt from carpets, hardwood floor, tile flooring, furniture, and even in hard-to-reach areas. The cord-free design lets you have complete freedom of movement when vacuuming.

The Dyson V8 Animal has high suction power, comes with different attachments for a thorough cleaning, and with a max power mode for stubborn messes. You’ll notice that your floors and furniture look cleaner, and that pet hair is gone.

This is a stick vacuum so it’s significantly lighter than full-sized vacuums. This makes it much easier to control, even when you use it to clean up high. In addition, the vacuum easily transforms into a handheld so you can also use it to vacuum pet hair in your car.

This model also has HEPA filtration, which is just one more feature that makes it the best stick vacuum for pet hair. Another great feature is the dirt ejector. From now on, you can empty the dirt bin without the mess, and you don’t even have to touch the dirt.

Despite being the best cordless vacuum for pet hair, the Dyson Animal has short battery life. It usually lasts about 30 minutes, if the Max power mode isn’t on. Also, there is one thing that most people don’t like about this model – the power button. You have to hold it all the time for a vacuum to work – there’s no on/off button. Clearly, your finger will start to hurt quickly.

What we like:

  • Cleans stubborn messes, dirt, and pet hair
  • Dirt ejector is easy to empty
  • You can use it to vacuum your car as well
  • HEPA filter
  • Cordless design for ease of use

What we didn’t like:

  • Short run time
  • You have to hold the power button all the time when vacuuming

Shark Rocket TruePet Ultra-Light HV322 – Best vacuum for pet hair for quick cleanups

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SHARK ROCKET HV322

KEY FEATURES

  • LED lights
  • Pet multi-tool
  • Hard Floor Hero

This Shark pet vacuum can be a great addition to your vacuum cleaners team. Instead of using a full-sized vacuum, you can use this one for quick cleaning sessions. Moreover, this model comes with the Pet Multi-Tool so you can clean embedded pet hair from furniture while the Hard Floor Hero attachment helps you pick up dust, debris, and pet hair from hard floors. Advanced swivel steering adds up to the convenience of this model.

The Shark Rocket is a versatile unit as it converts into a handheld vac. You can clean the stairs and your car much quicker and easier. LED lights will light up your way, so you can catch all the dirt and pet hair.

On the downsides, this model doesn’t have a HEPA filtration system, and it’s a bit heavier than other stick vacuums.  It weighs less than 9 pounds, but most of the weight is on top of the handle so you might find it a bit heavy to use if your arms aren’t strong.

What we like:

  • Easy to maneuver around the dining table, chairs, and sofa
  • Versatile
  • Comes with attachments for pet hair
  • Ideal for carpets and hard floors

What we didn’t like:

  • Doesn’t have HEPA filtration
  • A bit heavy
  • Not for people with weaker hands

BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser – Best handheld vacuum for pet hair

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BISSELL PET HAIR ERASER

KEY FEATURES

  • Telescoping extension wand
  • Crevice tool
  • Upholstery tool
  • Motorized brush
  • Dual-action filtration system

Here we have another Bissell pet hair vacuum, only this one is a handheld model. This vacuum is a great little helper and will make removing pet hair from your car and home quick and easy.

Keep it within easy reach and use it whenever your pet spills food or make a mess.

This Bissell model is designed with convenience in mind. A compact and cordless design makes it very easy to maneuver and carry from place to place. It’s equipped with a motorized brush to pull in stubborn pet hair. There’s also a crevice tool so you can clean up between the seats in your car or tight spaces whereas the upholstery tool cleans soft surfaces. The dual-action filtration system makes capturing dirt and pet hair easier, while also extending the life of a filter. The vacuum doesn’t have HEPA filtration.

This is a handheld model, so it can run for up to 30 minutes until it needs to recharge. Charging takes about 4-5 hours.

What we like:

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Ideal for cleaning car and furniture
  • Easy to use
  • Good suction power

What we didn’t like:

  • Long charging time
  • Short run time

Miele Compact C2 Electro+ – Best canister vacuum for pet hair

MIELE COMPACT C2 ELECTRO+

KEY FEATURES

  • SEB228 Powered Floor Brush
  • Parquet Floor Brush
  • 6-stage speed dial
  • HEPA filtration
  • Automatic Cord rewind

The Miele C2 Compact Electro + is arguably the best canister vacuum for pet hair in this price range. What sets this model apart is the SEB228 Powered Floor Brush – specifically designed for soft and plush carpets, as well for low to high pile carpets. The brush penetrates deeply into the carpets, giving them a thorough clean. Moreover, this vacuum comes with the Parquet Floor Brush and does great on hard floors as it. This brush will clean laminate, parquet and other smooth floor surfaces without scratching them. 6-stage speed dial lets you adjust the suction power depending on the surface you’re vacuuming.

The next thing that makes this unit worthwhile is a special filtration system comprised of an Air Clean Filter Bag and HEPA filter that keeps allergens, dust, and dander in the bag. Thanks to this, the vac is perfect for folks with allergies. A “bag full indicator” is just another handy feature that the Miele C2 has to show off.

This model is German engineered which means it’s durable and will last for years. No doubt that investing in the Miele Electro+ will prove a wise decision; especially when you factor in a 7-Year Motor Warranty and a 1-year parts warranty.

Even though this vac is “compact” it’s actually cumbersome and does take space. In addition, it’s not so easy to maneuver because the hose is stiff.

What we like:

  • Suitable for both hard floors and carpets
  • 6-stage speed dial
  • Bag full indicator
  • Made to last

What we didn’t like:

  • Cumbersome
  • The stiff hose is difficult to control

Kenmore 81614

KENMORE 81614

KEY FEATURES

  • 2-Motor system
  • HEPA filtration
  • Motorized pet hair brush
  • Telescoping Wand
  • Automatic Cord rewind

The Kenmore Bagged Canister has incredible high suction power so we consider it the best vacuum for dog hair. The Dual motor system is designed to pull in stubborn dirt and pet hair whereas a variety of attachments, including the Pet Power Mate motorized brush will help you clean the floors, furniture, ceiling, and curtains. So, if you’re looking a versatile vac that will lift up stubborn pet hair and also eliminate dust, debris, and dirt from your entire home, this one could be just what you need. This model is reasonably priced and its versatility makes it a good value for the money.

The attachments are stored on board so you have quick and easy access to any tool you might need. In addition, all the attachments are kept in one place, so you don’t lose them around the house.

The HEPA filtration ensures that pollen, dust, and dander are trapped and the air that is sent back into the room is much cleaner.

Compared to similar models, the Kenmore is quiet and that is definitely a plus. It’s also easy to maneuver and store because of its compact design. The automatic cord rewind will quickly store the cord.

High suction power makes this vac a great choice for low-pile carpets, linoleum, laminate, and tile flooring. However, vacuuming plush and high-pile carpets would be too exhausting due to that same high suction power. If you have this kind of carpets, we suggest you look up for another model.

What we like:

  • High suction power
  • Quiet operation
  • Great for vacuuming dog hair, dust, and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets
  • Comes with attachments for above floor cleaning
  • Cord rewind and compact design for easy storage
  • Great-value-for-the-money vacuum

What we didn’t like:

  • Not for plush and high-pile carpets

Final thoughts

Well, now that we’ve reviewed seven great vacuums for pet hair, it’s time to reflect back on our list and tell you which model is our favorite. That said, our top pick is the Shark Rotator. The reason why we consider it the best vacuum for pet hair is that it comes with all the features that make cleaning pet hair easier – swivel steering, LED lights, HEPA filter, and versatility. On top of all, it comes at a good price.

However, we understand that not every homeowner would like to buy this model. Perhaps, you are more interested in buying a handheld unit or a vacuum for quick cleanups. Whatever the case may be, take time to find the best vacuum for pet hair that will match your needs and means. Good luck!

5/5 - (6 votes)

Last update on 2024-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Jim Powell

Jim is our staff editor and writer. He has a degree in engineering. His hobbies are radio engineering and new technologies about which he has been writing for more than 7 years.

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