The best vacuum for pet hair 2024: keep fur and dander under control
Top pet vacuums for keeping your home fresh and fur-free
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The best vacuum for pet hair is an essential tool for keeping your floors and furniture clean if you share you share your home with furry friends. Whether its dog hair or cat fur, pet hair can quickly mount up and prove to be a struggle for some of thebest vacuum cleaners, so it pays to invest in a machine that’s designed to take pet hair in its stride.
To help you out, we’ve put our experts to work, to uncover the best vacuum for pet hair available today. They’ve got years of experience reviewing, testing and using a huge of vacuums. And they’ve drawn on this knowledge and expertise to draw up our list below, based on factors including suction strength, filtration systems and pet-specific features.
From thebest cordless vacuumto no-nonsense, corded models, budget-friendly vacs to premium powerhouses, these vacuums are designed to efficiently suck up pet hair, dander and allergens, ensuring a cleaner, fresher living space for both you and your pets. There’s one robo option here, but if that’s your preference, we have a separate guide dedicated to thebest robot vacuums for pet hair.
All clear? Read on to discover the best vacuum for pet hair that can help you tackle your furry friends' shedding and make pet hair cleanup a breeze.
The quick list
Top option
Best overall
The Shark Stratos Cordless is an excellent choice for pet owners. It boasts plenty of suction that it’ll adjust as needed, it’s great at hair removal, and its can clean anywhere thanks to its flexible wand.
Read more below
Big bag
Best capacity
Great suction and a huge bag means this vac can collect more pet hair than you ever know you had, and it comes with a specialized bristle head for de-furring furniture, dog beds and car interiors.
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High-end
Best premium
If money’s no object this Dyson’s a winner for dealing with pet hair. It delivers loads of suction and can tackle hair without getting clogged up, and whole-machine HEPA filtration makes it allergy-friendly.
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Classic vac
Best upright
This powerful corded upright features Shark’s anti-hair wrap technology, and its DuoClean floorhead is brilliant at picking up pet hair. It also features anti-odor tech to keep things smelling sweet.
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Dust-free
Best for allergies
The Henry Quick looks great and packs plenty of power, and its 65% recycled dust pods make the business of emptying it a whole lot less unpleasant; you can even add scent boosters.(Note: not available in the US).
Read more below
Robot vac
Best robot
Hair isn’t the worst thing you might have to deal with if you have pets, and while this Roomba won’t scoop poop it’ll at least spot it and avoid spreading it everywhere. It’ll mop as well as vacuuming, too.
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Max power
Best for suction
With a 730w motor and 290AW of suction, the Dyson Ball Animal will pick up dirt you never knew was there. It’s heavy and quite cumbersome, but it’s an absolute whizz when it comes to pet hair.
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The best vacuum for pet hair in 2024: picked by experts
Why you can trust TechRadarWe spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best.Find out more about how we test.
Best vacuum for pet hair overall
1. Shark Stratos Cordless
Our expert review:
If you’re in a hurry and need to know about the absolute best vacuum for pet hair, we think it’s theSharkStratos Cordless. Our reviewer was particularly taken by its impressive amount of suction power for a relatively lightweight cordless, and that’s combined with Shark’s Clean Sense IQ technology, which means it’ll automatically turn up the power when it detects large amount of dirt, debris or pet hair. She also had plenty of praise for its flexible rotating head that’s great for corners and working around awkward pieces of furniture.
The floorhead uses Shark’s anti-hair wrap tech, so if you have particularly furry pets that shed everywhere you won’t have to spend ages picking hair off the brushrolls every time you clean. As an added bonus, this one also features an odor neutralizer, so not only will your home look cleaner when you’ve been around with it, it’ll smell fresher too. And because pet hair doesn’t just get to places where you can see it, the Stratos Cordless has a flexible hose that can reach under furniture without you having to get down on your hands and knees; it also doubles up as a handheld for getting the fur out of furnishings.
The Shark Stratos Cordless has a decent-sized dust cup so you won’t have to constantly stop to empty it, and its battery can keep on going for up to an hour on a single charge. If you need a versatile and capable vacuum that’s a winner on pet hair, this is the one to go for.
Read our fullShark Stratos Cordless review
Best vacuum for pet hair with a bag
2. Halo Capsule X Pet Max
Our expert review:
The Halo Capsule X Pet Max is a great choice if you have a lot of fur to deal with and don’t want to spend forever emptying a dust canister. Unlike many of the latest vacs it’s not bagless, and its large two-liter dust bag capacity was a hit with our reviewer, as it can contain a substantial amount of hair and dander before needing to be emptied. The bagged system also makes emptying the vacuum a breeze, with no dust clouds to worry about: a significant advantage for those with pet allergies.
The vacuum’s HEPA filtration system helps trap fine pet dander and allergens, improving air quality in the home. With two batteries included in the Pet Max bundle, you get up to 50 minutes to tackle larger areas or multiple-pet spaces without interruption. And its lightweight design and excellent maneuverability make it easy to navigate around pet beds, toys and other obstacles.
The Halo Capsule X Pet Max comes with a dedicated small motorized bristle head specifically designed for removing pet hair from furniture, dog beds and car interiors. And in practice, our reviewer found that its powerful suction effectively collects more pet hair than you realized you had, even from deep pile carpets.
Read our fullHalo Capsule X Pet Max review
Best premium vacuum for pet hair
3. Dyson Gen5detect
Our expert review:
TheDysonGen5detect is very expensive, but in return for all that cash you’ll get a powerful Hyperdymium motor, which delivers an impressive 262 air watts of suction, effectively tackling pet hair and dander on various surfaces. It also features a Motorbar cleaner head with 56 detangling vanes, which prevents hair from wrapping around the brush roll; a common issue when dealing with pet hair. And its whole-machine HEPA filtration system is particularly beneficial for pet owners, as it can capture particles as small as 0.1 microns, trapping 99.9% of dust, allergens, and pet dander inside the vacuum. That’s particularly important for those sensitive to pet-related allergens.
Battery life of 70 minutes allows for thorough cleaning of larger homes with pets without interruption. The vacuum’s dynamic suction automatically adjusts power based on the amount of dirt detected, ensuring efficient cleaning of both light pet hair and heavier pet-related messes.
The laser on the Fluffy Optic floor head helps illuminate pet hair and dander on hard floors, even in well-lit rooms, making it easier to spot and clean up after pets. Additionally, the integrated crevice tool provides quick access for cleaning pet hair from tight spaces and furniture without needing to switch attachments. All of which makes this add up to an excellent, albeit premium-priced, option for households with pets that require thorough and frequent cleaning.
Read our fullDyson Gen5detect review
Best upright vacuum for pet hair
4. Shark Stratos Upright NZ860UKT
Our expert review:
Prefer an upright vacuum? Here’s our top choice for pet owners grappling with pet hair. Our tester found that the Shark Stratos Upright’s upgraded Anti Hair Wrap Plus technology effectively collects hair from floors without tangling around the brush rolls, eliminating the need for tedious manual cleaning. As a corded upright vacuum, it also delivered powerful suction to thoroughly clean carpets and hard floors of pet hair and dander. And the DuoClean floorhead, featuring dual motorized brush-rolls, excelled at picking up pet hair from a variety of floor types.
And there’s more. A unique feature that sets this vacuum apart is its anti-odor technology, which helps neutralize pet scents and leaves the home smelling fresh after cleaning. For those sensitive to pet dander, the anti-allergen complete seal is particularly beneficial, trapping 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum. The 1.3-liter dust cup capacity allows for cleaning large areas without frequent emptying, which is especially helpful when dealing with high volumes of pet hair.
Adding to its pet-friendly credentials, the Shark Stratos can transform into a portable unit, making it easy to clean stairs and furniture where animals often lounge. This versatility, combined with its powerful performance and pet-specific features, makes the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum particularly well-suited for tackling pet hair along with related issues like odors and allergens.
Read our fullShark Stratos NZ860UKT review
Best vacuum for pet hair for allergies
5. Numatic Henry Quick
Our expert review:
The Numatic Henry Quick is a great choice for anyone who’s in love with the cheeky features of the familiar Henry vacuum, but who doesn’t want the hassle of pulling a hefty corded cylinder vac around the house. This model is a cordless stick vacuum that still features Henry’s smiling face and bright coloring, but is a lot more lightweight and maneuverable; it’s also a strong option for keeping pet hair under control. It’s only officially available in the UK; it can be found in the US through third-party vendors, but at such an inflated price that we can’t really recommend it.
Like the Halo Capsule X Pet Max, the Henry Quick has a bagged design. Its 65% recycled pods aren’t as big as the dust bags in the Halo, but Numatic says that the Henry Quick’s powerful airflow compacts dust and debris to provide more capacity. And as with the Halo, changing the pods is a dust-free experience, making this an attractive option for anyone who’s ever had to empty a bagless vac into the bin, and making this one a brilliant option for anyone with easily-triggered allergies.
In our review we were seriously impressed by the suction that the Henry Quick’s 300W motor delivers, and relieved that we could dial the power down so that it didn’t suck up our rugs. The Henry also made quick work of dog hair during our tests, getting them out of soft furnishings and carpets with ease; there’s also the option to add a scent pod to leave your home smelling sweet after you’ve vacuumed.
Battery life ranges from 14 minutes at maximum power to 70 minutes in lower power mode with the motorized brush turned off; we found that the Henry Quick was quite capable of vacuuming a four-bedroom house on a single charge, even with a floorhead that’s noticeably smaller than you’ll find on other stick vacs. Bear in mind though that the Henry Quick is quite heavy, and if you’re vacuuming for a full charge you may well know about it in your wrists.
Read our fullNumatic Henry Quick review
Best robot vacuum for pet hair
6. iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus
Our expert review:
Want your vacuum to do all the work for you? Then you’ll want thebest robot vacuumfor pet hair, and right now, that’s the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus. We’ve picked this model due to its combination of powerful suction, intelligent features and pet-specific design elements. Its ability to pick up particles as small as 0.7 microns ensures thorough removal of pet hair and dander from both carpets and hard floors.
The vacuum’s object detection system and Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P) allow it to recognize and avoid pet messes, preventing the spread of accidents throughout the home. The dual rubber brush rolls are designed to prevent hair tangling, a common issue with pet hair.
Additionally, the vacuum’s mopping functionality helps clean up muddy paw prints on hard floors, making it a versatile solution for pet owners. Our reviewer found that it mopped better than any other robot vacuum and mop she’d seen before, and that it left her floors shiny and free of marks.
The smart mapping and zoning features in the app allow users to designate specific areas for cleaning or avoidance, which is particularly useful for pet owners who want to keep the vacuum away from pet beds or feeding areas. The self-emptying base reduces the frequency of manual emptying, which is beneficial when dealing with large amounts of pet hair.
Overall, the combination of powerful cleaning performance, pet-specific features, and intelligent navigation make the Roomba Combo J7 Plus an ideal choice for pet owners seeking an efficient and low-maintenance solution for managing hair and related messes.
Read our fulliRobot Roomba Combo J7 plus review
Most powerful vacuum for pet hair
7. Dyson Ball Animal
Our expert review:
If absolute power is your priority when you’re shopping for the best vacuum for pet hair, the Dyson Ball Animal should be your first stop. It’s a corded upright vacuum that’s all about the power, with a 730w motor that delivers 290AW of suction. combined with a 1.7L bin that might fill up quicker than you expected as the Dyson sucks up all that deep-down fine dust in your carpets that your previous vacuum missed.
This makes it a great option for anyone with a lot of pet hair to deal with, as there’s nothing much that the Dyson Ball Animal won’t take in its stride. Its enormous floorhead easily tackles pet hair on the floor and won’t get clogged up with fur, and our reviewer also found that the Dyson’s tangle-free turbine tool made quick work of pet hair on upholstery.
All this power comes at a cost, though: the Dyson Ball Animal is rather heavy and cumbersome and if, like our reviewer, you’re used to lightweight cordless vacuums, it might come as something of a shock to your system. In its standard upright mode, its impressive suction can make it hard to maneuver on carpet, and while you can adjust the floor head’s suction, this means bending down to adjust a slider at floor level, which might not be good for your back. We also found that the pulling out the hose to vacuum furniture was awkward, as it was surprisingly stiff and difficult to stretch to its full reach.
Despite all this, the Dyson Ball Animal has a lot going for it and it’s much more reasonably priced than a lot of Dyson range, and if you regularly have a lot of pet hair do deal with, it’ll quickly prove its worth.
Read our fullDyson Ball Animal vacuum review
Best vacuum for pet hair FAQs
What is the difference between a pet hair vacuum and a regular vacuum?
While regular vacuums can clean up pet hair, they may not be as effective or efficient, especially in homes with multiple pets or heavy shedding. Vacuums that specialize in pet hair are specifically optimized to handle these challenges.
This typically means they feature specialized brushes, such as tangle-free brush rolls or rubber bristles, designed to attract and capture pet hair more efficiently. The filtration systems in pet vacuums are also usually more advanced, helping to trap dander and allergens, which is particularly beneficial for pet owners with allergies.
Pet-specific vacuums often come with specialized attachments like upholstery brushes or crevice tools tailored for removing pet hair from different surfaces. They may also have larger dust bins to accommodate the extra hair and debris collected. Some models include anti-odor features such as carbon filters or other odor-neutralizing technologies to combat pet-related smells.
What to look for in a pet hair vacuum
When searching for a pet hair vacuum, your most important priority will besuction power, which will help effectively remove embedded hair from carpets and upholstery. Beyond that, look for specializedbrush rollsdesigned to prevent hair tangling and efficiently collect pet fur. If you suffer from allergies, a high-qualityfiltration systemis also crucial to trap dander and allergens.
Consider vacuums with versatile attachments such asupholstery toolsandcrevice nozzlesto tackle hair on various surfaces. Opt for models withlarger dust binsto reduce the frequency of emptying, especially if you have multiple pets or deal with heavy shedding.
Maneuverabilityis important, so choose a vacuum that’s easy to handle and can reach under furniture, especially if that’s where your furry friends spend a lot of their day. Cordless and handheld models are strong on this kind of flexibility, but make sure they provide sufficientbattery lifefor your needs.
Noise levelis another factor to consider, especially if your pets are sensitive to loud sounds. Finally, check foradditional featureslike HEPA filters, odor control, and tangle-free technology.
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Tom May is a freelance writer and editor specialising in tech, design and sleep products. Over the years he’s tested a number of mattresses, duvets and pillows, and as a back pain sufferer, has a keen interest in finding ones that offer maximum support. Plus, in running a successful Airbnb business, sleep hygiene and providing the right bedding for guests has become a big part of his day-to-day life. He is author of Great TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books.
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