11 Best Vacuums for Pet Hair 2024, Tested and Reviewed
9/11
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair for Stairs
Black+Decker Furbuster Handheld Vacuum
Last summer, I (Amy Shojai) swapped my wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood and added oriental rugs. I also have slate floors in the kitchen and bathrooms. I have a black dog, a silver shaded tabby cat and a white kitten with tabby markings, so fuzz finds its way into every nook and cranny of my home. My pet hair vacuum does a great job on all those surfaces, but I left the off-white carpet on my stairs and it’s nearly impossible to clean—even with vacuum attachments. Fur collects on both the horizontal steps and vertical facings.
The Furbuster handheld vacuum comes in the perfect size. It’s light enough to maneuver easily, and cleans vertical, horizontal and corner surfaces where fur collects. I didn’t realize so much fur had accumulated until I tested this product. The dustbin sucks up and contains the debris, and the clear container lets you see when to empty it into your trash. I’m not a fan of how loud it is, and just as some dogs fear the noise of fireworks, the sound can cause some pets to hide.
My upright vacuum only reaches halfway up the stairs before the electrical cord or attachment hose stops it. The Furbuster’s cordless design means it goes everywhere, even in the car, to clean up fur from the upholstery (although I have a car seat cover that keeps things clean). Once charged, the Furbuster goes everywhere: on my stairs, on the furniture or the bedspread where my pets sleep beside me (yes, I’m that kind of pet parent!). Hard-to-reach areas, like under tables or deep furniture pockets, are a breeze to clean up, thanks to this best vacuum for pet hair.
Pros
- Cleans hard-to-reach places
- Only weighs 2.6 pounds
- Handheld and cordless design
- Cleans a variety of surfaces
- Includes a deep crevice tool
- Offers two speeds
Cons
- Very loud
- Must clean filter frequently or suction goes away
10/11
Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair
Shark IQ Robot Vacuum
For those who hate the chore of weekly (or more often) vacuuming to stay ahead of drifts of pet hair, let a robot vacuum do it for you. That’s what shopping writer, Marisa Hillman, did.
“With the Shark IQ robot vacuum, I don’t have to think about vacuuming for up to 45 days,” says Hillman. “That’s because once the vacuum mapped my home, I scheduled whole-home cleanings (or specific rooms when things needed to be cleaned ASAP) using the SharkClean app. It also works with voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. When the robot gets full, it takes itself back to its self-emptying base. Once it empties itself, it resumes cleaning wherever it left off.”
That sounds like magic, but after using the system daily for nearly three years, the magic continues. With four children and an always-shedding lab, Hillman says the Shark vacuum runs nearly all the time. With powerful suction and a flawless transition from hardwood to carpet, you can set it and forget it. Even if your dog digs up the flower garden and tracks in mud, the Shark has you covered. A self-cleaning brush roll prevents hair from wrapping around and stalling the cleaning.
Pros
- Offers hands-off vacuuming at your convenience
- Works with SharkClean app, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Self-cleaning feature
- Features two side brushes
- Compatible with multiple surfaces, including carpet
- Filter traps 99% of dust, dander and pet allergens down to 1 micron
Cons
11/11
Best Stationary Vacuum for Pet Hair
EyeVac Home Touchless Vacuum
With the EyeVac Home, there’s no need to lug around a vacuum—simply sweep the mess over to this touchless, stationary vacuum and it takes care of the rest. Originally designed for salon owners, the EyeVac Home is now growing in popularity among pet owners who want to stay on top of continuously shedding hair blanketing their floors.
Who better to test the EyeVac Home than pet owner and hair stylist, Leslie Glenn? Her private salon receives a lot of traffic from clients looking for a cut, as well as from her furry pup companions that work alongside her. Glenn put this stationary vacuum to the test with a variety of hair lengths and textures, and was wowed at how effortlessly it continuously tackled all the hair, fur and debris she sent it’s way (no dustpan required).
“When it activates, it nabs the pile almost instantly,” says Glenn. “I was concerned that long hair would get tangled in it the way it does in the rollers of my upright vacuum, but it sucked up all lengths of hair, and dirt and pet fur, without issue.”
When the canister bin is full (don’t worry, the indicator light will tell you), simply empty it out and put it back in (no bags required). “This thing holds a lot!” raves Glenn. “I was expecting to have to empty it every week, but it ended up being every couple of weeks. That’s a huge pro for a stationary vacuum, which will likely sit in a place where there’s constant mess to suck up.”
Pros
- Automatically senses movement to suck up debris
- Compact, sleek design
- Bagless canister with 1-liter capacity
- Fast 1,000-watt motor
- Equipped with two filters
- Only weighs 7.6 pounds
Cons
- For use on hard floors only
- Some reviewers noted that the noise scared their pets
What to Look for When Buying the Best Vacuum for Pet Hair
Dog and cat fur come in many lengths and shed in different ways: in clumps all at once in the spring and fall, or single hairs all the time. All pets shed, although some dog breeds shed less than others. Fur clings to many surface types, so the best vacuum for pet hair should work well for the type of pet hair challenge and decor that you have.
Two top concerns for pet owners are suction power and filtration. Different surfaces require various levels of suction to perform well—hard surfaces need less while carpets and some upholstery require more suction power. Filter systems catch fine hairs and dust. Some high-level vacuum filters claim to address pet dander, however, once in the environment, cat dander (dried skin secretions, saliva and urine) mostly floats around in the environment for years—even long after pets have left the premises. But keeping the vacuum filter clean ensures the shed hair and other debris get properly eliminated.
You may need to invest in new filters to keep your appliance working well. Similarly, vacuum mops that use liquids to clean require an ongoing investment to replace these, and sometimes may be specific to the make and model of the vacuum mop.
For detail work, look for vacuums with specialized attachments for specific cleaning. Brush bars help “comb” and agitate the fabric surface so suction pulls in the debris. Decide if you’d prefer to invest in a single product that does nearly everything, or purchase multiple less expensive products to customize what your home needs. If you have stairs, look for lighter models for ease of moving, and select cordless models to avoid that electric cord tether that gets in the way of cleaning.
Why You Should Trust Us
As a certified animal behavior consultant for cats and dogs and an award-winning author of 35+ pet care titles, I have shared expert pet care and behavior information for over 30 years with pet parents. I’ve also consulted with the pet products industry and written thousands of articles for them helping to edutain cat and dog lovers how best to care for their furry wonders. I’ve also lived with a variety of pets, from double-coated German shepherds that shed drifts of fur to short-haired dogs and cats with fine, hard-to-remove shedded hair. My current pets, all with short fur, still offer challenges to control the fuzz.
15 Pet Vacuums Rigorously Tested
You’ll find dozens of vacuums that advertise their ability to relieve pet owners’ big hairy messes. To sift through the throng and find the best vacuums for pet hair, our expert editors tried the top models in our own homes on real pet (and kid) messes. Each reviewer considered features, such as suction, maneuverability, cord length and weight, as well as special features, such as lights and detangling technology. Some reviewers initially tested their products over a year ago and revisited the topic to see how they stood the test of time. We also looked at other expert recommendations to take into consideration what pet owners shared about these products. We ultimately tested 15 and narrowed those down to these 11 best vacuums for pet hair, in a wide range of price points and situations.
FAQ
What is the best vacuum for dog hair on hardwood floors?
Lightweight vacuums like stick vacuums or vacuum/mop combinations work very well on hardwood or hard floor surfaces, as they don’t need as much suction. You also won’t risk skid marks or scuffs that may happen with heavy vacuums rolling on hardwood floors.
Is there a vacuum that hair doesn’t wrap around?
The Dyson Outsize Plus and the Tineco Pure One Station offer a no-tangle technology that reduces and often eliminates the problem of long hair wrapping around the vacuum brush.
