If you share your home with a shedding cat or dog, you'll need one of the best vacuums for pet hair to help you stay on top of the build-up of fuzz. At TechRadar, we test dozens of vacuums every year, and all of the models in this list have had the stamp of approval from pet owners. I've also put a number of them through rigorous side-by-side testing to see how efficiently they can clear pet hair from mid-pile and deep-pile carpet, as well as from furniture (with thanks to a friendly local groomer for supplying the hair).
Pet hair is notoriously tricky to suck up, so all of these vacuums pack a punch in terms of power, as well as having floorheads and detail tools that are great at loosening hair so it can be cleaned away efficiently. The best vacuum for pet hair right now is the Shark PowerDetect Cordless (#1). This vacuum was part of a group test of some of the very best cordless vacuums on market and it came top in every single suction trial, including scoring full marks in all my pet hair challenges.
I'm a Homes Editor at TechRadar, and have spent the past 19 months focusing on home appliances, and vacuum cleaners in particular. I've tried most of these vacuums myself, either in a testing studio using floor samples and pet hair from a groomer, or at clearing up at home after my very hairy black Cocker Spaniel.
The best vacuum for pet hair in 2025: tested by experts
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The best vacuum for pet hair overall
The best vacuum for pet hair right now is the Shark PowerDetect Cordless. In a group test of eight of the best cordless vacuums on the market, this model earned the highest scores in my pet hair tests. In fact, it scored a perfect five stars in all my individual cleaning tests.
I used the Shark PowerDetect Cordless in Auto mode (where it'll boost or lower suction depending on how much dirt it detects) on a hair-strewn mid-pile carpet. After a single forward pass, I couldn't see any hairs remaining. Repeating the test on deep-pile carpet yielded the same excellent results.
This vacuum comes with a mini motorized head for upholstery. I tested this on a velvet cushion that had been rubbed with pet hair, and again it cleared everything in a single pass. The Shark PowerDetect also excelled at removing fine debris (in this case, loose, dry tea) from mid-pile and deep-pile carpet – reassuring if you're looking for something to tackle dander as well as hair.
Another thing that makes the PowerDetect Cordless an especially strong recommendation for pet owners is that there's an optional auto-empty dock. This is a massive effort-saver if you're dealing with larger volumes of hair. Just pop the vacuum on its perch and the small onboard bin will empty into the much larger base (which is equipped with an anti-odor puck to neutralize any smells that might build up). Because it's a closed system, there are far fewer opportunities for particles to escape – good news for allergy-sufferers.
The wand can be released to bend forwards, enabling you to easily clear that build-up of fluff beneath the sofa or under the bed. And there are headlamps to illuminate fur on hard flooring that might otherwise be missed. These aren't nearly as bright as Dyson's equivalent, but are still fairly useful.
It's not perfect. It's bulky and heavy for a cordless stick vacuum, and as a result can feel a bit unwieldy – that's the price you pay for the powerful suction. I also couldn't find a way to change the suction mode at all (I'm sure there is more than one). Luckily, the Auto mode worked great for every cleaning task I wanted to tackle. These are minor complaints though – it's still hands-down my top recommendation for pet owners looking for a powerful but convenient hair-buster.
Read our full Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty review
The best premium vacuum for pet hair
If you have more cash to splash, the best premium cordless vacuum for pet hair is the Dyson V15 Detect. This is the model I use as my everyday vacuum at home, where it has no trouble clearing the copious amounts of fluff shed by my black Cocker Spaniel. Like the PowerDetect Cordless above, there's an Auto mode that adjusts suction based on dirt levels. This is the mode I use most often, and is perfect for clearing hair from mid-pile carpet. Because of how powerful the suction is, you might find you need to drop to Eco mode and/or open the air intake slider on the floorhead to tackle deep-pile carpet, but it's more than up to the job of clearing hair and dander there too.
Dyson's mini motorized Hair screw tool has a tapering roller to encourage hair to make its way off and into the bin rather than tangling up. Unless you have a very long-haired dog or cat, that likely won't be that relevant here, but it's an excellent tool nonetheless – it cleared pet hair from a velvet cushion with a single pass in Auto mode. There's also a separate head specifically for hard flooring, and it's equipped with a nice, bright laser that's very useful at illuminating fluff that might otherwise be missed.
I particularly like how user-friendly this vacuum is. There's an LCD screen that conveys useful information in a clear way, including spelling out exactly how long you have left on the clock in your current cleaning mode with your current tool, and flagging up any issues and showing you how to fix them. In Auto mode, this screen also report on the number and size of particles being picked up in real time, via a colorful graph. That's less essential, but still useful if you want to get meticulous about ensuring all dander and hair has been cleared – you'll see on screen when the levels of remaining dirt are low.
On the down-side, it's a little heavy for a cordless stick, and I don't love the fact Dyson hasn't included a switch to activate for continuous running, which means you need to keep the trigger compressed throughout your cleaning sessions. And of course, it's expensive to buy.
The V15 Detect sits below the Gen5detect in the Dyson lineup. The two models are very similar in design, but I tend to recommend the V15 over the Gen5 because it's lighter, cheaper, and in my side-by-side tests I found the real-life cleaning performance was about the same. The Gen5 does offer slightly longer battery, and turns on with a button rather than that pesky trigger, so it's still worth considering if you're in the market for a premium vacuum for pet hair. (Head to my guide to the best Dyson vacuums for an overview of the wider range.)
Read our full Dyson V15 Detect review
The best lightweight vacuum for pet hair
The best budget vacuum for pet hair is the Dreame R20, and this is also my top pick if you're looking for a great handheld vacuum for pet hair. While the suction performance isn't quite up there with the PowerDetect (#1) and V15 Detect (#2), it's very good for the price. In my tests the R20 had no trouble clearing pet hair from mid-pile carpet (it scored a 4/5) and did a respectable job of tackling hair on deep-pile carpet too (I scored it a 3/5 here). The mini motorized tool was extremely impressive, clearing hair from a velvet cushion at least as efficiently as the equivalent Dyson and Shark tools.
I should also mention that the full TechRadar review was conducted in a home that houses multiples cats and dogs, and my experienced tester was notably impressed with the volume of pet hair it picked up during day-to-day cleaning.
The benefit the Dreame R20 has over my #1 and #2 picks – aside from the more affordable price – is that it's far more lightweight, and has a compact design that makes it very comfortable to use in general, but especially in handheld mode. That, combined with the excellent mini tool, means this is the vacuum I'd pick if I had to deal with clearing pet hair from carpeted stairs or furniture.
I also love how user-friendly the operation is. This vacuum switches on and off using a trigger, but there's a button to press when you want continuous running. That setup makes it easy to use for both quick cleanups and longer sessions. On top of that, the battery life is excellent, and there's automatic suction adjustment based on dirt levels, meaning you won't have to mess around with switching modes mid-clean.
Read our full Dreame R20 vacuum review
The best vacuum for multiple pets or heavy shedding
Cordless stick vacuums are nimble and convenient, but for maximum suction, you can't beat a corded upright. If you can cope with the larger, heavier form factor, the best vacuum for pet hair is the Shark PowerDetect Upright Vacuum. On test, it proved an absolute powerhouse when it came to deep cleaning our reviewer's parents' neglected thick carpets. And while it wasn't reviewed in a home with pets, it had no issue picking up human hair from floors and furniture. You'll also benefit from the generous dust cup, which can hold much more hair and debris than any stick vacuum.
While I won't pretend it's as convenient as a cordless stick vac, Shark has gone out of its way to make this vacuum as versatile as possible. The dust cup can be removed and held in the hand, and the floorhead and detail tools used on the end of a flexible tube (with or without wand attached) for cleaning hair off stairs and furniture.
I often find that it's the cordless vacuums that tend to get the latest hi-tech features, while uprights are passed over – but that's not the case with this vacuum. The PowerDetect Upright boasts many of the same intelligent features you'll find on the best Shark vacuums, including automatic power adjustment based on floor type and dirt levels, and an EdgeDetect feature that ramps up suction on the relevant side of the floorhead when it approaches the edge of a room (where hair can collect).
In general, my testers have been very impressed with Shark's upright vacuums. We also rated the Shark Stratos Pet Pro Upright very highly – that model tends to be cheaper, although with fewer automation features. It's also worth considering the Dyson upright (#6). It's very heavy, but offers even more suction than this Shark model.
Read our full Shark PowerDetect Cordless review
The best vacuum for pet hair allergies
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 have to empty the bin every few minutes. Rather unusually, this is a cordless stick vacuum that collects debris into a bag, which can hold up to 2 liters of fluff and fuzz before needing to be replaced. It's good news for those with allergies, because everything is neatly contained, with little to no chance of hair or dander escaping when you come to empty it. However, do factor in the ongoing cost (and annoyance) of buying bags.
While the Halo Capsule X lacks the flashy features of some of the vacuums here, it's still a really excellent cleaner. It was tested in a home that houses several shedding pets, and my reviewer commented that it collected "more hair than [he] thought possible", even from carpets. For furniture, dog beds and car interiors, there's also an excellent small motorized bristle head.
The larger bin can make it feel slightly bulky, but otherwise it's relatively lightweight and comfortable to use, with a floorhead that can pivot around pet beds, toys and other obstacles with ease. There's also strong runtimes and, as a bonus, some bundles come with a spare battery that double your cleaning time.
Read our full Halo Capsule X Pet Max review
The best robot vacuum for pet hair
Want your vacuum to do all the work for you? A robovac can help with that, and my top recommendation for pet owners is the Dreame L40 Ultra. I'll start by making it clear that even today's best robot vacuums tend to offer less suction than a manual vac, which means they aren't the ideal choice for deep cleans. Where they do excel is at keeping on top of regular, light cleans with next-to-no effort required from you. You can schedule them to clean while you're out, and then supplement their efforts with an occasional, more thorough clean with a manual vacuum.
So what makes the Dreame L40 Ultra stand out for pet owners in particular? It boasts impressive suction for a robovac, and proved capable to handling the large volumes of dog hair from my tester's many four-legged friends. It's as effective on carpet as it is on hard floor, and the larger-than-average dock dustbin means you won't be constantly replacing the dust bag. It also navigates reliably well, maps areas accurately and efficiently, and is effective at identifying and avoiding obstacles (although there's no robovac I'd trust to dodge pet poop – take note if your pet isn't fully house trained).
There are a few more advanced features worth flagging. Like many robovacs nowadays, the L40 Ultra can mop as well as vacuuming. The mopping here is a cut above average – the rotating mop pads will have no trouble cleaning away muddy pawprints. A do-it-all dock will take care of most maintenance tasks for you, too. As well as emptying the bot's small onboard dust cup, it'll also refill its water tank and wash and dry the mop pads. If you're going to be running this robovac regularly, then such advanced features should save you a lot of effort.
The L40 Ultra is the premium end of the robovac market (and significantly pricier than most manual vacuums – as I'd expect). However, deals crop up semi-regularly, and you can avoid paying full price if you're smart about when you buy. It's well worth the investment if you're feeling overwhelmed by staying on top of cleaning up after your pets.
Read our full Dreame L40 Ultra review
The most powerful vacuum for pet hair
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 masses of suction, combined with a generous 1.7L bin that might fill up quicker than you expected as the Dyson sucks up not only all the pet hair strewn across your floors, but the deep-down fine dust and dander in your carpets that your previous vacuum missed.
All this power comes at a cost: the Dyson Ball Animal is heavy and cumbersome, even compared to other uprights like the Shark at #4. If you're used to lightweight cordless vacuums, it'll take some adjusting to, and I wouldn't recommend it for smaller or more cramped homes, or anyone with mobility issues.
While the powerful suction is great for pulling ingrained dirt and hair from deep down in your carpets, it's so sucky that it can be difficult to push – and particularly on thick carpets. Make sure you don't forget about the air inlet slider on the floorhead, which should ease things somewhat.
Like most uprights, there's a flexible hose that you can use to tackle any hair or dirt above the ground, although here it's rather stiff and a bit awkward to use. On the plus side, the provided tangle-free turbine tool is great at clearing pet hair from upholstery.
Read our full Dyson Ball Animal vacuum review
The best vacuum for pet hair: specs compared
Model | Type | Bagged? | Weight | Bin size | Max runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shark PowerDetect Cordless | Cordless stick | No | 8lbs / 3.7kg | 0.7L (vac) + 2L (dock) | 70 mins |
Dyson V15 Detect | Cordless stick | No | 6.8 lbs / 3 kg | 0.8 L | 60 mins |
Dreame R20 | Cordless stick | No | 6 lbs / 2.7kg | 0.6L | 90 mins |
Shark PowerDetect Upright | Corded upright | No | 17.6 lbs / 8 kg | 1.3 L | Unlimited |
Halo Capsule X Pet Max | Cordless stick | Yes | 5.7lbs / 2.6kg | 2L | 50 mins |
Dreame L40 Ultra | Robot vacuum | Yes (in dock) | N/A | 3.2L (dock) | N/A |
Dyson Ball Animal | Corded upright | No | 17.3lbs / 7.7kg | 1.7L | Unlimited |
The best vacuum for pet hair: FAQs
What's the best handheld vacuum for pet hair?
I'd recommend using a stick vacuum in 'handheld' mode, and my top pick is the Dreame R20 (#3). The R20 is an especially good choice because it's lightweight and easy to wield in handheld mode, plus the mini motorized detail tool is excellent at picking up hair.
'True' handheld vacuums tend to have short runtimes, small dust cups and weaker suction, none of which is conducive to dealing with pet hair (although if you're sure that's what you want, head to my ranking of the best handheld vacuums for my top recommendations).
Almost every stick vacuum on the market – including all the models listed here – can be turned into a handheld by removing the wand. Look for a model that's relatively lightweight, and has an appropriate detail tool for tackling pet hair. Most vacuums will come with a 'combi' tool, which is good for removing pet hair from furniture or awkward areas. If you want to cover larger areas, seek out a model with a mini motorized cleaner head attachment.
What's the best lightweight vacuum for pet hair?
The best lightweight vacuum for pet hair is the Dreame R20 (#3). It weighs 6 lbs / 2.7kg with the main floorhead and wand attached, and 3.8 lbs / 1.7kg with no wand or attachments, and delivers very strong cleaning power for that weight. It performed well in my pet hair cleaning tests.
However, be aware that generally, heavier vacuums deliver more power. My top two picks (the PowerDetect Cordless at #1 and Dyson V15 Detect at #2) are both on the heavier side for a cordless vacuum, and both clear pet hair more efficiently than the R20.
What's the best vacuum with HEPA filter for pet allergies?
It's a little complicated, but I think the best vacuum for pet allergies will be a bagged model like the Halo Capsule X (#5). The bag means there will be far fewer chances for hair or dander to escape once it's been sucked up, and the bags hold a generous volume of debris before they need replacing.
A HEPA filter is worth looking for, but it's not the be-all-and-end-all for allergy sufferers. The filter will only capture the particles from the air that moves through it, so for one to work efficiently it needs to be combined with an airtight vacuum design, which is much harder to test for. A further reason that I haven't included that information in this guide is because a number of these vacuums have different filter information and claims in different territories – if you suffer from allergies, it's best to take a look at the filter information in any product listing before you purchase.
What's the best bagless vacuum for pet allergies?
The best bagless vacuum for pet allergies is the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Clean & Empty (#1). This vacuum has powerful suction and is great at pulling up hair and finer particles from carpeted flooring and furniture. The 'Clean & Empty' bit refers to an auto-empty base – when you dock the vacuum, the contents of the smaller onboard bin will whoosh out, via a closed system, into a far bigger bin in the base. It's a neat solution that enables you to deal with large volumes of dust and hair without having to constantly empty a small onboard bin (risking particles escaping each time you do so).
What's the best vacuum for multiple pets or heavy shedders?
For multiple pets or heavy shedders, I'd recommend a corded upright like the Shark PowerDetect Upright (#4). As a rule of thumb, cordless stick vacuums are never quite as powerful as corded uprights, so while they're a little less convenient and maneuverable, they are the best choice for tackling large volumes of hair. You'll also benefit from a generously sized dust cup that can hold plenty of hair in one go. The Shark PowerDetect Upright is great at tackling hair and has a useful, modular design that means you can also use it to clear hair from stairs and furniture.
What's the best vacuum for pet hair on stairs?
The Dreame R20 is the best vacuum for tackling pet hair on stairs. It's nice and lightweight, partly thanks to the ultra-light carbon fiber wand. That makes it comfortable to lift and maneuver, even with the wand attached. If you'd prefer to use it in handheld mode, the squat design is easy to direct into corders. Finally, the mini motorized tool is excellent at pulling up hair from smaller areas.