Star Qualities
Strong suction easily picks up large and small debris
Built-in odor neutralizer keeps unpleasant smells at bay
Collects and seals in indoor allergens
Red Flags
Loud with annoying pitch
Easily knocks over when using detached hose
This Shark vacuum has notably strong suction, easily picking up cat hair and tracked-in dirt, not to mention crumbs, pencil shavings, and even small pieces of construction paper from kids' craft projects. It also has "Odor Neutralizer Technology" to help keep pet odors and other unpleasant household smells at bay. What's more, its HEPA filter collects and seals in airborne allergens, like pet dander, dust, and pollen. We tested it in a multi-level home with two shedding cats and two messy toddlers and can tell you it does what it claims to. Due to the high-powered design, this vacuum is fairly loud and with a pitch we found a little annoying. Having said that, we appreciate that the large canister doesn't need to be emptied as often as others. The detachable hose and attachments are helpful, but the vacuum easily knocks over when using them. Despite these minor flaws, we think the Shark Rotator is absolutely worth buying for busy homes with pets and kids. How It's Held Up
We have been using this vacuum weekly for the past six months to supplement our robot vacuum. The suction is still as strong as it was on the first day, and the power is consistent. We've noticed the air and floor feel cleaner, and there is less dust, pet hair, and debris floating around. We appreciate that it can quickly adapt to any type of flooring and that the hose and attachments can pick up messes in hard-to-reach places.
Type: Upright |
Cord Length:Weight:LED Lights: Yes |
Detachable Brushes: Yes |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Experts Say
"HEPA filtration does a great job at filtering the air of small ps, including some allergens, which can reduce a patient's symptoms when they suffer from pollen and animal dander." — Dr. Jeanne Lomas , director of allergy services for WellNow Allergy
Star Qualities
Easy assembly and intuitive setup
Low noise level, even on higher modes
Lightweight, slim, and very easy to push around
Red Flags
Dustbin holds less debris than larger models
No HEPA filter
This cordless stick vacuum checked all our boxes while coming in under budget. It was a cinch to assemble, and getting started was intuitive. We liked that it remained fairly quiet, even on the highest mode. The slim, lightweight design is easy to maneuver, fitting effortlessly into tight corners and under low furniture. We found the Moosoo K23 Pro equally effective on hardwood floors and carpets and were surprised to not need an attachment when vacuuming stairs. This vacuum grabbed all the pet hair and other debris without issue. We emptied it once during testing since it has a small dirt cup, which isn't a huge inconvenience. It's undoubtedly a great value, especially considering the low price.
Type: Cordless stick |
Runtime:Weight:LED Lights: Yes |
Detachable Brushes: Yes |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Star Qualities
Easy to control with remote
Excels at sucking up pet hair and daily floor upkeep
Transitions well and rarely gets stuck
Red Flags
Somewhat basic features
Beeping sound could upset sensitive pets
If you want the flexibility to vacuum when you're not home or are doing another task, a robot vacuum is the way to go. We also tested the more well-known iRobot Roomba but found the Eufy BoostIQ to be a better option. It was easy to set up and operate with the remote control (whereas many others sync to mobile apps). This automatic vacuum excels at picking up pet hair, debris, and dust on tile and carpet and is particularly effective for daily cleaning upkeep. It transitions well between surfaces, rarely gets stuck, and runs quietly, making it less disruptive. The features are somewhat basic, with a limited scheduling option and no manual mapping. Also, the beeping notifications it makes could alarm sensitive pets. Despite these minor drawbacks, it offers excellent value for its price and works well in homes with pets.
Type: Robot |
Runtime:Weight:LED Lights: No |
Detachable Brushes: No |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Star Qualities
Works very well on carpets and area rugs
Lays flat to reach underneath furniture
Handy crevice attachment for tight corners
Much quieter than most other tested vacuums
Red Flags
Hardwood setting doesn't pick up well
Emptying isn't intuitive
This stick-style vacuum from Bissell lays virtually flat and fits well underneath furniture. We found the crevice attachment useful for reaching tight corners and cleaning between couch cushions. Emptying the dirt cup wasn't very intuitive, as you have to twist off the filter and be careful not to spill debris everywhere. If noise is a concern when vacuuming, you'll appreciate this model. It's much quieter than nearly all other vacuums we tested. Even though the suction doesn't sound strong, it sucked up most debris on carpets and area rugs (but it's not quite as effective on the hard floor setting). This vacuum is corded (whereas many other stick vacs are cordless), but it has a long power cord and never needs to be recharged. How It's Held Up
Over the past six months, we have relied on this corded vacuum over our heavier Dyson upright when we want a deeper home clean. We even discovered it's great for cleaning out the car! It works just as well as it did when we first started using it; the canister is pretty dirty, but that's to be expected.
Type: Corded stick |
Cord Length:Weight:LED Lights: No |
Detachable Brushes: Yes |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Star Qualities
Setup takes less than two minutes
Easy to maneuver across hard floors and soft-pile carpets
Never gets above 75 decibels, even on high mode
Mode and power buttons are easily accessible on the handle
Red Flags
Less effective on high-pile carpets
Attachment storage isn't conveniently located
Canister vacuums can be tricky to use, but this one from Shark is super intuitive. We set it up in less than two minutes and were thrilled with how smoothly the base moved with us as we made our way around the room. This corded canister vacuum performed beautifully on hardwoods and shorter-pile carpets. However, it may leave behind a bit of dog kibble residue, especially on higher-pile rugs and carpets. But on all surfaces, it grabbed every last bit of pet hair. What's more, it never got over 75 decibels, even on the highest setting. You can have it running while the television is on, and it shouldn't bother anyone.
Type: Canister |
Cord Length:Weight:LED Lights: Yes |
Detachable Brushes: Yes |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Pro Tip!
When vacuuming pet hair, repetition is key, so a vacuum that allows for that will be the most effective. For carpet, you should go over the area twice, once horizontally and once vertically. "This will get the embedded pet hair out of the carpet fibers," notes Becky Rapinchuk , cleaning expert and owner of Clean Mama. Because of this, upright vacuums are generally better for cleaning pet hair than robot vacuums because you can control how many times the vacuum goes over the pet hair.
Star Qualities
Lightweight and portable
Excels at picking up hair from floors and upholstery
Very quiet
Red Flags
Small canister requires more frequent emptying
No HEPA filter
This handheld vacuum is ideal for couches, cars, and quick touch-ups. It was especially effective at pet hair removal and getting kibble off of hard floors (though slightly less so on carpet). We loved how quiet it was, never going above 66 decibels, even on the highest setting. We found this cordless handheld vacuum especially convenient for cleaning couches at waist level. And it weighs less than 3 pounds, so it's easy to hold one-handed. Due to the small size, however, it calls for more frequent emptying. Ringing in at under $100, this vacuum is a good value for such a useful, versatile gadget. How It's Held Up
After several months of using it multiple times a week, this vacuum continues to pick up pet hair with ease, and the battery life has surprised us with its longevity. The crevice tool, in particular, gets all the cat hair stuck between cushions and hard-to-reach places like the bathtub. The canister needs some help when emptied, but that's not a dealbreaker.
Type: Cordless handheld |
Runtime:Weight:LED Lights: No |
Detachable Brushes: No |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Star Qualities
Exceptionally powerful suction
Works notably well on all flooring
Ball head navigates smoothly around corners
Picks up all loose fur and dander in two-dog household
Red Flags
Price might be hard to justify
Dyson makes some truly impressive vacuums , but if you ask us, the Ball Animal Total Clean is the best the brand offers. The notably powerful suction works exceedingly well on all surfaces. It senses what material you're cleaning and automatically switches between floor and carpet mode. More to the point, this upright vacuum quickly picks up all loose fur and dander in a household with two medium-sized dogs. The ball head swivels smoothly around corners, furniture, and other obstacles. We didn't even need any attachments to clean baseboards. The extra-large canister takes a while to fill up and is no problem to empty when the time comes. Though the price is pretty high compared to other vacuums we tested, we think it might be worth the investment based on how incredibly strong the suction power is. Plus, Dyson backs it with a two-year warranty and lifetime product support. How It's Held Up
The Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean has exceeded our (incredibly high) standards over the past six months of regular use in a home with two dogs. It picks up all the tumbleweeds of fur — even in the corners. Even though we use a robot vacuum every day, this has been our go-to for a deeper clean. It glides across floors easily, and the suction has remained just as strong as it did on day one. We have not used our previous upright vacuum since testing this one.
Type: Upright |
Cord Length:Weight:LED Lights: No |
Detachable Brushes: Yes |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Star Qualities
Easy to assemble and set up
Lightweight design
Noise level is generally low
Quickly picks up most debris
Red Flags
Doesn't turn sharply around corners
No attachments included
If you need a lightweight vacuum that sucks up pet hair with ease, especially on hardwood floors , the Hoover OnePwr Evolve is your new best friend. The clear directions make for a simple setup process, and the included charging station gets the battery to 100 percent in about four hours. We appreciated that the noise level on the low setting wasn't too loud, but the higher mode was slightly louder. This vacuum got about a third of the debris up in one minute, and the rest followed shortly. While it doesn't thrive with corners and edges of baseboards, it still gets a large percentage of pet hair and dirt off the floor. How It's Held Up
We've used this vacuum for several months, and it's still working as well as it did in our lab. It's super quiet compared to most others and simple to switch between the carpet and hard floor modes. We also like that it shuts off when the debris bin is full so you know when to empty it. In the end, we just wish it came with attachments.
Type: Cordless |
Runtime:Weight:LED Lights: No |
Detachable Brushes: No |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Star Qualities
Removes almost all kibble and hair in a single pass
Generous cord length and onboard attachment storage
Lightweight handle lays flat to go under furniture
Red Flags
Setup takes almost 10 minutes
Separate unit can feel cumbersome to carry around
The Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go pulled in perfect scores in every category, from effectiveness to noise level. This canister vacuum performed particularly well on carpet, grabbing all pet hair in one or two passes, even on the lowest suction setting. Though setup took about 10 minutes, it was easy to empty and change the bags, and hair never got stuck in the brushes. Pulling the base around might take some getting used to, but we found this canister vacuum generally easy to maneuver. We also have to call out the generous cord length that covers an average-sized room without the need to change outlets. Multiple attachments — all of which are housed on the vacuum — were another added benefit. How It's Held Up
This canister vacuum has performed consistently well throughout our at-home testing. We like how the main handle is lightweight and can lay practically flat to reach underneath furniture. Notably, it's done an excellent job lifting black pet fur from off-white carpets.
Type: Canister |
Cord Length:Weight:LED Lights: No |
Detachable Brushes: Yes |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Star Qualities
Effortlessly picks up all kibble and pet hair
Maneuvers well around obstacles
Can be pushed one-handed
Automatic mode quiet enough to not wake sleeping baby in the next room
Red Flags
Battery may not last as long over time
The Tineco Pure One picked up all the kibble and every last strand of pet hair. It effortlessly maneuvered around obstacles like cat-scratching posts and transferred between carpet and hard floors with ease. We loved how the lightweight design allowed us to push it around one-handed and found the attachments useful and intuitive. We like the paired app, which offers insight into the battery and other metrics of the vacuum. This cordless stick vacuum picks up pet hair from all floor types and has a brush attachment for upholstered surfaces. The max power mode works the best, but all settings get the job done. It's incredibly quiet on the automatic mode, so much so that a sleeping baby in the next room didn't rouse. How It's Held Up
This vacuum doesn't seem to hold a charge as long as it used to, and it takes a full hour to get from zero to 100 percent. That said, it still runs well and effectively picks up pet hair from rugs, tile, hardwoods, and low-pile carpets. We also like how smoothly it maneuvers around furniture, kids' toys, and other obstacles in a small apartment.
Type: Cordless stick |
Runtime:Weight:LED Lights: Yes |
Detachable Brushes: Yes |
High-Powered Modes: Yes |
HEPA Filter: Add to Cart If you're shopping for a vacuum that can conquer pet hair, you should check out these helpful products we've tested, including dog brushes , cat brushes , pet hair removers , and dog paw cleaners . What to Know About Pet Hair Vacuums Pet hair vacuums have strong suction that easily picks up loose pet fur, and they often have larger dustbins that don't fill up too quickly. Since pet hair and dander make their way all around the home, this type of vacuum also often has various attachments for cleaning furniture upholstery and other surfaces. Another benefit of a pet hair vacuum is that it may have a special, tangle-free beater bar. As Black and Decker Cleaning Product Manager Michael Barnett explains, this prevents hair from getting stuck, which can impede the suction and overall efficacy of a vacuum. You always want powerful suction in a vacuum, but it's particularly important for a model designed to suck up pet hair. Besides picking up fur, strong suction is necessary to help remove pet dander from your space. (You can cut down on the amount of hair you need to pick up by regularly using a pet brush.) Look for models with multiple suction levels — or better yet, a "max mode" that'll send your vacuum into overdrive while it sucks up every last strand of fur and speck of dander. Our best overall pick, the Shark ZU102 Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum , is highly effective at grabbing debris. Filter Type Pay attention to the type of filter the vacuum has before buying it. As with the Tineco Pure One S11 Cordless Vacuum , a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter can be ideal for homes with pets because it collects, traps, and seals household allergens, including pet dander. "Pet dander is the root cause of allergies, not the [pet] hair," says Bill Lin , a test engineer with Etekcity. "It consists of microscopic flecks of skin that may be too small to detect when cleaning but will be picked up and trapped in a vacuum that is equipped with a good filtration system." Other pet hair vacuum cleaners have replaceable foam filters or washable ones you can remove and rinse off as needed. Attachments can be great for reaching small, narrow spots. They're particularly useful for vacuuming upholstery, notes Superb Maids owner Elena Ledoux , who suggests using small brush attachments for this purpose. They'll also help agitate and lift pet hair that may otherwise get stuck on couches, beds, or curtains, adds Barnett. Most vacuums come with a crevice tool and an upholstery brush, but some pet-specific models take it even further. Liz Trotter of American Maid Service agrees, adding that many pet hair vacuums have a "roller bar that has different bristles and a different kind of suction than that of regular vacuums." Power Source You should also consider the power source you want when buying a pet hair vacuum. Corded vacuums can be used for an unlimited amount of time (as long as you have electricity); however, you're restricted by the length of the cord. In addition, they are often heavier to handle. Cordless vacuums, like the Hoover OnePwr Evolve , are often lighter and easier to maneuver. The downside is that you must rely on battery power or a charging station, so their run time is significantly shorter. Considering that pet owners likely vacuum more often than non-pet owners — as a general rule of thumb, most pet owners need a weekly vacuuming to keep up with hair and tracked-in dirt, says Homer — you might have to replace your vacuum sooner than you think. While the standard timeframe is eight years before a necessary replacement, pet owners should consider replacing their vacuum after five or so years. If you just started counting on your fingers how many years your vacuum has lived in that hall closet, it's likely time to buy a new one. Price Range Pet hair vacuums can range drastically in price. On the lower end, you're looking at around $100 (like the Moosoo K23 Pro ) — sometimes less. They can go as high as $1,000 or more, but the most expensive option isn't necessarily the best. Still, it could be worth investing in a mid-to-high range model from a trusted manufacturer, like the Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean , especially if it's backed by a warranty. Behind the Scenes We put 47 vacuums to the test in our PEOPLE Tested Lab and at home with our dogs and cats. These are the main factors we looked at:
Setup: We started by assembling each model and timing how long setup took, as well as how clear the instructions were. We also noted how easy the vacuum was to empty and clean.Suction Power: We used the vacuums to pick up dog kibble on a medium-pile rug and vinyl flooring, noting how effectively they worked on each. Measured amounts of dog hair were sprinkled onto both flooring surfaces and upholstery. After vacuuming, the sucked-up hair was again weighed to see exactly how much was picked up.Maneuverability: We took note of how heavy, lightweight, large, or compact the vacuums were, as well as how well they navigated obstacles, corners, baseboards, and under furniture.Noise Level: The noise output of each vacuum was measured using a decibel meter. We noted whether we could hold a conversation while using each model.Attachments: We tried out all the attachments to see how well they picked up pet hair from furniture, tight corners, and car interiors.Filtration and Dustbin: The filtration systems and odor neutralizers (if applicable) were also evaluated by how well they captured dust, dander, and other allergens. And we considered the size of the dirt canisters or replacement bags.Durability: We took these vacuums home and used them in our real homes with dogs and cats for several months and noted how well they held up over time. Why Trust PEOPLE? Madison Yauger is an editor for PEOPLE who has tested hundreds of lifestyle products across all categories, including vacuums and dog products. To clean up her pup's fur, she relies on the Dyson V12 — it does a fantastic job picking up everything in its path and can maneuver under furniture where tumbleweeds tend to hide. Theresa Holland is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer specializing in home and lifestyle content. For this , they spoke to a wealth of cleaning experts for tips and information on what to look for when shopping for a pet hair vacuum. They also used insights from our PEOPLE Tested lab and real-world tests to determine the very best models on the market. Our Expert Panel
Dr. Jeanne Lomas is the director of allergy services for WellNow Allergy. Melissa Homer is a cleaning expert and the chief cleaning officer at MaidPro. Michael Barnett is the cleaning product manager at Black and Decker . Bill Lin is a test engineer with Etekcity. Elena Ledoux is the owner of Superb Maids based in Las Vegas. Liz Trotter is the owner of American Maid Service based in Olympia, Wash. Becky Rapinchuk is a cleaning expert and the owner of Clean Mama. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval—because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust—every day, every purchase.
