9 Best Vacuums for Pet Hair, Tested by Experts

If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here’s the list of all our vacuum reviews, ranked by their pet-hair cleaning performance. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no vacuum is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.

The 7 Best Vacuums For Pet Hair – Fall 2023 Reviews

If you’re a pet owner, there’s no doubt you’ve had to deal with the hassle of shedding. We all love our furry friends, but there’s no denying pet hair is a nuisance. It has a nasty tendency to get everywhere, so a vacuum that can clear this type of debris across a wide range of surfaces is crucial. Good maneuverability and portability are plus points, as they let you clean pet hair from underneath and around couches, tables, and other types of furniture.

We’ve tested over 130 vacuum cleaners, and below are our recommendations for the best vacuums for pet hair. These recommendations are based not only on their pet-hair cleaning performance on different types of surfaces but also on their design and price. For more buying recommendations, look at our list of the best robot vacuums for pet hair, the best handheld vacuums for pet hair, the best apartment vacuums, and the best vacuums for high-pile carpet.

Best Vacuum For Pet Hair

The Dyson V15 Detect is the best vacuum for pet hair we’ve tested. This high-end cordless stick vacuum has a powerful 230AW suction motor and consequently has no problem dealing with pet hair on a wide variety of surface types, whether you’re using the multi-surface floorhead or the soft-roller floorhead with an integrated laser light to help you see fine debris. Its built-in dirt sensor also gives you a rough estimate of allergen levels inside your home, and its whole machine filtration system, which features an onboard HEPA filter, is effective at sealing in fine particles. Meanwhile, its surface detection system lets it automatically increase its suction power on carpeted floors. While this vacuum can run for more than 70 minutes in its most energy-efficient configuration, it drops to a little over 10 minutes when used in its ‘Boost’ setting, so you must work fast when dealing with stubborn debris. Worried about running out of charge midway through a cleaning session? Check out the Samsung Bespoke Jet, which has a charging rack that can top up its two included batteries simultaneously, so you can swap in a fully-charged pack when you run out, effectively doubling its runtime. The freestanding charging rack also works as a self-emptying base station, as it can suck debris from the Samsung vacuum’s dustbin into an internal dirtbag, minimizing maintenance requirements. That said, its twin-roller floorhead makes it less maneuverable than the Dyson.

Best Upper Mid-Range Vacuum For Pet Hair

If you want to save a little bit of money on a vacuum for cleaning pet hair, the LG CordZero A9 Ultimate is a good choice. Compared to the pricier Dyson V15 Detect, it has a notably less powerful 140AW suction motor and a smaller dirt compartment. It also lacks Dyson’s particle sensor and automatic power adjustment capability. It’s also less expensive, slightly more sturdily built, and as effective at tackling pet hair on various surfaces. The flagship Ultimate variant of this vacuum is extremely well-equipped. It comes with a wide variety of accessories, including a secondary soft-roller floorhead for use on bare floors, an extra battery that can provide up to an additional hour of runtime, and a uniquely-designed Power Punch tool, which uses a vibrating interior component to shake loose dust or pet dander from fabric surfaces so that the vacuum can suck up any loose material. The LG is also fully compatible with LG’s Power Mop nozzle, a uniquely designed mopping floorhead that you can scrub away any dirt or mud your pet might track in on hardwood, tile, or vinyl floors. If you want a similarly-priced cordless stick vacuum with an automatic power adjustment feature, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim is an excellent choice that also does a fantastic job of handling pet hair. However, it has an extremely small dustbin and only comes bundled with a single battery. Unlike the LG, Dyson doesn’t offer a comparable mopping floorhead for the V12.

Best Mid-Range Vacuum For Pet Hair

The best vacuum for cat hair in the mid-range price bracket we’ve tested is the Samsung Jet 75 Pet. This cordless stick vacuum can tackle pet hair on bare floors and low and high-pile carpets at a much lower price than the LG CordZero A9 or Dyson V15 Detect, thanks in part to a potent 200AW suction motor. Its multi-surface floorhead is a little more prone to collecting pet hair than the LG or Dyson, but thankfully, removing the brushroll and clearing out any tangled hair is a breeze. This variant of the Jet 75 comes with a turbo brush attachment that’s effective in clearing away pet hair but, unfortunately, is unwieldy. Like all of Samsung’s other Jet-series vacuums, it has a five-stage filtration system that does a good job of sealing in pet dander. You can expect a max runtime of about an hour with a fully-charged battery, which is pretty good by the standards of its class. Unfortunately, unlike the pricier V15 Detect, it doesn’t have an automatic power adjustment feature that would allow it to increase its suction power on carpets. If that’s a feature you want, the Tineco PURE ONE S11 is a good comparably-priced alternative, though it has a weaker suction motor, a shorter battery life, and a smaller dustbin.

Best Lower Mid-Range Vacuum For Pet Hair

Check out the Wyze Cordless Vacuum if you’re looking for a vacuum for pet hair at a lower mid-range price point. It’s less powerful than the Samsung Jet 75 and feels considerably less sturdy. That said, it still offers a lot of bang for the buck when it comes to dealing with pet hair, as it easily clears away long and short strands on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. Its floorhead has no built-in anti-tangle vanes, but its brushroll is fully removable, and you can cut or pull away any hair that gets caught in its bristles pretty easily. Its on-board HEPA filter is a rare feature for something at this price point and helps seal in some fine allergens like pet dander. Unfortunately, its bundled attachment set is pretty limited; its crevice tool doesn’t do a great job of dealing with hair on fabric, and its crevice tool is too small to be of any real use when cleaning larger areas. Thankfully, you can buy a mini turbo brush tool from the manufacturer’s website. Unfortunately, the build quality isn’t all that impressive, with its mainly plastic body feeling a little delicate in places.

Best Budget Vacuum For Pet Hair

If you’re shopping at the more affordable end of the market, the Eureka Mighty Mite is one of the best vacuums for dog hair we’ve tested. As a bagged and corded canister vacuum, it has little in common with something like the Wyze Cordless Vacuum, with a limited range and slightly bulkier form factor. However, one thing it does share with the pricier cordless models on this list is its fantastic performance in clearing away pet hair on various surface types, from hardwood floors to carpets and rugs. It has a pure suction floorhead with no brushroll, so you don’t have to worry about pet hair getting tangled within a mechanism. The vacuum doesn’t come with a turbo brush, but its combination stiff-bristle brush/upholstery tool is still effective when removing pet hair on fabric surfaces. Unfortunately, it’s worth noting that it might not be the best option if you’re concerned about minimizing the airborne allergens in your home; some versions of the Mighty Mite have vents behind the rear wheels that bypass any post-motor filtration, negating the benefit of using any aftermarket HEPA filter you might decide to install.

Best Upright Vacuum For Pet Hair

If you prefer the all-in-one design of an upright vacuum, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 is among the best vacuums for dog hair we’ve tested. This bagless upright is far more of a hassle to set up and use than a cordless stick model like the Dyson V15 Detect, but it’s worth a look if you prioritize debris-pickup performance above all else. It easily clears away pet hair on a range of floor types, and its floorhead offers three levels of surface adjustment and a set of built-in vanes that do a great job of preventing hair from getting tangled in the mechanism. It’s also allergen-sealed and has an onboard HEPA filter to limit the spread of fine allergens like pet dander as you clean, though shaking out its dustbin can still release a cloud of dust and debris. The Extra variant of this vacuum comes with a dedicated pet grooming tool to clear away any loose fur from long-haired pets and a miniature turbo brush attachment to clear away hair on fabric surfaces. Consider a bagged vacuum like the Kenmore Intuition Bagged if you have allergies and want a cleaner debris disposal process. You can drop the Kenmore’s dirtbag into the trash with the press of a single latch, making it much easier and more hygienic to empty than the Dyson. However, the Kenmore also has a far more tangle-prone floorhead that doesn’t do as well with pet hair on bare floors.

Best Canister Vacuum For Pet Hair

If you prefer the more maneuverable design of a canister vacuum over an upright vacuum, the Miele Complete C3 Cat and Dog is a great option. It might be a lot pricier than the Dyson Ball Animal 3, but that’s reflected in its design, as this vacuum has a sturdy body made of high-grade plastic and a wand made from stainless steel. It’s also substantially easier to maintain, with quickly replaceable dirtbags and filters. The Cat and Dog PowerLine variant of the C3 also comes with an activated charcoal filter to trap odors as you clean, not to mention Miele’s SEB 228 powerhead, which can easily handle pet hair on everything from low-pile rugs to plush carpeting. It also has a separate straight-suction parquet floorhead to tackle pet hair on bare floors. If you’re looking for a bagged vacuum with lower recurring costs, the SEBO Airbelt D4 is a good option with larger dirtbags and longer-lasting filters. It’s also heavier and bulkier, making it less easy to maneuver in cluttered rooms. Conversely, if you’re shopping for something more affordable, the Cat and Dog variant of the Miele Classic C1 is a good option with similar features. However, it feels less sturdily built than the C3 and has no onboard tool storage compartment.

Notable Mentions

• Samsung Jet 90 Complete: The Samsung Jet 90 Complete is a cordless stick vacuum that’s among the best vacuums for pet hair and hardwood floors we’ve tested, as it does a fantastic job of handling pet hair on a wide variety of surfaces. However, it lacks the Dyson V15 Detect’s automatic power adjustment feature and dirt sensor. See our review
• Dyson Gen5detect/Gen5detect Absolute: The Dyson Gen5detect/Gen5detect Absolute is effectively a replacement for the Dyson V15 Detect as the brand’s flagship model. Like its predecessor, it’s great for dealing with pet hair, but aside from a few alterations to its control scheme and attachment set, it’s very similar in design and does little to justify its much higher price. See our review
• Shark Stratos Cordless: The Shark Stratos Cordless is an upper mid-range cordless stick vacuum that’s among the best vacuums for pet hair and hardwood floors we’ve tested. However, unlike the LG CordZero A9, its primary brushroll isn’t removable, and despite its billing as being self-cleaning, it can still collect pet hair, making it a hassle to clean. It also doesn’t come bundled with a miniature turbo brush tool. See our review
• Shark Cordless Pro [IZ562H, UZ565H]: The Shark Cordless Pro is a mid-range cordless stick vacuum that’s pretty effective in handling pet hair and has a self-cleaning brushroll, but it’s less powerful than the Samsung Jet 75 and has a shorter battery life. See our review
• BISSELL CleanView/CleanView Swivel Pet Rewind: The BISSELL CleanView Swivel is a budget-friendly bagless upright that does a fantastic job cleaning pet hair on several surfaces. However, it’s bulky and doesn’t have a HEPA filter, unlike the Dyson Ball Animal 3. See our review
• Shark Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away: The Shark Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away is a cordless upright vacuum that represents a good alternative to the Dyson Ball Animal 3 if you want the go-anywhere range of a cordless mode. However, it has a somewhat short battery life when used as an upright and lacks any floorhead height adjustment, meaning it can get tangled on rugs. See our review
• Airsign HEPA Vacuum: The Airsign HEPA Vacuum is a mid-range canister vacuum that represents a good alternative to the Miele Complete C3 thanks to its similar overall performance on bare floors and slightly more compact size. However, it has a shorter range, isn’t as well-built, and doesn’t come with a motorized floorhead. See our review

Recent Updates

1. Oct 12, 2023: Replaced Shark Pet Cordless (IX141) with Wyze Cordless Vacuum as the ‘Best Lower Mid-Range Vacuum For Pet Hair’ pick. Added Dyson Gen5detect/Gen5detect Absolute to Notable Mentions.
2. Sep 06, 2023: Replaced JASHEN V16 with Shark Pet Cordless IX141 as ‘Best Lower Mid-Range Vacuum For Pet Hair’ pick due to current availability.
3. Aug 07, 2023: Replaced Shark Cordless Pro with JASHEN V16 as ‘Best Lower Mid-Range Vacuum For Pet Hair’ pick due to current pricing.
4. Jul 06, 2023: Replaced JASHEN V16 with Eureka Mighty Mite as ‘Best Budget Vacuum For Pet Hair’ pick due to current availability. Added Shark Cordless Pro as new ‘Best Lower Mid-Range Vacuum For Pet Hair’ pick.
5. May 31, 2023: Replaced Tineco PURE ONE S11 Tango with Samsung Jet 75 Pet as ‘Best Mid-Range Vacuum For Pet Hair’ due to current availability.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are currently the best vacuums to buy. We factor in a fairly wide range of factors, including availability, price, and reader feedback.

If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here’s the list of all our vacuum reviews, ranked by their pet-hair cleaning performance. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no vacuum is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.

9 Best Vacuums for Pet Hair, Tested by Experts

Including a top-tested upright vacuum and a cordless Dyson for hardwood floors.

A house may not be a home without a pet, but a home with a pet often means a home covered in pet hair. To keep your pet’s shedding from impacting the air, floors and cushions of your home, we found the vacuums best suited to tackle this particular problem, whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit or other furry friend.

Our top picks:

Best Overall Vacuum for Pet Hair

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus Lightweight Vacuum

Best Value Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Hoover WindTunnel Tangle Guard Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Best Cordless Vacuum for Pet Hair

Dyson V15 Detect Stick Vacuum

Best Vacuum for Pet Hair and Hardwood Floors

Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go Bagged Canister

Best Bagged Canister for Pet Hair

Kenmore Floorcare Upright Bagged Vacuum

Best Bagless Canister for Pet Hair

Miele Boost CX1 Cat and Dog

Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair

BLACK+DECKER Furbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pets

Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair

eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S MAX

Best Corded Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab, we test all kinds of vacuums, including the best stick vacuums, handheld vacuums, canister vacuums, robot vacuums and more. In the last nine months, we’ve tested 44 vacuums for our 2023 Cleaning and Organizing Awards and other category tests. We put our vacuums through rigorous testing that follows industry-standard test methods from the ASTM and apply standardized types and amounts of soil on a range of flooring types, from hardwood to deep pile carpet to vinyl, to find the best vacuums to get the job done. We also spoke with Dr. Gary Richter M.S., D.V.M., a holistic veterinarian who’s well-acquainted with pet fur in both his home and office on how to better mitigate your pet’s shedding.

Keep reading for more information on how we evaluate the best vacuums for pet hair in our Lab, plus more of our best tips and tricks for pet hair removal. If your tile or wood floors need a little more love and attention, check out our guides to the best vacuum mops and the best vacuums for hardwood floors. For even more on carpets, check out our guides to the best carpet cleaners and how to clean your carpet the right way.

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus Lightweight Vacuum

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus Lightweight Vacuum

Pros

• Sealed to trap allergens
• Hands-free dust cup emptying
• 7-foot hose to clean hard to reach spots

Cons

Like many other models from the brand, Bissell’s Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus did not disappoint our testers — in fact, it’s one of the best Bissell vacuums we’ve ever tested in our Lab. It earned good scores for its ease of use and powerful suction, but our favorite feature is the mess-free dust cup’s easy-to-empty, hands-free design, with a hair spooling system inside the canister that makes it easier to empty. The floor nozzle also contains a tangle-free brush roll that prevents pet hair from clogging the bristles.

“This vacuum’s combination of features and tools was ideal for picking up the hair of both small and large pets,” said one impressed tester. When comparing this model to other upright vacuums we tested in our Lab, we rated it favorably for its weight, but some online reviewers say they found the Pet Hair Eraser Turbo too heavy and had trouble lifting it, especially on stairs.

Weight	13.75 lbs.
Corded or Cordless	Corded
Cord Length	30 feet
Run Time	N/A
Bag or Bagless	Bagless
Dust Cup Capacity	0.75 L
Filter	Washable foam and non-washable pleated
Included Accessories	LED Crevice Tool, Pet Turbo Eraser Tool and 2-in-1 Pet Dusting Brush

Hoover WindTunnel Tangle Guard Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Hoover WindTunnel Tangle Guard Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Pros

• 2023 Best Cleaning and Organizing Award winner
• Five-year limited warranty

Cons

This pick from Hoover earned a spot in our 2023 Best Cleaning and Organizing Awards due to its strong suction, tangle-preventing brush roll and affordable price tag. It’s a bagless vacuum with a larger dust bin that can hold up to 1.5 liters of debris which is especially nice since pet hair takes up lots of space. The tangle guard prevents hair up to 16 inches long from getting caught, a claim that held up during our testing. “It did a great job picking up the long hair and threads we put down without getting them tangled in the brush roll,” said one expert tester.

While it does have a cord, it extends up to 30 feet so it’s unlikely to limit your cleaning ability. It also has LED headlights that make it easy to see into crevices and corners so you don’t miss a spot. A crevice tool, a dusting brush and a turbo tool all come included.

Weight	15 lbs.
Corded or Cordless	Corded
Cord Length	30 feet
Run Time	N/A
Bag or Bagless	Bagless
Dust Cup Capacity	1.5 Liters
Filter	HEPA
Included Accessories	Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Turbo Tool

Dyson V15 Detect Stick Vacuum

Dyson V15 Detect Stick Vacuum

Pros

• Comes with a unique tool for pet hair
• On-board tool storage
• Automatically adjusts suction across different flooring

Cons

Dyson’s V15 Detect, a past Good Housekeeping Cleaning Award winner, packs a lot of innovation into a lightweight design, including a laser that illuminates dust and other debris not visible in regular lighting, a fluffy brush that’s great for picking up hair and dust from hard flooring and an LCD screen that shows you the size of each particle your vacuum picks up. Our testers found maintenance easy, thanks to a hair screw tool specifically made to ball up long and short pet hair and deposit it into the dust bin without tangling around the brush. The dust bin is smaller than those on most full-size upright vacuums and therefore requires more frequent emptying.

We found manually switching between cleaning modes easy, but the auto-mode automatically adjusts the suction power depending on the floor type it senses, instantly providing stronger suction when you need it most (like when removing debris from carpet fibers). Both the filter and fluffy brush are washable, plus you can store all accessories right on the wand. It has powerful suction, so much so that it sometimes proved troublesome for testers vacuuming around lightweight rugs that were sucked up easily by the V15 Detect.

Weight	6.8 lbs.
Corded or Cordless	Cordless
Run Time	Up to 60 minutes
Bag or Bagless	Bagless
Dust Cup Capacity	0.76 L
Filter	HEPA
Included Accessories	Hair screw tool, combination tool, stubborn dirt brush, crevice tool, mini soft dusting brush and digital motorbar

Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go Bagged Canister

Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go Bagged Canister

Pros

• Comes with a motorized attachment for pet hair
• Bagged so less dust escapes during emptying

Cons

For those who prefer a bagged vacuum that keeps pet hair and dander sealed after cleaning, there’s the Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go canister vacuum from Kenmore, a Cleaning and Organizing Award-winner. To clean hardwood floors, you can attach the bare floor brush hands-free using a foot pedal — though one tester found that the compartment doesn’t open all the way each time, so you may have to nudge it a bit to get the brush out. We found its Pet PowerMate tool to be great for cleaning hair from upholstered furniture and carpets, and it can be stored along with all other tools right on the vacuum.

In our Lab tests, it proved to have powerful suction, picking up dry oats from our test carpets and hard flooring easily. One of our consumer testers used this vacuum right after another model and found that it picked up debris that the first vacuum missed. “The suction was phenomenal,” our tester said. We also found it easy to maneuver and transition from carpet to hard floors, thanks to its large wheels.

Keep in mind that this vacuum clocks in at over 20 pounds, so it’ll take two hands to carry up or down stairs, though it is possible to clean stairs without having to pick it up thanks to its 10.5-foot telescoping wand, long hose and retractable cord.

Weight	24 lbs.
Corded or Cordless	Corded
Cord Length	26 feet
Run Time	N/A
Bag or Bagless	Bag
Duct Cup Capacity	N/A
Filter	HEPA
Included Accessories	Crevice tool, bare floor tool, upholstery brush and pet PowerMate

Kenmore Floorcare Upright Bagged Vacuum

Kenmore Floorcare Upright Bagged Vacuum

Pros

• Air-powered hand tool with a rotating brush for easier pet hair pick-up
• Certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation
• Five-position adjustable height nozzle

Cons

Pet hair is an annoyance for most pet owners, but if you or someone in your family happens to be allergic, it can also be a serious health issue. But this upright Kenmore has all the extras to keep pet hair where it belongs: inside the vacuum. Certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA), this vacuum has a HEPA filter and passed AAFA tests for low emissions, both while vacuuming and changing the bag.

Although it lacks some of the features that other vacuum cleaners offer, like auto height adjustments for different floor types and a retractable cord, we’re impressed by its large capacity dust cup, ample hose storage, variety of tools and that it can be manually height adjusted for easier pushing across all carpet styles.

While we haven’t yet tested this specific model in our Lab, Kenmore vacuums have done well in our previous performance tests; we also trust the rigid standards of the AAFA and are impressed with the certification criteria. Reviewers say this vacuum maintains its performance even as the bag fills with dirt, and it’s loaded with features we love, like a powerful motor and an air-powered hand tool with a rotating brush to more easily remove stubborn pet hair from upholstery, bedding and stairs. Still, at just under 20 pounds, it may not be the easiest to lift up.

Weight	19 lbs.
Corded or Cordless	Corded
Cord Length	30 feet
Run Time	N/A
Bag or Bagless	Bag
Dust Cup Capacity	1.5 L
Filter	HEPA
Included Accessories	Dusting brush, crevice tool and bare floor tool

Miele Boost CX1 Cat and Dog

Miele Boost CX1 Cat and Dog

Pros

• Included turbo brush floorhead for pet hair pickup on carpet
• Four suction power settings
• Easy to carry

Cons

This Miele canister vacuum model comes with a turbo brush floorhead specially designed for picking up dirt and hair from low- to medium-pile carpets. We are always impressed by the design and performance of Miele vacuums in our tests, and this canister vacuum was no exception, picking up dry oats from carpets, hardwood flooring and tiles without leaving anything behind. Thanks to its small size, it can be easily stored and carried from room to room, and its 32-foot operating radius is great for cleaning large areas. There’s even a spot on the canister body to park the hose so it stays upright during storage.

This Boost CX1 model also includes a universal floor head for pet hair pickup on bare floors. This Miele canister vacuum is one of our most expensive picks, but it offers four suction power options that make it gentle enough to clean curtains and strong enough to clean carpets. We think the cost is justified as you’ll be able to tackle messes from floor to ceiling with just one device.

One of our consumer testers said, “It worked well on all surfaces, but really impressed with the power it had on the area rug.” It impressed our expert testers, too, earning it a Cleaning and Organizing Award.

Weight	18 lbs.
Corded or Cordless	Corded
Cord Length	21 feet
Run Time	N/A
Bag or Bagless	Bagless
Dust Cup Capacity	1 L
Filter	HEPA
Included Accessories	Upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, two floor nozzles and dusting brush

BLACK+DECKER Furbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pets

BLACK+DECKER Furbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pets

Pros

• Powered pet head has rubber bristles to lift pet hair off furniture and stairs
• Affordable

Cons

This cordless handheld vacuum from Black+Decker is a great affordable vacuum for pet hair that’s especially nice for cleaning up the car. It has a motorized pet brush tool that uses rubber bristles to lift pet hair off upholstery, car seats and carpets.

The only other tool included is an extendable crevice tool for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. Like many of the best handheld vacuums, it has a long runtime of up to 32 minutes, but it takes four hours to charge and does not have a removable battery. Its filter is washable and the dust cup empties with the push of a button, allowing for easy maintenance.

This vacuum’s powerful suction and large battery indicator were one tester’s favorite features. They said, “While a small device will never be as powerful as a full-size model, this little vacuum’s suction was impressive.” With an average 4.4-star rating on Amazon from over 8,500 reviewers, this handheld vacuum is fan-approved too.

Weight	4.2 lbs.
Run time	Up to 32 minutes
Bag or Bagless	Bagless
Dust Cup Capacity	0.75 L
Corded or Cordless	Cordless
Filter	Washable filter and pre-filter
Included Accessories	Crevice tool and motorized pet brush

eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S MAX

eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S MAX

Pros

• Affordable
• Super slim design gets under low furniture
• Regular and deep-cleaning options available

Cons

• Consumers say it may not last as long as other models

The RoboVac 11S Max comes equipped with high-end features all for under $250 — which is why we named it the best value robot vacuum. While we haven’t tested this specific model in our Lab yet, we have tested other Eufy vacuums like the RoboVac 15 Max and find the brand’s products receive top scores. The 11S Max may be the most inexpensive Eufy robot vacuum, but that doesn’t mean you’re compromising when it comes to cleaning pet hair.

At under 3-inches tall, the easy-to-use robot vacuum can get to hard to reach areas under furniture, where dust, hair and other dirt can build-up without you realizing. It has great suction power ideal for sucking up pet hair, as well as an auto-increase suction feature that that allows the vacuum to deep clean. Large wheels help the vacuum navigate carpets and door ledges, while built-in sensors help it avoid falling down your stairs or bumping into objects.

Over 11,000 online Amazon customer reviews reflect the popularity of this budget-friendly robot vacuum. One five-star review says it’s a great value: “We have a cat and a dog and two humans and the Eufy makes a huge difference in keeping things clean with low effort.” Some online reviews do mention that the vacuum may not last as long as other models.

Weight	5.7 lbs.
Corded or Cordless	NA
Cord Length	NA
Run Time	100 mins.
Bag or Bagless	NA
Dust Cup Capacity	600 ml
Filter	Cartridge
Included Accessories	Charging adapter, dusting brush, charging base, remote control, 2 AAA batteries, cleaning tool, side brush

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum

Pros

• Compact
• Lightweight
• Rubber nozzle to help lift stuck-on hair

Cons

This small-but-mighty Bissell is perfect for quick pet hair fixes. We like that it’s designed with a rubber nozzle to help lift stuck-on hair. It’s easy to maneuver around chair arms and stair treads, though its shape makes it a little awkward to hold and it’s not the best option for tight, hard-to-reach spots.

In the Lab, it took just four swipes to pick up every bit of hair in our pet hair pick-up tests — in fact, in our latest round of handheld vacuum tests, it earned the highest overall performance score out of 19 models tested.

Its 16-foot power cord is long enough to navigate small messes and it comes with an attachment for hard floors to nab pet hair or dry messes like kitty litter on tile and more. It’s a little heavier than a lot of other handheld vacuums we’ve tested, but worth the extra weight for the larger-than-usual dust cup capacity.

Weight	5 lbs.
Corded or Cordless	Corded
Cord Length	16 feet
Run Time	N/A
Bag or Bagless	Bagless
Dust Cup Capacity	0.78 L
Filter	Multi-layer filtration
Included Accessories	Specialized rubber nozzle and suction nozzle

How we test vacuums for pet hair

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we test dozens of vacuum cleaners throughout the year. In the last nine months alone, we tested 23 new stick vacuums and 21 new robot vacuums for a total of 44 new models tested.

Each vacuum model we evaluate is tested exactly the same way, according to ASTM standards. As a member of ASTM International’s F11 Vacuum Cleaner Committee, our Cleaning Lab’s executive director helps to develop the standards used across the industry to assess a vacuum’s performance, ease of use, durability and more.

In the Cleaning Lab, we assess how well vacuums pick up dirt and debris from carpets, hardwood, tile and linoleum flooring. Perhaps most importantly, every vacuum we evaluate gets tested on faux “pet hair,” a.k.a. fine rayon fibers that we apply to test carpeting in a uniform way. After a specified number of passes, we determine the percentage of pet hair pickup.

In addition to performance testing, each vacuum must also undergo ease-of-use evaluations that include assessing the weight, battery runtime, maneuverability and ease of emptying and using the controls of the devices. Models that are tested in consideration for our annual Cleaning and Organizing Awards are also sent to consumer testers who rate and provide feedback on the vacuum’s maneuverability, ease of use and more. Our picks are the vacuums that performed best on in-Lab pet hair tests, plus ones with features perfectly suited to tackle stubborn fur.

What is the difference between a pet hair vacuum and a regular vacuum?

What differentiates pet hair vacuums from other vacuums is their focus on picking up different types of debris and the technology they employ to do it. When testing to make sure vacuums can accommodate homes with pet hair, we make sure that brush rolls and attachments can handle long hair without inconveniences like tangling. Pet hair vacuums offer larger bins so that they don’t fill up quickly when filled with lots of fur and often come with extra attachments for removing pet hair from furniture. They may also feature HEPA filters which better trap allergens to keep dander and dust from reentering the air after you vacuum.

What to look for when shopping for the best pet hair vacuums

To help any vacuum do a better job at removing pet hair, we recommend giving fur-covered carpets and couches a spritz of an anti-static spray, like Static Guard, before vacuuming to help strands come up easier. Then, there are a few features to look for in a vacuum for pet hair:

✔️ Bagged vs. bagless: Dust cups or bags are essential considerations for the inevitable and frequent dumping that happens as you vacuum up after your pet. Bagged vacuums are best for keeping pet hair, dust and debris out of the air when emptying the vacuum, making them ideal for homes with allergy sufferers. Bagless vacuums are often sealed to prevent debris from escaping and going back into the air of your home as you clean, but they have to be emptied directly into the trash bin which can allow dust to escape. Bagless models are great for homes that don’t want to re-up on bags. Make sure that the dust cup is sizable and easy to empty, or that the bag is easily disposed of for the easiest post-cleaning cleanup.

✔️ Filter type: Filters not only keep the dust from recirculating back into the air but can actually help neutralize pet smells in your home. Look for models with multi-layer filtration that can trap more debris than a single-layer filter can. Models with pre-filters and whole machine filtration also offer multiple levels of filtration at different parts of the vacuum to further prevent dust and debris from re-entering your home’s air. And if allergies are a concern, HEPA filters are the most effective, since they trap 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles with a minimum size of 0.3 microns (nanoparticles).

✔️ Type of flooring: Many vacuum cleaners come with attachments that are specifically designed for cleaning different types of flooring. Models with soft brushes or brushes that can be turned off are the best option for hardwood flooring as they are less likely to cause scratches than brushes with harder bristles. For thick carpets, rotating brush rolls with stiff bristles help get into the individual fibers of the carpet to get more dirt and debris out.

✔️ Corded vs. cordless: With a corded vacuum, you’ll never have to worry about running out of battery power, however, cordless vacuums are easier to take from room to room or use in a car. When deciding between a corded and cordless model, ask yourself the following: Do you plan to tote it around the house and outside, or are you more likely to use it for long stretches of time? If you’re leaning toward a cordless model, look for ones that include a second battery for longer run time.

✔️ Size and weight: Portability is also an important factor when shopping for a vacuum cleaner. If you’re frequently vacuuming small amounts of pet hair, you may want a handheld or stick vacuum that’s compact and lightweight for quick detail work. If you find yourself vacuuming large areas often, you’ll want a corded canister or upright vacuum that never runs out of power. Keep in mind that heavier vacuums will be harder to carry up and down stairs if you have multiple levels to clean in your home.

✔️ Pet tools and features: Pet hair-nabbing features are crucial, like rubber trim and raised “fingers” on floor nozzles or attachments that help zap static and break the bonds so fur comes up more easily. Tangle-free brush rolls also put an end to clipping long strands of hair (from pets or humans!) that get twisted around the brush.

Is a vacuum with a HEPA filter worth it?

Yes, vacuums with HEPA filters are especially great for homes with allergy sufferers as they trap 99.97% of microscopic airborne allergens. Vacuums with “HEPA-like” filters are less expensive but often are only able to trap airborne particles as small as 0.5 microns, which makes a big difference when it comes to reducing debris like pet dander. Sealed vacuums that don’t allow any particles to escape from side vents or any other part of the vacuum are helpful for allergies, as are bagged vacuums that minimize the release of dust when emptying the dust cup.

How to keep pet hair under control

Dr. Gary Richter M.S., D.V.M., a holistic veterinarian, walked us through some ways to mitigate your pet’s shedding and even told us how he keeps his living spaces from being overtaken by fur. First and foremost, address the source of the problem by making sure you’re brushing your pet regularly. “The most important tool to have on hand, in most cases, is a brush,” says Richter. “You can even utilize brushing gloves with bristles built right into the palm so that excess fur can be removed by petting your furry companion.”

And while he says that pets tend to shed all year round due to the regulated temperatures indoors, you can also manage their shedding by making sure you’re taking care of their coat in terms of nutrition. A properly balanced high-quality diet can actually reduce excess shedding. Consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your pet’s diet.

Finally, Richter suggests regular vacuuming, of course. We suggest vacuuming daily if you have a particularly furry dog or cat. Setting up a robot vacuum on a daily schedule can help suck up pet hair with little effort on your part.