Best Shark Vacuums 2024 - Forbes Vetted

If you share your home with furry friends, a Shark vacuum is a solid option to handle all the hair they leave behind. The best Shark vacuums for pet hair come equipped with features like HEPA filters, no-tangle brushrolls and extra-large dustbins. Combined with powerful suction, these vacuums are designed to manage large amounts of pet hair effectively. For most homes with pets, we recommend the Shark AZ3002 Stratos Upright, thanks to its strong suction and versatile design.

The Shark Stratos Upright offers impressive suction that effectively lifts fur from various ... [+] surfaces, and it’s equipped with thoughtful features for homes with pets.

If you're looking for a vacuum that balances both performance and value, Shark is an excellent choice. According to Jennifer Rodriguez, chief hygiene officer at Pro Housekeepers, "Shark vacuums often include innovative features such as self-cleaning brush rolls, anti-allergen complete seal technology and easy-to-empty dustbins." Donna Dougherty, founder and CEO of Go Green Cleaning Experts, adds that Shark vacuums also offer powerful suction and features like swivel steering, making them even more user-friendly. She adds, "The brand's commitment to adapting to consumer needs, providing durability and offering user-friendly designs at an affordable price has contributed to their widespread appeal."

Below, we rounded up some of the best Shark vacuums for pet hair, including models we've personally tested in multi-pet homes.

Amazon

Type: Upright | Dimensions: 11.02 x 12.2 x 46.46 inches | Weight: 16.71 pounds | Dust bin capacity: 1.48 quarts | Tangle-free brushroll: Yes

Pros:

Cons:

When we tested the best vacuum cleaners, the Shark Stratos Upright stood out as the top option for pet hair removal. It offers impressive suction that effectively lifts pet hair from various surfaces, and it’s equipped with thoughtful features for homes with pets. The vacuum’s dual-brushroll system prevents hair tangles, and its large dust bin minimizes the need for frequent emptying during cleaning sessions. Additionally, the Stratos comes with a HEPA filter and Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal, which together trap 99.9% of allergens, including pet dander and dust.

This model also provides excellent versatility throughout your home. The Powered Lift-Away design allows you to detach the canister while keeping the floorhead operational, enabling you to clean under low furniture easily. Included accessories include a non-motorized upholstery tool and a crevice tool, making pet hair removal from furniture and hard-to-reach areas more efficient.

Amazon

Type: Upright | Dimensions: 12.01 x 15.12 x 46.18 inches | Weight: 17.57 pounds | Dust bin capacity: 2.02 quarts | Tangle-free brushroll: Yes

Pros:

Cons:

If you want maximum power combined with high-tech features, the Shark PowerDetect Upright stands out as the brand’s latest and most powerful model, acing our performance tests across a wide range of vacuums. Its incredibly strong suction easily tackles pet hair and debris, while the dual-brushroll system seamlessly transitions between carpeting and hard floors. Equipped with integrated sensors, the vacuum intelligently adjusts its settings based on the type of flooring and level of dirt, providing a consistently thorough clean.

Several features make this vacuum particularly appealing for pet owners. For starters, it has the largest dust bin of any vacuum on our list, reducing the need for frequent emptying. The brushrolls feature a no-tangle design, ensuring hair doesn’t wrap around and impede cleaning. Additionally, the PowerDetect includes a HEPA filter and a fully sealed filtration system to trap allergens effectively. However, keep in mind that it’s quite heavy, which can make carrying it up and down stairs more challenging.

Amazon

Type: Cordless stick | Dimensions: 10.25 x 15.5 x 45.64 inches | Weight: 7.96 pounds | Dust bin capacity: 0.74 quarts | Tangle-free brushroll: Yes

Pros:

Cons:

For those who prefer a cordless vacuum, the Shark PowerDetect Cordless, offers impressive versatility and advanced features similar to upright models from the brand. This cordless unit uses smart sensors to adjust suction power based on flooring type and debris level, ensuring optimal battery efficiency without sacrificing cleaning effectiveness. It can run for up to 70 minutes on its lowest settings, making it ideal for extended cleaning sessions.

The vacuum’s dual-brushroll system performs exceptionally well at picking up hair and debris on both hard floors and carpets. It also features a convenient bending wand that allows you to easily reach under low-profile furniture, and it comes with helpful attachments, including a crevice-duster tool and a pet multi-tool for more precise cleaning tasks. Additionally, the PowerDetect Cordless is available with a self-emptying base that holds up to 45 days of debris, minimizing the need for daily maintenance.

Shark

Type: Upright | Dimensions: 13 x 12 x 45.5 inches | Weight: 14 pounds | Dust bin capacity: 0.8 quarts | Tangle-free brushroll: Yes

Pros:

Cons:

Many of Shark’s more affordable vacuums are less suitable for picking up pet hair, as their brushrolls can easily become tangled with hair. However, the brand’s new Navigator Lift-Away ADV strikes a balance between affordability and effective pet hair cleanup, thanks to its self-cleaning brushroll. This feature helps minimize maintenance, as it prevents hair from wrapping around the brush and eliminates the need to manually remove tangled strands.

This upright model is also equipped with a HEPA filter and an Anti-Allergen Complete Seal, which effectively capture and contain fine dust and allergens, ensuring cleaner air while vacuuming. Weighing in at just 14 pounds, the Navigator Lift-Away ADV is lighter than many other Shark uprights and features a classic lift-away design that simplifies vacuuming stairs or reaching high areas. The vacuum includes useful attachments, such as a crevice tool, an upholstery tool and the Anti-Allergen dusting brush. One limitation to note is its relatively small dust bin, which will require more frequent emptying during cleaning sessions.

Amazon

Type: Robot | Dimensions: 13.08 x 8.43 x 13.9 inches | Weight: 15.2 pounds | Dust bin capacity: Up to 60 days | Tangle-free brushroll: Yes

Pros:

Cons:

The best robot vacuums are particularly helpful for keeping pet hair under control, as they provide consistent, light cleaning on a daily basis. The Shark AI Robot Vacuum stands out as a strong choice for pet-friendly homes, offering features like a no-tangle brushroll that effectively handles hair without getting clogged. It also has a self-emptying base, a HEPA filter to trap allergens and advanced obstacle avoidance to steer clear of pet toys and other objects scattered around.

This model boasts up to 120 minutes of runtime, and when its internal dust bin fills up with debris, it automatically empties into its base, which can hold up to 60 days of waste. Keep in mind that pet hair tends to occupy more space, so you may need to empty the base more often. The Shark AI Robot cleans in a grid pattern, covering your floors with multiple passes for thorough cleaning. Additionally, the Shark app allows you to manage the vacuum’s settings, map your home, create schedules and make cleaning adjustments as needed.

Amazon

Type: Handheld | Dimensions: 20.82 x 3.82 x 4.35 inches | Weight: 2.8 pounds | Dust bin capacity: 0.45 quarts | Tangle-free brushroll: Yes

Pros:

Cons:

For smaller vacuuming tasks like cleaning pet hair off furniture or car upholstery, the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is a compact and effective handheld option. Its cordless design makes it easy to use anywhere, and it’s equipped with a strong motorized pet brush that efficiently lifts and removes even the most stubborn hair without getting tangled. The vacuum also includes a crevice tool for tight spaces and a dusting brush for delicate surfaces. Additionally, its generously sized dust cup helps handle large amounts of pet hair. However, bear in mind that its runtime is relatively short, so it’s best suited for quick cleaning jobs rather than whole-home use.

Many of the editors and writers at Forbes Vetted are pet owners themselves, so we understand firsthand the need for a vacuum that can effectively handle pet hair and other messes that come with having furry family members. Our team has collectively published hundreds of product roundups and detailed reviews, including rigorous tests of the best vacuum cleaners, best vacuums for pet hair, best handheld vacuums and more, to help you find the most reliable options for your home.

To choose the best Shark vacuum for pet hair, we consulted with two cleaning experts for their input regarding must-have features, as well as what makes Shark vacuums unique. We also took our firsthand testing experiences with Shark vacuums into account when selecting models to feature.

Here are a few key factors to consider when shopping for a Shark vacuum for pet hair.

Shark vacuums have a reputation for strong suction power, but some models have better suction than others. In general, corded Shark vacuums will be able to suck up more pet hair and debris than their cordless counterparts, and they also generally perform better on carpeting. If suction power is a big concern for you, the brand’s newest model, the Shark PowerDetect Upright, has some of the most powerful suction of any vacuum we’ve tested.

The vacuum’s brushroll design and filtration system also contribute to how well it’s able to pull up pet hair, Rodriguez says. Most Shark vacuums have a dual-brushroll design, which includes a classic bristled brushroll alongside a soft, fluffy one. This makes them highly effective on both carpeting and hard flooring, and most models have no-tangle designs that prevents long strands from getting wrapped around the roller.

Shark is known for its attachments, and the brand offers plenty of vacuums designed to tackle pet hair. “Choose a vacuum with attachments and tools designed specifically for pet hair removal, such as upholstery brushes and crevice tools,” Rodriguez says.

For instance, the Shark AZ3002 Stratos Upright comes with an upholstery brush that works well at removing pet hair from furniture, and the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus has a powered pet tool that’s ideal for cleaning car upholstery.

Pets often track dirt and dust into your home—not to mention that they shed dander themselves. As such, you’ll want to look for a vacuum that has a good filtration system, including a HEPA filter and Anti-Allergen seal. These features ensure that fine particles like dust, pollen and pet danger remain trapped inside the vacuum and won’t be expelled back out into your home as you clean.

Shark vacuums offer several features worth noting. “Shark vacuums often feature ‘Lift-Away’" technology, allowing the vacuum to transform into a handheld unit for easy cleaning of stairs, upholstery and other hard-to-reach places,” Rodriguez says. They also have dust cups that are easy to empty, as well as swivel steering.

Ultimately, it’s best to figure out the features you’ll actually use and choose a vacuum that meets your needs. “Prioritizing these features ensures an effective solution for managing pet hair in the home,” Doherty says.