One of the best vacuum for pet hair is an essential if you share you share your home with furry friends. Pet hair can quickly collect on carpets and furniture, and prove a challenge for even some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market. So it pays to invest in a machine that's designed to take pet hair in its stride.
All the vacuums in this guide have been tested by reviewers with four-legged friends. They're all able to handle even the most stubborn pet hair, and many also boast extra, pet-friendly features like advanced filtration systems and odor-neutralizers. From budget-friendly vacs to premium powerhouses, these vacuums are designed to efficiently suck up pet hair, dander and allergens, ensuring a cleaner, fresher living space for both you and your pets. There's one robo option here, but if that's your preference, we have a separate guide dedicated to the best robot vacuums for pet hair.
All clear? Read on to discover the best vacuum for pet hair that can help you tackle your furry friends' shedding and make pet hair cleanup a breeze.
The best vacuum for pet hair: the quick list
Best overall
The Shark Stratos Cordless is an excellent choice for pet owners. It boasts plenty of suction that it'll adjust as needed, it's great at hair removal, and its can clean anywhere thanks to its flexible wand.
Best affordable
The Dreame packs way more power than you'd expect for the price, and sucked up a massive amount of hair from our reviewer's pet-filled home. It's also lightweight and comes with various useful detail tools.
Best upright
It's not as convenient as a stick vac, but for maximum power you can't beat a corded upright. This one has automated suction (including useful edge cleaning) and can be reconfigured to deal with hair on sofas or stairs.
Best premium
The V15 packs oodles of power, advanced automation features, a laser-equipped floorhead for highlighting hair, and an excellent mini motorized tool. It's our best pick for pet owners with bigger budgets.
Best bagged
Great suction and a huge bag means this vac can collect more pet hair than you ever knew you had, and it comes with a specialized bristle head for de-furring furniture, dog beds and car interiors.
Best for suction
With a 730w motor and 290AW of suction, the Dyson Ball Animal will pick up dirt you never knew was there. It's heavy and quite cumbersome, but it's an absolute whizz when it comes to pet hair.
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Best for allergies
The Henry Quick looks great and packs plenty of power, and its 65% recycled dust pods make the business of emptying it a whole lot less unpleasant; you can even add scent boosters. (Note: not available in the US).
Best robovac
Robovacs tends to have less power than manual models, but this one impressed our pet-owning tester with how much hair it sucked up. It can be set to run regularly, while you're out, too.
Best premium
If money's no object this Dyson's a winner for dealing with pet hair. It delivers loads of suction and can tackle hair without getting clogged up, and whole-machine HEPA filtration makes it allergy-friendly.
The best vacuum for pet hair in 2025: tested by experts
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The best vacuum for pet hair overall
If you're in a hurry and need to know about the absolute best vacuum for pet hair, we think it's the Shark Stratos Cordless. Our reviewer was particularly taken by its impressive amount of suction power for a relatively lightweight cordless, and that's combined with Shark's Clean Sense IQ technology, which means it'll automatically turn up the power when it detects large amount of dirt, debris or pet hair. She also had plenty of praise for its flexible rotating head that's great for corners and working around awkward pieces of furniture.
The floorhead uses Shark's anti-hair wrap tech, so if you have particularly furry pets that shed everywhere you won't have to spend ages picking hair off the brushrolls every time you clean. As an added bonus, this one also features an odor neutralizer, so not only will your home look cleaner when you've been around with it, it'll smell fresher too. And because pet hair doesn't just get to places where you can see it, the Stratos Cordless has a flexible hose that can reach under furniture without you having to get down on your hands and knees; it also doubles up as a handheld for getting the fur out of furnishings.
The Shark Stratos Cordless has a decent-sized dust cup so you won't have to constantly stop to empty it, and its battery can keep on going for up to an hour on a single charge. If you need a versatile and capable vacuum that's a winner on pet hair, this is the one to go for.
Read our full Shark Stratos Cordless review
The best affordable vacuum for pet hair
Generally, if you want the kind of power that can cope with lots of pet hair, you need to shell out a bit more. Which is why we were so pleasantly surprised when we tested the Dreame R20 – this cordless vacuum comes it at a very budget-friendly price, yet packs the kind of suction we'd associate with much pricier vacuums. We tested it in a home that houses multiples cats and dogs, and our reviewer was amazed at the volume of pet hair it picked up, with no tangling around the floorhead, either.
The superb suction is a major benefit for pet owners, but the Dreame R20 offers plenty more besides (in fact, it's one of the best cordless vacuums we've tested all-round). It's very easy to maneuver, with an innovative carbon fiber wand contributing to a very lightweight build, and exceptional battery life. It offers intelligent suction adjustment so you don't need to fiddle around with settings, and there's a wide range of detail tools to tackle a variety of cleaning tasks. These include two different floorheads: one for general use including carpet, and another one specifically for use on hard floor. The latter has a fluffy roller that gets close to the floor surface and should help ensure hair doesn't escape the suction path.
It doesn't pack quite the suction power of a corded, upright model (#3 and #6), nor will you find the advanced features of a more premium vacuum (#4 and #9). It's also a little less sturdy than our #1 pick, and we found hair could get caught in the dustbin, and need manually removing. However, if you have pets to clean up after and don't have tons of cash to splash, the Dreame R20 is the perfect choice.
Read our full Dreame R20 vacuum review
The best upright vacuum for pet hair
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 – without tangling up the brushroll. You'll also benefit from the generous dust cup, which can hold much more hair and debris than any stick vacuum.
While we won't pretend it's as convenient as a cordless stick vacuum, 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.
We 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, we've 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 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. Dyson remains a cut above the competition when it comes to build quality, and this vacuum has been meticulously engineered to offer maximum suction, battery life, and efficiency.
The automation features are a step up, too: sensors measure the number and size of particles being picked up, and report back on real time on the vacuum's LCD screen, while also ramping up and down the suction to tackle the mess. That means the V15 won't just deal with your pet hair efficiently, you'll be able to see just how much of it it's sucking up during your cleaning session, by watching the large particles counter (or the dust cup, we guess).
Like the Dreame at #2, there are two floorheads included: a general one is for use on any floor type, and a soft one for hard floors. The latter comes equipped with a bright green laser to create shadows on dirt that might otherwise be missed. This ensures you won't miss any stray hairs, even in dingy corners. Other brands have LED headlights, but they're nothing like this.
The other detail tool to flag is the Hair screw tool, which is a small motorized head for use on furniture and the like. It stands out because it has a tapering roller that whisks any hair straight into the bin outlet, rather than letting it get tangled up.
We don't love the fact it's trigger-operated, with no switch to activate for continuous running. This also isn't quite the best Dyson vacuum based on specs – that crown goes to the Gen5detect (#9). However, in a battle of Gen5detect vs V15 Detect, we think the V15 will be the better pick for most people – both are an investment, but the V15 justifies the high price more than the Gen5.
Read our full Dyson V15 Detect review
The best bagged vacuum for pet hair
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 spend forever emptying a dust canister. Unlike many of the latest vacs it's not bagless, and its large two-liter dust bag capacity was a hit with our reviewer, as it can contain a substantial amount of hair and dander before needing to be emptied. The bagged system also makes emptying the vacuum a breeze, with no dust clouds to worry about: a significant advantage for those with pet allergies.
The vacuum's HEPA filtration system helps trap fine pet dander and allergens, improving air quality in the home. With two batteries included in the Pet Max bundle, you get up to 50 minutes to tackle larger areas or multiple-pet spaces without interruption. And its lightweight design and excellent maneuverability make it easy to navigate around pet beds, toys and other obstacles.
The Halo Capsule X Pet Max comes with a dedicated small motorized bristle head specifically designed for removing pet hair from furniture, dog beds and car interiors. And in practice, our reviewer found that its powerful suction effectively collects more pet hair than you realized you had, even from deep pile carpets.
Read our full Halo Capsule X Pet Max 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 a 730w motor that delivers 290AW of suction. combined with a 1.7L bin that might fill up quicker than you expected as the Dyson sucks up all that deep-down fine dust in your carpets that your previous vacuum missed.
This makes it a great option for anyone with a lot of pet hair to deal with, as there's nothing much that the Dyson Ball Animal won't take in its stride. Its enormous floorhead easily tackles pet hair on the floor and won't get clogged up with fur, and our reviewer also found that the Dyson's tangle-free turbine tool made quick work of pet hair on upholstery.
All this power comes at a cost, though: the Dyson Ball Animal is rather heavy and cumbersome and if, like our reviewer, you're used to lightweight cordless vacuums, it might come as something of a shock to your system. In its standard upright mode, its impressive suction can make it hard to maneuver on carpet, and while you can adjust the floor head's suction, this means bending down to adjust a slider at floor level, which might not be good for your back. We also found that the pulling out the hose to vacuum furniture was awkward, as it was surprisingly stiff and difficult to stretch to its full reach.
Despite all this, the Dyson Ball Animal has a lot going for it and it's much more reasonably priced than a lot of Dyson range, and if you regularly have a lot of pet hair do deal with, it'll quickly prove its worth.
Read our full Dyson Ball Animal vacuum review
The best vacuum for pet hair if you have allergies
The Numatic Henry Quick is a great choice for anyone who's in love with the cheeky features of the familiar Henry vacuum, but who doesn't want the hassle of pulling a hefty corded cylinder vac around the house. This model is a cordless stick vacuum that still features Henry's smiling face and bright coloring, but is a lot more lightweight and maneuverable; it's also a strong option for keeping pet hair under control. It's only officially available in the UK; it can be found in the US through third-party vendors, but at such an inflated price that we can't really recommend it.
Like the Halo Capsule X Pet Max, the Henry Quick has a bagged design. Its 65% recycled pods aren't as big as the dust bags in the Halo, but Numatic says that the Henry Quick's powerful airflow compacts dust and debris to provide more capacity. And as with the Halo, changing the pods is a dust-free experience, making this an attractive option for anyone who's ever had to empty a bagless vac into the bin, and making this one a brilliant option for anyone with easily-triggered allergies.
In our review we were seriously impressed by the suction that the Henry Quick's 300W motor delivers, and relieved that we could dial the power down so that it didn't suck up our rugs. The Henry also made quick work of dog hair during our tests, getting them out of soft furnishings and carpets with ease; there's also the option to add a scent pod to leave your home smelling sweet after you've vacuumed.
Battery life ranges from 14 minutes at maximum power to 70 minutes in lower power mode with the motorized brush turned off; we found that the Henry Quick was quite capable of vacuuming a four-bedroom house on a single charge, even with a floorhead that's noticeably smaller than you'll find on other stick vacs. Bear in mind though that the Henry Quick is quite heavy, and if you're vacuuming for a full charge you may well know about it in your wrists.
Read our full Numatic Henry Quick 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 our top pick for pet owners is the Dreame L40 Ultra. We'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 in particular? It boasts impressive suction for a robovac, and proved capable to handling the large volumes of dog hair from our tester's many four-legged friends. It's equally 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. On test, we found it navigated reliably well, mapped our reviewer's home efficiently, and was effective at identifying and avoiding obstacles, too.
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, too; 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 we'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. F
Read our full Dreame L40 Ultra review
The best ultra-premium vacuum for pet hair
The Dyson Gen5detect is very expensive, but in return for all that cash you'll get a powerful Hyperdymium motor, which delivers an impressive 262 air watts of suction, effectively tackling pet hair and dander on various surfaces. It also features a Motorbar cleaner head with 56 detangling vanes, which prevents hair from wrapping around the brush roll; a common issue when dealing with pet hair. And its whole-machine HEPA filtration system is particularly beneficial for pet owners, as it can capture particles as small as 0.1 microns, trapping 99.9% of dust, allergens, and pet dander inside the vacuum. That's particularly important for those sensitive to pet-related allergens.
Battery life of 70 minutes allows for thorough cleaning of larger homes with pets without interruption. The vacuum's dynamic suction automatically adjusts power based on the amount of dirt detected, ensuring efficient cleaning of both light pet hair and heavier pet-related messes.
The laser on the Fluffy Optic floor head helps illuminate pet hair and dander on hard floors, even in well-lit rooms, making it easier to spot and clean up after pets. Additionally, the integrated crevice tool provides quick access for cleaning pet hair from tight spaces and furniture without needing to switch attachments. All of which makes this add up to an excellent, albeit premium-priced, option for households with pets that require thorough and frequent cleaning.
Read our full Dyson Gen5detect review
The best vacuum for pet hair: FAQs
What is the difference between a pet hair vacuum and a regular vacuum?
While regular vacuums can clean up pet hair, they may not be as effective or efficient, especially in homes with multiple pets or heavy shedding. Vacuums that specialize in pet hair are specifically optimized to handle these challenges.
This typically means they feature specialized brushes, such as tangle-free brush rolls or rubber bristles, designed to attract and capture pet hair more efficiently. The filtration systems in pet vacuums are also usually more advanced, helping to trap dander and allergens, which is particularly beneficial for pet owners with allergies.
Pet-specific vacuums often come with specialized attachments like upholstery brushes or crevice tools tailored for removing pet hair from different surfaces. They may also have larger dust bins to accommodate the extra hair and debris collected. Some models include anti-odor features such as carbon filters or other odor-neutralizing technologies to combat pet-related smells.
What to look for in a pet hair vacuum
When searching for a pet hair vacuum, your most important priority will be suction power, which will help effectively remove embedded hair from carpets and upholstery. Beyond that, look for specialized brush rolls designed to prevent hair tangling and efficiently collect pet fur. If you suffer from allergies, a high-quality filtration system is also crucial to trap dander and allergens.
Consider vacuums with versatile attachments such as upholstery tools and crevice nozzles to tackle hair on various surfaces. Opt for models with larger dust bins to reduce the frequency of emptying, especially if you have multiple pets or deal with heavy shedding.
Maneuverability is important, so choose a vacuum that's easy to handle and can reach under furniture, especially if that's where your furry friends spend a lot of their day. Cordless and handheld models are strong on this kind of flexibility, but make sure they provide sufficient battery life for your needs.
Noise level is another factor to consider, especially if your pets are sensitive to loud sounds. Finally, check for additional features like HEPA filters, odor control, and tangle-free technology.
