“The two most important features when looking for a vacuum to clean up after your pets are suction power and filtration,” says Ollie Toogood, senior design engineer at Dyson. We put 37 of the best vacuums for pet hair to the test in our lab in Des Moines, Iowa, to see which ones picked up fur from hard floors and carpets alike while remaining maneuverable and easy to operate. Our team of experts spent an entire day running each vacuum on different flooring types covered in pet hair, dust, dirt, and more. We also ran the vacuums through an obstacle course to see how well they maneuvered around furniture, under tables, and into tight corners. Finally, after carefully examining each device to determine its quality and trying out all of the different features it offered, our testers rated the vacuums individually based on performance, ease of use, and overall value. We used these insights to create our complete list of the best vacuums for pet hair. We selected the Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go Canister Vacuum as the best overall vacuum for pet hair because it earned perfect scores for its effectiveness, maneuverability, and ease of use. These are our top picks for the best vacuums for pet hair. Keep in Mind: It requires two hands to operate: one hand to guide the canister and the other to move the vacuum head across the floor. Out of all the pet hair vacuums we tested, the Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go canister vacuum cleaner earned the only perfect score of the day after acing our tests for maneuverability, effectiveness, and ease of emptying. Our testers were shocked by how well it removed long dog hair from low- and high-pile carpets; the vacuum picked up large clumps of fur in a single pass across the floor. This is thanks to the motorized pet hair brush, which is specifically designed to lift hair out of the fibers of your carpet with ease. We found that the Kenmore vacuum had a little more trouble sucking up hair on hard flooring, since the hard floor attachment doesn’t have a brush roll to help trap the hair. Our testers noted that lifting the vacuum and setting it down directly on top of the dog hair helped capture and sweep the fur away. At 22.6 pounds, this vacuum is pretty lightweight and extremely easy to maneuver throughout the house. You’ll need two hands to operate it—one hand to guide the canister and the other to push the vacuum itself—but our testers found that they weren’t overly tired from doing this. The vacuum’s cord is also generously long, so we were able to easily cover a large area without stopping to find a new outlet. Plus, the detached design of the Kenmore canister vacuum makes it super easy to fit underneath furniture, like couches and coffee tables. Price at time of publish: $315 Weight: 22.6 pounds | Cord Length: 26 feet | Dustbin Size: N/A, requires canister vacuum bags | Battery Life: N/A | Accessories: Vacuum cleaner bags, crevice tool, dusting brush, pet tool Keep in Mind: Since this is a handheld device, you’ll have to crouch down to operate it on the floor. If you already have a vacuum for day-to-day messes but you need a device with some added oomph to help tackle pet-related debris, this handheld vacuum cleaner is a great option. It’s designed to powerfully remove fur, dirt, crumbs, and dander from a variety of surfaces including carpet and upholstery, making it very versatile to use. Our testers loved how effective the Black+Decker vacuum was on carpets and upholstery in particular, noting that it only took one pass to remove large chunks of pet hair from these surfaces. Because of its tangle-resistant rubber bristles, this vacuum makes it easier to pick up pet and human hair alike without any strands getting trapped in the fibers. This means you won’t have to cut hair out of the brush roll nearly as often as other models. In addition to its impressive brush roll, we found that the suction of the Black+Decker vacuum allowed it to pick up heavier debris—including chunks of kibble—without too much trouble. Because of this, you’ll be able to use the vacuum to handle several types of messes in your home without switching to a different device. We also found that it was pretty quiet compared to other vacuums we tested, ranging between 62 to 66 decibels, depending on the vacuum setting. There’s a “power boost” setting that increases the brush roll speed and suction power to tackle particularly dirty spots in your home, too. And while it only comes with one attachment (an extra-long crevice tool), this extra piece allows you to reach in between couch cushions and into tight, cobweb-ridden corners of your home with ease. The vacuum is very easy to push around even on high-pile carpet, though it was less comfortable to operate than a full-size vacuum on the floor, since you have to bend over to use it. For this reason, we’d mainly recommend using this handheld vacuum on upholstery or to spot-clean specific areas of your flooring instead of an entire room. Price at time of publish: $97 Weight: 4.2 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Dustbin Size: 23.7 ounces | Battery Life: Not listed | Accessories: Crevice tool Keep in Mind: It is a little loud compared to other vacuums on this list. When it comes to better caring for our pets, we’re often willing to spend a bit more to get a truly high-quality product—and that includes technology to clean up after them, too. Though the Dyson V15 Detect vacuum is the most expensive vacuum for pet hair on this list, it’s worth the splurge because of its lightweight design and the suite of impressive attachments it comes with. Our testers especially loved the pet hair screw tool, a conical brush attachment that effortlessly whisked pet hair from the couch cushions during testing. On carpets and hard floors alike, the Dyson V15 picked up all of the pet hair in just one pass, and it seamlessly transitioned between floor types without the need to change settings. We found it to be extremely easy to maneuver, thanks to the vacuum’s narrow profile and pivoting cleaner head. In addition to powerfully removing pet-related messes in your home, the Dyson V15 Detect vacuum is great at tackling pretty much any type of debris your floors typically encounter. It comes with a fluffy cleaner head for buffing hard floors, a built-in hair-removing comb to keep long hairs from tangling around the brush roll, a crevice tool for upholstery, and more. We also liked the laser feature, which illuminates the floor directly in front of your vacuum so you can clearly see any dust or debris in its path. This vacuum was a little louder than other models we tested, clocking in at 81 decibels on its lowest setting. Since this is approximately the same noise level as a truck on the highway, you likely won’t be able to hold a conversation in the same room as the vacuum when it’s running. Price at time of publish: $315 Weight: 6.8 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Dustbin Size: 0.9 liters | Battery Life: Not listed | Accessories: Hair screw tool, fluffy cleaner head, crevice tool, combination tool, mini dusting brush, dirt brush Keep in Mind: It takes a few minutes to connect the device to WiFi when you first set it up. When owning pets, it can seem like there’s a never-ending list of cleaning tasks you have to do in order to keep up with all the messes they make throughout your home. However, purchasing a robot vacuum can be a great way to keep pet hair off of your hard floors and carpets with the touch of a button. When we tested the best robot vacuums, we found that the iRobot Roomba J7 was the most effective against pet hair because of its rubber brush roll and strong suction. These elements allow the vacuum to suck up heavy particles like kibble, pet litter, and dense fur without anything getting tangled in the brush roll or being pushed across the floor. The iRobot Roomba J7 has smart-mapping technology that allows it to memorize your space and seamlessly navigate from room to room. You’ll be able to schedule recurring cleaning tasks, assign your vacuum to clean specific rooms, and even block off areas where you don’t want the vacuum to go (such as staircases or messy rooms). When it comes to emptying out the dust bin, our testers loved that this robot vacuum has a push-button empty feature, which means you don’t have to touch any of the debris it picked up on your floor. And since its battery life is 75 minutes, this object-avoiding device will be able to clean multiple rooms at a time without needing a recharge. Our testers found that, when initially setting up the iRobot Roomba J7, it took several minutes to connect to WiFi. While the robot vacuum can also be used without app integration, we found that its most-helpful features are contained within the app, so plan to spend a few minutes getting this device set up when you first purchase it. Price at time of publish: $488 Weight: 7.5 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Dustbin Size: Not listed | Battery Life: 75 minutes | Accessories: Charging base Keep in Mind: This vacuum is a little heavy to lift with one hand. Some people prefer the powerful suction and larger dustbin that upright vacuums offer over more lightweight models like stick vacuums. After testing both types in our lab, we found that the Shark Navigator Zero-M Self-Cleaning Brushroll Pet Pro is the best upright vacuum for pet hair. Our experts were very impressed by how easily this device sucked up pet food, fur, and debris alike from carpet and hard floors. It seamlessly transitioned from hard floors to carpets and vice versa without pausing performance, so you won’t find crumbs and debris around the edges of your rug. Despite its bulkier size, this vacuum was surprisingly easy to maneuver throughout our testing space. The vacuum head swivels easily, so it can turn tight corners and fit around table legs without missing any crumbs. It’s also equipped with a self-cleaning brush roll, which is designed to suck up pet and human hair without anything getting tangled or clogged. This means you won’t ever have to manually cut hair out of the bottom of your vacuum. We also liked that the Shark Navigator vacuum has an extendable hose for added flexibility as you clean. According to the manufacturer, the hose extends up to 12 feet away from the vacuum, so you’ll be able to clean staircases, overhead shelves, and more with ease. With an 8-quart dustbin, this vacuum won’t need to be emptied out nearly as often as other vacuums for pet hair. When it’s finally time to empty the canister, our testers mentioned that it was super easy to remove from the vacuum and dump out, though they had to reach in and manually remove pet hair from the bin. We found that this vacuum is a little bulky to carry one-handed, especially if you need to carry it up and down the stairs often. It’s only 16 pounds, which doesn’t seem like much, but because of its boxy shape and slim handle, it was quite cumbersome. Keep this in mind if you are looking for a vacuum to use in a multi-level home. Price at time of publish: $220 Weight: 16 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Dustbin Size: 8 quarts | Battery Life: N/A | Accessories: Crevice tool, upholstery tool Keep in Mind: We had to reach inside the dust bin to clean out pet hair that got caught in the filter. The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal aced our lab tests when it came to effectiveness and maneuverability, causing our testers to call this device “everything they’ve ever wanted” in a vacuum. Ideal for every type of floor surface but particularly impressive on carpet, this stick vacuum cleaner from Dyson was specifically designed for pet owners and delivers seriously strong suction power to remove dirt, pet hair, and other microscopic allergens (like dust and dander). Our testers noted that it was extremely lightweight and maneuverable, allowing them to steer the vacuum around furniture and tight corners without missing a single square inch. Just like the Dyson V15 Detect, the V10 Animal comes with the corkscrew hair tool, which allows it to pick up pet and human hair without anything getting tangled in the brush roll. It also includes a handy crevice tool, dusting brush, and combination attachment to help you remove debris from every surface in your home. One of our favorite parts about this vacuum is the built-in filter, which helps trap and remove dust and allergens as it runs. The powerful suction allows it to deftly remove these particles, then seals it inside the dust bin, so you won’t have to worry about them leaking back out. We did notice that, when the time came to empty the dustbin, we had to manually remove lightweight debris such as pet hair that wouldn’t fall out simply by shaking it. Price at time of publish: $550 Weight: 5.9 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Dustbin Size: 0.2 gallons | Battery Life: 60 minutes | Accessories: Hair screw tool, crevice tool, combination tool, mini dusting brush, docking station Keep in Mind: Its battery life isn’t as long as other cordless vacuums we tested. Hard floors can be notoriously difficult to vacuum since the slippery surface makes it challenging for even the most powerful vacuums to trap and suck up debris. During testing, we found that the Tineco Pure One S15 Pro was the best vacuum for removing pet hair from hard floors, thanks to its strong suction that picked up lightweight fur and heavy debris alike. This cordless vacuum separates air and dust as it runs across the floor, helping to ensure that the filter doesn’t get clogged and stop operation. In our tests, we gave the Tineco Pure One S15 Pro vacuum a perfect rating for its effectiveness on both hard floors and carpet. This is because it seamlessly removed large chunks of pet hair and even bits of kibble without missing debris or pushing anything across the floor. It also automatically detects how dirty the floor is and will adapt its suction based on the amount of gunk it finds. We also loved its dustbin, which has a one-push lever tool that will sweep debris straight into the garbage. This helps to avoid clogging inside the bin, so you won’t ever have to come in contact with the dirt from your floors. The vacuum also converts to a handheld device, and it comes with two attachment heads to clean upholstery and reach cobwebs in overhead corners. The only thing we’d change about this vacuum is its battery life, which is listed as 40 minutes in the manufacturer’s description. During testing we found that after about 12 minutes of operation, it had less than 50% of its battery life remaining. We’d recommend only using this vacuum for short cleaning stints, not whole-house cleaning, since you’ll need to recharge it frequently. Price at time of publish: $599 Weight: 6.8 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Dustbin Size: Not listed | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Accessories: Crevice tool, upholstery tool, dust brush, soft roller brush Keep in Mind: It requires two hands to empty the dust bin. Tackle fur, dander, and dust in hard-to-reach places like couch cushions and underneath cupboards with this lightweight handheld vacuum designed specifically for pet owners. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser vacuum has a built-in filter to help trap and remove even particle-sized debris, and it comes with three different attachments to help you clean every corner of your home. In our tests, we were pleasantly surprised by how effective its suction and brush roll were at lifting pet hair and kibble off of every floor type, including high- and low-pile carpets, hardwood floors, and tile. It’s quite lightweight at just 3 pounds, making it easy to lift overhead or transport throughout the house. It has a crevice tool that helps you reach in between couch cushions or target dust that’s accumulated in tight corners, while the upholstery tool is perfect for cleaning furniture and other soft surfaces. The dustbin is surprisingly large, with room for up to 0.7 quarts of debris. To empty it, you’ll need to use two hands to hold each side of the vacuum, remove the filter lid, and dump out the debris inside. Our testers wished there was a way to empty the device without removing the filter, since this allows some of the particles it captured to escape back into the air. Keep this in mind, especially if you want a vacuum cleaner that seals debris off once captured. Price at time of publish: $73 Weight: 3 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Dustbin Size: 0.7 liters | Battery Life: 17 minutes | Accessories: Crevice tool, upholstery tool, motorized brush
Our Testing Process
To create our list of the best vacuums for pet hair, we assembled a team of expert home testers to use and review 37 different vacuum cleaners in our lab in Des Moines, Iowa. During testing, we ran each vacuum on carpet, hard floor, and upholstery (if applicable), tried out all of its advertised settings, and observed how well it picked up common debris like pet hair, kibble, dirt, and more. We also ran the vacuums through a makeshift obstacle course to see how easy they were to move around furniture and into tight corners. Finally, our testers reviewed each vacuum based on its noise level, ease of use, portability, and overall value. Based on these insights, we tallied up the vacuums’ individual scores to determine the best vacuums for pet hair.
What to Know About Vacuums for Pet Hair Before Shopping
Corded vs. Cordless
One of the most important things to decide when shopping for any vacuum is whether you want a corded or cordless model. Cordless vacuums are great because you don’t have to worry about tripping on or getting tangled in wires, but they often have short battery lives that might not be sufficient for cleaning the entirety of large homes in one go. On the other hand, some people prefer corded vacuums because they’re often more powerful and there’s no risk of running out of battery mid-cleaning session. But corded models don’t provide as much freedom since you can be restricted by outlet placement and cord length. We tested both corded and cordless models in our lab, so you’ll be able to shop both kinds in our list of the best vacuums for pet hair above.
Suction
Most vacuums have more than one level of suction power. While lower settings are usually fine for quick cleanups on hard surfaces, Toogood recommends using higher settings (often labeled as “max”) for carpets since they need more agitation to remove debris. In the Your Questions, Answered section below, you’ll find more information on how to prevent your vacuum from losing suction strength.
Filter
Vacuums for pet hair should have a filter that captures microscopic allergens (like pet dander). This ensures that the appliance only expels clean air, which is especially helpful for people with allergies. “Most people who own vacuums don’t know there’s a filter in their vacuum, let alone how well it performs, so having a high-quality filtration system when you have a pet is very important,” Toogood says.
Attachments
Many of the best vacuums for pet hair (especially those that can convert to a handheld model) come with extra attachments that are designed to remove fur from specific areas. “The best attachments for pet hair provide a bit of agitation on the surface you’re cleaning,” Toogood says. “Mini-motorized attachments with stiff nylon bristles are perfect for furniture and upholstery, including dog beds and cat trees. Not only will it pick up hair, dirt, and debris that are ground into the surface, but it will also help capture dander, pollen, and other microscopic bacteria that might’ve made its way in from outside.” You should also look for vacuums that come with crevice tools for cleaning in tight spaces.
Vacuum Size
The size of a vacuum is important for multiple reasons. If you live in a home with more than one level, then you want to choose a vacuum that isn’t too bulky or heavy for you to carry up and down the stairs. You’ll also want to make sure that you have enough space to store your vacuum. If you don’t have any spare closets but don’t want to keep your vacuum out in the open, then a large upright model might not be as good of an option as a stick or robot model.
Other Vacuums We Tested
Kenmore Upright Bagged Vacuum
Even though a Kenmore vacuum earned the title of best overall vacuum for pet hair, we found that the Kenmore Upright Bagged Vacuum was not as impressive during testing. This model was unable to pick up kibble or pet hair on hard floors or carpet, and once we’d powered down the vacuum, what little debris it had managed to pick up fell out of the bottom of the device. For this reason, we chose not to include it in our list.
Bissell Multi-Clean Allergen Lift-Off Pet Vacuum
We liked the maneuverability and lightweight design of the Bissell Multi-Clean Allergen Lift-Off Pet Vacuum, but its effectiveness did not live up to our expectations. This vacuum had a lot of trouble picking up the dog hair in our testing lab, and the suction wasn’t strong enough to pick up kibble, either.
Hoover MaxLife Pet Max Complete Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
The Hoover MaxLife Pet Max Complete Bagless Upright Vacuum almost made our list of the best vacuums for pet hair. Though it was effective on carpet and upholstery, our testers found that it wasn’t able to pick up pet hair or kibble on hard floors. We’d only recommend this vacuum to someone whose home has mostly carpeted floors.
Your Questions, Answered
How often should I vacuum my home to get rid of pet hair?
It really depends on the needs of your household, but pet owners might find that vacuuming their homes once or twice a week isn’t cutting it. “Vacuuming frequently on areas that receive more footfall will help to stop dirt building up and getting trodden into your floor, especially if there are pets in the house,” says Toogood, who also recommends vacuuming thick carpets more often than thin rugs or hard floors because they hide more dirt.
Do I need to clean my vacuum?
Yes, it’s important to keep your vacuum clean so that it continues to work well enough to keep your home in tip-top shape. Besides regularly emptying the dustbin, you should always check to see if your vacuum has specific cleaning instructions in the manual or online. Otherwise, you can typically wash removable parts with warm, soapy water and wipe down anything else with a cleaner and microfiber cloth. Just be sure to let all parts fully dry before assembling again. You should clean your vacuum whenever you notice any weird smells or feel like it might be clogged, but once a month is a good rule of thumb.
What should I do if pet hair gets tangled in the brush?
Even though many vacuums claim to have self-cleaning or anti-tangle brushrolls, it’s almost impossible to prevent hair (especially longer strands) from getting caught. Some models have removable brushes that are easy to clean since you can take them out of the floor head. You can usually pull smaller clumps out of the brushroll with your hands, but tougher jobs will need to be cut out with scissors.
How can I prevent a vacuum from losing suction power over time?
Loss of suction power typically means that a vacuum’s airflow is blocked, according to Toogood. “It is crucial for a vacuum cleaner to have one strong, powerful airflow running continuously through the machine,” says Toogood, who added that “a clogged filter means your vacuum cleaner won’t work as effectively as it should.” To keep your vacuum performing well, Dyson recommends regularly emptying the dustbin, washing the filter, and checking the brush bar once a month to make sure no debris is stuck.
Who We Are
This story was written by Samantha Jones, an associate commerce editor for Better Homes & Gardens who writes about the best home and garden products. For this story, Samantha researched important features and characteristics of the best vacuums for pet hair, then compared her findings with insights gathered from our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa. She also included expert advice from Ollie Toogood, senior design engineer at Dyson, on the most important features to look for in the best vacuums for pet hair.
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they’re worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn’t an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products and we let you know that we got it for free to remain as transparent as possible about our picks. Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers.
