We Tested 37 of the Best Vacuums for Pet Hair, And These 8 Are a Lifesaver for Dog and Cat Owners

Best Overall

Kenmore Pet Friendly Pop-N-Go Canister Vacuum

View On Amazon $350 View On Target $329 View On Wayfair $320

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

Out of all the pet hair vacuums we tested, the Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go canister vacuum cleaner earned a perfect score after acing our tests for maneuverability, effectiveness, and ease of emptying.

We 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.  

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. 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, the vacuum is pretty lightweight and easy to maneuver. You’ll need two hands to operate it—one hand to guide the canister and the other to push the vacuum itself—but we weren’t overly tired from doing this. While testing it at home, it was easy to use while cleaning carpeted stairs.

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. 

The vacuum comes with several attachments, like a pet tool, crevice tool, and dusting brush, and we found that it was easy to switch between them. The primary carpet head also has four levels, and there’s an adjustable suction level that came in handy while cleaning beige carpets at home.

How it Performed After Six Months

The Kenmore vacuum quickly became a staple in our at-home cleaning routine and continued to perform well after six months. One standout feature is the telescoping wand, which came in handy for cleaning the floors and cobwebs off the ceiling with ease. It lays almost flat in order to get underneath beds and low furniture.

We also love that the attachments are stored on board the vacuum for easy access. While there is a bit of a learning curve with the two pieces, once we got used to it we found it smooth enough to maneuver. It's also easy to knock the slider that controls the suction and accidentally change the setting.

Product Details: 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

Best Budget

Black+Decker Furbuster Handheld Vacuum for Pets

View On Amazon $73 View On Wayfair $100 View On Lowe's $99

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Maneuverability
  4/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

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, the Black + Decker Furbuster 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. We loved how effective the vacuum was on carpets and upholstery; it only took one pass to remove large chunks of pet hair from these surfaces.

Because of its tangle-resistant rubber bristles, the 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 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. We tried this tool on a chaise lounge that was covered in cat hair and found that cleaning hard-to-reach spots was a breeze. 

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 it on upholstery or to spot-clean specific areas of your flooring instead of an entire room. 

How it Performed After Six Months

At the end of the testing period, the Furbuster still worked as well as the day we brought it home. It whisks up pet hair from couch cushions, crevices, and even hard surfaces like the bathtub thanks to impressive suction, and the battery life is such that we can clean all the cat hair-covered furniture in the house on one charge.

Besides the battery life, our favorite detail is that the crevice tool is built right into the vacuum and the motorized tool fits right on top, making it very easy to carry and store the attachments.

Product Details: Weight: 4.6 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Dustbin Size: 25 ounces | Battery Life: Not listed | Accessories: Crevice tool and motorized tool

Best Splurge

Dyson V15 Detect

View On Amazon $619 View On Wayfair $637 View On Best Buy $678

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  3/5

When it comes to caring for our pets, we’re often willing to spend a bit more on a high-quality product—and that includes technology to clean up after them, too. Though the Dyson V15 Detect vacuum is expensive, it’s worth the splurge because of its lightweight design and the suite of impressive attachments it comes with. 

We 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. At home, we did find that the suction was a bit too strong for high-pile rugs, however, so keep that in mind depending on what you have in your space. 

In addition to powerfully removing pet-related messes in your home, the Dyson V15 Detect 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, and a crevice tool for upholstery.

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. 

We loved the style of the vacuum and found ourselves vacuuming at home more than we had previously. In addition to a sleek, lightweight design, it has different length options and attachments that allow you to adjust the vacuum to work in however you need it. 

How it Performed After Six Months

At the end of the six months we were still reaching for the Dyson vacuum daily to pick up dog hair from a lab who sheds aggressively. It's great for spot cleans that improve the overall cleanliness of the house without taking lots of extra time.

It took us some time to get used to holding the trigger down to keep the vacuum running, but after awhile we actually felt it made it easier to grab the vacuum and clean up some debris very quickly. One thing we noticed is that the vacuum canister started to smell like our dog because we were using it for pet hair so often.

Product Details: 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

Best Robot

iRobot Roomba j7+ Robot Vacuum

View On Amazon $597 View On Target $800 View On Walmart $710

Our Ratings

• Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Features
  5/5

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, a robot vacuum is great for removing pet hair from your hard floors and carpets with the touch of a button. 

We found that the iRobot Roomba J7+ was the most effective robot vacuum 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 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, we loved that this robot vacuum is self-emptying, 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. 

Initially setting up the iRobot takes several a few minutes to set up WiFi and coordinate with the app. While the robot vacuum can also be used without app integration, 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. 

How it Performed After Six Months

We wholeheartedly stand by our recommendation after using the iRobot at home for several months. Given how often we reach for it, we think it's well worth the cost. In fact, we actually want to buy a second one to use on the upper floor of the house. It's so easy thanks to the ability to schedule cleanings for specific areas.

All you need to do to maintain the vacuum is clean and change the filter, clean the brushes, and occasionally empty the debris from the charging dock. The app keeps you updated on the product's overall health so you don't have to remember the last time you cleaned the filter.

Product Details: Weight: 7.5 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Dustbin Size: Not listed | Battery Life: 75 minutes | Accessories: Charging base

Best Upright

Shark ZU62 Navigator Zero-M Pet Pro Upright Vacuum

View On Amazon $236 View On Wayfair $250 View On Walmart $240

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  3/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Noise Level
  3.5/5

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.

We 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, the 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 the Shark Navigator's extendable hose for added flexibility as you clean. According to the manufacturer, the hose extends up to 12 feet, so you’ll be able to clean staircases, overhead shelves, and more with ease. At home we were able to vacuum a 15-step set of stairs, as well as the ceiling.  

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, we found that it was super easy to remove from the vacuum and dump out, though we had to reach in and manually remove pet hair from the bin. 

We found the vacuum a little bulky to carry one-handed, especially if you need to go 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.

How it Performed After Six Months

This is a powerful vacuum whose suction held up to our standards with regular use, though we found it too heavy to lift on stairs and not ideal for vacuuming vinyl floors if you're worried about scratches. We reach for it when we need a deep clean, not for daily spot cleaning, but it's incredibly effective at vacuuming pet hair.

Product Details: Weight: 16 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Dustbin Size: 2.8 quarts | Battery Life: N/A | Accessories: Crevice tool, upholstery tool

Best for Carpet

Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Vacuum

View On Amazon $537 View On Walmart $439 View On Costco.com

Our Ratings

• Setup
  4.3/5
• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.8/5

The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal aced our lab tests when it came to effectiveness and maneuverability, and we praised the device as everything we’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).

We found that it was very lightweight and maneuverable, allowing us to steer the vacuum around furniture and tight corners without missing a single square inch. It also includes a handy crevice tool, dusting brush, and combination attachment to help you remove debris from every surface in your home. 

While testing this vacuum at home, we found that we could use it on its highest setting and vacuum an entire apartment at least twice a week, for 15 minutes, without needing to recharge.  Although it’s fairly quiet, we did notice that the highest setting emits a high-pitched sound that some may find grating over time. 

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. 

How it Performed After Six Months

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. The more we used it, the more we appreciated the attachments.

And the anti-tangle tool really works to prevent hair from getting caught in the brush (which was an issue with previous Dyson's we've used). Overall we would consider this one of the best stick vacuums on the market.

Product Details: 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

Best for Hard Floors

Tineco Pure One S15 Pro

View On Amazon $400 View On Tineco.com

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

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. The Tineco Pure One S15 Pro was the best vacuum for pet hair on hard floors, thanks to its strong suction that picked up lightweight fur and heavy debris alike. 

The 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. It also automatically detects how dirty the floor is and will adapt its suction based on the amount of gunk it finds. 

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.

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 converts to a handheld device, and it comes with two attachment heads to clean upholstery and reach cobwebs in overhead corners. The brush head, along with the other attachments, can be neatly stored within the charging stand, however, so there’s no need to keep track of any small parts. 

The only thing we’d change about this vacuum is its battery life. After about 12 minutes of operation during testing it had less than 50% charge remaining. We’d recommend only using this vacuum for short cleaning stints, not whole-house cleaning, since you’ll need to recharge it frequently. 

How it Performed After Six Months

While using this vacuum at home, we appreciated that the tangle-free brush head was truly tangle-free for the most part. We did experience one tangle in the six months, so keep that in mind if you have long-haired pets. But we should note that the tool for cutting the hair tangles worked really well.

We don't love that the vacuum is top-heavy and doesn't stand upright on its own. Once we leaned it against the wall in the bathroom and it fell into the shower. While the impact was hard enough to dislodge the dust cup, nothing on the vacuum was damaged. Based on this we feel confident saying it's pretty durable.

Product Details: 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.