The Best Vacuum Cleaner For Pets is one that efficiently removes pet hair, dander, and allergens from your home. At PETS.EDU.VN, we understand the challenges of pet ownership, including the constant battle against pet hair. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of top-rated vacuums designed to tackle even the most stubborn pet messes. Choosing the right pet vacuum cleaner for your home involves considering factors like vacuum type, suction power, HEPA filtration, and special features like anti-tangle brush rolls and specialized attachments.
1. Best Vacuum Cleaner For Pet Hair Overall
1.1. Strong Enough For Deep Carpets
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra upright vacuum cleaner, designed for homes with pets, offers powerful suction and whole-machine HEPA filtration
1.1.1. Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Style | Upright |
| Weight | 17.3 pounds |
| Corded | Yes |
| Dustbin capacity | 0.5 gallons |
| HEPA filter | Yes |
| Pet-specific attachments | Groom tool, tangle-free turbine tool |
| Warranty | 5 years |
What you’ll love:
- Extremely strong suction power
- Whole-machine HEPA filtration
- Brush rolls self-clean during use
- Backed by lifetime Dyson support
Keep in mind:
- Can be tiring to use, as it’s heavy
- May be too strong for thin, low-pile rugs
Looking to target pet hair deep in high-pile carpets or large areas that need to be deep cleaned, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra is a powerful model that can handle the most stubborn messes. The brush roll isn’t just designed to avoid tangles; it’s also self cleaning, meaning it clears tightly wound hair from the bar as the vacuum runs.
The model also has whole-machine HEPA filtration to capture pet dander and other allergens, as well as five useful accessories. The groom tool, which allows you to brush and vacuum loose hair directly off your dog. (If your pup gets spooked by the vacuum, though, skip it—you don’t want to stress them out.) The only downside of the Animal Ball 3 is that it’s relatively bulky and heavy, weighing in at over 17 pounds; while it’s not overly difficult to maneuver, your arms might feel a little sore after a long vacuuming session.
2. Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner For Pet Hair
2.1. A Powerful Corded Option At An Affordable Price
Shark NV352 Navigator Lift-Away upright vacuum cleaner, a highly recommended and affordable choice for pet owners.
2.1.1. Shark NV352 Navigator Lift-Away
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Style | Upright |
| Weight | 12.5 pounds |
| Corded | Yes |
| Dustbin capacity | 0.3 gallons |
| HEPA filter | Yes |
| Pet-specific attachments | Upholstery tool, crevice tool |
| Warranty | 5 years (limited) |
What you’ll love:
- Swivel steering and lift-away construction help with under-furniture and stair cleaning
- Brush roll shut-off feature is more conducive for hardwood floor cleaning
- Strong suction power at an affordable price
Keep in mind:
- Quite loud at 80 decibels
- Only two specialized attachments
For less than $200, this Shark model is impressively mighty. This model also works well beyond carpets and rugs, thanks to its brush roll shut-off feature—a setting Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, recommends for pet owners with hardwood floors.
Upright vacuums are popular for their high suction power and large dustbins, and the Lift-Away NV352 is no exception. In standard upright form, the head stays flat on the floor while the body swivels, and despite its larger size, it’s easy to push and maneuver under furniture. It also converts into a portable model if you’re looking to clean the stairs, for example; the body and bin lift off the base so you can move about freely. (Note the cord is 25 feet long.) Adding to its versatility, the vacuum comes with two attachments, a crevice tool and an upholstery tool, as well as a HEPA filter to trap dust and allergens inside the vacuum.
3. Best Cordless Stick Vacuum For Pet Hair
3.1. Light-Up Technology Helps With Cleaning Hardwood Floors
The Dyson V15 Detect cordless stick vacuum cleaner, equipped with light-up technology, making it an excellent choice for pet hair removal
3.1.1. Dyson V15 Detect
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Style | Stick |
| Weight | 6.8 pounds |
| Corded | No |
| Dustbin capacity | 0.2 gallons |
| HEPA filter | Yes |
| Pet-specific attachments | Anti-tangle hair-screw tool, detangling cleaner head, crevice tool |
| Warranty | 2 years |
What you’ll love:
- Lightweight, cord-free convenience
- Easily converts into a handheld vacuum
- Light-up technology illuminates dark corners and hardwood floors
- Comes with lifetime Dyson customer support
Keep in mind:
- Not ideal for extra-large homes or high-pile carpet
We’ve tested a lot of vacuums over the years, and the Dyson V15 Detect remains our favorite for all kinds of dirt and debris—pet hair included. To start, it has all the features that cleaning pros consider non-negotiable: impressive suction power, an anti-tangle brush roll and a HEPA filter to capture 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. It’s also—as you’d expect of a cordless vacuum—lightweight and easy to maneuver, plus it converts to a handheld model if you want even more portability. The V15’s light-up technology, which makes it super easy to see hair accumulation on our hardwood floors, and the hair-screw design helps pick up embarrassingly large clumps of fur without clogging. She also appreciates the carpet attachment and crevice tool, the latter of which is ideal for getting under furniture.
4. Best Handheld Vacuum Cleaner For Pet Hair
4.1. The Right Size For Spot Cleaning And Upholstery
The Black+Decker Dustbuster Furbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet handheld vacuum cleaner, ideal for homes with pets.
4.1.1. Black+Decker Dustbuster Furbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Style | Handheld |
| Weight | 2.6 pounds |
| Corded | No |
| Dustbin capacity | 0.2 gallons |
| HEPA filter | No |
| Pet-specific attachments | Anti-tangle motorized pet brush, extendable crevice tool |
| Warranty | 2 years (limited) |
What you’ll love:
- Lightweight and portable
- Perfect for small messes and spot cleaning
- Can clean in hard-to-reach areas and under furniture
- Anti-tangle brush with rubble bristles effectively picks up pet hair
Keep in mind:
- Not as effective on high-pile carpets or larger surface areas
- No HEPA filtration
Handheld vacuums are great for cleaning up smaller messes (think out-of-sight mounds of pet hair you missed while sweeping your floors), and this model from Black + Decker is the most effective of its kind. Thanks to its included attachments, including a motorized pet brush, “the Furbuster AdvancedClean+ really picks up pet hair. I use it without the pet brush for non-pet hair messes, and the extendable crevice tool works well in a pinch on the stairs, under the table and so on.”
Though Powerboost mode is needed every time she vacuums to suck up all the hair and dirt she’s targeting, increasing the suction power is as easy as pressing a button. She also appreciates the washable filter (though note that it isn’t a HEPA filter). While the dirt and snarl of hair don’t always release easily from the waste canister, these gripes are relatively small and common with handheld models.
5. Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner For Pet Hair
5.1. An Autonomous Model That Excels At Avoiding Obstacles
iRobot Roomba j7+ Robot Vacuum Cleaner
5.1.1. iRobot Roomba j7+
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Style | Robot |
| Weight | 7.5 pounds |
| Corded | No |
| Dustbin capacity | 0.1 gallons |
| HEPA filter | Yes |
| Pet-specific accessories | Obstacle avoidance, anti-tangle brush rolls |
| Warranty | 1 year (limited) |
What you’ll love:
- Hands-off routine cleaning
- Impressive obstacle avoidance backed by Pet Owner Official Promise
- Ability to target hard-to-reach areas under furniture
- Self-emptying base can hold up to 60 days’ worth of dirt and debris
Keep in mind:
- Not as powerful as traditional vacuums, despite the investment
Looking for a hands-off cleaning experience? Robot vacuums can be effective for maintaining pet hair control, especially in smaller homes with hard floors and low-pile carpets. Just make sure that the model has self-cleaning brush rolls to help prevent hair tangles. One option that fits the bill: iRobot Roomba j7+, which is the best robot vacuum for pet hair that we’ve tested. (It also comes recommended.)
Equipped with two multi-surface, anti-tangle brush rolls, this is one smart, efficient vacuum. To start, it excels at obstacle avoidance, navigating around toys, shoes and (most importantly) pet waste, all while learning your floor plan. The company backs this feature with the aptly named P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise), meaning if it fails to work for whatever reason, you’ll get another robot for free. You can also direct the Roomba to clean a specific room via the app or voice commands. One more perk: As a self-emptying model, you don’t have to worry about frequently cleaning out the dustbin. Instead, after every use, the vacuum deposits debris into its base, which can hold up to 60 days’ worth of dirt.
6. Best Canister Vacuum Cleaner For Pet Hair
6.1. Powerful, With A Large Dustbin And An Odor-Reducing Filter
Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine Canister Vacuum Cleaner
6.1.1. Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Style | Canister, bagged |
| Weight | 20.1 pounds |
| Corded | Yes |
| Dustbin capacity | 1.5 gallons |
| HEPA filter | No (uses active charcoal, HEPA upgrade available) |
| Pet-specific attachments | Mini Turbobrush, Electrobrush, upholstery and crevice tools |
| Warranty | 1 year (limited) |
What you’ll love:
- Suction is powerful enough to clean fur with one or two passes
- Separate brush heads for carpet and hardwood floors
- Active Air Clean Filter reduces pet odors
- Canister is more lightweight than typical models
Keep in mind:
- 18-foot power cord could be longer
- HEPA filter upgrade is bought separately
If you have multiple pets and even powerful upright vacuums have trouble thoroughly cleaning pet hair and messes in your home, consider a canister model. Renowned German appliance brand Miele makes some of the most powerful ones for pet hair, like its 1200-watt Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine unit. While it matches the Shark Navigator Lift-Away in terms of suction power, the C1’s biggest perk is its 1.5-gallon bin capacity. In addition to being able to hold more debris, the vacuum comes with six settings and two floor heads (one of which is an anti-tangle brush roll), so you can customize how it cleans depending on whether the surface is hardwood, an area rug or drapes. It also has upholstery and crevice attachments, adding to its versatility.
Unlike standard canister models, where the part you drag around with you as you clean tends to be cumbersome and heavy, this one is purposefully lightweight, making it easy to maneuver across large spaces, tight spaces and stairs. (That said, a common qualm is how short the power cable is at 18 feet, so keep this in mind.) While this vacuum doesn’t use HEPA filtration, it uses an activated charcoal–based filter called Active AirClean, which is quite effective at reducing pet odors; users with cat allergies also report their symptoms being reduced after using this model. There is a HEPA filter upgrade available separately, which we recommend for people with allergies.
7. Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted’s experienced home and kitchen editors have extensive experience covering both cleaning staples and pet essentials. Their recommendations are based on rigorous testing, expert consultations, and real-world user reviews.
8. How We Chose The Best Vacuum Cleaners For Pet Hair
To determine the most effective pet hair vacuums, we considered top-rated models from reputable brands, some of which we’ve rigorously tested, while others came recommended by trusted experts.
- We identified popular models from brands like Dyson, Shark, Miele and iRobot.
- We considered each vacuum’s suction power, filtration system, brush roll, accessories and dustbin capacity.
- We considered a variety of vacuum types, naming the best of each kind, including upright, handheld, cordless and robotic options.
- We consulted three cleaning experts to determine our top selection criteria when it comes to the best vacuums for pet hair.
- We sifted through pages of product reviews from pet owners to get a sense of how these vacuums performed in various use cases in the real world.
9. What To Consider In A Vacuum Cleaner For Pet Hair
There are certain features that make vacuums specifically designed for pet hair more suitable for homes with pets. Pet hair is notoriously difficult to vacuum; its fine, lightweight nature causes it to float in the air and settle into hard-to-reach corners and surfaces. On carpets, pet hair can become deeply embedded in the fibers, and the natural oils in the hair make it stick to fabrics, making it tough to extract. To help you choose a unit that is up to the challenge, we delve into some of the most important features to look for.
9.1. Vacuum Cleaner Type
The type of pet hair vacuum you choose should depend on the size and layout of your home and the kinds of floors you have. If you have a larger home, a corded vacuum is the better choice, as a cordless model may not last long enough on a single charge. For a smaller home, a compact, cordless vacuum may offer the convenience and maneuverability you need. If you have a predominantly carpeted home, upright vacuums, which tend to be the most powerful, will work best. Meanwhile, handheld units are best for furniture, while canister models are ideal for tile and hardwood floors.
Robot vacuums are particularly helpful with maintenance cleanings if you have a shedding pet. Some robot vacuums, while convenient, typically struggle more with pet hair compared to stick vacuums. Their smaller motors and compact design sometimes lack the powerful suction needed to effectively capture pet hair. That’s why, if you do get a robot vacuum, make sure it has pet-specific features like a tangle-free feature and obstacle avoidance.
9.2. Suction Power
Powerful suction is important to effectively remove pet hair. Again, the type of vacuum you choose ultimately depends on the size and type of floor surface you’re cleaning, but corded upright vacuums and canister vacuums typically have the most power. This is followed by stick vacuums and handheld models, making them better for smaller spaces and spot cleaning. Robotic vacuums typically have the lowest suction power, which make them best for daily maintenance cleaning. Note: While you’ll see references to suction power measurements in watts, air watts or pascal units, the best way to gauge a vacuum’s suction power is by scanning user reviews.
9.3. HEPA Filtration And Bin Capacity
Choosing vacuums with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter if you have pets. A HEPA filter is essential for capturing pet dander and allergens, improving indoor air quality—especially for allergy sufferers. Many HEPA-equipped models include additional features that help allergy-proof your home, reducing dust and symptoms of hay fever or allergy-induced asthma.
Pet owners should also strongly consider a vacuum with a dustbin or bag that can hold a large amount of debris. This will make cleanup more efficient, especially in multi-pet households.
9.4. Special Features
As mentioned, pet hair can be particularly tricky to clean, particularly from carpets, furniture and hard-to-reach areas; Mock recommends choosing a vacuum with heavy-duty, anti-tangle brush rolls for this reason, as well as to prevent clogging while you clean. She adds, “Specialized attachments for furniture, upholstery and tight spaces where pet hair collects are a great addition.” If you’re cleaning pet hair mainly from hardwood floors, Mock advises choosing an option where you can turn off the brush roll to prevent scattering debris, as is the case with the Shark Navigator NV352 Lift-Away. “A vacuum with a soft roller or rubberized brush is best for picking up hair without scratching the floor,” she adds.
When it comes to robot vacuums for pet hair, look for similar attributes. A tangle-free feature with anti-tangle side brushes is critical. Because pet hair is difficult to lift, especially from thick carpets or fibers, strong carpet cleaning capability is the second important factor.
10. FAQ: Finding The Perfect Pet Vacuum Cleaner
10.1. What Type Of Vacuum Cleaner Is Best For Pet Hair?
The best type of vacuum cleaner for pet hair depends on your home’s layout and flooring. Upright vacuums are great for carpets, while canister vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors. Handheld vacuums are perfect for furniture, and robot vacuums offer convenient maintenance cleaning.
10.2. How Important Is Suction Power When Choosing A Pet Vacuum Cleaner?
Suction power is crucial for effectively removing pet hair. Corded upright and canister vacuums typically offer the most powerful suction, followed by stick and handheld models.
10.3. Should I Look For A Vacuum Cleaner With A HEPA Filter If I Have Pets?
Yes, a HEPA filter is essential for capturing pet dander and allergens, improving indoor air quality and reducing allergy symptoms.
10.4. What Are Anti-Tangle Brush Rolls, And Why Are They Important?
Anti-tangle brush rolls prevent hair from wrapping around the brush, maintaining consistent cleaning performance and preventing clogs.
10.5. Are Robot Vacuum Cleaners Effective At Removing Pet Hair?
Robot vacuums can be effective for maintenance cleaning, especially in homes with hard floors. Look for models with tangle-free features and strong suction.
10.6. What Attachments Should I Look For In A Pet Vacuum Cleaner?
Useful attachments include motorized pet brushes, upholstery tools, and crevice tools for cleaning furniture, tight spaces, and hard-to-reach areas.
10.7. How Often Should I Vacuum If I Have Pets?
Vacuuming at least 2-3 times per week is recommended for homes with pets to maintain cleanliness and reduce allergens.
10.8. Can A Pet Vacuum Cleaner Help Reduce Pet Odors?
Yes, some vacuum cleaners, like the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine, include filters that reduce pet odors, improving your home’s air quality.
10.9. Are Bagged Or Bagless Vacuum Cleaners Better For Pet Hair?
Both types can be effective, but bagged vacuums can contain allergens more effectively. Bagless vacuums are easier to empty, but dust and allergens can escape during the process.
10.10. How Do I Clean And Maintain My Pet Vacuum Cleaner?
Regularly empty the dustbin or replace the bag, clean the brush roll, and wash or replace filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions to maintain optimal performance.
11. Conclusion: Find Your Perfect Pet Hair Vacuum Cleaner
Choosing the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair involves considering various factors, including vacuum type, suction power, HEPA filtration, and special features. Whether you opt for a powerful upright model like the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra, a versatile stick vacuum like the Dyson V15 Detect, or a convenient robot vacuum like the iRobot Roomba j7+, the right vacuum can make pet hair cleanup a breeze.
At PETS.EDU.VN, we’re committed to providing you with the best information and resources to care for your furry friends. If you’re struggling with pet hair, dander, or allergens, investing in a high-quality pet vacuum cleaner is a game-changer. And remember, a clean home is a happy home for both you and your pets!
For more expert advice on pet care, cleaning tips, and product recommendations, visit PETS.EDU.VN. We’re here to help you create a healthier, happier environment for your beloved pets.
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