We didn’t set out with the intention of finding the best Shark vacuum for pet hair. We were just looking for the best vacuum cleaner for dog hair, whatever the brand.
After we compiled the best pet hair vacuums, we were surprised to see that they were all Sharks! You can read below about why Sharks stand out in this area. For now, let’s just say that they are the most powerful and the best-designed.
We went about comparing the best, using criteria like suction, how well the brush deals with long hair, whether there is a powered extension or not and the weight of the vacuum cleaners themselves.
Our Recommended Shark Pet Hair Vacuums
- Shark Apex Upright Vacuum with DuoClean and Powered Lift-Away
- Product weight (lbs.): 17.1
- Wattage: 1350
- Cord length (ft.): 30
- Price: See Here!
- Shark Rotator TruePet Upright Vacuum with Powered Lift-Away
- Product weight (lbs.): 16.7
- Wattage: 1150
- Cord length (ft.): 30
- Price: See Here!
- Shark Rotator Pro Upright Vacuum with Anti-Allergen Seal
- Product weight (lbs.): 15.5
- Wattage: 1200
- Cord Length (ft.): 25
- Price: See Here!
10 Best Shark Pet Hair Vacuums on the Market:
Here are the ten we were left with after weeding out the ones that didn’t meet our standards for quality, value, versatility and effectiveness.
1. Shark Apex Upright Vacuum with DuoClean and Powered Lift-Away
Features
- Corded
- Bagless
- 17 pounds
- 11 amps
- Carpet, hardwood and upholstery
- Powered lift-away
- Self-cleaning brushroll
Review
Although it’s a little on the expensive side, this vacuum is the best one available today for removing pet hair from carpet and upholstery.
It’s also great for cleaning hardwood floors, furniture and drapes.
The self-cleaning brush is what sets it apart from so many other vacuums.
This feature is meant to eliminate hair buildup on the spinning brush. According to customer feedback, it actually works. Very few other vacuums can make this claim.
The powered lift-away makes cleaning anything above floor level easy, so even the sneakiest pet hair can be removed from your home.
Anyone with allergies of any kind will appreciate the HEPA filter. It removes dander from any fabric you clean and keeps it out of your air. The special seal prevents air leaks so you get the maximum efficiency from the filter.
Pros:
- Self-cleaning brush
- Plenty of power
- Powerful lift-away
- Multi-surface cleaning
Cons:
- Heavy upright
- Expensive
What Customers Are Saying
Everyone loves the self-cleaning brushroll. That’s what makes this the best Shark vacuum cleaner for pet hair.
Many people have remarked about how easy it is to remove pet hair from fabric drapes with the powered lift-away. The convenience of the lift-away cleaner seems to offset the weight of the upright.
This is one of Shark’s best-selling vacuums in spite of its highish price. Most buyers say that they would buy this same model again if they ever needed to.
Summary
Shark makes the best vacuums for hair, and this is the most powerful Shark vacuum for pet hair. So is having the best of the best worth more than $350? If you struggle with pet hair in your home and can spend that much for a way to deal with it, this is the vacuum you need!
2. Shark Rotator TruePet Upright Vacuum with Powered Lift-Away
Features
- Corded
- Bagless
- 16.5 pounds
- 9.5 amps
- Carpet, hardwood and upholstery
- Powered lift-away
Review
Some pet owners differ with our opinion and think that this is the best Shark for pet hair. That’s a fair debate.
Even though this model doesn’t have the self-cleaning brushroll on the upright part, it does have a motorized brush on the powered lift-away.
If you tend to have a lot of stray hairs on your furniture and drapes, this may actually be the best choice for you.
It works really well on floors as well. It’s named “The Rotator” for a good reason. The handle twists in all directions where it meets the cleaning head, making vacuuming under couches and tables easier.
Changing from carpet cleaning to hardwood mode requires only a flick of a finger switch. That’s great if you have both types of flooring in your home.
Virtually all dander and allergens stay in the vacuum’s canister, thanks to the combination of a HEPA filter and a special seal.
Pros:
- Motorized brush on the lift away
- Good suction
- Great filtration
- Easy switch from carpet to hardwood
Cons:
- High priced
What Customers Are Saying
The star of this show looks to be the motorized brush on the above-the-floor cleaning attachment. People even use it to get pet hair off of their cars’ upholstery. That’s a testament to the brush’s usefulness. Car upholstery really seems to grab and hold on to pet hair.
Some remark about the price being a bit high, but most seem to be satisfied that they got a good value.
Summary
This is considered by some to be the best Shark upright for pet hair. That may very well be, considering how easy it makes cleaning upholstery and furniture.
The easy controls and rotating handle make this an easy-to-use vacuum, but you’ll have to pay a little extra for that kind of convenience.
3. Shark Rotator Pro Upright Vacuum with Anti-Allergen Seal
Features
- Corded
- Bagless
- 15.5 pounds
- 10 amps
- Carpet and upholstery
- Non-powered lift-away
Review
The Rotator Pro is made for cleaning in hard-to-reach places. The canister detaches from the base, so you can carry it for extra reach.
You could even vacuum your ceiling with this thing! But seriously, this will make vacuuming stairs and shelves pretty easy.
As an upright, it is easy to push and effortless to maneuver.
It has the same kind of swivel design that many other Shark vacuums have, but this vacuum cleaner’s smaller size makes it a bit stiffer. That’s OK, but you end up with less reach to get under furniture.
Although it isn’t really designed for hardwood floors, this may be the best Shark vacuum for carpet and pet hair. It’ll clean hardwood, but it isn’t the best at it.
Pros:
- Powered lift-away canister
- Swivel design
- HEPA filtration
- Nice value
Cons:
- Somewhat less power than other Sharks
What Customers Are Saying
Buyers comment about how they have vacuumed places in their homes that they haven’t cleaned in months or years. The lift-away canister system makes its power that portable.
Even people who don’t have a pet talk about that convenience, but pet owners say that this vacuum offers all that it promises regarding getting stubborn hair out of carpets and furniture.
Summary
This Shark is a good vacuum for dog hair that goes rogue. Actually, it’s great for any area that you normally have trouble dusting. You can just hold the extension nozzle with one hand and grab the canister with the other to clean your entire home like a pro.
4. Shark Rocket Ultra-Light DuoClean Vacuum
Features
- Corded
- Bagless
- 10 pounds
- 4 amps
- Carpet and hardwood
- Converts to handheld vacuum
Review
Here we have a powerful cleaning tool in a small and light package. Not only that, it’s the best Shark stick vacuum for pet hair.
It offers the portability of a handheld vacuum too, because it turns into one.
So not only do you have a light, slim vacuum that easily glides across carpet, but you have a handheld cleaner that has the power to suck dust and pet hair out of the most out-of-the-way places.
But keep in mind that the handheld part still has a cord. This isn’t a battery-powered model.
Cleaning up piles of kitty litter is simple for cat lovers with messy kittys. You won’t have to lift the head of the upright to get at piles. The open design allows you to just push into them.
The brush has a special feature that almost polishes hardwood. That makes this vacuum among the most versatile out there.
Pros:
- Converts to handheld
- Light
- Slim
- East to store
- Good for hardwood floors
- Great for litter messes
Cons:
- Does not have the strong suction characteristic of Shark
What Customers Are Saying
Online reviewers have made this the top rated vacuum for pet hair. The most common brag is the handheld feature. Customers really like how they can go from upright to dust buster in just a second or two.
Summary
If you’re in the market for a very light upright and a handheld vacuum, you can save some money by getting this convertible vacuum cleaner. There’s no need to shy away from this if you have some hardwood flooring in your home. You’ll get a good clean and a nice shine with this light little vacuum.
5. Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Vacuum
Features
- Corded
- Bagless
- 9.5 pounds
- 6 amps
- Carpet, hardwood and upholstery
- Converts to handheld vacuum
Review
This one is a bit smaller than the DuoClean Ultra-Light reviewed above, but it is somewhat more powerful and has better suction.
The DuoClean is great for both carpet and hardwood, but this one is the best for bare floors.
That extra suction does a great job of pulling up hair, dust and small particles.
What it lacks in size is made up for with maneuverability. The cleaning head gets under the edges of furniture and everything else without you having to bend and reach too much.
Pros:
- Light
- Powerful for its size
- Easily converts to handheld
Cons:
- Although powerful for its size, not quite as much suction as full-sized Shark vacuums
What Customers Are Saying
Critical consumers love the price of this vacuum for pet hair. Combined with the useful features and good amount of suction, it’s a great value.
Those who bought this model for the handheld mode like the power. It’s got a lot more suction than most other convertible vacuums.
Buyers who have long-haired dogs and cats found the anti-wrap brush to save time and hassle because they don’t have to stop to untangle the brush nearly as often as they would with other vacuums they’ve had.
Summary
This versatile vacuum offers the convenience and portability of a handheld and the quick cleaning capabilities of a light upright. The tangle-free brush gets hair from carpet with ease, but its awesome performance on hardwood makes it the best Shark vacuum for hardwood and pet hair.
6. Shark Pet-Perfect II Hand Vacuum
Features
- Cordless handheld vacuum
- Bagless
- Less than 5 pounds
- 18 volts
- Carpet and upholstery
- Motorized brush head attachment included
Review
Sometimes you need a good handheld vacuum to get stubborn pet hair from area rugs, furniture and auto upholstery.
Many people use a model like this as a second, more portable cleaner.
It’s good for all that, plus it’s very useful for picking up litter messes and other small spot cleaning jobs. The motorized brush head pulls pet hair from even the most clingy fabric. Even linen can’t hold onto hair when it meets such a stiff brush.
The charger can hang on a wall or sit on a countertop, so the vacuum stays out of the way when you’re not using it and fully charged when you do need it.
Pros:
- Light
- Great suction for a small handheld
- Motorized brush head
Cons:
- Can’t remove much ground-in dirt
- Not for wall-to-wall carpeting
What Customers Are Saying
Everyone likes the convenience of a small and powerful handheld like this. Even people with large rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting appreciate this vacuum for smaller jobs and for vacuuming pet hair from their car seats.
There aren’t many regrets among people who have bought this one.
Many who live in smaller homes, and even dorms, comment on how nice it is to have a little vacuum that stores out of the way but still has the power to pick up pet hair.
Summary
This handheld is a good vacuum for pet hair. It’s portable enough to go from home to car, but it’s strong enough to actually remove pet hair. That’s an uncommon trait among handheld vacuums.
7. Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum with Anti-Allergy Seal
Features
- Corded
- Bagless
- 12.5 pounds
- 10 amps
- Carpet, hardwood and upholstery
- Non-powered lift-away
Review
Although the lift-away is not powered, it still has the formidible suction of the 10-amp motor behind it.
It’ll get dust and particles from areas that are hard to get to, like behind chairs and in corners, but it won’t get much hair up.
The upright, on the other hand, really grabs onto and pulls hair out of carpet and off of hardwood. It carries all the benefits of previous Sharks in Navigator line, but its maneuverability and raw power makes it the best Shark Navigator for pet hair.
Another benefit of being part of the Navigator line is the high-efficiency HEPA filter and solid seal that keeps dust and dander from getting suspended in your home’s air.
Pros:
- Highly maneuverable
- Very affordable
- Lift-away canister
- Good amount of suction
Cons:
- Lift-away isn’t powered
What Customers Are Saying
People like the time they save using the upright to get pet hair out of their carpeting and area rugs. They also remark about the great suction from the lift-away that pulls dust bunnies from corners.
Many have lamented about the lack of a spinning brush on the lift-away extension. This vacuum is made for longer hair, which doesn’t tend to drift on air currents and alight in out-of-the-way corners. That’s why it’s important to check a vacuum’s features carefully before making a decision!
Summary
This vacuum may be the best for you if you want a full-sized vacuum and can do without a scrubbing brush on the extension. It has more than enough power in the brush and suction motor for removing hair from carpet when you use it as an upright.
All in all, this Shark Navigator is a great upright at a fantastic price. It’ll get the job done!
8. Shark Ion P50 Lightweight Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter
Features
- Cordless
- Bagless
- 12 pounds
- 18 volts
- Carpet and upholstery
- Converts to handheld vacuum
Review
This is Shark’s first cordless model that has a powered lift-away.
We checked out its suction capabilities and decided that this is the best Shark cordless vacuum for pet hair!
You can pull the worst hair from stairs, rugs, carpet and any kind of upholstery with little effort on your part.
It pushes as easily as an upright and is light as a lift-away.
And the lift-away has a crevice tool for getting into that crack that runs between your walls and floors. It gets the hair from everywhere and keeps it in the canister where it belongs with the help of the HEPA and state-of-the-art air seal.
Pros:
- Cordless
- Powered lift-away
- Awesome suction for a cordless vacuum
Cons:
- A bit too expensive for some
- Would be perfect if it had a self-cleaning brush
What Customers Are Saying
While some think that this vacuum cleaner should be priced a little lower, everyone is happy with their purchase. They like having the lightness and convenience of a cordless vacuum that can clean pet hair up from anywhere they can reach.
Those who have owned other cordless vacuums in the past have said that they get much more operating time per charge with this one than they did with any other.
That’ll save you time by letting you get all your vacuuming done at once instead of having to stop to recharge the battery all the time.
Summary
This vacuum offers almost all the best features of all the other Shark pet hair vacuums and combines them with the supreme portability of a battery-operated model. Even though it is pretty costly, its usefulness makes it a great value.
9. Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Handheld Vacuum with Motorized Brush
Features
- Cordless handheld vacuum
- Bagless
- Less than 4 pounds
- 400 watts
- Carpet, hardwood and upholstery
- Motorized brush head included
Do you remember what handheld vacuums were like years ago? They were big, loud and weak. They sure wouldn’t pick up any kind of hair! Those times have changed, and this quiet, powerful handheld sets the gold standard as the best vacuum cleaner for dog hair.
Cat hair is too fine for many handheld vacuums to handle. This model will get cat hair up out of carpet and upholstery, but it will take more passes than would be needed with an upright.
It’s actually more like a system than it is a handheld vacuum cleaner. Purchase includes the main unit, an extension hose, a nozzle and a motorized brush head. If you’re looking to control pet hair in your home with a handheld vac, a motorized head will make your cleaning job so much easier.
Pros:
- Very powerful suction
- Deep-cleaning brush
- Ranks among the top pet hair vacuums of any size
Cons:
- Relatively short battery life
What Customers Are Saying
Customers talk about how this handheld cleans up pet hair from upholstery and furniture with all the aggressiveness of an upright taking hair out of carpeting.
All are impressed with the power of the motor. It is surprising to have this kind of suction without the motor of an upright. Not only are they happy with the hair removal power, but they have a new way to clean up litter and other pet messes without having to mess with a cord.
Summary
Here’s a quick and easy way to clean hair from places where you need the power of an upright and the size of a handheld. The extension hose keeps lifting to a minimum and the powered brush head saves time.
10. SharkNinja Apex Upright Vacuum
Features
- Corded
- Bagless
- 25 pounds
- 10 amps
- Carpet, hardwood and upholstery
- Powered lift-away
Review
This vacuum is great for hair because of its upright’s wide brush and its motorized lift-away brush head.
It’ll clean carpet from floor to floor and get all that pesky hair from any other kind of fabric.
What makes it even better is its DuoClean technology. If you have hardwood or any other kind of bare floors, a good Shark with DuoClean tech can save you from mopping up those messes that just seem to happen out of the blue. This vacuum really comes through for that type of quick cleaning job.
But, boy, is this thing heavy! It’s probably the heaviest vacuum of its type. That’s the price you pay for power. Good electric motors can be heavy.
Pros:
- Powered lift-away
- DuoClean for excellent performance on bare floors
Cons:
- The weight
What Customers Are Saying
The weight of the upright comes up a lot. But that really only comes into play when it’s actually used as an upright, like when vacuuming a large carpet. As a powered lift-away, it is relatively light.
People with bare floors sure are impressed. Life is so much easier without a mop and bucket! Of course, they still need to mop occasionally, but there’s no need to make fresh mop water for a few muddy pawprints.
Summary
To spot a Shark vacuum good for pet hair, you should usually look for a motorized brush head. You’ve got that here. You’ve also got a really good and strong upright for carpet and rugs.
But the area where this model really shines is bare floors. This one can cut your cleaning time and give you better looking hardwood and linoleum.
What Makes Shark Vacuums So Good For Pet Hair?
Here’s a question that actually comes up pretty often.
People who do their research notice that, when looking at pet hair reviews, the Shark name comes up most often.
The reason Shark makes such good pet hair vacuums is multi-faceted.
First, you have the power. Suction is essential to pulling up hair from carpet. Shark leads the industry with their innovative motor designs.
They are efficient and create a truly impressive amount of air flow, That translates into more suction for moving things along into the collection canister.
Shark’s brush designs are no less nuanced than the engineering behind their motors. Suction power alone can’t remove small pet hair from anything. They stick to anything that’s fibrous, like carpet and any other fabric. You have to physically pull hair off of most surfaces before moving it with air flow.
Stiff brushes mean better hair removal. But the best brush quickly becomes useless if it gets wrapped up in long hair. There’s got to be some kind of mechanism to keep hair from clogging the brush.
Every Shark vacuum for pet hair has, at the least, a tangle-free design. They’re made for hair. Some of the Shark pet hair vacuums even have a comb that constantly and actively cleans the brush and frees the hair up to be sucked into the canister.
Pet hair gets everywhere, but you likely already knew that. Uprights are good at getting that hair up, especially if that’s what they’re made for. But what about all the hair that gets on your drapes, your furniture and stairs? That has to come up as well. You need a good lift-away to get where uprights can’t.
Shark offers many vacuums with powered lift-aways. That means that they have a spinning brush on the extension. And the suction on Shark lift-aways is always good. Even their handheld vacuums offer unbeatable hair removal from stairs and upholstery.
Tips For Choosing The Best Vacuum For Pet Hair
To get the pet hair vacuum that’ll work best for you, you first need to look at the surfaces you need to clean. This usually means carpet. If that’s the case, all you really need is an upright with a brush made for removing hair from carpeting. You can get basic models like this for a good price.
Do you need a powered lift-away? You probably do. If you are having a problem with hair in your carpet, you likely have some hair buildup on your furniture too. Go ahead and take a good look.
Rotating brushes remove hair so much easier than just plain air movement. Of course, you may not need a powered lift-away.
If your pet’s hair is thick and comes up fairly easily, you may be able to save some money by getting a vacuum with a regular hose extension.
If you have bare floors, you may want to go ahead and get a vacuum that’s made for both carpet and hardwood, If it’ll clean hardwood, it’ll clean all other kinds of bare flooring.
Shark vacuums with DuoClean technology are specially made for double duty. They can go from rug to linoleum with the press of a button. Some of them don’t even need to be changed, by button or any other means. They are made to go from pile to bare floor without stopping at all.
There are some tips that’ll get you pointed in the right direction. Make sure that a pet hair vacuum will clean the flooring and any other surfaces you need to liberate of hair. Once you have that figured out, look at how easy the vacuum can make cleaning out-of-the-way areas that you clean less often.
Also keep in mind that HEPA filters and advanced canister seals, like those found on Shark vacuums, are great for households with any type of allergy sufferer. But remember that their filters should be cleaned regularly.
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Make Your Final Decision
Whether you’re looking for the best vacuum for cat hair or the lightest and most versatile upright, you’ve probably seen the best one for you somewhere among our reviews here.
We’ve spent a lot of time sorting and verifying countless online write ups and manufacturer’s information, and we think we came up with the best Shark vacuum for pet hair, regardless of the shopper’s needs.
Pet hair is obnoxious and hard to clean up. And the buildup just gets worse over time. If you notice hair in your carpet, floors and furniture, so do your guests.
Your home will be cleaner, healthier and it will smell better once you get rid of that pet hair!
Go ahead and make up your mind today. The hair is only going to get worse until you get a good pet hair vacuum.
