The Best Vacuums for Pet Hair
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Having pets is one of the best things in life. A cute little guy who’s forced to live with (and love) me? Sign me up. One downside, though, is the constant shedding. Fur is particularly tough to clean up. If it’s short and coarse, like my cat Basil’s, it gets easily embedded in fabrics and carpet; if it’s long and fluffy like my cat Clover’s, it flies away to accumulate in hard-to-reach corners. But whatever your situation, there’s a vac for that!
The technology has improved by leaps and bounds in the past two decades, and vacuums come in all shapes and sizes. I and a few of my pet-owning colleagues have tested a ton of vacuums—from traditional corded models to cordless, handheld, robotic, and even 2-in-1 vac/mop combos—to find out which ones are best at sucking up fur and dander.
We recommend our favorites here, but we’re continually testing more, so check back often. And be sure to check out our related guides, like the Best Hand Vacuums, Best Dyson Vacuums, and Best Robot Vacuums.
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How We Tested
I tested these pet hair vacuums for a week if not more (I’ve been using both the Dyson cordless and handheld for months now), and I’ve used them on nearly every surface in my house—including the cat trees and behind my two cats’ litter box. When testing began, I lived in a large house with three cats and a dog (more hair in a larger area), and for the latter half of testing, I lived with two cats in a small apartment (slightly less hair in a smaller area with less places for hair to hide).
I also tested every attachment on problem areas like carpeted stairs, crevices of air vents, a high-pile rug, and hardwood floors. Not all pet hair vacuums are created alike, and they vary quite a bit in their effectiveness on different surfaces and with different attachments. I set these up, charged ’em, and vacuumed with them until they died, noting run time, power, effectiveness, and ease of emptying the bin and cleaning the filter.
What to Look For
It seems like a lot of brands will slap the words “pet hair” onto a product and market it as such without really specifying why or how it’s effective for pet hair. Of course, I tested those to see if they put their metaphorical vac mouths where their money was. On the flip side, I also tested some that were well rated for overall efficacy but not marketed toward pets—like the Roborock Saros 10R, a pricey robovac that uses AI mapping and can identify pets nearby and quiet its motor.
Speaking of, vacuums and pets are inherently antithetical. Vacuums are a necessary evil to combat pet hair, but your pets will likely be scared of them. If my cat Basil had opposable thumbs, I know he’d be leaving hate comments on this article. Aside from the robovac picks (which for some reason my cats don’t mind), my cat Basil had a mild cardiac event each time I tested the other vacs on this list. So along with effectiveness and suction, I also took into consideration loudness, as well as how easy the product is to handle.
Generally though, when shopping for a pet hair vacuum, look for suction power, bin capacity, attachments, and type of bristle or motor bar—figure out what’s going to be doing the actual picking up of dust, dander, and pet hair. I found that conical bars like the ones on certain Dyson models work well to not get tangled, and dual brushes like on the Ryobi work together to effectively pick up more. Also read reviews from real people with real, furry pets, but know that no two pets are alike. Take into consideration what kind of shedder you live with, and what type of space needs cleaning; a robovac may not be best for a house with multiple flights of carpeted stairs.
- Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Best Overall
Dyson Gen5 DetectI am completely obsessed with this cordless vacuum. Dyson’s Gen5detect packs all the punch you’d get from a corded vac while also being lightweight and convenient. It also doubles as a handheld vac when you want to do a quick or tight job like stairs or crevices. Dyson claims it has the most powerful HEPA filtration of any cordless vac on the market, trapping particles as small as 0.1 microns. It even has a digital screen that shows just how much gross stuff you’re vacuuming up, tracking particle size—microscopic, like allergens; fine, like skin flakes; medium, like dust mites; and coarse, like sugar. During cleaning, the indicator bars rise and fall, depending on the amount of debris detected, and afterwards the screen displays the summary of collected particles. The LCD screen also allows you to choose power modes, like Eco for longer clean times and Boost for occasional intense spot cleaning.
There's an included crevice tool and smaller hair screw tool for especially hard-to-reach areas. The main vac attachments are the star of the show, though. There’s a Digital Motorbar cleaner head for carpets—with 56 detangling vanes, hair never gets stuck in the bar—and pet hair gets sucked straight into the back for a mess-free clean. There’s also a Fluffy Optic cleaner head for hard floors. It has a super-soft rotating material and an angled green blade of light to illuminate invisible pet hair and dust naked to the human eye. It’s so satisfying to clean pet hair and dust I didn’t even know was there. With 70 minutes of run time and excellent attachments that work for pet hair (and dust and dander) on a myriad of surfaces, this versatile vac is one of my favorite products I’ve ever tested.
Capacity: 0.2 gallons Attachments: Hair screw tool, combination crevice tool, dusting tool, Fluffy Optic cleaner head, Digital Motorbar cleaner head. Power: 262 airwatts; 280 watts in max mode Run time: 70 minutes Filter: Whole-machine HEPA filtration Warranty: 2 years, parts and labor - Photograph: Molly Higgins
Best Inexpensive Cordless
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Stick VacuumI’m a huge fan of Ryobi products. I loved both handheld vacuum models I tested previously—they are just powerhorse tools. This cordless vac is no different. It has powerful suction with up to 75 inches of water lift (IOW), cyclonic filtration, a brushless motor, an easily removable roller bar, and lights on the vacuum head to better see the debris. Plus, the 18V One battery works with any compatible Ryobi tool, so I didn’t need to buy multiple batteries. The dual plush (for hard floors) and brush rolls (for carpet) are the best of both worlds. The bristles of this vac are tough—they're long and coarse, plus the bars move super quickly together to move the pet hair up into the dust cup without getting tangled. Although I never had a problem with hair getting tangled in the bar, all of Ryobi’s products I’ve tested have an easily (and uncomplicated) removable roller bar which makes dealing with fur tangles so much easier. The dust cup is also super convenient to empty (you don't have to touch any of the fur or dander), and when it’s time to clean it, the filter is easy to access and clean. (I love my Dyson, but that’s a gripe of mine with their models.)
If you remove the extension wand and vacuum head, this cordless vac becomes a convenient handheld vac, which comes with crevice tools and a dust brush that I loved using to clear fur and dust from vents around my house and on the narrow stairs. It has two cleaning modes, Eco (to conserve battery, good for most cleanings) and Boost (for embedded fur on my living room’s shag-like rug), but I will say this model is a bit heavier with its battery positioned right behind the handle, but the vacuum stands upright unsupported, which is an added bonus. At a fraction of the cost of my top cordless vac pick, Dyson, the Ryobi is comparable in almost every aspect. The Dyson just beat it out because it works so well on non-carpeted floors—that amazing green light illuminates invisible hairs and dust.
Capacity: 0.8 liter Attachments: Crevice tools, dust brush Power: 18 volts Run time: Around 30 minutes Filter: Netted, washable circular filter Warranty: 3 years, limited
- Photograph: Molly Higgins
Best Handheld
Dyson HumdingerDyson’s lightweight (just over 2 pounds) hand vacuum packs a punch at 14.4 volts and comes with a bunch of super handy attachments, including a crevice tool with a movable brush, a worktop attachment (for flat surfaces and fabric), and a hair-screw tool. The combination crevice tool works excellently in tight, awkward spaces, but the real star of the show is the hair-screw tool which works incredibly well picking up pet hair without getting caught in the beater bar.
The motorized conical brush bar rotates to quickly pick up hair, and because of the conical design, the hair gets sucked straight back into the bin rather than getting tangled in the wheel (a super irritating common problem with rotating brushes). When you pull the red lever, the top cover drops and the dirt and dust is pushed out of the front, which I loved because it meant there was less need to touch the pet hair and dust inside. The only problem is that hair would sometimes get stuck in the back, and it’s a bit annoying to get out. Along with pet hair, the vac claims to capture 99.99 percent of microscopic particles, like dust mite allergens, which is helpful for reducing pet dander and the like.
Capacity: 0.05 gallons Attachments: Hair-screw tool, combination crevice tool, worktop tool Power: 50 watts (14.4 volts) Run time: Up to 25 minutes Filter: HEPA filter Warranty: 2 years parts and labor - Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Cheap Handheld
Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro PlusThis lightweight (just under 3 pounds) handheld vac from Shark is specifically designed to tackle pet hair: It has powerful suction with two cyclonic airstreams, and a motorized self-cleaning power brush sucks the hair back so it doesn't get wrapped around the brush (my biggest complaint with vacuuming pet hair). It also has an extra-large capacity for pet hair, dander, and dust, and it has a button to easily (and cleanly) dispense the hair and debris from the XL dust cup. It also has surface and crevice attachments to tackle pet hair on a myriad of surfaces, and has a washable filter for easy cleanup that also helps with longevity. WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell liked using this vacuum for various messes around the house, including her toddler’s spilled Cheerios and debris from a home renovation, but she wasn’t the biggest fan of its somewhat short battery life.
Capacity: 0.45 quarts Attachments: Pet brush, scrubbing brush, and crevice tool Power: 80 watts Run time: About 15 minutes Filter: Fabric filter Warranty: 2 years, limited
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- Photograph: Molly Higgins
A Handheld Option Designed for Pet Hair
Bissell Pet Hair EraserThis lightweight, 3-pound hand vacuum is specially designed to target pet hair with three attachments: a powerful motorized brush lifts pet hair from a myriad of surfaces, including fur embedded in fabric and carpet; a super-skinny crevice tool sucks debris from in between cushions; and a flat, wide attachment works well for surface upholstery vacuuming. Although this vac works excellently on various surfaces, it really shines with pet hair. The rotating bristles work to suck up and move pet hair quickly and efficiently to the back bin, like a large vac does. When I first tested this, I sang the praises of the brush tool for getting out pet hair.
After testing more options, I realized that hair gets tangled in this bar more easily, and the brush isn’t the easiest to clean (unlike the bar in the handheld Dyson). After prolonged testing, I don’t use the brush as often and mostly use the crevice tool, which has become my go-to for sucking up pet hair in tight, hard-to-reach places like the corners of my pets’ cat tree and between my bed and the wall.
Capacity: 0.7 liters Attachments: motorized brush, crevice tool, upholstery tool Power: 14.4-volt lithium-ion battery Run time: Up to 17 minutes Filter: 3-stage filter: prefilter, H13 HEPA filter, motor filter Warranty: 1 year, limited - Photograph: Adrienne So
Best Robovac
Roborock Saros 10RThis expensive robot vacuum/mop combo uses AI to identify up to 108 obstacles, plus it has a 20,000-Pa suction, a fast-charging and intelligent recharging dock, and extended clean time. I have indoor cats, so I’m less concerned about muddy paws than my dog-owning friends, but I do live in New York City, so I am concerned about the grossness that lurks on the bottom of my shoes (and eventually my floors). This vacuum has a high-efficiency washable filter that captures 99.97 percent of dust, pollen, and allergens down to 0.3 microns in size. Technology has come so far, and this robovac’s ability to mop and vac is nothing short of a modern miracle. There's hot-water washing for the mop, a flexible arm, and a main brush that splits in two to make it easier to clean. You can use voice commands via Alexa, Apple Siri Shortcuts, and Google Home, and as mentioned earlier the robovac can navigate smartly around your home on its own with multi-floor mapping, using its StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 with lidar, ToF sensors, RBG cameras, and AI.
WIRED reviewer Adrienne So loved the vacuum's AI mapping capabilities to avoid sucking up her daughter's toys or her elderly dog’s accidents. It also has pet-friendly smart navigation, pausing its main brush and moving aside to avoid frightening your pet, and you can identify the locations of pet supplies like dog beds or food bowls to make sure the robovac deep-cleans those areas. Although this is a pricey upgrade, I’d argue that the ability to never have to manually vacuum or mop again is priceless.
Capacity: 270 milliliters on robot, 2 liters on dock Attachments: N/A Power: 6400-mAh lithium-ion battery Run time: 3 hours Filter: E11 high-efficiency washable filter Warranty: 1 year
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- Photograph: Roborock
Best Cheap Robovac
Roborock Q5+This robovac earned a coveted 9/10 WIRED recommends by reviewer Adrienne So, because even though it’s simple, it has stood the test of time. She liked it because it took less hassle and maintenance than she’s often had while testing robovacs for the better part of a decade. It has 2,700-Pa suction power, an auto-empty vacuum bag, air filters, and an easily removable dust bin, plus it’s simple to set up with Wi-Fi and has an app that’s easy to navigate. This robovac uses lasers to navigate rather than higher-end camera-based navigation to help identify obstacles in the house, but through the app, you can opt to view your floor plan in 2D or 3D and edit your maps, naming different rooms and identifying different floor types so it won’t be wasting suction power on hardwood.
A robovac is a total game changer for pet hair, easily covering ground I’m not able to, like the dust bunnies of hair that collect under my bed, or on the carpet under the coffee table. Plus, my cats aren’t scared of the robovac like they are with traditional (or stick or handheld) vacuums.
Capacity: 2.5-liter dustbin capacity, 470-milliliter water tank capacity Attachments: N/A Power: 110 volts lithium-ion battery Run time: 3 hours Filter: Washable HEPA filter Warranty: 1 year - Photograph: Dyson
Best Traditional Vacuum
Dyson Ball Animal 3 ExtraI will preface this by saying now that technology has expanded and cordless vacs are just as powerful as upright vacuums and easier to use, I will never go back to the olden days of corded vacuum cleaning. I refuse. But if you aren’t a hater like me, this Dyson is literally engineered to pick up pet hair specifically. The Animal 3 Extra (9/10, WIRED Recommends) has a large bin capacity, a motor bar cleaner head with detangling hair-removal vanes, and three different power modes: one for deep- and medium-pile carpets, one for low-pile carpets and large debris, and one for hardwood floors and ground-in dirt.
With the Extra (which former WIRED reviewer Jaina Grey tested), there’s also a tangle-free turbine tool (for removing pet hair and dirt from upholstery) and a grooming tool for pets with medium or long hair that removes loose hairs, allergens, and dead skin from your animal—plus the included combination tool and stair tool. Jaina appreciated that the canister never clogged up with wads of fur, the motor-bar cleaner head remained free of tangled hair, and the vacuum worked well on both hardwood floors and carpet. Her only complaints were that it's heavy and loud—my exact gripe with corded vacs. Just sayin’.
Capacity: 0.45 gallon Attachments: Tangle-free turbine tool, Grooming tool, Combination tool, and Stair tool Power: 290 airwatts Run time: N/A Filter: Whole-machine filtration Warranty: 2 years, parts and labor
Honorable Mention
Tineco Go Pet Cordless Vacuum for $350: As when I tested the Tineco Go Mini for my handheld vacuums guide, I was a bit underwhelmed by this vacuum specifically for pets. It’s not bad, but it’s also not outstanding. Like the Ryobi, it has a slot for easy brush removal if hair gets stuck around the bars, which is a helpful thing to have when you’re dealing with pet (and human) hair. The lever and the angle of the lid for emptying are counterintuitive, and the first few times I emptied it, the debris went everywhere. It’s hard to distinguish between eco and power modes, and the vac blinked red and the brush stopped rotating when transitioning between surfaces. (It especially had a hard time on my thin runner rug.) I’d have to turn it off and let it rest before restarting. It felt a bit heavier and clunkier than others as well. But, it does have handy lights to illuminate debris and comes with attachments to make handheld cleaning a breeze. I could probably overlook those faults, but with such amazing cordless vacs to compare it to, it just wasn’t as good.
Not Recommended
Eufy RoboVac 11S Max for $200: Our esteemed competitors at places like The Strategist and Wirecutter loved this cheap robovac, so I bought one for myself before moving into my new apartment with two cats. And I have to say, I don't agree with them. Yes, this robovac is significantly cheaper than most others and has generally good ratings, but I have nothing nice to say about it besides that it is able to go under furniture and suck up pet hair I otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Its navigation system is random, it doesn't have an app (but it does come with a remote control to direct it to a specific spot or schedule cleanings), it’s loud, and it tends to be attracted to cords. (If there is even one cord around, it will somehow directly go to it and spin on a never-ending loop. Don’t even talk to me about the afternoon it got ahold of a stringed cat toy.) It has extreme difficulty traversing even minor height differences, like the small panel of wood between the hallway and bathroom door. It has a toxic love affair with the bathmat and has nearly created a bald spot in the pile from continuous sucking. But most of all, it is needlessly hard to empty the bin, and nearly impossible to detangle all of the hair and fur from the bar or spinning brush beneath. There’s gross hair that will probably still be wrapped around the mechanism until the day I am put into the ground. This cursed thing will outlive us all, I fear.
Correction: 3/14/25, 3:41 pm EST: An earlier iteration of this piece erroneously linked Ryobi's stick vacuum bare tool and kit to the PBLSV716 model, not the PBLS719. The copy has been changed to reflect this.
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