Best bagless vacuum cleaner for pet hair
Best vacuum for pet hair 2023: tested by our expert team
Cleaning up after dogs or cats is easy with the best vacuum for pet hair. Designed to capture hair, dust, dirt, and dander, these vacuums are a must-have for pet owners. Using a pet vacuum can also make your home hypoallergenic, which works wonders when seasonal allergies hit.
Our panel of expert reviewers meticulously tested the best vacuums for pet hair, so you can trust our judgement on what's best to buy. Thanks to our hands-on experience of trialling these vacuums in our homes, I'm certain that every single one of them is a good buy.
The specialized models from household names like Dyson, Shark and Bissell all have features that go further to clean up after your pet, which puts them among the best vacuum cleaners.
Best vacuum for pet hair 2023
Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
(Image credit: Dyson)
1. Dyson Outsize +
Best vacuum for tackling pet hair
Specifications
Type: Cordless Stick
Power: 220AW
Dust bin: 0.5 gallons
Weight: 7.98lb
Max dB: Not disclosed
Battery life: Up to 120 minutes of run time (across two batteries)
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Large dust bin
+
Excellent 220AW suction
+
Advanced de-tangling brush bar technology
+
Strong battery life
+
As powerful as a plug-in vacuum
Reasons to avoid
-
Bulky to carry around
Why you should buy it
It's the best vacuum for pet hair you can buy.
Why I love it
Nothing comes close to the Dyson Outsize +.
With 220 AW, this cordless vacuum packs all the power of a plug-in model. Loaded with all of Dyson's most exciting technology, the newly revamped detangling brush bar means that hair doesn't get tangled, and sensors that automatically adjust the suction power to each floor type. Even better, there’s an LCD screen at the rear that gives you the current battery life in minutes and even shows you handy how-to videos to keep the vacuum running its best. The most notable feature is - unbelievably - a laser. Mounted on the hard floor head, it's more than just a gimmick, revealing all the dust and dirt the eye can't see.
I love the enormous half-gallon dust bin, which holds plenty of dirt and keeps you from going to the trash too often. The attachments are fantastic too, especially if you have pets. The most useful for pet hair is the mini motorized tool, which is great for pet hair on stairs and upholstery, but you also get a combination tool, a crevice tool, and a stubborn dirt tool with plenty of storage on the charging dock and the vacuum itself.
Good to know
The enormous half-gallon capacity makes the Outsize a lot bulkier than other cordless vacuums, so it's noticeably heavy when cleaning moldings and stairs. The eject system on the dust bin is usually effective, but if you overfill the bin you'll have to reach in to pull out clumps of dust. Like all Dysons, it comes with a considerable price tag.
Find out more in my Dyson Outsize review.
(Image credit: Shark)
2. Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum
Best upright vacuum for pet hair
Specifications
Type: Upright
Power: 1344W
Dust bin: 1.48 quart
Weight: 17.2lb
Max dB : Not disclosed
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Powerful suction
+
Versatile design
+
Easy to maneuver
+
Odor-neutralizing cartridge
+
Self-cleaning brushroll
Reasons to avoid
-
Quite bulky
-
Small Dust bin
Why you should buy it
Exceptional suction and an odor neutralizer that banishes pet smells.
Why we love it
Our expert tester Camryn Rabideau loved this vacuum after testing it in a house with two long-haired dogs. It has two hard and soft rollers that work together to uncover dust and debris from carpets and hard floors alike. Like many Shark vacuums, it stops hair wrapping around the floor brush and saves you the gross job of detangling your vacuum.
Upright vacuums can be too bulky for delicate jobs, but the Shark Statos comes with a Powered Lift-Away mode. Camryn said that 'This allowed me to pop out the main cylinder and bin, leaving me with a smaller, more nimble hand held cleaner and hose for getting under furniture and into tight spaces'.
We also love the Odor Neutralizer Technology, an innovation we've never seen before. It's a cartridge that releases a 'light, fresh scent that makes the room feel cleaner', which is especially welcome in homes with pets.
Camryn found that the bin, which lifts out the front, could be cleanly emptied via the flap at the bottom.
She also liked that you can clean the whole bin out too, too, once it gets dirty. It’s just as simple to clean the two HEPA filters.
Good to know
While Power Lift-Away makes it a little lighter to hold, this vacuum typically weighs 17lbs, so it might not suit people with mobility problems. You should also watch out for the two different versions. It seems pedantic, but the AZ3000 is just a vacuum, whereas the AZ3002 comes with an effective motorized HairPro Pet Power Brush, a duster-crevice combination tool, a multi-angle dust brush, an anti-allergen dust brush, an accessory bag, and two extra odor cartridges.
Camryn's Shark Stratos upright vacuum review has more details.
Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum | was $429.99, now $299.99 at Best Buy
Use the code STRATOS130 for a Presidents' Day discount on the Shark Stratos.
Saving you $130, it's the best-value vacuum deal on offer today.
(Image credit: Samsung)
3. Samsung Bespoke Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum with All in One Clean Station
Best cordless vacuum for allergies
Specifications
Dust bin capacity: .5 liter
Weight: 6.28lb
Power: 200W
Noise : N/A
Battery life: Up to 60 minutes
Warranty: 1 years
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Exceptional cleaning on all surfaces including hard-to-reach areas we often miss
+
Versatile with loads of accessories and attachments
+
Easy to maneuver
+
Hassle-free emptying
+
Plenty of accessories
Reasons to avoid
-
Set up is complicated
-
0.
5L bin would be small for a large home
-
Heavy clean station
-
Telescopic tube doesn't extend by much
Why you should buy it
The best cordless vacuum for allergies.
Why we love it
Much as we adore them, pets can cause a lot of problems if you suffer from allergies. This is especially true when vacuuming, which lifts up pet hair and dander and increases the chance of irritated sinuses. However, the Samsung Bespoke could be the solution. Like other vacuums, it has 5-layer HEPA filtration system to trap allergen particles inside the dustbin. However, it goes even further.
The Bespoke is charged on a 'clean station', which not only powers the vacuum but sucks out any collected dust into a sealed bag. That means that when the clean station is full, you can lift out a sealed bag, removing the chance of breathing in any allergens.
On test we found it easy to maneuver, with a good 60 minute runtime.
We also appreciated the handy digital screen, which displays notifications of the power level and alerts about airflow issues, clogs, missing filters, and more.
Good to know
The powerful Jet mode is incredibly effective but the payoff is that it's very loud. Our 5"9 tester also found that the telescopic shaft is a little short, so it might not suit taller readers.
Our full Samsung Bespoke Jet Pro Extra review has more detail.
(Image credit: Dyson)
4. Dyson Ball Animal 2
Best upright Dyson
Specifications
Dust bin capacity: .55 gal
Weight: 17.5 lb
Power: 270AW
Noise : ~90 dba
Cord length: 35 feet
Warranty: 2 years
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Very powerful
+
Particular excellent on carpet
+
Long hose and extension reach
+
Maneuvers easily
+
Large dustbin
Reasons to avoid
-
Hair wraps around the brush roll
-
Only one power setting
-
Heavy to carry between levels
Why you should buy it
The best upright Dyson
Why we love it
Dyson's Ball Animal 2 is an older release than the Ball Animal 3, but we actually think it's better than its successor.
Though not as powerful as the Ball Animal 3, it's incredibly effective on all floor types, and particularly good at getting pet hair up from carpets. When we rolled it down a carpeted hallway, the big half-gallon dust bin filled up with hair and fur which other vacuums in the same test had missed.
A 35-foot cord means you cover whole rooms without needing to unplug and replug, which means that in some single-story homes you can clean the entire place. The hose has an enormous 40-foot reach, making it easy to clean stairs and catch cobwebs in the corner of your rooms. Despite the size, Dyson's famous ball design makes it nimble when moving around furniture.
Good to know
Like most uprights, it weighs in at 17lbs, so while it's nimble at moving around furniture, it can be awkward to carry up and down stairs.
There's more detail in our full Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum review.
Dyson Ball Animal 2 | was $499., now $349.99 at Dyson 
99
This is probably the best Dyson deal you'll see over the Presidents' Day weekend — $150 off an old Dyson upright that we think can more than match some of the newer models.
(Image credit: Dyson)
5. Dyson Ball Animal 3
Best pet hair vacuum for carpets
Specifications
Type: Upright
Power: 290AW
Dust bin: .55 gallons
Weight : 17.3lb
Max dB: Not disclosed
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Powerful suction
+
Easy to maneuver
+
Performs extremely well on carpets
+
Three suction settings
+
Other models available with different tools
Reasons to avoid
-
Heavy
-
Awkward control placement
-
Hard-to-use hose/wand
Why you should buy it
The best suction on carpets and area rugs; great for large homes.
Why we love it
Dyson's latest upright, Camryn's tests of the Ball Animal 3 found that iconic ball design of the Animal range means it easily steers around furniture and between chair legs. It's powered by a mighty 290 AW, and has three suction settings with settings for high and low pile carpets and bare floors. Though it has great performance on hard floors, this vacuum truly shines on carpets and rugs. Camryn found that it does 'an unbelievable job pulling dirt and dog hair out of the fibers', lifting up pet hair and dust she couldn't even notice with the naked eye.
The Ball Animal 3 also has a newly designed brush head. It incorporates “hair removal vanes” to prevent long hair from getting wrapped around the brush roll, saving you from detangling it.
For detail work, the hose removes for use with the combination tool (crevice tool and brush), and stair tool. Additional variations are available too that include the likes of a pet grooming tool, a mini-motorized tool for cleaning upholstery, and even a mattress cleaning attachment.
The bin removes easily from the front, letting you eject dust without making a mess. And, thanks to the washable HEPA filter, the Animal 3 is certified asthma and allergy-friendly, too.
Good to know
Like the Shark Stratos and Ball Animal 2, this vacuum weighs in at 17lbs. It might not suit people with mobility problems or homes with several floors. This is made worse by the fact the three suction settings are changed by a button on the floorhead, so if you struggle to bend over it can be frustrating to use.
In some ways it struggles from success — while not a problem Camryn faced, some users complain that the suction power makes this vacuum hard to push on the carpet.
Camryn's full Dyson Ball Animal 3 review goes into more detail
Dyson Ball Animal 3| was $499.99, now $399.99 at Best Buy
If you want to save a little money over President's day, there's $100 off this powerful vacuum at Best Buy.
(Image credit: iRobot)
6. iRobot Roomba j7+
Best robot vacuum for pet hair
Specifications
Type: Robot
Dust bin size: .42 gallons
Noise level: N/A
Battery life: 75-minutes
Warranty: 1-year
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Accurate Obstacle Detection
+
Self-emptying
+
Superb cleaning
+
Intelligently maps and shows where it cleans
+
Beautiful design
Reasons to avoid
-
Replacement bags cost extra
-
Can't set Keep Out Zones until after a map is complete
Why you should buy it
The best robot vacuum, effective pet hair
Why I love it
I adore the iRobot Roomba j7+.
It's the first iRobot to use PrecisionVision Navigation to recognize objects and avoid obstacles like pet waste and charging cords. It operates in clean, methodical lines and spots any obstacles in its path. On test, it flagged everything from dog toys to shoes and even thin power cords, with a photo of the obstacle so you can mark out no-go areas if needed.
My new favorite standard in robot cleaning is the self-emptying base. When the iRobot Roomba j7 detects that it is full, it automatically goes to eject into the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal, a sealed system that can hold up to 60 days of debris. The j7+ comes with a bag pre-installed, and an extra one.
I found this vac incredibly effective at pulling up pet hair, eradicating crumbs, and navigating throughout the home. The only reason I haven't placed it at the very top of this ranking because not all of you will be looking to buy one of the best robot vacuum cleaners.
Good to know
You can't set Keep Out zones until after a map is finished, which is a little counterintuitive.
The app can also be a little glitchy, and like all robot vacs, it's not always effective when cleaning tight corners.
There's more detail in my full iRobot Roomba j7+ review.
(Image credit: BISSELL)
7. Bissell ICONpet
Best pet hair vacuum cleaner for overall cleaning
Specifications
Dust bin capacity: 0.4ltrs
Weight: 7lb.
Noise: 81dB
Battery life: 50 minutes
Warranty: 3 years
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Headlights useful for cleaning under sofa
+
Best performance on hard floors
+
Tangle-free brushes
+
Wall bracket for charging
+
Impressive design details
Reasons to avoid
-
Heavier to use than some others
-
Edge cleaning could be better
Why you should buy it
Good for allergy sufferers, hard floors and low pile carpet
Why we love it
Expert tester and pet owner Courtney Irwin found that the Bissell ICONPet's 'powerful suction traps pet hair and dander', and it's great for those with allergies.
It also swivels for fantastic maneuverability, and Courtney reports that the tangle-free brush roll is the real deal when dealing with accumulated strands of hair from humans and pets. This cordless vacuum is perfect for hardwood and area rugs.
At the center of the ICONPet is a 22V Lithium-Ion battery which gives you up to 50 minutes of fade-free suction, ample time to do a thorough cleaning job of an average sized house. The Clean Slide technology makes for easy dust bin removal with as little contact with dirt as possible. This a major moment for anyone who hates dealing with cleaning out the vacuum. Courtney also enjoyed the small design details like the LED crevice tool, which lights up nooks and crannies as you clean, as well as the handy progress indicator on the inside of the charging dock
Good to know
If you've got high-pile rugs and carpets, look elsewhere. Courtney found that 'it didn’t live up to my expectations on the plush carpet in my bedroom', struggling to perform on even the strongest setting.
We tested the original ICONPet, but Bissell has since released Edge and Turbo editions. Everything we've seen so far indicates an improvement on the original, with the Edge promising better edge cleaning and the Turbo offering more powerful suction.
Courtney's Bissell ICONpet review has more details.
(Image credit: Miele)
8. Miele Classic C1 Cat and Dog Canister
Best pet hair vacuum for bagged cleaning
Specifications
Type: Canister
Power: 1200W
Dust bag: 4.5qt.
Weight: 16.1lb.
Max dB: 80dB
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Generous operating radius
+
Self-sealing bags
+
Easy to maneuver
+
Lots of power
Reasons to avoid
-
Replacement bags are expensive
-
Limited Availability
Why you should buy it
A sealed bag system makes this great for allergy sufferers.
Why we love it
The Miele C1 Cat and Dog Canister vacuum has spacious 4.5qt bags that self-seal on removal and provide extra filtration on top of a HEPA filter. Miele's models for pets use a special charcoal filter called Active AirClean filter that captures and retains over 99.9% of lung-damaging particles as well as hair and fur. Not only is this great for allergy suffers, catching and sealing fur, dirt and dander, but it prevent odors too.
The hose and wand come off the back, so you can use the crevice tool and small turbo brush for smaller areas. The latter is particularly effective for tackling pet beds and upholstery. There’s a 29ft cleaning radius with this model, so you won’t need to keep swapping power sockets as you make your way around the house. Suction power is incredible, thanks to the 1500W motor, so cleaning across the board, not just for pet hair, is exceptional.
Good to know
The obvious downside to these self-sealing bags is that they're a recurring cost.
Miele only make high-end products, so this recurring cost is on top of an already high price.
This vacuum has been reviewed by one of our editors and the full review will be available shortly.
(Image credit: Tineco)
9. Tineco Pure One S15 Pet Smart Cordless Vacuum
Best vacuum for pet hair for smart features
Specifications
Corded or battery powered?: Cordless
Dust bin: 0.47 liters
Weight: 6.8lb
Max dB: Not disclosed
Battery life: Up to 40 minutes
Today's Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
iLoop sensor detects hidden dirt
+
Flexible and easy to use
+
Impressive LED screen
+
Built in headlights to catch dust
Reasons to avoid
-
Struggled with large debris in our tests
-
Can only be charged via Floor Dock
Why you should buy
Smart features, deep cleaning, and quick pick ups.
Why I love it
The Tineco Pure One S15 Pet Smart Cordless Vacuum adjusts power on the fly for different surfaces and levels of dirt. I love the neat screen at the back which shows you battery life, and has a colored progress ring around the outside: it’s red when there’s dirt and turns blue to show you when you’ve finished cleaning. The battery lasts up to 40 minutes when you use the auto-suction feature – not the longest I've tried but good enough to whizz around an average-sized house.
The Pure One S15 comes with tons of accessories: a 2-in-1 dusting brush, a crevice tool, a soft dusting brush, and it all conveniently stores on the included Floor Dock. The stand out is the mini power brush, which is great for cleaning pet beds.
If you struggle with mobility, this vacuum is one of the lightest in this feature, weighing in at just 6.8lbs.
Good to know
While it's great for deep cleaning of pet hair and dander, it struggled to pick up larger debris like rice and cereal, requiring extra passes.
The only way to charge this vacuum is through the dock, which takes up floor space.
Our Tineco Pure One S15 review has more details
How we test the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair
At Homes & Gardens we like to get hands-on experience with all the products we feature. You can learn more how we test products in our dedicated guide, but the reason for this is to simply help you: we share our testing experiences so you can be confident in what you are buying.
Each new vacuum we get the opportunity to review is tried and tested in our own homes, undergoing rigorous testing on a range of flooring and household challenges (cereal on hard floors, pet hair on the sofa, debris on carpet, and more).
We test the vacuum cleaners for a number of weeks (sometimes months) so we get a feel for the longevity and durability of each model. In some instances, we are also fortunate enough to keep the vacuum cleaners after writing up the review so we can continue to learn about them and share our findings with you.
We look out for factors such as maneuverability, run-time, emptying of the dust bin (or bag), and general controls so you know exactly what you are getting for your money, and whether or not it is worth it for what you need it for. The feedback from other users is also something we look out for, especially if we are in the process of reviewing a product and we felt it was (already) a good enough product to feature in our round-ups of the "best of" guides.
Below, you can discover more about the team responsible for testing these vacuums.
Jaclyn is the US eCommerce editor for Homes & Gardens, where she oversees sleep content including mattresses and bedding. She tested a number of vacuums within this list, including our standout top pick, the Dyson Outsize, the Shark Vertex, Tineco Pure One S15, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 and the iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum, so she's well informed to tell you which one to invest in for your home.
Homes Editor, TechRadarJen is Homes Editor on TechRadar.
Previously she has written for Ideal Home, Real Homes and Homes & Gardens as our Appliances Editor. She has tested out a number of vacuums in this guide, including the Shark Vertex Upright Vacuum with Powered Lift-away, and the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Vacuum Cleaner.
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer who has been testing home goods, including cleaning tools, for several years. She tested the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Vacuum and Shark Stratos Upright from her small homestead in Rhode Island. As the owner of two dogs and a cat, she’s always looking for the best products to help keep her home (at least somewhat) free of pet hair.
Contributing EditorMidwestern product tester and writer Courtney Irwin is a working mom of three who loves nothing more than a good deal. Courtney has spent years curating home renovation and appliance content, and has tested a range of products for Homes & Gardens, including mattresses, kitchen appliances and vacuums.
How do I choose a vacuum cleaner for pet hair?
Pet hair is a challenge for some vacuums to suck up thoroughly, then there's the dander that you want neatly contained. So you’ll typically need a cleaner with good suction, the right types of accessories, and clean disposal.
For dealing with carpets or rugs, this means a motorized brush bar, which uses rigid bristles to agitate and loosen hair so that it can be sucked up into the bin.
For hard floors, having pure suction flow through the cleaner makes more sense for hair, but look out for a cleaner that has a soft brush, designed to pick up pet dander and microscopic bits of dust first.
Tools for dealing with pet hair around the house are just as important. A mini motorized brush can be your best friend, giving you the same qualities as a floor brush in a smaller package that can help clean up pet beds and upholstery with ease.
Any motorized tool with tangle-free technology is worth looking for, as you won’t have to worry about cleaning the tools so often.
Otherwise, look out for regular accessories (dusting brushes, crevice tools and so on) for getting into those hard-to-reach areas and removing all traces of pet hair from your home.
While power isn’t the most important aspect, vacuum cleaners designed for pet hair tend to be at the more powerful end of the spectrum, particularly for plug-in models. Typically, these cleaners have a 1500W or higher motor.
You’ll have a choice between cordless and plug-in models. Generally speaking, plug-in models, as discussed above, will give you a deeper and more thorough clean with unlimited cleaning power, but the trade-off is a large and more unwieldy cleaner.
A cordless cleaner doesn’t quite have the same level of power but can do a great job with the right accessories designed for pet hair removal. As cordless cleaners are lighter and easier to move around, you’ll more likely use them more often, too. Regular, targeted cleaning can be just as, if not more effective as a weekly deep clean.
Bissell IconPet tested on hard floor
(Image credit: Courtney Irwin)
What's the best cordless vacuum for pet hair?
Our top pick, the Dyson Outsize + is a great option if you're after a powerful design with all the bells and whistles, and several attachments to make cleaning up after pets a lot easier. It's power replicates that of a corded design and offers up to two hours of battery life, more than enough time to clean. The half-gallon dust bin is the largest dust bin available on a cordless, so if your pet sheds excessively, you won't have to empty the dust bin every five minutes. However, due to its size, it's inevitably heavier and bulkier than other cordless options on the market.
We also recommend the Bissell IconPet series as it easily swivels for ultimate maneuverability and is the real deal in all its claims from the tangle-free brush roll, powerful suction, and easy dust bin removal with as little contact with dirt as possible.
Tineco is also showcasing its technology as a contender among the best pet vacuums with its Tineco Pure One S15 Pet vacuum.
It offers incredible cleaning performance and we love the gamification of its iLoop Dust Sensor detects hidden dirt and automatically adjusts power. However, the biggest drawback is that long strands of hair are inevitably wrapped around the brush roll. Luckily, there is a tool to cut it out, and it didn't affect performance, but it is a pain point of extra maintenance.
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
What's the best vacuum for pet hair on a carpet?
When it comes to homes with ample carpet, we continue to love Dyson upright models, including the newly upgraded Dyson Ball Animal 3 or its predecessor, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 . Both offer tremendous suction power and cull out the most embedded dust and dander from carpets.
We were also impressed with Shark's corded offerings, be it the Shark Stratos or the Shark Vertex , which are slightly easier to push or maneuver over the carpet as they have a built-in propellant.
What's the best vacuum for pet hair on hardwood floors?
Again, the Dyson Outsize + is a great option for cleaning on hard floors, especially with the addition of the Laser Slim Fluffy Cleaner Head, which is specifically built for cleaning on hard floors.
We also like the design of the Shark Stratos and the Shark Vertex collection, both upright and cordless models with its Duo Clean Power Fins Technology that incorporates a silicone PowerFins roller and a soft roller to swiftly suction dust and debris, even larger pieces and stays well-engaged with floors.
(Image credit: iRobot)
What's the best robot vacuum for pet hair?
The best robot vacuum for pet hair is without a doubt the iRobot Roomba j7+ . Not only does it have decent pickup performance, an auto-emptying bin so you can basically set it and forget it, and amazing navigating skills, but it also has features designed specifically for pet parents, including the ability to avoid pet accidents, pet toys, food bowls, cords, among others. They also offer this very unique proposition: the Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P) where iRobot will replace your j7+ if the accident turns gets dragged into a larger one.
What's the best vacuum for pet hair on a couch?
For removing pet hair from a couch or other upholstery, you'll want to select a vacuum that comes with attachments such as a mini-upholstery tool that make it easy to vacuum across delicate fabrics.
Most cordless and handheld vacuum styles will be sufficient for removing pet hair and dander from upholstery.
The Dyson Outsize + comes with a mini-powered tool, and many of the best Dyson vacuums come with one as well. As the base model, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 does not come with a hair turbine tool, but it can be found on upgraded models like the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra or the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Complete
However, the Shark Stratos base model does indeed come with its own non-motorized tool which is just OK, but its upgraded model comes with the HairPro Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush, a motorized tool for furniture.
Which is the best vacuum for pet hair from the car?
For removing pet hair from places like the car, we recommend one of the best handheld vacuums like the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Lithium Ion Hand Vacuum which has a built-in hair tool attachment that's easy to slide across upholstered seats. It's compact enough to stay in your trunk too if you want a dedicated product.
otherwise, you'll get on with one of our other cordless options that also have a hair tool attachment.
Are HEPA filter vacuums worth it?
When sucking up dust and pet hair, it’s not what you can see that can cause irritation and allergic reactions, but the microscopic dust that you can’t.
Pet dander, for example, are microscopic skin cells shed from animals that cause reactions in people with allergies.
HEPA filters are designed and rated to prevent these particles from escaping the vacuum cleaner, sealing in the dirt that’s collected. This is very important in a pet vacuum cleaner, particularly if anyone in the house (or a regular visitor) has sensitivities to your animals.
Are bagless or bagged vacuums better for allergies?
As discussed above, a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters is what you need if you have allergy sufferers, keeping the microscopic irritants sealed inside the dust bin. However, the big issue is what happens when you empty a vacuum.
Round up of today's best deals
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Shark Stratos upright vacuum
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Samsung Bespoke Jet
£529.99
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Dyson Ball Animal 2
£300
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iRobot Roomba j7+
£1,299
£781.
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Bissell ICONpet Cordless Vacuum
£499
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Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog
£159.99
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Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum review (AZ3000)
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If you share your home with a dog or cat – or multiple pets – a high-quality vacuum is an absolute must. The best vacuums for pets have powerful suction that can handle hair, dirt, and dander, and you may also want to look for things like HEPA filtration and tangle-free brushrolls, especially if your pets have long hair.
The Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum (AZ3000) boasts all these features, as well as odor neutralization and multiple attachments. The Stratos also stands out among the best vacuums thanks to its versatile design, which has a unique LiftAway mode that makes it easier to tackle hard-to-navigate areas, like stairs and underneath furniture.
There are even LED lights on the brushroll that make it easy to spot dirt and hair on your floors and in dim corners, delivering a more thorough clean.
While the Shark Stratos sounds like a great choice for multi-pet households, we wanted to see if it lives up to the hype. I tested the vacuum for two weeks, using it to clean up after my two long-haired dogs, and I was thoroughly impressed by its suction power and ability to handle tough messes.
Shark Stratos Special Offer| $429 $299 at Shark Cleanwith code STRATOS130
This special promotional price is available exclusively via Shark and includes a free under-appliance wand.
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About our reviewer
About our reviewer
Product ReviewerCamryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer who has been testing home goods, including cleaning tools, for several years. She tested the Shark AZ3000 Stratos Upright Vacuum from her small homestead in Rhode Island. As the owner of two dogs and a cat, she’s always looking for the best products to help keep her home (at least somewhat) free of pet hair.
When Camryn is not tinkering around with the latest home gadgets, she spends her time tending to her animals, working in her garden, or crafting.
Who will love the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum?
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
The Shark AZ3000 Stratos Upright Vacuum is best for busy households with one or more pets, as it offers powerful suction and filtration, and it’s equally effective on both long and short pet hair.
It’s designed to be used as a primary vacuum for deep cleaning carpeting and hard floors – because it’s a corded model and fairly bulky, it isn’t the most convenient option for picking up small messes or cleaning out your car.
Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum: Specifications
(Image credit: Shark)
- Model number: AZ3000
- Maximum power: 1416W
- Bin capacity: 1.4 L
- Bin type: bagless
- Cord length: 30ft.
- Cleaning path width: 10.63"
- Dimensions: 11.02" x 12.2" x 46.46"
- Weight: 17.2 lb.
- Filter: HEPA
- Warranty: 5 years
- Attachments: Odor neutralizer cartridge, crevice tool, and upholstery tool
- RRP: $499.99
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
My first impressions of the Shark Stratos were that it’s fairly heavy but easy to maneuver.
It weighs a substantial 17.2 pounds, which makes it quite bulky to carry around, but its swivel steering allows you to get into corners and around obstacles. Still, I think the size and weight of this vacuum will make it hard for some people to use.
I love that this vacuum has two brushrolls on the floorhead – the PowerFins HairPro brushroll has stiff fins that dig deep into the carpeting to pull up hair and dust, while the soft brush roll does a great job picking up dust and fine particles from hard floors. Plus, if one of the brushrolls ever gets stuck, the LED lights on the front of the floorhead turn red, letting you know that you need to stop and fix the problem. I only ever had an issue with this when I was using the wrong suction setting.
The other thing I noticed right away is that the vacuum gives off a fresh odor when you’re cleaning, thanks to the “odor-neutralizing cartridge.” I can’t say whether it actually gets rid of pet odors or just covers them up, but it does leave behind a light, fresh scent that makes the room feel cleaner.
What is the Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFin Upright Vacuum like to use?
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
Unboxing the Shark Stratos
When the Shark AZ3000 Stratos arrived on my doorstep, the packaging wasn’t in the best condition. It had gotten banged up quite a bit during shipping, and the top was partially ripped off. However, the good news is that everything inside the box was still in perfect condition. All of the different components were wrapped in styrofoam padding and plastic, and while this made for a lot of waste, it did keep the pieces from being broken or scratched during transport.
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
The vacuum was quick and easy to assemble. All the pieces clicked into place, and assembly was very intuitive, only taking me around five minutes to complete. The only time I had to consult the manual was when inserting the “odor neutralizer cartridge,” which gets installed in the top of the floorhead.
It simply twists into place, and you’re able to adjust it to give off more or less scent.
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
On Carpets
While my house has mostly hardwood floors, there are area rugs in almost every room, and they collect lots of dirt, dust, and pet hair throughout the day. There’s a slider on the vacuum’s handle that adjusts the suction for different types of flooring, and I typically used it on the medium setting, as my rugs are low-pile.
I was honestly shocked at the pure suction power that the Shark Stratos delivers, and it excelled at removing pet hair and dirt from my carpets, quickly filling up the dustbin. Even just vacuuming the 9-by-6-foot area rug in my dining room, the dustbin was full of hair and dirt and needed to be emptied before I moved on to another room. It also managed to pick up ⅛ cup of uncooked rice in a single pass, leaving the floor spotless.
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau)
On Hard Floors
Upright vacuums don’t always work well on hard floors, as their powerful brushrolls can scatter debris around, but the Stratos had no problem picking up pet hair and dust from my hardwood floors.
Its soft brushroll helped to capture those fine particles, and it was also able to pick up larger debris, like leaves and fuzz from dog toys, with no issues. I even spilled ⅛ cups of uncooked rice, and the vacuum picked up the pieces with no problems, pulling the rice out from between the cracks easily.
The only issue I ran into when vacuuming the hard floors in my kitchen was that the vacuum sucked up the small kitchen mat. I had the vacuum on its highest suction setting, which is meant for hard floors, and it ended up pulling the mat up into the brushroll.
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
On Stairs
The main staircase in my house often has little piles of dog hair in the corners of each step from my pets running up and down all day, and I typically use a cordless vacuum to suck them up. However, I found it to be almost as easy to use the Shark for this task thanks to its LiftAway mode. When you press the LiftAway button on top of the canister, the whole thing lifts off the base, making it much more compact and lightweight.
I could easily rest the canister on the stairs as I cleaned with the crevice tool, and the suction power is much stronger than my cordless vacuum, meaning it picked up more dust and hair with each pass.
My only complaint about this mode is that the hose itself is quite short—probably around 2.5 or 3 feet. It’s supposed to be able to stretch out, but because the suction is so strong, it ends up shrinking back on itself when you turn the vacuum on.
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
On Furniture
I tested the Shark Stratos AZ3000, which only comes with a non-motorized upholstery tool, but if you opt for the Stratos AZ3000 (a slightly more expensive model), you’ll also get the HairPro Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush, a motorized tool for furniture. I used the tool to clean off one of our dog beds, as well as the sofa where my dogs like to nap, and I wasn’t really wowed with its performance.
The vacuum needed to be on its lowest suction setting, otherwise, the tool just sucked onto the fabric too hard.
It did pick up most of the dirt and debris on the furniture, but it wasn’t able to pull out embedded hairs.
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
Cleaning and Maintenance
When I first looked at the Stratos vacuum, I thought it had a large dustbin—ideal for picking up lots of pet hair. However, once I started using it, I noticed that the “Max Fill” line is only about ⅓ of the way up the side of the bin, which was really disappointing. When I vacuumed my kitchen and dining room, I ended up having to stop and empty the bin two times, and even then, I usually ended up filling the bin more than I should have between empties. This is definitely one of the major downsides of this vacuum.
There are a few other maintenance tasks you’ll need to complete to keep the Stratos running in peak condition. It has a washable foam filter that needs to be rinsed once a month. Honestly, after two weeks of fairly heavy use, this filter was already starting to look quite dirty and could likely be cleaned.
You’ll also need to periodically replace the odor-neutralizing cartridge—the brand recommends installing a new one every six months.
Storage
The Shark Stratos isn’t the most convenient vacuum to store. It has a fairly large footprint and is quite tall, meaning it will take up quite a bit of space in a closet or other storage space. The power cord can be wound around the cord wrap on the side of the machine, but unfortunately, there’s nowhere to store the accessories on the vacuum itself.
How does the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum rate online?
On the Shark website, the Stratos AZ3000 has more than 300 reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars. It gets top marks from pet owners, who agree that the suction is unbeatable, and many people also note that it works well on both fine particles and larger debris.
Among those who weren’t totally satisfied with the vacuum, some of the most common complaints were that the vacuum is quite heavy and can tip over easily when you’re using the attachment hose.
How does the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum compare to other models?
You may notice that there are two versions of the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum—the AZ3000 and the AZ3002 —and the main difference between the two is the included accessories. With the AZ300, you only get a crevice tool and a non-motorized upholstery tool. However, if you upgrade to the AZ3002, you’ll receive the motorized HairPro Pet Power Brush, a duster-crevice combination tool, a multi-angle dust brush, an anti-allergen dust brush, an accessory bag, and two extra odor cartridges. However, this model has a higher price tag.
Also within the Shark lineup is the Shark Vertex Upright, which has many similar features, except it does not have the new Odor Neutralizer Technology. The Vertex has a slightly smaller dust cup, but it also weighs marginally less, while also having a larger cleaning path and a longer hose. The two are pretty comparable in terms of suction power, pick up, and maneuverability.
At it's base, the Shark Vertex comes with more accessories, but the extra Pet attachments are available with the AZ3002 version.
In terms of price and size, the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum is quite similar to the Dyson Ball Animal 3 , which we also tested. The two offer similar suction power and weigh around the same, but the Dyson does have a larger dustbin capacity and on-board accessory storage.
Should you buy the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum?
(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )
This is on the higher end as upright vacuums go, but the pure suction power of this machine makes it worth it. The vacuum performs excellently on virtually all surfaces, and its detachable canister makes it more convenient to clean stairs and other hard-to-reach areas. Plus, it handles pet hair like a pro and leaves a fresh scent behind as you clean.
The main reason you might not want to buy this vacuum is its weight. At more than 17 pounds, the Stratos is quite bulky and can be somewhat hard to move around, which may not be practical for some households.
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