Vacuums for animal hair
8 Best Vacuums for Pet Hair of 2023
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Why Trust Us?
1
Best Overall Vacuum for Pet Hair
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus Lightweight Vacuum
1
Best Overall Vacuum for Pet Hair
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus Lightweight Vacuum
Now 10% Off
$222 at Amazon
Credit: BissellPros
- Sealed to trap allergens
- Hands-free dust cup emptying
- 7 ft. hose to clean hard to reach spots
Cons
- Some reviewers found it too heavy
Like many other models from the brand, Bissell's Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus did not disappoint our testers — in fact, it's one of the best Bissell vacuums we've ever tested in the Lab. It earned good scores for its ease of use and powerful suction, but our favorite feature is the mess-free dust cup's easy-to-empty, hands-free design, with a hair spooling system inside the canister that contains a tangle-free brush roll that prevents pet hair from clogging the bristles.
"This vacuum's combination of features and tools was ideal for picking up the hair of both small and large pets," said one impressed tester. When comparing this model to other upright vacuums we tested in our Lab, we rated it favorably for its weight, but some online reviewers say they found the Pet Hair Eraser Turbo too heavy and had trouble lifting it, especially on stairs.
| Weight | 13.75 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Corded or Cordless | Corded |
| Cord Length | 30 feet |
| Run Time | N/A |
| Bag or Bagless | Bagless |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 0.75 L |
| Filter | Washable foam and non-washable pleated |
| Included Accessories | LED Crevice Tool, Pet Turbo Eraser Tool and 2-in-1 Pet Dusting Brush |
2
Best Value Vacuum for Pet Hair
Kenmore Pet-Friendly Upright Vacuum
2
Best Value Vacuum for Pet Hair
Kenmore Pet-Friendly Upright Vacuum
$243 at Amazon
Credit: KenmorePros
- Air-powered hand tool with a rotating brush for easier pet hair pick-up
- Certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation
- Five-position adjustable height nozzle
Cons
- May be heavy for some
Pet hair is an annoyance for most pet owners, but if you or someone in your family happens to be allergic to pet hair, it can also be a serious health issue.
But this upright Kenmore has all the extras to keep pet hair where it belongs: inside the vacuum. Certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA), this vacuum has a HEPA filter and passed AAFA tests for low emissions, both while vacuuming and changing the bag.
Although it lacks some of the features that other vacuum cleaners offer, like auto height adjustments for different floor types and a retractable cord, we're impressed by its large capacity dust cup, ample hose storage, variety of tools and that it can be manually height adjusted for easier pushing across all carpet styles.
While we haven’t yet tested this specific model in our Lab, Kenmore vacuums have done well in our previous performance tests; we also trust the rigid standards of the AAFA, and are impressed with their certification criteria. Reviewers say this vacuum maintains its performance even as the bag fills with dirt, and it’s loaded with features we love, like a powerful motor and an air-powered hand tool with a rotating brush to more easily remove stubborn pet hair from upholstery, bedding and stairs.
Still, at just under 20 pounds, it may not be the easiest to lift up.
| Weight | 19 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Corded or Cordless | Corded |
| Cord Length | 30 feet |
| Run Time | N/A |
| Bag or Bagless | Bag |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 1.5 L |
| Filter | HEPA |
| Included Accessories | Dusting brush, crevice tool and bare floor tool |
3
Best Cordless Vacuum for Pet Hair
Dyson V15 Detect Stick Vacuum
3
Best Cordless Vacuum for Pet Hair
Dyson V15 Detect Stick Vacuum
$750 at Target$725 at Walmart$750 at Home Depot
Credit: DysonPros
- Comes with a unique tool for pet hair
- On-board tool storage
- Automatically adjusts suction across different flooring
Cons
- Expensive
Dyson's V15 Detect, a recent Good Housekeeping Cleaning Award winner, packs a lot of innovation into a lightweight design, with a laser that illuminates dust and other debris not visible in regular lighting, a fluffy brush that's great for picking up hair and dust from hard flooring and an LCD screen that shows you how big or small each particle your vacuum picks up is.
Our testers found maintenance easy, thanks to a hair screw tool specifically made to ball up long and short pet hair and deposit it into the dust bin without tangling around the brush. The dust bin is smaller than those on most full-size upright vacuums and therefore requires more frequent emptying.
We found manually switching between cleaning modes easy, but the auto-mode automatically adjusts the suction power depending on the floor type it senses, instantly providing stronger suction when you need it most (like when removing debris from carpet fibers). Both the filter and fluffy brush are washable, plus you can store all accessories right on the wand. It has a powerful suction, so much so that it sometimes proved troublesome for testers vacuuming around lightweight rugs that were sucked up easily by the V15 Detect.
All of its innovative features and overwhelmingly positive consumer reviews online are impressive, and we especially like the battery runtime countdown on the LCD screen that tells you exactly how long (to the second!) you have before you’ll need to charge the device’s battery.
| Weight | 6.8 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Corded or Cordless | Cordless |
| Run Time | Up to 60 minutes |
| Bag or Bagless | Bagless |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 0.76 L |
| Filter | HEPA |
| Included Accessories | Hair screw tool, combination tool, stubborn dirt brush, crevice tool, mini soft dusting brush and digital motorbar |
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair and Hardwood Floors
Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go Bagged Canister
4
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair and Hardwood Floors
Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go Bagged Canister
Now 14% Off
$300 at Amazon$315 at Walmart
Credit: KenmorePros
- Comes with a motorized attachment for pet hair
- Bagged so less dust escapes during emptying
Cons
- Heavier than other similar models
For those that prefer a bagged vacuum that keeps pet hair and dander sealed after cleaning, there's the Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go canister vacuum from Kenmore, a 2022 Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Award winner.
To clean hardwood floors, you can use your foot to press the button that opens up the bare floor brush storage and attach it hands-free, though one tester found that the compartment doesn't open all the way each time, so you may have to nudge it a bit to get the brush out. We found its Pet PowerMate tool to be great for cleaning hair from upholstered furniture and carpets, and it can be stored along with all other tools right on the vacuum.
In our Lab tests, it proved to have powerful suction, picking up dry oats from our test carpets and hard flooring easily. One of our consumer testers used this vacuum right after another model, and found that it picked up debris that the first vacuum missed. “The suction was phenomenal,” our tester said. We also found it easy to maneuver and transition from carpet to hard floors, thanks to its large wheels.
Keep in mind that this vacuum clocks in at over 20 pounds, so it'll take two hands to carry up or down stairs, though it is possible to clean stairs without having to pick it up thanks to its 10.
5-foot telescoping wand, long hose and retractable cord. These features are also helpful for cleaning large areas without having to switch outlets too often.
| Weight | 24 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Corded or Cordless | Corded |
| Cord Length | 26 feet |
| Run Time | N/A |
| Bag or Bagless | Bag |
| Duct Cup Capacity | N/A |
| Filter | HEPA |
| Included Accessories | Crevice tool, bare floor tool, upholstery brush and pet PowerMate |
5
Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair
BLACK+DECKER Furbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pets
5
Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair
BLACK+DECKER Furbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pets
Now 34% Off
$85 at Amazon$109 at Walmart$85 at Home Depot
Credit: Black + DeckerPros
- Powered pet head has rubber bristles to lift pet hair off furniture and stairs
- Affordable
Cons
- Doesn’t come with many attachments that others have
This cordless handheld vacuum from Black + Decker is a great affordable vacuum for pet hair that's especially great for cleaning up the car.
It has a motorized pet brush tool that uses rubber bristles to lift pet hair off upholstery, car seats and carpets efficiently.
The only other tool included is an extendable crevice tool that makes cleaning hard to reach areas especially easy. Like many of the best handheld vacuums, it has a long runtime of up to 32 minutes, but requires four hours for charging and does not have a removable battery so you'll have to plug in the whole device (and when the battery eventually stops working, you'll have to purchase a brand new hand vacuum). Its filter is washable and the dust cup empties with the push of a button, allowing for easy maintenance.
This vacuum’s powerful suction and large battery indicator were a tester’s favorite features on this model, who said, "while a small device will never be as powerful as a full-size model, this little vacuum's suction was impressive." With an average 4.4-star rating on Amazon from over 7,700 reviewers, this handheld vacuum is fan-approved too.
| Weight | 4.2 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Run time | Up to 32 minutes |
| Bag or Bagless | Bagless |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 0.75 L |
| Corded or Cordless | Cordless |
| Filter | Washable filter and pre-filter |
| Run Time | N/A |
| Included Accessories | Crevice tool and motorized pet brush |
6
Best Corded Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum
6
Best Corded Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum
$55 at Amazon$44 at Walmart
Credit: BissellPros
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Rubber nozzle to help lift stuck-on hair
Cons
- Not for narrow, hard-to-reach spots
This small-but-mighty Bissell is perfect for quick pet-hair fixes. We like that it's designed with a rubber nozzle to help lift stuck-on hair and that it's easy to maneuver around chair arms and stair treads, though its shape makes it a little awkward to hold and it's not the best option for tight, hard-to-reach spots.
Our testers rated this hand vac highly because it took just four swipes to pick up every bit of hair in our pet hair pick-up tests — in fact, in our latest round of handheld vacuum tests, it earned the highest overall performance score out of 19 models tested.
Its 16-foot power cord is long enough to navigate small messes and it comes with an attachment for hard floors to nab pet hair or dry messes like kitty litter on tile and more. It's a little heavier than a lot of other handheld vacuums we've tested, but worth the extra weight for the larger than usual dust cup capacity it affords users.
| Weight | 5 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Corded or Cordless | Corded |
| Cord Length | 16 feet |
| Run Time | N/A |
| Bag or Bagless | Bagless |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 0.78 L |
| Filter | Multi-layer filtration |
| Included Accessories | Specialized rubber nozzle and suction nozzle |
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7
Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair
eufy RoboVac 15C MAX
7
Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair
eufy RoboVac 15C MAX
$250 at Amazon
Credit: eufyPros
- Removes pet hair from thick carpet with ease
- Slim design gets under low furniture
Cons
- Filters not washable
From our extensive testing of robot vacuums, we've found that most models are not ideal for picking up pet hair, especially from carpet.
But this budget-friendly robot vacuum from eufy bucked the trend, easily removing pet hair from carpet and hardwood floors. It was also one of the quietest robot vacuums we tested and ran for almost two hours on a single charge.
Like most other robots on the market, it automatically returns to its charging base when the battery runs low, but lacks the ability to resume cleaning after it finishes charging like some more expensive models do. With its slim profile of just under three inches, it can glide beneath beds, low furniture and hard-to-reach places to nab stray pet hair. Its BoostIQ Technology also automatically increases suction power when it detects extra cleaning is needed and advanced sensors keep it from tumbling off ledges and stairs or running into furniture.
For a budget-friendly price, it packs quite a few of the best robot vacuum features, like spot- and edge-cleaning, but does lack some other key capabilities that some consumers might miss, like a floor mapping feature or the ability to mark off no-go zones in your home.
The device's filter cannot be washed, but a replacement filter is included with the robot vacuum and can be purchased separately at an affordable price on Amazon. Its two side brushes and roller brush action helped secure its spot as the third-best performing robot vacuum amongst 15 models we recently tested.
| Weight | 6 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Corded or Cordless | Cordless (Base is corded) |
| Run Time | Up to 100 minutes |
| Bag or Bagless | Bagless |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 0.6 L |
| Filter | Non-washable |
| Included Accessories | Cleaning tool and side brushes |
8
Best Canister Vacuum for Pet Hair
Miele Boost CX1 Cat & Dog
8
Best Canister Vacuum for Pet Hair
Miele Boost CX1 Cat & Dog
Now 15% Off
$579 at Amazon$580 at Bed Bath and Beyond
Credit: MielePros
- Included turbo brush floorhead for pet hair pickup on carpet
- Four suction power settings
Cons
- Pricey
Miele’s newest canister vacuum model comes with a turbo brush floorhead specially designed for picking up dirt and hair from low to medium pile carpets.
Our experts are always impressed by the design and performance of Miele vacuums in our tests, and this canister vacuum was no exception, picking up dry oats from carpets, hardwood flooring and tiles without leaving anything behind. Thanks to its small size, it can be easily stored in small spaces and its 32-foot operating radius is great for cleaning large areas. There's even a spot on the canister body to park the hose so it stays upright during storage.
This Boost CX1 model also includes a universal floor head for pet hair pick up on bare floors. This Miele canister vacuum is one of the most expensive of our picks, but because it offers four suction power options that make it gentle enough for cleaning curtains and strong enough for cleaning carpets, our experts find that the cost is justified as you'll be able to tackle messes from floor to ceiling with just one device.
One of our consumer testers said, "It worked well on all surfaces, but really impressed with the power it had with the area rug.
" It impressed our expert testers, too, earning it a 2022 GH Best Cleaning & Organizing Award.
Product Specs
| Weight | 18 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Corded or Cordless | Corded |
| Cord Length | 21 feet |
| Run Time | N/A |
| Bag or Bagless | Bagless |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 1 L |
| Filter | HEPA |
| Included Accessories | Upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, two floor nozzles and dusting brush |
How we testvacuums for pet hair
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we test dozens of vacuum cleaners throughout the year. Each vacuum model we evaluate is tested exactly the same way, according to ASTM standards. As a member of ASTM International's F11 Vacuum Cleaner Committee, our Cleaning Lab's executive director helps to develop the standards used across the industry to assess vacuum’s performance, ease of use, durability and more.
In the Cleaning Lab, we assess how well vacuums pick up dirt and debris from carpets, hardwood, tile and linoleum flooring. Perhaps most importantly, every vacuum we evaluate gets tested on "pet hair,” a.k.a. fine rayon fibers that we apply to test carpeting in a uniform way. After a specified number of passes, the percent of pet hair pickup from the carpeting is determined.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
In addition to performance testing, each vacuum must also undergo ease of use evaluations that include assessing the weight, battery runtime, maneuverability and ease of emptying and using the controls of the devices. Models that are tested in consideration for our annual Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards are also sent to consumer testers who rate and provide feedback on the vacuum’s maneuverability, ease of use and more. Our picks are the vacuums that performed best on in-Lab pet hair tests, plus ones with features perfectly suited to tackle stubborn fur.
What to look for when shopping for the best pet hair vacuums
To help any vacuum do a better job at removing pet hair, our cleaning pros recommend giving fur-covered carpets and couches a spritz of an anti-static spray, like Static Guard, before vacuuming to help strands come up easier. Then, there are a few features to look for in a vacuum for pet hair:
✔️ Bag vs. bagless: Dust cups or bags are essential considerations for the inevitable and frequent dumping that happens as you vacuum up after your pet. Bagged vacuums are best for keeping pet hair, dust and debris out of the air when emptying the vacuum, ideal for homes with allergy sufferers. Bagless vacuums are often sealed to prevent debris escaping and going back into the air of your home as you clean, but have to be emptied directly into the trash bin where dust can escape and find its way into the air or back on the floor. Bagless models are great for homes that don't want to re-up on bags periodically.
Make sure that the dust cup is sizable and easy to empty, or that the bag is easily disposed of for the easiest post-cleaning cleanup.
✔️ Filter type: Filters not only help the dust from recirculating back into the air but can actually help neutralize pet smells in your home. Look for models with multi-layer filtration that can trap more debris than a single layer filter can. Models with pre-filters and whole machine filtration also offer multiple levels of filtration at different parts of the vacuum to further prevent dust and debris from re-entering your home's air. And if allergies are a concern, HEPA filters are the most effective, since they trap 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles with a minimum size of 0.3 microns (nanoparticles).
✔️ Type of flooring: Many vacuum cleaners come with attachments that are specifically designed for cleaning different types of flooring. Models with brushes that can be turned off or soft brushes are the best option for hardwood flooring as they are less likely to cause scratches than brushes with harder bristles.
For thick carpets, rotating brush rolls with stiff bristles help get into the individual fibers of the carpet to get as much dirt and debris out.
✔️ Corded vs. cordless: With a corded vacuum, you’ll never have to worry about running out of battery power, however, cordless vacuums are easy to take from room to room or use in a car. Deciding if you need a corded or a cordless model should be chosen depending on your usage: Do you plan to tote it around the house and outside, or perhaps you're more likely to use it for long stretches of time? If you're leaning toward a cordless model, look for ones that include a second battery for longer run time
✔️ Size and weight: Portability is also an important factor when shopping for a vacuum cleaner. If you’re frequently vacuuming small amounts of pet hair, you may want a handheld or stick vacuum that’s compact and lightweight to quickly suction up tiny amounts of pet hair. However, if you find yourself vacuuming large areas often to pick up pet hair you’ll want a corded canister or upright vacuum that never runs out of power.
Keep in mind that heavier vacuums will be harder to carry up and down stairs if you have multiple levels to clean in your home.
✔️ Pet tools & features: Pet hair-nabbing features are crucial, like rubber trim and raised “fingers” on floor nozzles or attachments that help zap static and break the bonds so fur comes up more easily. Tangle-free brush rolls also put an end to clipping long strands of hair (from pets or humans!) that get twisted around the brush.
9
Is a vacuum with a HEPA filter worth it?
Yes, vacuums with HEPA filters are especially great for homes with allergy sufferers as they trap 99.97% of microscopic airborne allergens. In fact, research conducted by NASA showed that HEPA filters remove almost all nanoparticles from a space cabin. Vacuums with “HEPA-like” filters are less expensive but often are only able to trap airborne particles as small as 0.5 microns, which makes a big difference when it comes to reducing airborne viruses and bacteria in your home.
Sealed vacuums that don’t allow any particles to escape from side vents or any other part of the vacuum are helpful for allergies, as are bagged vacuums that minimize the release of dust when emptying the dust cup.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Carolyn Forté has tested and reviewed hundreds of vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, mops and other major (and minor) home appliances for over 40 years. She oversees all testing done in the Cleaning Lab and continually tests new products, including cleaning products made for tackling pet messes like floor cleaners formulated to remove pet odors and carpet cleaning machines that remove dried on urine stains. She is an active member of the ASTM Committee on vacuum cleaners and chairman of the consumer information sub-committee.
Carolyn Forté
Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab.
Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
Jodhaira Rodriguez
Home Care & Cleaning Lab Reviews Analyst
Jodhaira (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab, where she tests and writes about home appliances, cleaning products and cleaning tips. Prior to joining GH in 2021, she graduated from Hofstra University with a bachelor’s degree in forensic science and spent two years as an analyst in an environmental lab in Queens.
Best vacuums for pet hair in 2023
Content is created by CNN Underscored’s team of editors who work independently from the CNN newsroom.
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more
Home / Cleaning
What's in this guide
- Best robot vacuum for pet hair: iLife V3S Pro
- Best robot vacuum that allegedly won’t smear dog poop all over your house: iRobot Roomba j7+
- Best cordless stick vacuum for pet hair: Dyson V11 Animal
- Best upright vacuum for pet hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Upright Vacuum
- Best canister vacuum for pet hair and thick carpet: Kenmore BC4026 Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go
- Best handheld vacuum for pet hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser
- How to choose the right vacuum for pet hair
Cats and dogs bring joy, comfort and companionship to your household. But they also bring hair — lots of hair, on your clothing, on your furniture and all over the floor. As with children and mess, controlling cat and dog hair in the house is a running battle, one you signed up for when you brought those bundles of chaos into your house.
A vacuum cleaner is a crucial tool against pet hair, dander and dust, especially for people with allergies, and many models now include specially designed floor heads and accessories for cleaning up after pets. We’ve found the best vacuums for pet hair among the seven cordless stick vacuums, 10 robot vacuums, six uprights and nine canister vacuums we’ve tested.
iLife V3S Pro
The best robot vacuum for pet hair
iLife V3S Pro Robot Vacuum
AmazonThe budget-priced iLife V3S Pro uses a suction tube like a traditional vacuum cleaner rather than the roller brushes employed by other robot vacuums, and does a better job picking up pet hair without clogging.
$160 $114 at Amazon
iRobot Roomba j7+
The best robot vacuum that can allegedly avoid dog poop
The Roomba j7+.
iRobotThe iRobot j7+ is the best robot vacuum you can buy right now, with simpler mapping, more cleaning power and smarter features (like dog poop avoidance) than anything else we tested.
$780 at Amazon
Dyson V11 Animal
Best cordless stick vacuum for pet hair and deep carpet
Dyson V11 Animal Cord-Free Vacuum
DysonWith impressive power and the ability to tackle cleaning tasks on surfaces ranging from high-pile carpet to hard floors, the Dyson V11 Animal is the most capable cordless stick vacuum we tested.
$649 $543 at Amazon
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Upright Vacuum
Best upright vacuum for pet hair
BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Upright Vacuum
BISSELLThe Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Upright Vacuum's standout feature is the Pet Turboeraser tool, which has a spinning brush head with bristles that easily pull dog and cat hair off upholstery and stairs, making it the best upright vacuum for pet owners.
$370 at Amazon
Kenmore BC4026 Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go
Best canister vacuum for pet hair and thick carpet
Kenmore Pop-N-Go canister vacuum cleaner
KenmoreThe Kenmore BC4026 canister vacuum is great for large homes, deep-pile carpet and folks with allergies. It's bulky and inelegant, but its powered floorhead outperforms vacuums twice its price, the motorized pet hair mini brush keeps upholstery looking fresh and its dust bags and exhaust filter are HEPA-compliant.
$340 at Kenmore
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser
Best handheld vacuum for pet hair
WalmartWith a motorized brush that picks up more pet hair than any other handheld vacuum we tested, the powerful Bissell Pet Hair Eraser lets you take care of pet messes on floors, upholstery, in the care, or anywhere it might accumulate.
$69 at Amazon
Andrea Smith/CNN UnderscoredKey Specs
- Navigation style: bump and run
- Capacity: 0.08 gallons (0.3 liters)
- Run time: 90 minutes
- Dimensions: 11.8 inches wide by 3 inches high
Of the 10 robot vacuums we tested, the iLife V3S Pro was the best at removing pet hair without clogging, thanks to its lack of roller brushes.
At around $160, it costs hundreds less than most robot vacuums.
The iLife V3S Pro does a great job removing pet hair and cat litter from hardwood floor and low carpet. It uses bump-and-run navigation, rather than mapping, and it can’t avoid cords or poop like the Roomba j7+ can, but it’ll clean your whole space eventually. It can’t empty itself, unlike more expensive robots, and it doesn’t have a bin fill indicator. But if you make it a habit to empty the dust bin every day, it’ll drastically cut down on pet hair in your space for very little effort on your part.
Andrea Smith/CNNKey Specs
- Navigation style: mapping
- Capacity: 0.07 gallons (0.25 liters) internal dustbin, 0.63 gallon (2.4L) external dustbag in base.
- Run time: 100 minutes
- Dimensions: 13.
3 inches wide by 3.4 inches high
If you have money to spare and want a robot vacuum that’s smarter than you are, consider the iRobot Roomba j7+. Unlike the iLife V3S Pro, it’s not bump-and-run: It maps your house, including no-go zones, and it has built-in object detection that helps it avoid power cords, headphones and — most importantly — pet waste, so you can hopefully avoid pooptastrophe.
The j7+ is self-emptying, unlike the iLife V3S Pro, which needs to be emptied after each run, and its rubber multi-surface brushes were second only to the V3S Pro, which has no brushes at all, in avoiding pet hair tangles. The Dirt Detect feature lets it focus on specific messes, like a cat litter spill, and go back over the area until it’s clean.
The Roomba j7+ is the best robot vacuum you can buy, but it’s expensive, and in our testing its self-empty cycle briefly made a noise like a jet engine. If you have the money, though, and especially if you have pets prone to pooping inside, it’s a compelling upgrade over the iLife V3S Pro.
Lindsay Boyers/CNN UnderscoredKey Specs
- Weight: 6.68 pounds
- Capacity: 0.2 gallon
- Battery life: 30-45 minutes in Auto or Boost mode, up to 60 minutes in Eco mode.
The Dyson V11 Animal is the best cordless stick vacuum for pet hair, and the best stick vacuum of the seven we tested.
If you live in an apartment or smaller home, it might even be the only vacuum you need. Its swiveling floor head makes fast work of pet hair and dust even in high-pile carpets, and in handheld mode, the crevice tool and mini motorized brush tool are fantastic for cleaning upholstered furniture, cat towers and pet beds. It’s lightweight, maneuverable and cordless, so getting the vacuum out isn’t a hassle like it can be for upright and canister vacuums.
The V11 Animal’s biggest weakness is battery life. At its automatic and Boost settings, it gets 30 to 45 minutes of runtime, which might not be enough. Unlike other stick vacuums with swappable batteries, the Dyson’s rechargeable battery is built in, so once it’s out of juice, you have to wait for it to recharge. The Dyson also uses a trigger-style power switch, which you have to hold down the entire time you’re vacuuming — it’s fine for smaller tasks, but you might find it taxing if you’re cleaning an entire apartment.
Key Specs
- Weight: 17.75 pounds
- Capacity: 0.26 gallon (1 liter)
- Cord length: 30 feet
- Hose length: 8 feet
If you have a home too large to vacuum in a single charge of a stick vacuum, especially one with lots of carpet, you should consider a corded upright vacuum. While larger, heavier and less maneuverable than cordless stick vacuums, they have higher suction, and won’t run out of charge.
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Upright is the best upright vacuum for pet hair, thanks to its Pet Turboeraser mini brush tool, which does a better job removing pet hair from stairs and upholstery than the five other uprights we tested (though it’s powered by suction, rather than motorized, so it won’t be as effective as a motorized pet hair tool like the one on the Kenmore BC4026 canister vacuum, below).
The Pet Hair Eraser’s lift-off feature means the canister, hose, wand and motor detach from the floor head, so you can easily use it to vacuum upholstery, drapes, fixtures and other things above floor level. At 18 pounds, the vacuum isn’t the lightest of the six upright vacuums we tested, and it’s not the best on hard floors, but it’s the best upright option for people with pets. However, people with dust or dander sensitivities should consider a bagged canister vacuum rather than a bagless upright like the Bissell.
Nathan Edwards/CNN UnderscoredKey Specs
- Weight: 22 pounds
- Dustbag capacity: 0.8 gallon (3 liters)
- Cord length: 28 feet
- Hose length: 6.5 feet, including handle
- Wand length: 22-33 inches
For folks with pets, carpets and dust or dander sensitivities, a canister vacuum can offer even more powerful suction, deeper carpet cleaning and better air filtration than an upright. The Kenmore BC4026 Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go isn’t particularly maneuverable, even by canister vacuum standards, but its electric floor sweeper brush pulls an unbelievable amount of dust and pet hair from the thickest of carpets. Like the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser upright, it has a mini turbo brush (here called a Pet Powermate) that makes quick work of cat hair on cat trees, microfiber upholstery and pet beds. Unlike the Bissell, Kenmore’s version is motorized, so you can change the suction level without changing the brush speed, which really helps get pet hair off of upholstery without inhaling the fabric.
Both the dust bag and exhaust filter of the BC4026 are HEPA-compliant, and offer much better air filtration and dust containment than a bagless vacuum, as well as three times the dust capacity of the Dyson V11 Animal stick vacuum or Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off Upright.
But that’s at the cost of portability and maneuverability; at 22 pounds, the Kenmore is 4 pounds more than the Bissell upright, and neither its floor head nor canister are as nimble. But for sheer power, you can’t beat a canister vac, and the Kenmore is far more affordable than the much more maneuverable Miele Complete C3 Kona.
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is the best handheld vacuum for pet hair — it has a motorized brush that lets it pick up pet hair from upholstery, floors, in the car and everywhere else we found the stuff (which, as you know if you’re a cat or dog parent, is pretty much everyplace). Even though the Pet Hair Eraser is on the larger side (thanks to its sizable canister) at 17 inches long and weighs around 3 pounds, it’s still well balanced and comfortable to use.
The motorized pet hair brush attaches securely and let us get at dog hair embedded deep in carpeting, rugs, and couches, and even in our test vehicle’s carpeting. The 23.6 ounce canister—the largest of all the handheld vacuums we tested—sucked up a large amount of hair before needing to be emptied, and along with the 17-minute runtime let us work until the job was truly complete, and the long crevice tool and flat upholstery brush let us get into nooks and crannies where the motorized main brush couldn’t go.
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is versatile enough that you could use it as your only handheld vacuum. whether you’re looking for something to use around the house or to keep your car clean, though it’s extra power and capacity makes it a bit bulkier and a bit more cumbersome to handle than some of its competitors.
You might look elsewhere if you are looking to pick up after kids, as the nozzle was too narrow to suck up Cheerios. It also doesn’t have a charging base, but comes with a wall-wart power supply cable — a less convenient setup than our other favorite handheld vacuums.
The bristles on a vacuum’s brush head are designed to agitate carpet and to lift dust, debris and hair from the floor. As anyone who’s used a hairbrush knows, though, over time hairs get caught in the bristles. If you have pets that shed a lot, the hair can accumulate so fast on the brush that it clogs the vacuum, lowering suction or preventing the brush from turning at all. That’s why many companies sell vacuums optimized for pet hair, with brushes designed not to clog on hair, along with powered mini brush head attachments to get pet hair off of upholstery and stairs.
Pet-specific vacuums often include HEPA filters, aimed at controlling dust, dander and pet-related allergens in general. If you’re concerned about such issues, you may want to seek out a bagged vacuum rather than a bagless model; the bag provides an extra filtration stage and also lets you avoid dust spillage when emptying.
If you have a houseful of cats and dogs, a canister vacuum or upright vacuum will give you the power and tools to deal with animal hair, dander and dust on any surface. These corded units have more-powerful motors and stronger suction and pet-friendly models offer powered brushes designed to make short work of hair without clogging. While they may be a little more ungainly than cordless sticks, they won’t run out of power midway through your weekly cleaning.
An apartment or small house can likely get by with a cordless stick vacuum, especially if you have mostly bare floors. If you have a large house or lots of carpet, an upright or canister vacuum is a better choice; they can provide more suction than cordless stick vacuum, and won’t run out of batteries in the middle of a job. Many of these also double as handheld vacuums, which are great for keeping upholstery hair-free or for tackling small pet-associated messes.
A robot vacuum probably shouldn’t be your only vacuum if you’re trying to clean up after pets, but it’s a great complement to a cordless stick, upright or canister vacuum. Running a robot vacuum daily can keep the day-to-day buildup of fuzz to a manageable minimum so your weekly chores are less of a chore.
