TL;DR
Best For Multi Surface
$ 631.95 at Amazon
Best For Allergies
$ 322.00 at Amazon
Best For Apartment
$ 434.99 at Amazon
Our top pick, the Dyson V15 Detect, is the best cordless vacuum for tackling pet hair, combining powerful suction and specialized attachments that make pet cleanup a breeze.
If you have pets, you know pet hair ends up everywhere, and cordless vacuums are perfect for quick, powerful cleanups with their lightweight build and pet-focused attachments. We analyzed over 99 models and assessed 152,229 reviews, filtering out unreliable feedback with our True Score system to ensure trustworthy recommendations. Each vacuum in our guide is tested and proven to handle pet hair with ease, offering you dependable solutions for a cleaner, allergen-free home in 2024.
Top Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair For 2024
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Dyson V15 Detect
Best Cordless For Pet Hair
The Dyson V15 Detect is a premium pet hair solution that excels at cordless convenience and exceptional cleaning prowess across surfaces.
True Score
929119Experts
932kCustomers
Cosmic Wonder
SAVE $118$749.99$631.95Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Laser illumination technology
- Incredible performance on both carpets and hard floors
- Lightweight design
- Decent battery life
- Anti-allergenic HEPA filter
Reasons to Avoid
- Complicated maneuvrability on deep carpets
- Relatively low-capacity 0.45L dust cup
- Plastic construction
Specifications
Bagless Yes 
Bin Capacity 0.2 gal 
Brush Roll Shut-Off No 
Carpet Height Adjustments Yes 
Cleaning Path Width 10″ 
Compatible Floor Type All floors 
Cord Length Cordless 
Corded/Cordless Cordless 
Filter Type Other 
Hypoallergenic Yes 
Pet Yes 
Product Weight 6.7 lbs 
Vacuum Type Handheld vacuums 
Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 92 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 73 All Retailers
$631.95$750Save $118
Our Verdict
If you want a premium vacuum, the Dyson V15 Detect is exceptional for pet owners. Its cordless design liberates you from the hassle of cords. Additionally, weighing just 6.7 lbs, it provides easy handling and easily reaches under furniture and into tight spaces, making your cleaning experience effortless and efficient. It’s also exceptional at tackling pet hair, boasting 100% efficacy in removing it.
The V15 Detect is a versatile cleaning companion, excelling on various surfaces. It achieves an impressive 91.77% performance on carpets, where pet hair tends to cling the most, and captures 98.59% of debris on bare floors. This ensures that homes with mixed flooring are thoroughly cleaned, giving you the confidence that no pet hair will be left behind. However, this model does have a smaller bin capacity of just 0.2 gallons, which may require more frequent emptying during extensive cleaning sessions or in larger homes. The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away has a larger 0.34-gallon bin capacity if you have a larger home, but you will give up some carpet cleaning ability with 89.36% efficiency.
The Dyson V15 Detect operates quietly at 72.54 dB, about as loud as a washing machine, which helps maintain a peaceful home environment while cleaning. It’s also hypoallergenic and bagless, benefiting allergy sufferers by minimizing exposure to allergens during disposal. Despite its higher price point, the Dyson V15 Detect justifies the investment for those seeking a powerful, flexible solution to managing pet hair in their homes.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Stratos Cordless
Best Allergies
For top-tier pet hair removal without cords, the Shark Stratos Cordless delivers exceptional performance, especially on hard floors.
True Score
86876Experts
86783Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $184$499.99$316.00Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Impressive suction power
- Great bare floor performance
- Great Carpet cleaning performance
- Excellent pet hair cleaning performance
Reasons to Avoid
- Attachments are very limited
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.18 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments Yes Cleaning Path Width 10″ Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 8.9 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 89 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $316.00$500Save $184
Our Verdict
If you’re searching for a cordless vacuum cleaner that excels in pet hair removal, the Shark Stratos Cordless is an excellent choice, especially for homes with minimal carpeting. It boasts a remarkable bare floor performance rate of 98.825%, making it highly effective on hard surfaces like hardwood and tile. This model cleans pet hair with a 100% effectiveness rate, ensuring that pet owners with hard floors find it exceptionally capable of picking up debris and hair.
Weighing just 8.9 lbs, its lightweight design enhances portability, allowing free movement around the house without the constraints of a cord. While the Shark Stratos Cordless does have a slightly higher noise level at 76.65 dB and a smaller bin capacity of 0.18 gallons, which may require more frequent emptying, these are minor drawbacks compared to its overall performance and convenience. If you have a larger home, you can save some money and choose the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away, which offers near-identical cleaning capabilities but with a larger bin capacity of 0.34 gallons, so you won’t have to empty it as often.
Its compatibility with all floor types adds to its versatility, and equipped with a HEPA filter, it is also a great choice for allergy sufferers, effectively capturing fine particles. Overall, the Shark Stratos Cordless combines excellent pet hair removal and cordless convenience, making it an excellent choice for those prioritizing performance and ease of use in their cleaning routine.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Vertex Pro
Best Apartment
For powerful pet hair removal on hardwood floors, the Shark Vertex Pro cordless vacuum delivers exceptional performance despite its loud operation.
True Score
81813Experts
82355Customers
Absolutely Fresh
$434.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Has an anti-allergen HEPA filter
- Low noise output
- LED screen for status display
- Large dirt canister
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
Reasons to Avoid
- High maintenance requirements
- Struggles with fine debris on low pile carpet
- Long charge time
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.25 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments Unknown Cleaning Path Width 10″ Compatible Floor Type Carpet, Hardwoods Cord Length Unknown Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 8.82 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 83 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 82 All Retailers
- $434.99
Our Verdict
The Shark Vertex Pro is a great cordless vacuum cleaner that excels at pet hair removal. It is particularly suited for homes with hardwood floors that don’t mind loud noises. Despite having the highest noise level on our list at 82.35 dB, its performance on hard surfaces is impressive, achieving a 98.5% cleaning effectiveness. This makes it highly effective in homes where pet hair accumulates on non-carpeted flooring.
Additionally, the Vertex Pro is a versatile vacuum, clearing 99.66% of pet hair debris and, while not the highest, 82.61% on carpets, making it better suited for homes with mostly bare floors. If you need better carpet cleaning and don’t mind paying more, the Dyson V15 Detect offers nearly identical bare floor and pet hair performance but much better carpet capabilities, with up to 91.77% carpet cleaning.
The Shark Vertex Pro’s cordless design offers significant advantages in terms of mobility and convenience. It allows for easy maneuvering around the house without the restrictions of a cord. The bin capacity of 0.25 gallons is adequate but may require frequent emptying for larger homes or more substantial cleaning tasks. Additionally, the vacuum includes a HEPA filter, which enhances its appeal for allergy sufferers by effectively capturing fine particles. Weighing 8.82 lbs, it is heavy, which impacts its ease of use during extended cleaning sessions.
The Shark Vertex Pro offers a balance of high performance on bare floors and the flexibility of a cordless design, making it an excellent choice for efficiently managing pet hair in homes with hardwood flooring. Its power and versatility make it well-suited for those prioritizing effectiveness and ease of use in their cleaning routine.
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Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair?
By focusing on these criteria (2 required), anyone can quickly and easily compare these vacuum cleaners and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a vacuum cleaner that will meet your needs.
| CRITERIA | RANGE | REQUIRED | DEFINITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Floor Performance | > 95% | Yes | How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors. |
| Pet Hair Performance | > 95% | Yes | How much pet hair the vacuum sucks up from any surface. |
Our Trusted Data Sources
We looked at 120+ vacuum cleaner reviewers and found that 27 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for vacuum cleaner.
- Dagobiet Morales Alfaro – RTings, LinkedIn
- Derek Hales – Modern Castle, LinkedIn
- Sabine Heinlein – Wirecutter, LinkedIn
Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every vacuum cleaner review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.
Vacuum Cleaner Test Data & Results
1. Bare Floor Performance Test Results
As the name suggests, bare floor performance references how well a vacuum does when it’s cleaning up tiles, vinyl planks, or hardwood flooring. Debris comes in a variety of sizes of course, and much of the testing revolves around picking up debris that ranges in size from cereal to bits of dirt to sand to a mix of everything above and more.
We recommend that a vacuum be able to pick up at least 95% of debris from a bare floor to ensure you end up with clean floors. Hitting a perfect score is obviously ideal, but the worse a vacuum performs here, the more work you need to do sweeping up or re-vacuuming. Missing debris is frustrating, and can invite pests if you miss bits of food, or annoyance if you step on something barefoot and hurt yourself.
Bare Floor Performance
> 95%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Scale
Why It’s Important:
A vacuum is supposed to clean, so if it can’t pick up most of the debris on a floor, it’s not doing its job.
Bare Floor Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
2. Pet Hair Performance Test Results
Pet Hair Performance
> 95%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much pet hair the vacuum sucks up from any surface.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Speed-checking software
Why It’s Important:
If you have pets and want to keep your home free of pet hair, you need good pet hair cleanup performance.
If you own pets, the ability of a vacuum to suck up pet hair, be it with attachments or the brush itself is extremely important. Pet hair can stick to furniture, dig itself into the carpet, and clump together under beds and in corners. If you have allergies and need to keep pet hair out of your home as best as you can, you’ll need a vacuum that gets rid of as much pet hair a possible when cleaning.
We recommend that a vacuum has a pet hair cleaning performance of at least 95%. Higher is always better, but if you can get rid of most of the pet hair, you’ll have an easier time breathing and less dander flying away and sticking to clothes and furniture. Poor pet hair cleaning performance can invite repeated vacuuming and more annoyance for anyone who suffers from allergies.
Pet Hair Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
Best Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair: Mistakes To Avoid
- Underestimating Battery Life: Don’t overlook the importance of battery life, especially for tackling pet hair messes that may require extended cleaning sessions. Choose a cordless vacuum with sufficient battery runtime to complete your cleaning tasks without frequent recharging.
- Ignoring Suction Power: Pet hair can be stubborn and challenging to remove, so opt for a cordless vacuum with powerful suction specifically designed for pet hair removal. Ensure the vacuum’s motor and suction capabilities are up to the task of capturing pet hair effectively.
- Overlooking Filtration System: Pet hair often comes with dander and allergens, making a robust filtration system crucial for maintaining indoor air quality. Look for cordless vacuums equipped with high-efficiency filters, such as HEPA filters, to trap pet hair and allergens effectively.
- Not Considering Attachment Options: Different attachments are designed for specific cleaning tasks, including pet hair removal from upholstery, carpets, and hard floors. Ensure the cordless vacuum you choose comes with suitable attachments for effectively tackling pet hair on various surfaces. For more targeted cleaning, consider investing in a leading handheld vacuum for pet hair, which can easily reach tight spaces and upholstery. This combination ensures comprehensive cleaning capabilities across your entire home.
The Best Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair Tests Compared
Product |
True Score
|
Bare Floor Performance
|
Carpet Performance
|
Pet Hair Performance
|
Noise Level
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 |
|
|
|
|  $599.99 $800 $200 |
| 86 |
|
|
|
|  $322.00 $500 $178 |
| 81 |
|
|
|
|  $399.91 $480 $80 |
