TL;DR
Best For Shark
$ 339.99 at Amazon
Best For Allergies
$ 0.00 at Amazon
Best For Apartment
$ 136.94 at Amazon
Best For Cordless For Hardwood
$ 434.99 at Amazon
Our top pick, the Shark Stratos Cordless, is the best cordless choice for homes needing reliable, all-surface cleaning, with top-tier performance on floors, pet hair, and tight spaces.
When selecting a Shark vacuum, strong suction, versatility, and easy maintenance are must-haves. Our guide highlights four outstanding models, carefully selected from 99 options and verified with insights from 153,617 reviews. By using our True Score system to filter out unreliable feedback, we ensure these recommendations deliver consistent, effective performance for any home in 2025.
Top Shark Vacuum For 2025
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Stratos Cordless
Best Shark
The Shark Stratos Cordless delivers outstanding bare floor performance and perfect pet hair removal, but it’s on the louder side and requires frequent emptying due to its smaller bin capacity.
True Score
86876Experts
86792Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $160$499.99$339.99Read 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
$339.99$500Save $160Availability
In StockFree Shipping
No
Our Verdict
The Shark Stratos Cordless is a fantastic all-around vacuum cleaner with great performance across all surfaces. It is particularly impressive when it comes to bare floor cleaning performance, cleaning up 98.825% of debris, making it an excellent choice for homes with hardwood, laminate, or tile flooring. The vacuum cleaner also performs well on carpets, clearing 89.275% of debris from low-pile carpets. It also boasts a perfect score of 100% in pet hair removal, making it a great option for pet owners.
The vacuum has a noise level of 76.65 dB, which puts it on the louder end – it’ll overpower conversation and disrupt peace and quiet while it’s on. The bin capacity is also not great – at 0.18 gal, it will require frequent emptying. Regarding weight, the Shark Stratos Cordless is quite light, weighing only 8.9 lbs. This makes it easy to maneuver around furniture and tight spaces. The vacuum cleaner is equipped with a HEPA filter, capable of trapping fine particles, making it suitable for allergy sufferers.
Compared to the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away, the Stratos Cordless performs slightly better on bare floors and has a lower noise level. However, the Vertex Pro has a larger bin capacity and a smaller price tag.
The Shark Stratos Cordless is a fantastic option if you’re after a do-it-all vacuum cleaner that doesn’t slouch on any one surface. Its cordless design offers excellent cleaning performance on various floor types and convenience.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away
Best Allergies
The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away excels in cleaning efficiency on bare floors, carpets, and pet hair removal, but it is louder and heavier than the Stratos Cordless, with a larger bin capacity.
True Score
85842Experts
87330Customers
Absolutely Fresh
Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent performance on all floor types
- Good battery life
- Outstanding pet hair pick-up rate
- Low on-going costs
- LED headlights
Reasons to Avoid
- The brush roll is not removable
- Poor stain-removal performance
- Lacks a turbo brush
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.34 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off No Carpet Height Adjustments No Cleaning Path Width 10″ Compatible Floor Type Carpet, Hardwoods Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 12.4 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
Availability
Free Shipping
Our Verdict
The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away is a high-performance vacuum cleaner that stands out for its exceptional cleaning efficiency on bare floors and carpets. It clears almost 98.565% of debris from bare floors, making it a fantastic choice for maintaining spotless bare floors. When it comes to carpet cleaning ability, it cleans 89.36% of debris from carpets, and it picks up 100% of pet hair to keep your home dander-free.
The Pro performs better on carpet than the Stratos, making it a better choice for homes with carpeted areas. However, the Stratos is better on bare floors and is slightly quieter—and more expensive.
The Pro reaches 77 dB, which is quite loud and will disrupt conversations in your home if it’s in the same room, but it’s not earsplitting. This model has a larger bin capacity of 0.34 liters, meaning less frequent emptying, a convenient feature for larger homes, or more extensive cleaning tasks. The vacuum has a HEPA filter. However, it is heavier at 12.4 lbs, which could affect maneuverability for some users.
Despite being slightly heavier and noisier, the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away is worth picking up. Its excellent bare floor and carpet cleaning efficiency, perfect pet hair removal, and larger bin capacity make it a great fit for almost any home.
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Did you know that 78% of vacuum cleaner reviewers are untrustworthy?
Our research found only 27 of 125 vacuum cleaner reviewers as of January 2025 can be trusted. This is why Gadget Review is committed to calculating the most accurate product scores on the web.
To do this, we give every vacuum cleaner review site a Trust Rating, which measures how trustworthy the site and their testing claims are. We then leverage AI & a machine learning model to combine and calculate the Trust Rating with data from experts and consumers to deliver the True Score, the web’s most accurate product quality rating.
153,617Vacuum Cleaner Reviews Analyzed
99
Total Products Analyzed
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Stratos Ultralight
Best Apartment
The Shark Stratos Ultralight is the lightest option, offering excellent value for pet hair removal and good bare-floor cleaning. It’s quieter and cheaper than other models but has lower carpet performance.
True Score
83811Experts
861kCustomers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $150$299.99$149.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Good bare floor cleaning performance
- Decent carpet cleaning performance
- Great pet hair performance
Reasons to Avoid
- Below average suction power rating
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.2 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off No Carpet Height Adjustments No Cleaning Path Width 8.25″ Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length 30 ft Corded/Cordless Corded Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 8.6 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 98 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 82 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $136.94$300Save $163
Availability
In StockFree Shipping
Yes
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a vacuum cleaner with the lightest weight that’s also exceptional value, the Shark Stratos Ultralight is unbeatable. Weighing just 8.6 lbs, moving around your home, and maneuvering around objects is easy. The Ultralight features exceptional pet hair removal efficiency of 99.33% and a very good bare floor performance, cleaning 97.5% of debris, making it a superb option for homes with hard flooring. At 82.65% carpeted cleaning performance, it’s quite good, but better options exist if you’ve got lots of carpet or rugs.
The top-ranked Stratos Cordless’s Shark Stratos Ultralight falls short across the board, but only barely. It’s significantly cheaper than the Stratos, making it a much better budget option.
This Ultralight has a bin capacity of 0.2 gal, which is reasonable enough but will require more frequent emptying than other models on our list. The 30-foot cord length also provides ample reach for larger rooms without the need for frequent outlet changes. It also includes a HEPA filter to help reduce allergy flare-ups and sneezing from dust.
The Stratos Ultralight offers incredible value, particularly for pet owners, due to its excellent pet hair removal capability. While it may not top the list in every performance category, its combination of fantastic carpet cleaning efficiency and light weight make it a great choice if you need an easy-to-use vacuum cleaner on a budget that will handle any surface in your home.
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DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
When choosing between canisters vs upright vacuums, consider your cleaning needs and storage space. Canister vacuums offer superior maneuverability, especially in tight spaces, while upright vacuums are easier to store and use on carpets. For heavy-duty tasks, great shop vacs provide powerful suction and durability, making them ideal for garages and workshops.
For convenience, the top robot vacuum can automate daily floor cleaning, ensuring your home stays spotless with minimal effort. If you prefer handheld control, the leading Dyson vacuum delivers powerful performance and advanced features. For those seeking mobility, the premier cordless stick vacuum combines power and convenience, making it perfect for quick cleanups and hard-to-reach areas.
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Vertex Pro
Best Cordless For Hardwood
The Shark Vertex Pro is a versatile vacuum with excellent bare floor performance and impressive pet hair removal, but it’s quite loud. Its carpet cleaning performance is decent, and it’s more affordable than the Stratos Cordless.
True Score
81813Experts
82355Customers
Absolutely Fresh
$449.99Read 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
Availability
In StockFree Shipping
No
Our Verdict
The Shark Vertex Pro is a standout choice if you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner that excels in bare floor cleaning and pet hair removal. With a remarkable bare floor performance of 98.5%, it efficiently handles hardwood, laminate, or tile surfaces. Its pet hair removal capability is equally impressive, scoring a high 99.66%, making it a fantastic choice for pet owners.
The Vertex Pro’s carpet performance is decent at 82.61%. If you’d rather save some money and lose a bit of performance, the Ultralight performs slightly worse but is cheaper and quieter.
In fact, the biggest trade-off the Pro makes is its noise level, which is high at 82.35 dB, sitting closer to what you’d expect from a lawnmower. If you have skittish pets or easily spooked kids, it’s worth keeping in mind. Weighing 8.82 lbs, the Shark Vertex Pro is easy to maneuver, and its cordless design offers the convenience of unrestricted movement during cleaning. The Pro also has a HEPA filter, making it suitable for capturing fine particles and improving indoor air quality. Bin capacity is reasonable at 0.25 liters, balancing compact design and sufficient capacity.
If noise isn’t a concern, the Vertex Pro does a fantastic job across almost any surface you put it against, falling behind only when it comes to carpet. It’s an excellent alternative to the Stratos Cordless, offering similar performance, a better overall bin size, and a lower price, all at the cost of simply being much louder.
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Which Criteria Matters for Testing Shark Vacuum?
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. |
| Carpet Performance | > 70% | Yes | How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile. |
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. Carpet Performance Test Results
Carpet Performance
> 70%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Scale
Why It’s Important:
If you have carpet, how well a vacuum cleans directly impacts how your carpet feels to walk on, and prevents pests from moving in.
Carpet cleaning ability is another important part of how your vacuum performs. Whether you have low-pile, high-pile, or rugs, how effectively a vacuum cleans up the dirt and debris left behind on the carpet is enormously important to keeping your carpet comfortable.
Generally speaking, we recommend a carpet cleaning performance of at least 70%. You might notice this is much lower than bare floors, and that’s because carpet is harder to clean. Short of devoting the time to actually shampoo and dry out a carpet, thoroughly cleaning out a carpet is very difficult, and good vacuums will reach deep between fibers and pull out long-forgotten crumbs.
Carpet Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
Best Shark Vacuum: Mistakes To Avoid
- Overlooking Pet Hair Needs: If you have pets, not considering a vacuum’s ability to handle pet hair can be a mistake. Look for models with strong suction and specialized pet hair attachments, such as Shark’s TruePet models, to effectively manage pet hair and dander.
- Neglecting Filtration Systems: Not accounting for the type of filtration can be problematic, especially if you have allergies. Opt for vacuums with HEPA filters to capture dust and allergens effectively. Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology is particularly beneficial for households with allergy sufferers.
- Ignoring Weight and Maneuverability: Buying a vacuum without considering its weight and ease of maneuverability can make cleaning cumbersome. Choose a model that is lightweight and easy to handle, especially if you need to clean multiple floors. Shark’s Lift-Away models offer excellent portability and access to hard-to-reach areas.
- Skipping Maintenance and Accessories: Overlooking the ease of maintenance and availability of accessories can lead to frustration. Ensure the vacuum is easy to empty, clean, and maintain. Shark vacuums often come with a variety of useful accessories, so check that the model includes the tools you need for your cleaning tasks. Additionally, complete your Shark vacuum registration to take advantage of warranty services and receive updates on compatible accessories and maintenance tips.
The Best Shark Vacuum Tests Compared
Product |
True Score
|
Bare Floor Performance
|
Carpet Performance
|
Pet Hair Performance
|
Noise Level
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86 |
|
|
|
|  $329.00 $400 $71 |
Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away
| 85 |
|
|
|
|  $319.99 $400 $80 |
| 83 |
|
|
|
|  $136.94 $300 $163 |
| 81 |
|
|
|
| $399.91 $480 $80 |
