The 7 Best Vacuums For Pet Hair - Fall 2023 Reviews

The Dyson V15 Detect is the best vacuum for pet hair we've tested. This high-end cordless stick vacuum has a powerful 230AW suction motor and consequently has no problem dealing with pet hair on a wide variety of surface types, whether you're using the multi-surface floorhead or the soft-roller floorhead with an integrated laser light to help you see fine debris. Its built-in dirt sensor also gives you a rough estimate of allergen levels inside your home, and its whole machine filtration system, which features an onboard HEPA filter, is effective at sealing in fine particles.

Meanwhile, its surface detection system lets it automatically increase its suction power on carpeted floors. While this vacuum can run for more than 70 minutes in its most energy-efficient configuration, it drops to a little over 10 minutes when used in its 'Boost' setting, so you must work fast when dealing with stubborn debris.

Worried about running out of charge midway through a cleaning session? Check out the Samsung Bespoke Jet, which has a charging rack that can top up its two included batteries simultaneously, so you can swap in a fully-charged pack when you run out, effectively doubling its runtime. The freestanding charging rack also works as a self-emptying base station, as it can suck debris from the Samsung vacuum's dustbin into an internal dirtbag, minimizing maintenance requirements. That said, its twin-roller floorhead makes it less maneuverable than the Dyson.

If you want to save a little bit of money on a vacuum for cleaning pet hair, the LG CordZero A9 Ultimate is a good choice. Compared to the pricier Dyson V15 Detect, it has a notably less powerful 140AW suction motor and a smaller dirt compartment. It also lacks Dyson's particle sensor and automatic power adjustment capability. It's also less expensive, slightly more sturdily built, and as effective at tackling pet hair on various surfaces.

The flagship Ultimate variant of this vacuum is extremely well-equipped. It comes with a wide variety of accessories, including a secondary soft-roller floorhead for use on bare floors, an extra battery that can provide up to an additional hour of runtime, and a uniquely-designed Power Punch tool, which uses a vibrating interior component to shake loose dust or pet dander from fabric surfaces so that the vacuum can suck up any loose material.

The LG is also fully compatible with LG's Power Mop nozzle, a uniquely designed mopping floorhead that you can scrub away any dirt or mud your pet might track in on hardwood, tile, or vinyl floors. If you want a similarly-priced cordless stick vacuum with an automatic power adjustment feature, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim is an excellent choice that also does a fantastic job of handling pet hair. However, it has an extremely small dustbin and only comes bundled with a single battery. Unlike the LG, Dyson doesn't offer a comparable mopping floorhead for the V12.

The best vacuum for cat hair in the mid-range price bracket we've tested is the Samsung Jet 75 Pet. This cordless stick vacuum can tackle pet hair on bare floors and low and high-pile carpets at a much lower price than the LG CordZero A9 or Dyson V15 Detect, thanks in part to a potent 200AW suction motor. Its multi-surface floorhead is a little more prone to collecting pet hair than the LG or Dyson, but thankfully, removing the brushroll and clearing out any tangled hair is a breeze. This variant of the Jet 75 comes with a turbo brush attachment that's effective in clearing away pet hair but, unfortunately, is unwieldy. Like all of Samsung's other Jet-series vacuums, it has a five-stage filtration system that does a good job of sealing in pet dander. You can expect a max runtime of about an hour with a fully-charged battery, which is pretty good by the standards of its class.

Unfortunately, unlike the pricier Dyson V15 Detect, it doesn't have an automatic power adjustment feature that would allow it to increase its suction power on carpets. If that's a feature you want, the Tineco PURE ONE S11 is a good comparably-priced alternative, though it has a weaker suction motor, a shorter battery life, and a smaller dustbin.

Check out the Shark Pet Cordless IX141 if you're looking for a vacuum for pet hair at a lower mid-range price point. It's less powerful than the Samsung Jet 75 and has a shorter max battery life of about 40 minutes. That said, it still offers a lot of bang for the buck when it comes to dealing with pet hair, as it easily clears away long and short strands on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet.

While it has a fairly limited attachment set, with no miniature turbo brush, its straight suction upholstery nozzle is pretty effective for dealing with pet hair on furniture. Unfortunately, the build quality isn't all that impressive, with its mainly plastic body feeling a little delicate in places. Its allergen-sealing performance is also terrible, with fine particles being able to escape from its exhaust.

If you're shopping at the more affordable end of the market, the Eureka Mighty Mite is one of the best vacuums for dog hair we've tested. As a bagged and corded canister vacuum, it has little in common with something like the Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless, with a limited range and slightly bulkier form factor. However, one thing it does share with the pricier cordless models on this list is its fantastic performance in clearing away pet hair on various surface types, from hardwood floors to carpets and rugs. It has a pure suction floorhead with no brushroll, so you don't have to worry about pet hair getting tangled within a mechanism.

The vacuum doesn't come with a turbo brush, but its combination stiff-bristle brush/upholstery tool is still effective when removing pet hair on fabric surfaces. Unfortunately, it's worth noting that it might not be the best option if you're concerned about minimizing the airborne allergens in your home; some versions of the Mighty Mite have vents behind the rear wheels that bypass any post-motor filtration, negating the benefit of using any aftermarket HEPA filter you might decide to install.

If you prefer the all-in-one design of an upright vacuum, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 is among the best vacuums for dog hair we've tested. This bagless upright is far more of a hassle to set up and use than a cordless stick model like the Dyson V15 Detect, but it's worth a look if you prioritize debris-pickup performance above all else. It easily clears away pet hair on a range of floor types, and its floorhead offers three levels of surface adjustment and a set of built-in vanes that do a great job of preventing hair from getting tangled in the mechanism. It's also allergen-sealed and has an onboard HEPA filter to limit the spread of fine allergens like pet dander as you clean, though shaking out its dustbin can still release a cloud of dust and debris.

The Extra variant of this vacuum comes with a dedicated pet grooming tool to clear away any loose fur from long-haired pets and a miniature turbo brush attachment to clear away hair on fabric surfaces. Consider a bagged vacuum like the Kenmore Intuition Bagged if you have allergies and want a cleaner debris disposal process. You can drop the Kenmore's dirtbag into the trash with the press of a single latch, making it much easier and more hygienic to empty than the Dyson. However, the Kenmore also has a far more tangle-prone floorhead that doesn't do as well with pet hair on bare floors.

If you prefer the more maneuverable design of a canister vacuum over an upright vacuum, the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog is a great option. It might be a lot pricier than the Dyson Ball Animal 3, but that's reflected in its design, as this vacuum has a sturdy body made of high-grade plastic and a wand made from stainless steel. It's also substantially easier to maintain, with quickly replaceable dirtbags and filters. The Cat & Dog PowerLine variant of the C3 also comes with an activated charcoal filter to trap odors as you clean, not to mention Miele's SEB 228 powerhead, which can easily handle pet hair on everything from low-pile rugs to plush carpeting. It also has a separate straight-suction parquet floorhead to tackle pet hair on bare floors.

If you're looking for a bagged vacuum with lower recurring costs, the SEBO Airbelt D4 is a good option with larger dirtbags and longer-lasting filters. It's also heavier and bulkier, making it less easy to maneuver in cluttered rooms. Conversely, if you're shopping for something more affordable, the Cat & Dog variant of the Miele Classic C1 is a good option with similar features. However, it feels less sturdily built than the C3 and has no onboard tool storage compartment.