Cleaning up after our pets is one of those chores we just have to do.
Unlike our kids, they won’t get older and learn to do it themselves.
Having a great vacuum for pet hair can go a long way between making clean up easier and making it even more of a chore.
This article will give you all the information you need to make a smart and affordable decision.
Our Top Picks
Cleaning up pet hair doesn’t have to be an all day event. These cordless vacuums make short work of those little hairs.
- Best Pick for 2022 – Dyson V10 Animal 2-in-1 Cordless Stick Vacuum. “A sleek, stylish and powerful cordless stick vacuum with versatility“
- Best Value – Shark Navigator Freestyle Upright Cordless Vacuum for Pet Hair. “Budget-friendly and packed with suction power“
- Runner Up, Best Pick – Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum. “Affordable Dyson power with great accessories“
- Best Budget Choice – Hoover BH50010 Linx Cordless Vacuum. “Lightweight stick vac with fingertip controls“
- Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair – BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum. “A handheld vacuum ideal for furniture and cars“
Scroll down to see reviews of all 10 vacuums.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Cordless Vacuum for Pets
Battery Life and Power
Cordless models rely on batteries to power the motors, cleaning heads and any LEDs or displays they may have. Unfortunately, the more power the vacuum has the faster the battery will die.
High-end vacuums will average between 20 and 30 minutes of runtime on a medium speed setting. Low settings can reach an hour or more but lack real suction power, especially for pet hair or long hair.
Highest settings will usually result in 8 to 15 minutes of run time, which should be enough to clean your couch or a single room to get rid of the accumulated fur.
Portability & Versatility
Your cordless vacuum should be portable. Without having to worry about power cords being too short or tangling up around furniture, the cordless vacuum should go anywhere. Cleaning stairs, hard flooring, carpet and even upholstery or your car should be things your vacuum can do.
Some models will have handheld modes, or lift-away sections to make them more versatile. As long as the total weight is something you can handle for longer periods you won’t have any problems.
Cleaning Heads
When it comes to getting your carpets clean, or along the baseboards and in corners, you want a powerful cleaning head. The best option is a motorized cleaning head for added loosening and lifting of the pet hair.
Be careful in your selection, though. Some motorized power heads cannot be turned off. If they have stiff brush rollers, it may scratch softer surfaces like laminate or some hardwood planks.
Bagless Canister Vs. Collection Cup
Almost every cordless vacuum will use a canister or cup for collection. So, what is the difference? The biggest difference is the capacity. Bagless canisters generally have a 1 gallon capacity or more. You will find these on most upright models and higher-end stick vacuums.
Handheld units that can convert to stick vacuums or those that try to keep their design weight to a minimum will use dust cups. These have a much smaller capacity, usually half-gallon or less. While this may not mean much at first, the difference between weekly and daily maintenance can add up.
Accessories
The accessories and additional features are where you will want to spend a lot of your time making your decision. When it comes to cleaning up after pets, you want tools that can get the job done.
These usually include miniature motorized cleaning heads, extension tubes and combination brush tools. Don’t underestimate the crevice tool and upholstery brushes when dealing with pet hair, though. Even the inclusion of these basic tools can make gathering shed fur a lot easier.
Warranty
You should also check out the claim process. Many warranties require you maintain proof of purchase, but some go so far as to require original packaging for shipment and may require that you pay the shipping costs. Know what you are getting before you buy.
Price
Finally, the price will be the biggest deciding factor. You want to get the most value for your dollar, but maintain your set budget. Sometimes this means saving a bit longer to get the model you really want.
However, there are great vacuums that combat pet hair for every budget. Make sure you find a model that offers the features, power and accessories you need, then figure out which of the choices best fits your budget.
10 Best Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair 2022
Below, we outline our top picks for cleaning up after pets and picking up pet hair. Each one is reviewed and compared so you don’t have to worry about doing the research.
1. Dyson V10 Animal 2-in-1 Stick Vacuum
Dyson is a name that we all recognize when it comes to vacuums. This company is innovative and designs some of the most sleek and stylish vacuums ever created. As good as they look, though, they clean even better.
The V10 series offers three different models, though to call them different is a bit of a misnomer. Aside from the colors and price, the only difference between the Motorhead, Animal and Absolute are the included accessories.
The Animal is the middle of the road and offers you plenty of accessories and tools while saving you money. You get the torque drive cleaning head which is ideal for carpet with pet hair. It gets deep into the fibers to loosen and lift even the most stubborn dirt, hair and fur.
You can remove the extension tube and cleaning head to get overhead or in your car. With the tools included you can also clean your furniture, bookshelves, curtains and baseboards.
The battery life is a bit dismal and the only negative thing about this model. On high speed you get about 8 to 11 minutes of cleaning time. For quick messes or small rooms, this will be enough, but if you want to get the pet hair out of your sofa, you may need more time.
| Pros | Cons |
| Powerful suction | Battery can drain fast |
| Cyclonic airflow keeps the system working | Torque cleaning head can scratch some surfaces |
| Multiple pet tools included | |
| HEPA filtration | |
| 5-year warranty |
2. Shark Navigator Freestyle Upright Stick Vacuum
The Shark Navigator series is one of the most purchased and reviewed vacuum line ups from any brand.
The Freestyle Upright is a stick vacuum with serious power. It offers you both portability and an exceptional clean.
The biggest downside to this model is that it doesn’t clean upholstery. Because there isn’t a flex hose or wand, you are left only able to clean your floors. However, since this is where most of the pet hair ends up, it will take care of business.
When cleaning your floors, you don’t have to worry about the floor type. The motorized cleaning head has two speeds and will adjust for carpet or hard flooring. The soft brush roller won’t scratch laminate or hard flooring sealants, either.
Unfortunately, the smaller dust cup won’t hold a lot of pet hair. With a maximum of 0.16 gallons, you may have to empty it a few times during your first few vacuum trips. Once the hair is more under control, the trips to the waste bin will decrease.
The swivel steering and adjustable speeds really do help collect a lot of fur and hair (as well as dirt, dust and debris) from your floors, regardless of floor type or carpet pile depth. With such an affordable price tag on a capable vacuum, you won’t be disappointed.
All in all, still one of the most convenient shark vacuums for pet hair.
| Pros | Cons |
| Dual-speed cleaning head | Smaller dust cup |
| Swivel steering | Doesn’t clean upholstery |
| Lightweight design | |
| Powerful motor suction |
3. Hoover BH50010 Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum
The Hoover Linx is one of the user-friendly cordless vacuums on the market. While it isn’t packed with a lot of features and is missing a few standard items, it still cleans up pet hair like you won’t believe.
Using the Hoover Windtunnel suction, there isn’t a loss of power, suction or performance, even when the collection bin gets near full. It also weighs less than 10 pounds, total, so you can easily take it from room to room or on the stairs.
One of the best features of this model is the battery. It is a stand alone battery with it’s own charger, so you don’t have to find a place in your crowded hall closet to mount and store this guy while it charges.
The battery is also fade-free, meaning it won’t slowly lower power and performance as it loses its charge. Instead, it will perform just as well fully charged as it will at 15%. To help you know when it is time to charge the battery, it has an indicator LED on the handle.
Because the battery is removable, you can also buy a spare to keep charged at all times. This essentially doubles your runtime without you having to stop and wait for the battery to refill.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with any attachments or hoses so you can’t clean overhead at all and trying to use it on your furniture will just cause frustration.
What it does do, though, is easily transition between floor types without losing suction power. It also offers edge to edge cleaning, so you don’t have to sweep out your corners before using. For such an affordable price, you really can’t go wrong with cleaning up pet hair.
| Pros | Cons |
| Fade free battery | No included attachments |
| Fingertip controls | Doesn’t clean above head |
| Transitions well between floor types | |
| Cleans along edges and in corners | |
4. MOOSOO X6 4-in-1 Stick Vacuum
MOOSOO is a relatively new brand on the market and they offer a line up that resembles the Dyson V-series. The cyclonic airflow and lightweight of the models means you can take them anywhere and not worry about suction power loss.
The X6 is one of the most popular cordless vacuum models on the market right now. Because of its similarities with Dyson and a much lower price tag, people are giving it a try and loving the results.
In handheld mode you can clean pet hair, using the combination brush and crevice tool, from upholstery, in your car, overhead or even your curtains. The lightweight base (3.4 pounds) is easy to use and doesn’t cause hand fatigue like other Dyson clones.
The motorized cleaning head will work on all floor types, too. It is just as effective on carpet as it is on hard flooring and you might miss the pet hair covering your floor (probably not). Once you turn this machine on, you can tell it is going to get the job done.
Not the quietest motors on the market, but you can both hear and see the power this vacuum possesses. The 2-year warranty is decent, but the problem comes with customer service. When you finally do get a hold of them, they are happy to help. Getting their attention, though, is another matter.
| Pros | Cons |
| 4-stage HEPA filtration | Combination crevice/brush tool isn’t the most durable |
| Base unit weighs less than 4 pounds | Can get noisy during use |
| Includes basic cleaning tools and multi-floor powered cleaning head | |
| Cleans above head and furniture | |
5. Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum
Dyson appears on our list once again with the cordless vacuum V8 Animal. Like the V10, this is the middle option in the V8 line up. The Motorhead is the more affordable option, but lacks the necessary pet cleaning tools. The Absolute model does have the tools but also carries a much higher price tag.
Meeting in the middle is the Animal, which has a lower price but the right tools for the job. With this model you will get the crevice tool, crevice/brush combo tool, mini handheld motorized brush head and the charging dock.
Along with the torque drive cleaning head, the mini cleaning head is ideal for removing pet hair in hard to reach areas like your sofa, chairs or even in the car. The one major issue this model has is that the cleaning head can often struggle with larger debris on hard flooring.
Bits of cereal, for example, will be easily scooped up and collected when found on your carpet, but on the kitchen vinyl, the cleaning head just kind of pushes it around. This isn’t every time, mind you, but it does happen a lot.
This model also offers only a 2-year warranty instead of the newer 5-year warranty. However, it is a Dyson and customer service is always eager and willing to help as much as possible.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great suction power | May miss larger debris on hard flooring |
| Cleans pet hair from any surface | Still quite expensive |
| Will clean overhead | |
| Multiple tools included with purchase |
6. BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
Bissell knows that our pets are family and will have their fur in more places than just your floors. However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a whole new vacuum. If you only want something to cover the furniture aspect of your cleaning, the Pet Hair Eraser is what you need.
This handheld unit is quite impressive because it is a handheld model only, but still comes with more accessories than a lot of full vacuums on this list. Included with your purchase are the charging dock, of course, but also a crevice tool, upholstery tool and a mini motorized cleaning head.
With the cleaning head you can get all of those stubborn or stuck hairs from your couch, chairs or even the stairs. It is ideal for beds and in the car, too. Wherever you find shed pet hair, the mini cleaning head will help you out.
The battery doesn’t last incredibly long, but even with 15 minutes of runtime, you should be able to cover your entire couch. At least your guests won’t leave covered in your furry friends shed hairs.
One of the best things about this cordless vacuum is the options you can purchase. There are several kits including the Pet Hair Eraser and the Pet Stain Eraser, a handheld carpet cleaner that uses water and heat to remove stubborn stains.
No matter which kit you go with (or just the Pet Hair Eraser alone) you will have cleaner furniture, stairs and even floors without having to drag out the large upright vacuum every time.
| Pros | Cons |
| Includes pet cleaning tools | Battery isn’t the greatest |
| Highly affordable for most budgets | 1-year warranty is disappointing |
| Ideal for cars, stairs and furniture | |
| Multiple kit options available |
7. SOWTECH 6 in 1 Hand Held Vacuum
If you like your pet hair vacuum to come with attachments, then the SOWTECH hand held vacuum is what you need. Not only does it come with 5 different attachments (6 total) but it also sports a 5-stage HEPA filtration system to help you breathe easier.
The attachments aren’t motorized, but can help you clean in areas most other vacuums cannot go. The crevice tool and two extension tubes are fairly common. But you also get 3 different cleaning heads.
The flat head brush is great for car seats and upholstery. However, you will really enjoy the larger mattress cleaning head to help you get rid of dust mites and dirt from your bedding. You also get the larger floor brush with a side brush that gets along the edges, too.
All of this in a lightweight and extremely portable vacuum designed to suction up dirt, dust and pet hair from any surface. While it isn’t the greatest option for carpeting, it will clean the top layer of your carpet fairly well.
It doesn’t replace a good carpet vacuum, of course, but if you are looking to cut down on some of the pat hair and dander on your carpets, it does the job. The 5-stage filtration is self-contained and includes HEPA quality filtration.
| Pros | Cons |
| Multiple tools included | Not ideal for carpet cleaning |
| Works best on cars, stairs and upholstery | Does get pretty loud during use |
| Will clean your mattress | 1-year warranty only |
| Great for any budget |
8. Coredy R300 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
From handheld to no hands, the robot vacuums are on the list. The R300 from Coredy is a highly capable and affordable robot cleaner. It offers great battery life and suction power for a price tag that rivals most entry level robots that give you much less.
Not only will this robot vacuum and sweep up pet hair from your hard flooring and low pile carpet, but it will also perform a true wet mop when you need it to as well. The problem here is that the required water tank and mopping pads are sold separately.
With 1700pa suction power, though, you may not need to mop. It clears up anything in its path and is controlled by an infrared remote. You can create cleaning schedules as well as stop a session in progress if it is in the way.
For all other times this robot will run around your floors until the battery starts to die (about 90 minutes) and then take itself back to the charging station. Once recharged (about 4 hours) it is ready to start all over again.
It does feature a HEPA filter, however the machine only sports a 1-year warranty which doesn’t cover the important parts like the battery.
| Pros | Cons |
| Sweeps, vacuums and mops | 1-year warranty |
| Easy to set up and program with the included remote | Water tank is a separate purchase |
| Can easily run for an hour and a half per charge | |
| Schedule quiet operation cleaning sessions even if you aren’t home |
9. Shark ION Flex 2X DuoClean Cordless Stick Vacuum
The Shark ION line has quite a few different styles and models to choose from. But if you seriously want to pick up pet hair, the Flex 2X DuoCLean is the model you need. With versatility and high suction, it will clean almost anywhere you need it to go.
The Flex part of the name comes into play more when you are ready to store it or if you need to clean under your bed. The handles section is attached with a strong flex hose and when released from the upright position, will fold down 180 degrees to give you less machine to store.
It also helps to flex the unit when cleaning under your bed or reaching under furniture. However, what really sets this machine apart is the DuoClean part of the name. This refers to the dual action cleaning head.
The cleaning head uses a single brush roller that combines soft bristles and a fluffy roller in one. It is ideal for hard flooring as it won’t scratch the surface, but is adept at agitating carpet fibers, too.
You can remove the multi-flex portion and use the vacuum as a hand held unit, too. This gives you the opportunity to get the fur that somehow manages to get on the curtains and up on bookshelves. You can even clean off the ceiling fan and get the cobwebs from the corners, as well.
| Pros | Cons |
| Flex 2 technology reduces strain, fatigue and storage concerns | Batteries don’t last very long |
| Overhead cleaning capable | Small capacity dust cup (0.07 gallons) |
| Dual cleaning brush roller | |
| 5-year warranty (2-years for battery) |
10. NEQUARE 4-in-1 Handheld Stick Vacuum
NEQUARE is another brand that is hitting the market with a Dyson clone style stick vacuum. This model also used cyclonic airflow, though it isn’t as powerful as the Dyson V-series models. It does have a strong motor and a special cleaning head to get pet hair from any surface, though.
The cleaning head features a carbon fiber filament brush roller that is anti-static and works well on all floor types, even high pile carpeting. It also has edge to edge cleaning abilities so you can get right along your baseboards and in tight corners where pet hair likes to accumulate.
The battery is fairly decent, giving you about 28 minutes of runtime on low power. If you use the Max button for the high speed and increased suction, though, that will drop to about 12 minutes. Still, for cleaning your living room or the hallway and a bedroom, you should have plenty of time.
There are pet hair specific tools included with your purchase, too. This includes the mini-motorized cleaning brush and upholstery tool so you can clean your sofa and chairs with ease.
Removing the extension tube allows you to work over head or get into hard to reach areas a lot easier. The warranty is only for 12 months, but starts on your purchase date, which helps a little.
| Pros | Cons |
| Anti-static brush roll ideal for carpeting | 1-year warranty |
| Easily transforms to hand held for overhead cleaning | Battery life could be better |
| Mini motorized cleaning head is perfect for furniture |
How to Properly Clean Up Pet Hair with a Cordless Vacuum
Cleaning up pet hair may seem like a simple task, but it can cause a lot of problems both for your floors and your state of mind. Depending on how much shed hair you need to clean up, and how much your pets shed, this can be a weekly or daily task.
Following these steps will help you keep the pet hair in your home manageable.
- Always clean from the top down. Cleaning the floor first will only require that you do it again after getting hairs off higher areas.
- Start with an overhead vacuum, extension wand or duster to clean ceiling corners, ceiling fans and the tops of windows and curtain rods.
- Work your way down with the duster or vacuum cleaning off appliances, book cases, entertainment centers and window dressings.
- Wipe off tables, end tables, night stands and lower furniture items.
- Use the vacuum on your stairs, banisters, lamp shades and couches or chairs.
- On the floors you will want to sweep the corners and baseboard areas really good, either collecting in a dust pan or moving the hair to the center of the room for vacuuming.
- Finally, use a vacuum to clean your floors. For carpeting you will want to go over the areas twice, once on a higher level setting to get the hair on the surface of the carpet, then again on a lower setting to get deeper into the carpet fibers.
Troubleshooting Cordless Vacuums Used on Dog or Cat Hair
Cordless vacuums use battery power and have moving parts. As with any other machine or appliance, eventually you will run into some problems. All vacuums will come with an owner’s manual that offers some troubleshooting tips for that particular model.
For a more general troubleshooting guide on the most common problems with cordless vacuums, refer to the chart below.
| Problem | Probable Cause | Possible Solution |
| Vacuum won’t power on | Dead battery | Make sure the battery is charged completely and that the charging station is plugged in. |
| Vacuum doesn’t pick anything up | Blocked airflow of full canister | Check the collection bin and make sure it is empty. Also check the hoses, cleaning head and filter for clogs or blockages |
| Vacuum has weird sound or odor | Belt worn | Check the drive belt in the cleaning head for damage, frays or signs of melting. Replace as needed. |
| Battery doesn’t hold a charge | Battery hasn’t cycled, battery is going out | Once a month you should drain the battery completely and recharge fully to maintain life cycle and charge levels. If problem continues, replace battery |
Frequently Asked Questions
Now we will answer some of the more common questions about the cordless vacuums and pet hair removal. If you have other concerns or questions, feel free to use the comment section below the article.
Q. How long do cordless vacuums last?
- With proper care and maintenance your new cordless vacuum can last quite a while. Most warranties will cover the vacuums between 1 and 5 years, however, you can get 8 to 10 years (or more) from your investment if cared for and used properly.
Q. Do I need to empty the collection bins after every use?
- Depending on the capacity of the collection bin, canister or cup as well as how often you vacuum, you may need to empty after every use. If you have multiple pets (one one pet that sheds like multiples) you, too, may need to empty after every use.
Q. Do I need HEPA filtration for my vacuum?
- HEPA filtration is a great way to minimize in-home allergens. While they should be used in every HVAC system to help the air, they should also be used in your vacuum to help the floors. Pet dander, mold, dust and pollen all end up in our floors and a vacuum with HEPA filtration can help reduce the amounts by up to 99%.
Q. Will vacuums kill fleas?
- A vacuum won’t kill fleas. However, it can remove some of them, though not likely the flea eggs. It will trap them in the collection bin, provided you have adequate filtration.
Finding the Best Cordless Vacuum for Pets 2022 – Final Words
While you definitely have a lot of choices and options to wade through, you can not go wrong with any of our top picks. Not only do you now know what to look for in a pet hair vacuum, but you also know how to properly maintain and troubleshoot it.
If you still aren’t sure which model to go with, take another look at our top pick. The Dyson V10 Animal is a powerful stick and handheld vacuum ideal for getting pet hair removed, no matter where it tries to hide.
