It's no secret that we're a nation of pet lovers - so we are need for the best vacuums for pet hair to keep our homes nice and tidy. But as much as we adore our fluffy friends, keeping fur off carpets, furniture and clothes can often feel like a daily uphill battle – especially without the right equipment to hand. Because let's be honest, a dusting pan and brush don't quite cut it. So we are here to help you find the best vacuum cleaner for your home.
Dogs and cats typically shed their hair at least twice a year – some do it more often. Even small furries, like rabbits and guinea pigs, can still create a sizeable amount of mess through moulting. If you’re the owner of a frequent fur-shedding pet, investing in a reliable and effective pet hoover for pet hair is a must.
Best vacuums for pet hair shortlist
• Top pick: Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner - Anti Hair Wrap and Pet Hair – view on Amazon UK
• Best robot vacuum : RoboVac G30 Hybrid, Eufy by Anker – view on Amazon UK
• Best for tighter budgets : Hoover H-FREE 500 Pets Cordless Vacuum Cleaner – view on Hoover Direct
Thanks to innovative technology, there are plenty of pet vacuum cleaners for pet hair that can catch flyaway fur and suck up stubborn static hairs with minimal effort. But much like shopping for any electrical appliance, choosing the right one for you and your home can often feel like a bit of a minefield – especially when we have so much choice!
To give you a helping hand, we've scouted out the best hoovers for pet hair on the market this year, from best cordless to best robot pet hoovers, we've even found the best odour eliminating pet hoover. The best handheld vacuum cleaners for compact cleaning are great or getting in hard to get places too and many models have a handhedl feauture.
If you need to give your carpet more of a deeper clean, then consider getting one of the best carpet cleaner for pets too. This, alongside your pet hoover, will leave your carpet looking fresh and as good as new. So let's get into the best vacuums for pet hair for pet hair.
The best vacuums for pet hair
Best stick vacuum
Best cordless pet vacuum
Description
Designed for homes with pets, this cordless vacuum cleaner features the latest anti-hair wrap technology, actively removing hair from the brush as you clean. If you're tired of lifting sofas and bending under tables when vacuuming, then this is the vacuum for you. With a flexible wand to bend so you don't have to, this vacuum makes it easy to clean under low-lying furniture and folds for even more compact storage.
The portable mode and specific anti-hair wrap pet pool make this vacuum great for getting into all the hard to reach places and upholstery. The cordless design makes it easy to travel between different rooms and floors without getting tangled up in a power cord. But you will need to recharge the battery after around 80 minutes of run-time.
Review:"I have had a Dyson for many years and then decided to try a cordless shark. Well, I am delighted with the results and amazed at how much dust and hair it is still sucking up. I would advise anyone to buy a shark ASAP. I am disabled and find it so easy to use and very very versatile. Brilliant."
Pros
- Anti hair wrap technology
- Twin battery - 80 minutes run time
- Five year guarantee
Cons
- May not be a long enough run time for some jobs
Best robot vacuum
Description
This robot vacuum and mop is ideal for hardwood, tile, laminate floors, and medium-pile carpets and leaves your floors squeaky clean - perfect for cleaning up after your mucky pets. You can control your device either by the app, which will show you exactly where the RoboVac has cleaned, or you can connect it up to your Alexa or Google Assistant. We particularly love the auto-return cleaning feature, where if the RoboVac runs out of battery, it will return to its charging point, recharge and then return to its cleaning duties straight after. For the full breakdown check out our Eufy Robovac G30 Hybrid Robotic Vacuum Cleaner review.
Review: “One of the best RoboVacs I have used, it does both mopping and hovering. Perfect mopping for my porcelain tiles, perfect hovering on my carpets. Battery life is good. The way it covers the area is perfect. I have tested about five different make and models, finally settled for this. So far it's amazing, thoroughly recommended.”
Pros
- Smart Dynamic Navigation 2.0 for efficient cleaning
- Strong suction power
- It provides up to 110 minutes of runtime
- When the battery is low, it will return to its charging point
Cons
- All hairs get tangled in the brush and outside filter, and have to manually clean it
Best pet vacuum for reliability
Description
Recognise this familiar face? With more than 11 million manufactured – most of which are still in use today – it's no surprise that Henry is rated the UK's most reliable vacuum brand. Not only is he cute to look at, but Henry Pet is perfect for households with furry companions. His HairoBrush easily picks up stubborn pet hairs, and his charcoal-activated MicroFresh filter reduces unpleasant odours. With 10m cable, 9L capacity, and a versatile toolset, he might just become an important household member.
Review: "Very impressed with how this Vacuum has performed. Powerful suction, great for cleaning up pet hair. Although it uses bags, they are large enough not to have to replace too frequently. It has a good long cord so you don't have to keep unplugging it and moving it to another, plus it winds up neatly. The only downside for me is that I do find it a little on the heavy side but the performance more than makes up for this."
Pros
- All the classic Henry features
- Extra pet-friendly features
- The innovative self-seal tab locks all the dust in the bag
- HairoBrush easily picks up stubborn pet hairs from carpets and stairs
- Charcoal-activated MicroFresh filter tackles lingering pet odours
Cons
- Needs to be plugged in so can limit flexibility
Best for tighter budgets
www.hooverdirect.co.uk
Description
The Hoover Cordless Pet Vacuum Cleaner with Anti-Twist is a good option for those who are looking for a powerful and versatile vacuum cleaner that is easy to use. It has a long battery life and a variety of attachments that make it easy to clean different areas of the home. The battery takes 3.5 hours to charge but can be charged independently from the vacuum cleaner. The versatile vacuum cleaner can be used on both carpets and hard floors with a battery that lasts for up to 30 minutes on standard use, or 12 minutes on turbo mode making is a great value option for cleaning a house with pesky pet hair. You can check out the full breakdown in our Hoover Cordless Pet Vacuum Cleaner with Anti-Twist review.
Customer review: "I bought this recently and have found it to be an excellent vacuum cleaner. Lightweight, easy to assemble and stays upright unaided which is a big plus. Powerful suction, very good run time and the anti twist is brilliant. I am delighted with it and would definitely recommend."
Pros
- Adequate battery run time in standard mode
- Two levels of suction power standard or turbo
- Lightweight to use
- Easy to manoeuvre/good turning circle
- LED light function on both power heads
Cons
- Battery length is quite short when used in turbo mode
Best handheld vacuum for wet and dry cleaning
Description
This Beldray Cordless Wet and Dry Handheld vacuum cleaner offers the ultimate convenience in cleaning. Its lightweight design makes it perfect for quick clean-ups, and with the ability to tackle dust and liquid spillages, it's a versatile tool for any home. With up to 20 minutes of running time and a wall-mountable charging base, this vacuum cleaner is always ready to go. The 0.5l dust capacity means it can handle plenty of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied.
Customer review: "Really handy, lightweight and reaches areas other vacuum cleaners don't. Ideal for cleaning inside the car. Easy to operate, easy to empty, and takes up very little space."
Pros
- Lightweight
- Decent dust capacity
Cons
- Short run time
Best anti-allergen pet vacuum
Description
With an Anti-Hair Wrap Pet Tool that easily removes embedded pet hair from stairs and soft furnishings, this stick vacuum cleaner has an extra-long 10m power cord so you can go further without needing to unplug it. We really like the anti-allergen complete seal which captures and traps 99.9 per cent of dust and allergens inside the vacuum.
Customer review:"I have an all-white long-haired collie. This is amazing at picking up all the hairs he continually sheds. It's easy to use, especially when handheld for cleaning upholstery. The difference is noticeable on all surfaces."
Pros
- Anti Hair Wrap Pet Tool
- Bends to clean under furniture and folds for free standing storage
- Anti-Allergen Complete Seal5-year guarantee upon registration with Shark
- Long 10m power cord gives you extra cleaning reach
- Turns into a handheld vacuum
Cons
- Needs to be plugged in
Best power suction
Description
If your pet is prone to being a bit whiffy, this Miele vacuum cleaner is a great choice. It features an Active AirClean Filter, specifically designed to banish unwanted pet odours, and a Turbo Tool, which makes short work of stubborn hair and dirt. As it's bagged, it's really hygienic to empty as you can put the dust bag straight into the bin when it's full. Thanks to its lightweight design, it's really easy to move from room to room and to carry upstairs too. This model has also been tested for the equivalent of 20 year's use, so you can trust its build quality.
Customer review: "Bought my MIELE hoover recently and am very pleased with the performance. The hoover was recommended to me as we have a long-haired cat that molts continually and it is proving very effective in removing the cat hairs from carpets, floors and upholstery. It is fairly light and very easy to move around, glides over floors. So far very pleased."
Pros
- Active AirClean FilterTurbo Tool good for stubborn hair and dirt
- Corded electric for powerful suction
- Great manoeuvrability
- Lightweight
Cons
- Bagged Vacuum Cleaner that will need frequent cleaning
- On-off button is unreliable
Things to consider when buying the best vacuums for pet hair
To help you make the right decision for your home, we’ve included a list of the key features you should look for in a pet hair vacuum. Whether you prefer dust-bags or are looking to go cordless, here are a few important things to consider:
Dust bags or bagless?
Most newer vacuums feature dust cups now instead of dust bags, while there are benefits to both it comes down to personal preference.
Dust bags work in the traditional way where you change the bag once it’s full, replacing the bag isn’t hard and it’s a hygienic way of getting rid of all the bits your vacuum has collected. Vacuum cleaner bags aren’t necessarily expensive but can be annoying when you forget to stock up.
Pros: No filter maintenance, less contact with dust – this makes them better for allergy sufferers, less mess when emptying.
Cons: You will have to buy dust bags (more frequently with lots of pet hair), not the best for the environment – the bag and the dust both end up in a landfill.
Bagless vacuum cleaners store dust and dirt in a cup, this cup then needs to be emptied when it reaches maximum capacity. A downside to dust cups is that alongside emptying the cup, a filter will also have to be regularly cleaned and maintained for best results.
Pros: Eco-friendly dirt removal, no need to stock up on bags and spend money.
Cons: Messier when emptying, will fill up quickly and require time-consuming maintenance, likely to set off allergies with close exposure to dust.
Cable or cordless?
Think about your supply of sockets at home – do you have one everywhere you intend to vacuum? Going cordless is great if you hate the hassle of switching sockets when moving rooms or have a house that’s in short supply of empty sockets. If you want to stick to corded vacuums then pay close attention to cable length, most have an operating radius of 10-12 metres.
Cordless vacuums will have to be charged and this can be inconvenient if you want to hoover for longer periods. Most cordless vacuums have a battery life of 40-80 minutes depending on the brand. 40 minutes can go by quite quickly and having to charge in between a big clean can be frustrating. The best cordless vacuum for pet hair is a great place to start when it comes to homes with furry friends.
Anti-hair wrap technology
Most importantly when looking at vacuums for pet hair, keep an eye out for anti-hair wrap brushes. Bristle brush-rolls are great for removing pet hair you cannot see deep in the fibres of furniture and carpet; they allow for a deeper clean than flat brushes.
Anti-hair wrap technology is great for pet hair and a lot of brands have started to incorporate this in their vacuums. This technology works by removing hair from the brush-roll, by actively separating hair from dust as you clean, perfect for preventing clumps of pet hair on the bristles.
Ellen Kinsey is a senior health and wellness product writer for Yours, specialising in natural health and beauty. She lives and breathes all things food, travel and wellness.
