The best cordless vacuum for pet hair

Pets bring us a lot of joy, but they also leave a lot of hair behind too, which is why you need the best cordless vacuum for pet hair to pick it all up. Human hair can be bad enough, but any pet owner knows that the hair of our furry friends can get everywhere. It grips to carpets and upholstery. Tumbleweeds on the hardwood floors. Seemingly reappearing as quickly as it’s been cleaned. The solution? You need a high-performing vacuum cleaner on your side.

These specialist cordless vacuums are designed to tackle the hair and dirt of any mucky pup or shedding tabby to keep your home in check. And with our choice of cordless vacuums, you’re sure to avoid any tangles or trips. We've also spoken to Catrin Davies, Product Manager at SDA Hoover for her expertise.

Last chance Black Friday deals on cordless vacuums for pet hair

We interrupt the regularly scheduled content to let you know that although Black Friday is over, there's still time to grab some last chance Black Friday deals on cordless vacuums for pet hair. These are the retailers that still have deals available or keep scrolling to continue reading our buyer’s guide.

Shop the best deals on cordless vacuums for pet hair: Amazon UK | Very | John Lewis | Appliances Direct | Robert Dyas | Hoover

Save £100: Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, WAS £329, NOW £229
£130 off: Hoover HF9 Cordless Pet Vacuum Cleaner with Anti-Twist, WAS £399, NOW £269
£120 off: Bosch BCH86PETGB Series 6 Athlet ProAnimal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, WAS £349.99, NOW £229

To help us choose the best cordless vacuum for pet hair on the market, our team of shopping experts tried and tested a number of cordless vacuums in their homes to find which ones effectively picked up pet hair and delivered fantastic cleaning performance.

We also studied the reviews for each vacuum listed, making sure we only selected vacuums with excellent reviews - a minimum of four out of five stars. We want to make sure the selected products have met the demands of real-life users and go on to deliver customer satisfaction.

The best cordless vacuum for pet hair at a glance:

• Top pick: Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner – view on John Lewis
• Best for ease of use: Hoover HF9 Anti-Twist Pets Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner – view on Hoover

Best cordless vacuum for pet hair FAQs

Things to consider for the best cordless vacuum for pet hair

If you're after the best cordless vacuums that can take on pet hair, Catrin at SDA Hoover says, "Look for clever technology such as a motorised mini power nozzle. This is the ideal tool for pet owners as it effectively cleans dog and cat fur from cushions and other fabric surfaces." It's this feature that'll set it apart from vacuums designed for pet-free homes.

You can also look for the following to make your cleaning as easy and streamlined as possible:

Brush attachments for agitation: In order to really shift stubborn hairs, you'll need a vacuum with adequate tools. Brushes pick up hairs on furniture, in crevices and in hard-to-reach spots.

Tangle-free rollers: To keep your vacuum performing its best, a vacuum designed to tackle pet hair is built to reduce hair tangling in the brush roller and stop build-up.

Powerful suction: This goes without saying, but your vacuum needs to pack a punch in order to whisk away all that hair, along with any other dirt and debris.

HEPA filters: Many pet vacuums include HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters to trap the small particles of dust, dirt or pet dander that are usually spewed out of the vacuum and back into the air. Trapping these particles can help with asthma and allergies too. An added bonus for keeping a healthy and happy home.

Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre: Most cordless vacuums are lightweight which is great for versatility and movement across your home. You'll need to be able to swiftly move the vacuum to wherever your pet's been, which could be everywhere!

Easy to empty: You may find you have to empty your vacuum more frequently due to the build-up of hair. So, you'll need the vacuum to be easy to empty so this doesn't become a difficult task.

Are cordless vacuums worth it?

We think so, and Catrin agrees. "Yes, they are more slimline, portable, light, and convenient for easing around every room in the house or for getting into tight corners, crevices or for moving easily up and down the stairs."

Not to mention, they're a lot easier to use outside of the home. "You can also use them in handheld mode to clean inside your car," says Catrin. A must for pet owners as your vehicle is likely to fall victim to pet hair, even if you put a blanket down. You can take your vacuum cleaner out without the restriction of a cable. And, by adapting it into a handheld, can lift hairs, debris, and more from your car's upholstery.

Do cordless vacuums work as well as corded ones?

It's often thought that corded vacuums have more power, but that's not the case. "There’s a huge choice of cordless vacuums available," says Catrin. "If you have a lot of carpets in your home, then it’s worth investing in a powerful model, such as the Hoover HF9, for the perfect balance of Power & Runtime. The powerful 350-watt brushless motor achieves outstanding suction power with a runtime of 30 minutes, with no loss of suction."

The main concern with a cordless, too, is the fact you could run out of power. Whilst plenty of cordless vacuums will get the job done before running out of charge, you can buy secondary battery packs so you always have one on reserve.

What's the difference between a pet vacuum and a regular vacuum?

Generally speaking, vacuums designed with pet hair in mind will include a HEPA filter, a tangle-free brushbar, and a pet tool designed specifically for picking up hair.

Catrin says, "If we take the HF9 cordless vacuum cleaner range, this has two models: HF9 Home - The standard HF9 model with one battery pack, and the HF9 Pets which has an additional motorised mini turbo brush for cleaning up pet hair."

"The HF9 Pets brush even has frontal LED lights to help show up any hidden dirt, and the brush bar can be removed for easy maintenance." It's these features and more that make vacuum maintenance and picking up pet dander a doddle.

Top tips for cleaning up pet hair

1. Utilise lint rollers or tape for collecting loose pet hairs on clothes and fabrics.

2. Use dryer sheets or rubber gloves on furniture to create a static cling that’ll remove those stubborn hairs.

3. Take a dampened shower squeegee to your carpet to scrape off those hidden pet hairs.

4. Cover your sofa in a pet blanket that can go in the washing machine. This will help to protect it from hair and pet smells.

5. If you have a carpet, then consider getting a pet carpet cleaner to help give your floor a deep clean and remove in-ground dirt and hair.

Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Yours, specialising in home décor, furnishings and appliances. Having worked commercially on Yours magazine and Yours.co.uk for the past six years, she's previously hosted Yours Live events and loves looking for home inspiration online.