As Ideal Home's Certified Expert in Vacuums and the pet parent of a very fluffy cocker spaniel, I can tell you that there's a big difference between a regular vacuum and the best vacuums for pet hair. After all, pet vacuums are specifically designed to pick up stubborn pet hair, remove and seal pet dander, and even neutralise odours your four-legged friends might leave in their wake.
And while many of the best vacuum cleaners do a great job at picking up dust and debris on both hard floors and carpets, these pet-specific models are often more powerful, more efficient, and offer a wider range of tools. But as there are so many options out there, I enlisted my dog to help me test them all. (He's 30 years old in dog years and still doesn't have a job. So, he's got to help pay the bills somehow!)
My top-rated picks below not only excel in hair pick-up but also offer additional features that actually set them apart from the rest, such as anti-hair wrap technology, anti-odour capsules, and sealed filters that ensure pet dander is contained for those with allergies. And I'm confident that one of these best vacuum cleaners for pet hair UK will be the perfect option for you, your home, and your furry friends.
Quick list
In a rush and only want the need-to-know details on the best vacuum for pet hair? Find our top picks after testing below or keep scrolling for our in-depth reviews.
Best overall
Designed specifically with pet owners in mind, the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog is powerful and sleek - and it comes with a whole host of accessories to pick up every last stray pet hair. This cordless offering is also easy to manoeuvre and incredibly lightweight, meaning you can vacuum everything from your floors to dog beds and even cat towers.
Best budget
If you're after great value for money vacuum cleaner for pet hair, the Henry Pet200 is a brilliant choice at its sub-£200 price tag, employing great suction power that works excellently at picking up pet hair with good reach. And with an impressive 9 litre capacity, it's perfect for busy homes with multiple humans and pets alike.
Best for everyday
Want an everyday vacuum for a quick, whiz around your house, or noticed a random patch of pet hair nestled in the corner? This Shark vacuum is a solid choice. It offers flexible usage thanks to its Flexology wand, easily transforms into a handheld, and automatically detects your flooring type so you can quickly move from carpet to hard flooring.
Best for deeper cleans
If you live with particularly fluffy animals and need something that'll tackle deeper cleans, I'd definitely recommend a corded cylinder vacuum like this Miele model. The corded nature means that the suction power is unmatched, and this one comes with a multitude of onboard tools to get into every nook and cranny. It's also bagged, so all of the pet dander is contained.
Best for ease of use
Although the AirRAM Platinum works great across all types of flooring because of its unique 'AirLOC technology', which ensures pick up in both forward and reverse, we think its capabilities are best shown on carpet, where it picked up a ton of deep-rooted pet hair with ease. It gets bonus points for the scent cartridges it comes with too, which help to keep unpleasant pet odours at bay.
Best upright
If you're looking for the power of a corded vacuum without the added faff, this upright Shark vac ticks those boxes. Boasting superb power levels, smart features, and good battery life, it's a great all-rounder for pet hair pick-up – especially if you have a ton of stubborn hair that doesn't want to budge.
Best vacuum cleaners for pet hair – tried and tested
Best vacuum for pet hair overall
As Ideal Home's Certified Expert in Training for Vacuums, I'm tasked with testing a huge number of vacuums on a regular basis. And while some require a few weeks to win me over (and sometimes don't quite hit the mark), the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog impressed me from the get-go. As a result, I'm confident that it's the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair we've ever tested. And one of the best cordless vacuums, too.
Designed specifically for pet owners, this cordless vacuum offers auto-adjusted suction power to make tackling everyday debris and pet-specific cleaning conundrums a breeze. And with a generous 55 minutes of run time, it can easily whip around a whole house without needing to be charged.
Features we loved during testing
The efficient German engineering is what impressed me the most when testing the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog. Sure, the sleek and sophisticated design are hard to ignore (and hard not to love), but the power of this model is second-to-none - especially in a house prone to dog and human hair alike.
Equipped to deal with both hard flooring and carpet, this model picked up every last strand of hair and was incredibly easy to manoeuvre thanks to its lightweight qualities. And as the owner of a fluffy dog that brings a lot of dust and dander into my house within his coat, my home felt instantly cleaner after vacuuming. Plus, with 99.99% dust retention capacity and the addition of a hygiene filter to keep allergens inside the canister, I didn't feel as though any nasty pollutants were making my way back into my house when emptying.
But the real selling point of the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog is the attachments (and an onboard accessory holder, no less). Featuring a multi-floor electrobrush, dusting brush, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, and electro compact brush, there really is everything you need to tackle every single nook and cranny of your home. Plus, they can help you target pet-prone areas like dog beds, cat trees, and perhaps even hamster wheels!
The only slight downside with this model - and what meant it couldn't quite reach the 5-star status - is that the dust bin is a lot smaller than other options on this list. However, if you're willing to empty it regularly, I really think it's worth the investment.
Read our in-depth Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog for more details.
Best budget vacuum cleaner for pet hair
The Henry Pet200 is proof that bigger is sometimes undeniably better, and fares extremely well in a bustling household where you're not only cleaning up after yourself, but pets and kids too. Featuring a 9-litre capacity, it's one of the best Henry vacuums out there and is fully equipped with an extremely generous 10m cable to bypass the problems that often come with corded models.
All in all, this heavy-duty model is robustly build and pretty much ready to take on any job, big or small, so it's no surprise that it fits the bill and more for tackling pet hair. And as it's a bagged model, you can expect excellent suction power and pet hair pick-up, picking up even the most stubborn pet hair with ease on all surfaces, as it comes with specialist floorheads for both carpet and hard flooring. Plus, it comes with a huge variety of tools and an on-board tool tidy, allowing you to keep everything to hand and all in one place when you're vacuuming any area of your home.
Features we loved during testing
Aside from being robustly built and sporting a large capacity, the 190 Ecobrush tool was a standout attachment that certainly has its perks when being used for embedded hair in the carpet and lingering strays around the house. It's a smaller, motorised attachment that collects hair in the brushes, designed to eliminate any potential for clogging.
Of course, the two big caveats with such a large canister vacuum is that, at 8kg, it's fairly hefty to push around the house and use on the stairs - but this is actually pretty light compared to the 15L capacity and 10kg weight of the Henry XL Plus vacuum cleaner. Not to mention the fact that it's the only corded option on this list, so you also have the cord to contend with when vacuuming your home.
However, since the Henry Pet200 is a bagged model, it offers fuss-free emptying and seals allergens away and even offers a special filter to reduce lingering pet odours in the home. Then, all you need to do is replace the bag when it's full.
Read our in-depth Henry Pet200 review for more details.
Best vacuum cleaner for pet hair for everyday use
The Shark PowerPro model is one of the brand's newest additions and has quickly become one of the best Shark vacuums out there. Not because it's the most tech-savvy or most impressive, but it's the best for quick, efficient cleans without the faff.
Offering up to 50 minutes of run time, a generous 0.7L dust bin (for a cordless stick vacuum, anyway), and a few cleaning tools - including a motorised pet tool for more targeted pet hair cleaning - it's the kind of vacuum cleaner you whip out to suck up loose hairs or give your rugs and carpets a quick clean every day. The Flexology wand means that you can clean under all of your furniture, too.
Features we loved during testing
During testing, I put this pet vacuum through the wringer, vacuuming everything from my dog's bed to the velvet sofa bed that he's also claimed as his bed. Overall, it impressed me with its cleaning ability, and I probably used the clip-off handheld part just as much as I used the floorhead.
After all, any pet owner will know that living with pets isn't just about vacuuming the floors. It's also about getting those stray hairs tucked in the skirting boards, as well as the pet dander that gets stuck on blinds and doorframes. And the crevice tool, upholstery tool and motorised pet tool tackled these areas with ease.
It's also extremely affordable, which is a major plus point for those looking for one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair.
However, it's fair to say that it's not the most impressive Shark model on the market. The power might not be enough for deeper cleans or those with pets who shed a lot more, so it might be worth opting for the older, more powerful Shark ICZ300UKT Upright model instead. After all, we found it better at tackling embedded pet hair.
Read our in-depth Shark PowerPro Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum review for more details.
Best vacuum for pet hair for deeper cleans
Cylinder vacuum cleaners may have a reputation for being old-fashioned, but I keep the Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog on hand in my home for one simple reason - it's powerful. And when you have shedding animals, you sometimes need a boost of power to rid your space of lingering hair, dander, and dust.
As it's corded, it offers unlimited cleaning power and even comes with multiple modes for different flooring types to ensure everything is cleaned both effectively and efficiently. The air hygiene filtration is also great for homes with pets. But, of course, if you don't like being tethered to a plug socket and have narrow stairs in your home, it might not suit you.
Features we loved during testing
The beauty of a corded cylinder vacuum cleaner is that you have uncompromised cleaning power, both in terms of suction power and running time, and I found this to be very true during testing. In fact, the suction power was so intense that it managed to clean a thick rug in my home that most other vacuums can't handle.
I also enjoyed using the different modes that allow you to tailor the cleaning power to what you're cleaning - whether that be cut-pile carpets and rugs, loop-pile carpets, hard floors, or curtains and textiles. Another feature I really loved was that all of the tools and attachments had their own onboard storage, which meant that they were easily accessible whenever I needed them.
This model is also the only bagged vacuum cleaner on this list of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair - which is a positive or a negative depending on how you view it. For homes with pets, the bagged system keeps all of the hair, dust and dander away from your home. But it does mean that you have to buy more bags, which comes at an extra cost.
Read our in-depth Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog Flex review for more details.
Best easy to use vacuum cleaner for pet hair
The Gtech AirRAM Platinum was instantly a hit for us, excelling in debris and pet hair pick-up right from the get go. Something that sets the AirRAM Platinum from any other vacuum on the market right now is its unique 'AirLOC technology', which ensures that the vacuum is not only picking up dirt and debris on the forward stroke, but also on the backstroke; ensuring that nothing gets left behind.
While we tested it on all floor types and it performed superbly on them all, we did notice that carpet was the flooring in which the vacuum's innovative technology and features shone. Creating satisfying vacuum lines across seemingly clean carpet, the dustbin quickly filled up with pet hair with just a couple of passes, solidifying it as a smart choice for anyone looking for a reliable solution for cleaning up pet hair in a pinch.
Better yet, its mess-free emptying system is genius and makes for easy maintenance – especially if the dustbin is filled with pet hair. However, even with the ease of emptying, it's not completely sealed and could still result in some dust clouds, which is something to consider if you're particularly sensitive to that.
Features we loved during testing
While the Gtech AirRAM Platinum doesn't come with additional hand tools, we think this is exactly what makes it such a great buy. It knows what it's good at and it exceeds expectations. Its simple plug and play design with extremely convenient foot controls make it very enjoyable to use and the added carrying handle for portability is a clever touch. The fact that it stands up on its own makes it so easy to just pop in a corner for easy storage and take out when you need to quickly clean up after a pet, as you simply bend the wand and press start with your foot.
It also comes with scented cartridges you can put in the vacuum's filter, perfect for eliminating unpleasant odours that can sometimes linger in dustbins even well after emptying.
However, seeing as pets shed in all areas of your home such as carpeted stairs, furniture, and upholstery, we understand that the lack of hand tools can be a deal breaker for many, especially if you don't already own a separate handheld vacuum. You can buy the AirRAM in a bundle which includes the Gtech Multi Platinum, our top rated best handheld vacuum cleaner, but this again comes at an additional cost. However, for ease and not needing to faff around with changing anything out, the AirRAM is a star.
Read our in-depth Gtech AirRAM Platinum Anti Hair Wrap cordless vacuum review for more details.
Best upright vacuum for pet hair
If you're keen on saying goodbye to your corded vacuum without sacrificing suction and cleaning power, the Shark ICZ300UKT offers just that; and its versatility and impressive power levels are precisely what has earned it one of the top spots as the best vacuum for pet hair. During testing, it left a positive lasting impression on our reviewer, Millie, who is mother to a black Labrador. With just one pass, the PowerFins design quickly and effectively lifted all the deep-rooted hair on her carpets, revealing the once cream colour beneath.
For areas around your home with more stubborn hair, the additional TruePet attachment that comes with the vacuum is a great touch to ensure you really get into those hard-to-reach places. And, on the note of easy and convenient cleaning, the Powered Lift-Away feature allows you to lift the central unit away from the vacuum stick to assist in cleaning stairs seamlessly and even for use in the car.
Features we loved during testing
One of our favourite things about the Shark ICZ300UKT is seamlessly it toggles between power levels for hard floors and carpet respectively, achieved by just a touch of a button. It does a fantastic job at everyday cleaning as well as deep cleaning needs with its robust build and smart features. The Eco power mode was also pretty impressive, especially for light vacuuming on tiled flooring to help extend the battery life further. However, it is worth noting that although its dustbin capacity is quite small and if your furry friend tends to shed a lot, you may find yourself needing to empty it continuously.
Read our in-depth Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap cordless upright vacuum cleaner review for more details.
Vacuum cleaners for pet hair comparison at a glance
Vacuum | Price | Ideal Home Rating | Brand Trustpilot Score | Dust Bin Capacity |
£369 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 0.3 litres | |
£139 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 9 litres | |
£279.99 | 4 | 3.8 | 0.7L | |
£349 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4.5L | |
£349.99 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 0.8 litres | |
£429.99 | 5 | 3.8 | 0.6 litres |
The best of the rest
I've reduced my shortlist of the best vacuums for pet hair to my top six options, but there are many other alternatives that I think are well worth a mention if the above options don't suit your home (or your pet).
How we tested these vacuum cleaners for pet hair
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At Ideal Home, we take how we test vacuums extremely seriously and only ever include models in these guides that we have hands-on testing experience with. However, we go one step further and follow strict guidelines on how we test vacuums for pet hair to ensure they're suitable for pet-specific homes.
That's why you'll find star ratings on the vacuums in this list, which we've decided on after extensively testing them either in our own homes. In order to test pet-specific features, we have ensured that every vacuum included in this round-up has been tested in real homes with pets, so you can rest assured that our recommendations will fare well in the context of your own homes and the demands of day-to-day life.
The main criteria we have used to put together this list is as follows: suction power, whether it offers de-tangling technology, bag or dustbin capacity, anti-odour or scented cartridges, and the selection (and usefulness) of included pet-specific attachments – especially for cordless models that can be switched to handheld mode.
Every model in this list was tested for a minimum of two weeks, with some models undergoing months of testing before a review is fully written up, or they are considered for inclusion in our product round-up.
When testing these vacuums in our homes, we put these models through their paces and rank them according to the above criteria. While some vacuums will not tick the boxes for all the criteria, they might make up for some depending on other features they offer, which balances our star ratings overall. If there are major issues or notable missing features in a vacuum we have tested, we ensure to explicitly state them as such when outlining the respective model's pros and cons.
As well as paying close attention to how they performed at the job of vacuuming, we also make sure to evaluate practical features like how lightweight each vacuum is for convenience, whether they're bagged or bagless, the model-specific standout features of each, and which appliances are the best value for money.
Where we can, we've also sought to keep hold of these vacuums for long-term testing, so that we can feedback on just how they deliver after years of use, and how easy they are to store. We ensure to routinely update our reviews as such, and vacuums that have been kept for long-term testing will include key details about how they perform in everyday life after the initial testing period and their longevity.
Below, you can find out more about exactly who has tested the vacuums in this round-up.
Lauren first started working for Ideal Home in a freelance capacity, writing how-to features and testing countless vacuums. She joined the team full-time as House Manual Content Editor and Certified Expert in Training for Vacuums in January 2025. She now spends most of her time testing appliances to include in our product round-ups, conducting in-depth testing and writing reviews for vacuum cleaners.
She lives in a three-bedroom Victorian terraced house with her husband and dog – who often leaves a mound of pet hair in his wake, whether it be on furniture, upholstery, or carpet – so you can rest assured that she knows the first thing about what pet owners actually want and need when looking for a specialist vacuum cleaner.
Jenny is Ideal Home's Senior Digital Editor and first joined the team in 2023 after working for many of our sister titles since 2021. Now, Jenny oversees the overall running of the House Manual section and regularly reviews all manner of home appliances - including the best vacuums for pet hair.
Jenny lives in Belfast with her husband, two daughters and a cat, so she's used to dealing with all kinds of human and pet hair in her home.
Jullia served within the Ideal Home team as a Junior Writer in October 2022 until December 2024. During this time, she also became a Certified Expert in Training for all things vacuums.
Within this role, she tested 6 vacuums, marking over 60 hours of in-depth testing towards each appliance to ensure readers know exactly what to expect before they invest. Plus, she has 3 dogs in her family home, so best believe she knows what makes a solid choice for a vacuum cleaner for pet hair.
How to choose the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair
Knowing how to choose a vacuum cleaner can be hard - especially when you share your home with pets. However, some features to look for when buying a vacuum for pet hair can include, but are not limited to, powerful suction, de-tangling technology, anti-odour capsules or scent cartridges, sealed filters or bagged systems to keep pet dander at bay, and motorised pet tools for cleaning upholstery, furniture, and more.
These are examples of features that can greatly impact how suitable a vacuum cleaner is for tackling pet hair, as they address more than just pet hair pick up, but also the issues of dealing with neutralising pet odours and offering comfort to pet owners who may be sensitive to specific allergens.
Stick vacuum cleaners are generally upright plus handheld in one. Models designed to deal with pet hair frequently have a special attachment that can be used with the handheld, but the floorhead used with the stick may also have features that aid cleaning in homes with pets. As two vacuums in one, they can save space, but the top-heavy design can make them tiring to use. Often cordless, they’ll save the time taken plugging and unplugging, although these machines do need charging time.
Upright vacuum cleaners are larger than sticks, but despite this, it can be easy to move over different floor surfaces. Going up and down stairs with machine in hand does require lifting more weight, however. Special pet attachments can deal with fur on upholstery.
Robot vacuum cleaners will get on with the vacuuming for you, making them a good choice if you’re having trouble keeping up with the amount of hair a houseful of pets – or a single shedder – creates. Bin size is limited with the best robot vacuums, but self-emptying versions can extend the time before you need to go to the dustbin.
Handheld vacuum cleaners are great for quick pick-ups, and with a special pet tool, can target fur as well as spills when you don’t want to get a larger machine out.
FAQs
How much should I spend on a pet vacuum cleaner?
You can find a vacuum for pet hair starting from around £150, but bear in mind that you could pay more than four times as much for a top-end model, while a robot vacuum will cost even more.
The best pet vacuums in our tests cost from around £500 (which is a huge sum of money), and in this price bracket as well as those designed to deal with pet hair you’ll likely get additional features, greater suction power and more attachments.
If you're looking to bag a bargain on a vacuum for pet hair, then our cordless vacuums deal page can help to bring the price down.
Should I get a bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner?
You're likely to have a strong personal preference for this one, as the bagged vs bagless vacuum debate is one that has been long-standing since the latter has become more of the industry-standard within the more recent years.
Bagless vacuums, of course, save the additional expense of buying the bags and making sure you have a constant supply. However, the ease of emptying the dust bin varies between bagless models, and how much dust puffs up as you do does too. The capacity of their bins also differs and can be relatively small. Vacuum bags can fit in more and seal tightly when you change them.
Now you're better equipped with knowledge of the key features to look for when investing in the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair, you can go out there with the confidence that you'll know how to purchase the right model to suit your needs and your household, acting as a solid investment that will last you years to come.