Best vacuum cleaners for pet hair 2024 UK – the 6 must-have models for pet owners

The best vacuum cleaners for pet hair can make all the difference in how successful you are in combatting the many marks of territory your four-legged friends' leave in their wake, effectively picking up stubborn hair and even neutralising unpleasant odours.

Many of the best vacuum cleaners already do a great job at picking up dust and debris on both hard floors and carpets; however, being able to pick up deep-rooted pet hair is a challenge that only the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair can face head-on.

That's why we've put some of the very top choices from leading brands through their paces to help you decide on the best fit for your home that both you and your pets will love. For variation, we've even reviewed some of the best cordless vacuum cleaners with attachments designed to remove pet hair from carpets and upholstery.

Every one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair in our guide has been tried by the Ideal Home team, so not only have we been able to rank based on performance, but you can also find our specific thoughts on testing with our vacuum reviews.

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 vacuum cleaners for pet hair 2024 – tried and tested

Best vacuum for pet hair overall

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 a top spot 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.

Our Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap cordless upright vacuum cleaner review has the full details.

Best affordable vacuum for pet hair

The Henry Pet200 is a standout choice for anyone who needs a reliable vacuum on a budget with it available to buy for a little over £150 at the time of writing.

On the whole, it's a solid piece of kit which is easy to maintain. As it's a bagged vacuum, investing in the vacuum bags over time is a financial consideration. However, with a capacity of 9 litres, you will need to do a lot of vacuum cleaning to get through a pack of 10.

A thing to note is that this vacuum cleaner may not be suitable if you want an appliance to vacuum your home and car. It is a bulky vacuum cleaner and, again, it is corded so unless you have a driveway or a guaranteed parking space outside your home, the Henry Pet may not be the vacuum cleaner for you.

Features we loved during testing

It has a range of attachments to help combat pet hair and dirt, and in our review, we found it was really easy to switch between tools, especially as they are all stored on board.

Our Henry Pet 200 vacuum review has the full details.

Best cordless vacuum for pet hair

While lots of people prefer to rely on corded vacuums to deal with pet hair, the Shark Stratos goes pretty far to prove that cordless vacuums are also up to the job.

There's no doubt that our testing process proved that this vac is worth the large price tag that it carries. Even if you don't have pets, the ease with which this vacuum does away with hair is astounding, and our Editor, Molly, found that it was unmatched when it came to suction.

However, the standout feature that pits it as one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair is its new Anti-Odour capsules, which help to banish any unpleasant, musty smells that you're often met with when emptying your vacuum. This is an especially helpful addition to keep your vacuum from holding onto any bad pet smells that arise from picking up their hair, overall making the experience far more enjoyable. It even comes with an anti-allergen brush attachment when using the vacuum in handheld mode.

Features we loved during testing

The capacity of this vacuum to transform into a smaller handheld model is phenomenal, and you'll be reaching for the smaller attachments all the time to quickly resolve smaller messes made by pets all over your home. The battery life is also stellar, and 60 minutes was available during testing on non-turbo mode.

You can fork out more for the two-battery Shark Stratos model if you think you need a spare pack on charge while the other is in use, but it's not a necessity if you live in a small or medium-sized home. All in all, this is admittedly a pricier vacuum, but if you can afford to fork out and you want a cordless vacuum to deal with pet hair, it will impress you time and time again.

Our Shark Stratos IZ420UKT cordless vacuum review has the full details.

Best cylinder vacuum for pet hair

As you might have guessed from its name, the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog vacuum is the go-to purchase for those looking to banish pet hair at home. The turbo brush floor head is equipped to get rid of the excess from moulting dogs and cats, and you've also got a regular carpet floor head and another for hard floors to work with.

We love it for its straightforward cleaning power, which is the number one feature consumers are looking for to deal with the mess that pets can make. The cylinder moves smoothly on its castors and perches acceptably on a stair, though it's not the easiest to clean this section of the house with.

Features we loved during testing

It's the little things that make this vacuum great, alongside the pet-appropriate level of power and suction. The fact that you can toggle between on and off using your for also makes moving around with this vacuum a lot easier, as well as going between modes. Importantly for dealing with pet hair, the power with this vacuum is consistent, and the hose is extra long so that you can cover an entire floor without having to find another plug socket.

Our Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Vacuum Cleaner review has the full details.

Best vacuum for pet hair on carpet

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.

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 and convenient controls make it very enjoyable to use and the added carrying handle for portability is a clever touch. It has impressive runtime and the fact that it stands upright on its own makes storage even easier. Its AirLOC technology does take some getting used to, but once you've got it down, there's little to complain about.

Our Gtech AirRAM Platinum Anti Hair Wrap cordless vacuum review has the full details.

Best robot vacuum for pet hair

A robot vacuum is a fantastic addition to your cleaning roster, helping to make the task of keeping your floors spotless a whole lot easier as it gets the job done without you even having to think about it – and the Roomba i7+ is an excellent option for any home, and even more so a home with four-legged friends.

Sometimes robot vacuums lack in the power aspect, doing a haphazard job of actually getting into the nooks and crannies of your home. However, this robot vacuum boasts clever mapping and room memory technologies to ensure a thorough cleaning.

Features we loved during testing

Its self-emptying feature makes it so the vacuum knows when to retreat, ensuring pet hair doesn't get clogged up in the filter. Seeing as our reviewer had a dog herself, this proved to be especially handy; thus, making it one of the biggest factors for being the ideal buy for those wanting effective pet hair pick-up and added smart capabilities.

Our iRobot Rooma 17+ review has the full details.

How we tested these vacuum cleaners for pet hair

At Ideal Home, we believe that to give our verdict on the best vacuums and to rank them, we need to have tested them ourselves, which we delve into in our how we test guide.

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 or at our testing facility. In order to test pet features, we test every vacuum with large amounts of hair at our test centre, recording how well the suction works on each model to deal with it.

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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, the standout features of each and which appliances are good 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. Below you can find out more about exactly who has tested the vacuums in this round-up.

FAQs

What are the different types of pet vacuum cleaner?

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, 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.

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. 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.