Sabine Heinlein is a writer covering vacuums. Keeping her multi-pet home clean is one of her more acceptable obsessions.
No matter how much I’ve cleaned the day before, I wake up to fur dancing in the morning light.
I share my home with two rabbits and three cats, and keeping pet hair at bay can be a uniquely demanding task. If you know what I’m talking about, you may be in the same boat. (Noah’s Ark, that is.)
After testing dozens of vacuums, we have six models to recommend that effectively and efficiently tackle pet fur.
Everything we recommend
Our pick
Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07
The best handheld vacuum for people with pets
With its motorized brush and extendable crevice tool, this handheld vac cleans up pet fur in a snap, especially on upholstery.
Our pick
This bagged canister vacuum excels on both bare floors and carpets, and it has many adjustment options and attachments that make picking up fur a breeze.
Our pick
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Pet Stick Vac Kit with Dual-Roller Bar
Convenient cordless stick vac with a large dustbin
If you have a small pet or two and live in an apartment, this versatile cordless vacuum cleaner, which has a large dustbin and recharges quickly, might be all you need to keep fur at bay.
Buying Options
Our pick
This bot is a great navigator that can avoid pet obstacles while keeping on top of the fur.
This is the Roborock Q5 packaged with a charging dock that sucks debris from its dustbin after it cleans.
Our pick
This solid, affordable robot vacuum has a bin large enough to hold a decent amount of fur.
Buying Options
How we picked
- Cleaning power
We tested how well each vac handled pet hair, as well as other debris, on different types of carpets and bare floors.
- Helpful attachments
Motorized brushes and crevice and upholstery tools target fur and dander in nooks and crannies and on textiles.
- Reliability
We chose vacuums that have a great track record and come with a decent warranty.
- Convenience
We assessed how easy it was to handle each vacuum and whether its bins and bags were large enough to contain lots of fluff.
Our pick
Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07
The best handheld vacuum for people with pets
With its motorized brush and extendable crevice tool, this handheld vac cleans up pet fur in a snap, especially on upholstery.
The Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07 cleans up pet fur better than any other handheld vacuum we’ve tried. It offers great suction, enhanced by a motorized brush that agitates debris and dislodges stubborn fur from grippy upholstery. It also has a built-in extendable crevice tool that helps target fur and other detritus on kitchen counters and between couch cushions.
The HHVK515JP07’s bin volume is the largest of the handheld vacs we’ve tested. This model also runs longer (for 25 minutes) than its competitors. Its battery charges in less than three hours but isn’t replaceable. Its filters are washable and replaceable, though.
Black+Decker covers the HHVK515JP07 with a two-year warranty.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTOur pick
This bagged canister vacuum excels on both bare floors and carpets, and it has many adjustment options and attachments that make picking up fur a breeze.
The SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium, our top-performing canister vacuum, combines excellent cleaning power and filtration with comfortable handling and thoughtful design.
In our tests, the Airbelt K3 Premium excelled at picking up fur on carpets and couches, along with dirt and debris dragged in from the outside. Its powerful electric cleaner head is the best we’ve tested, gliding effortlessly on bare floors and across short-, medium-, and high-pile carpets and rugs. This model has three useful onboard attachments, including an efficient upholstery tool that works well on fur.
When purchased from an authorized dealer, the Airbelt K3 Premium comes with a generous warranty: seven years for the motor and five years on parts and labor, increasing to 10 years and seven years, respectively, with registration.
Our pick
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Pet Stick Vac Kit with Dual-Roller Bar
Convenient cordless stick vac with a large dustbin
If you have a small pet or two and live in an apartment, this versatile cordless vacuum cleaner, which has a large dustbin and recharges quickly, might be all you need to keep fur at bay.
Buying Options
The battery-powered Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Pet Stick Vac Kit with Dual-Roller Bar is reasonably priced, and it offered above-average performance in our cordless stick vacuum tests. Its powerful all-terrain cleaner head agitates and lifts hair and debris from both bare floors and rugs, and its extra-large bin doesn’t need emptying mid-cleaning.
The Ryobi 18V One+ HP stick vac stands up on its own, but it’s heavier than many of its cordless competitors and harder to maneuver on stairs. It comes with a motorized brush for removing stubborn pet fur from upholstery, a regular crevice tool, and a useful micro crevice tool for reaching fluff in tight spots.
This model’s battery runs for a good 35 minutes, and its two-hour charge time is one of the fastest among the sticks we tested. In addition, you can easily exchange the battery and use it in a variety of Ryobi tools.
The Ryobi 18V One+ HP stick vac has a three-year warranty.
Our pick
This bot is a great navigator that can avoid pet obstacles while keeping on top of the fur.
This is the Roborock Q5 packaged with a charging dock that sucks debris from its dustbin after it cleans.
Of the robot vacuums we tested, the Roborock Q5 was one of the quietest and most thorough cleaners, picking up more debris than some costlier models. It can map multiple levels of your home and remember a floor’s layout, and it allows you to block off areas where pets snooze or eat.
This model’s app is user-friendly and offers dozens of customizations, such as scheduling cleaning cycles and vacuuming specific rooms. It tells you when to replace filters and brushes, and with the included remote control, you can send it back to places it may have missed. While Roborock’s obstacle-detection system is far from perfect, the Q5 avoided hurdles more effectively than most other robot vacuums we tested. It’s also one of the quietest robots we’ve tried, which skittish pets will appreciate.
The Roborock Q5+ performs exactly the same as the Q5 but comes with a charging station that can empty debris from the robot right into a disposable bag.
Both models come with a one-year warranty.
Our pick
This solid, affordable robot vacuum has a bin large enough to hold a decent amount of fur.
Buying Options
In our cleaning tests, the basic Eufy RoboVac 11S Max outperformed many robots with fancier navigation, sucking up more debris than most, including along baseboards and close to walls. Its low height allows it to effortlessly glide under furniture to pick up dust bunnies and missed kitty treats.
It’s so quiet and nimble, it fades into the background like no other robot we’ve tested. The RoboVac 11S Max doesn’t connect to an app, but it does come with a remote control for scheduling it to clean and directing it to missed spots. Its navigation system, however, tends to be random, and its bumbling aimlessness gets on some people’s nerves.
It comes with a one-year warranty.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe research
- Why you should trust us
- The best handheld vacuum for people with pets: Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07
- The best plug-in vacuum for people with pets: SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium
- The best cordless stick vac for people with pets: Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Pet Stick Vac Kit with Dual-Roller Bar
- The best smart robot vacuums for people with pets: Roborock Q5 and Q5+
- The best basic robot vacuum for people with pets: Eufy RoboVac 11S Max
- How we picked and tested
- Frequently asked questions
Why you should trust us
Staff writer Sabine Heinlein has been a journalist for more than two decades. She obsesses over how to remove cat and rabbit fur from her couch and hairballs from her heirloom rugs. She has written guides to upright and canister, handheld, and cordless stick vacuums, among others.
The best handheld vacuum for people with pets: Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07
Our pick
Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07
The best handheld vacuum for people with pets
With its motorized brush and extendable crevice tool, this handheld vac cleans up pet fur in a snap, especially on upholstery.
If you routinely clean up after fur-shedding pets, the Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07 is specifically designed to help you fight the battle.
It’s a great all-purpose cleaner, and it’s especially effective on fur. The HHVK515JP07 picked up fur better than any handheld model we tried. The only area where it struggled was in removing fur from the grippy upholstery of a car floor and trunk, though all the handheld vacuums we tested performed poorly at this task. (If you already own a handheld vacuum and struggle with this issue, we recommend the Uproot Clean Pro pet hair remover.)
This vacuum effortlessly sucks up other kinds of debris, too, including glitter, crumbs, and dust. It has two suction modes, but we found the low mode to be strong enough for most cleaning scenarios.
It has an extra-large dustbin. The HHVK515JP07’s 25-ounce-capacity dustbin is the largest of any handheld vacuum we tested. This capacity comes in handy when you’re vacuuming lots of pet fur, which can quickly clog smaller bins.
But it can be awkward in tight spaces and tricky to empty. The vacuum’s built-in, extendable crevice tool gets into most nooks and crannies, but the tool is too large and stiff to fit into extra-tight spots and often slides back into place unexpectedly. The filters sometimes slip out when you’re emptying the bin.
It has a long run time. This model has an impressive run time of 25 minutes on the low suction mode, sufficient for most furry situations. Its battery—which you can’t replace—charges in about three hours.
It’s sturdy and reliable, and it has an average warranty. The HHVK515JP07 comes with a two-year warranty, average for handheld vacuums. I’ve used mine daily for almost four years. The suction hasn’t diminished, and the vacuum has withstood being dropped and knocked over. Many of its parts, including its washable filters, belt, and charger, are replaceable.
Read more about the Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07 in our guide to handheld vacuums.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe best cordless stick vac for people with pets: Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Pet Stick Vac Kit with Dual-Roller Bar
Our pick
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Pet Stick Vac Kit with Dual-Roller Bar
Convenient cordless stick vac with a large dustbin
If you have a small pet or two and live in an apartment, this versatile cordless vacuum cleaner, which has a large dustbin and recharges quickly, might be all you need to keep fur at bay.
Buying Options
If you live in a small home with a little pet or two, the Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Pet Stick Vac Kit with Dual-Roller Bar, with its large dustbin, might be all you need to keep stray fur at bay.
It’s an efficient cleaner. The Ryobi 18V One+ HP stick vac’s motorized all-terrain cleaner head works well on all types of floors, grabbing pet hair on rugs, tiles, and parquet. It has a headlight that illuminates dust bunnies in dark corners.
It has an extra-large dustbin. With a capacity more than double that of our other favorite cordless stick vacuum, this Ryobi vacuum’s dustbin can hold a decent amount of fur without needing frequent emptying—a problem we encountered with most other cordless stick vacs.
Its boost mode works well on stubborn pet accidents. The 18V One+ HP vac has two cleaning modes: eco, which allows for a 35-minute run time, sufficient for most cleaning scenarios, and boost. We appreciated boost mode when confronted with a dry, set-in hairball in a Tibetan rug.
It morphs into a handheld vacuum and has useful attachments. The 18V One+ HP stick easily transforms into a handheld vacuum. Its crevice tool and pivoting brush are ideal for upholstery and awkwardly angled nooks. Its motorized mini brush was one of the few tools we tested that made a dent in the thick layer of fur on clingy car-trunk upholstery.
It has a sturdy construction—but it’s a bit heavy. The robust 18V One+ HP stick is made from thick plastic and metal. Though it doesn’t feel quite as bulky as it looks, its heavy battery is positioned right behind its handle, and its motor is directly below that, which caused us to switch hands frequently while vacuuming. The vacuum stands unsupported, so no need to scramble to find a place to prop it up if you get pulled away.
It has a solid warranty, and it’s versatile. Ryobi covers the 18V One+ HP stick with a three-year warranty, a longer period than the coverage on most cordless stick vacuums we tested. Its battery is replaceable (like many of its parts) and fits with a variety of Ryobi tools. The battery recharges in less than two hours—faster than that of any other vacuum we tested in our latest round.
Read more about the Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Pet Stick Vac Kit with Dual-Roller Bar in our guide to cordless stick vacuums.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe best smart robot vacuums for people with pets: Roborock Q5 and Q5+
Our pick
This bot is a great navigator that can avoid pet obstacles while keeping on top of the fur.
This is the Roborock Q5 packaged with a charging dock that sucks debris from its dustbin after it cleans.
If your pets are shedding as if planning to join a nudist colony, and you’re too tired to drag out the ol’ plug-in vac, a robot vacuum is a great sidekick for midweek cleanups. The Roborock Q5 and Roborock Q5+ (the Q5 with a self-emptying dock) ranked among the most thorough and quietest cleaners we tested, and they have useful smart features and mapping technology to boot.
The Roborock Q5 cleans quickly and well. In our tests, the Q5 cleaned better than any other robot in the $300 to $450 price range, sucking up almost 90% of the debris we put down. With its laser-nav system and speedy processing, it mapped and vacuumed a multi-pet, 600-square-foot apartment in about half the time as most of its competitors. (Remember to remove cables and cat toys, though. Despite company claims of obstacle avoidance, robot vacuums still get trapped and confused easily.)
It’s quiet. Both the Q5 and the Q5+ were considerably quieter than other robot vacuums with similar cleaning performance. The noise of some louder bots made all the animals in our test house skedaddle.
It has a superior app with a great mapping system. Among the app-controlled robots we tested, we liked Roborock’s app the best. It is user-friendly and intuitive, it learns your floor plan in a single mapping session, and it can store multiple maps for different levels of your home in both 2D and 3D. Via the app, you can turn on auto-boost mode—good for fur-covered carpets—and schedule cleaning sessions. Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, Roborock’s app generally responds well to voice commands, too.
Read more about the Roborock Q5 and Q5+ in our guide to robot vacuums.
The best basic robot vacuum for people with pets: Eufy RoboVac 11S Max
Our pick
This solid, affordable robot vacuum has a bin large enough to hold a decent amount of fur.
Buying Options
The affordable Eufy RoboVac 11S Max is about as effective as the pricier Roborock Q5, but it lacks mapping technology and other smart features.
It cleans well and has a large bin. In our tests, the RoboVac 11S Max cleaned about as well as the much pricier Roborock Q5. It effortlessly removed rice, Cheerios, cat litter, and even baking soda sprinkled close to baseboards (a rarity among even the most expensive robot models). As of early 2024, the 11S Max has one side brush (the model we originally tested had two). During testing, this vacuum efficiently ferreted out an unholy amount of fur and swept the whole batch into its extra-large dustbin.
It’s quiet and relatively nimble. The RoboVac 11S Max is so quiet, you could easily forget that it’s running. It skips over half-inch door thresholds and is able to avoid stairs and drops. With its anti-collision sensors, it stays clear of (most) obstacles, including cat toys. Its low height allows it to smoothly glide under furniture and into dark corners to chase down dust bunnies.
It doesn’t have Wi-Fi connectivity or smart features, but it offers other helpful options. Though the RoboVac 11S Max doesn’t connect to an app and can’t create maps, it does come with a remote control that lets you schedule cleaning cycles and direct it to spots it may have missed.
Read more about the Eufy RoboVac 11S Max in our guide to robot vacuums.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTHow we picked and tested
A good vacuum cleaner is a good vacuum cleaner, regardless of whether you own a pet. But to zero in on the models that handle pet fur especially well, we looked at all of the vacuums we recommend and focused on the following attributes:
Cleaning power: We tested each of our picks in a multi-pet household to see how it performed on tiles, vinyl, and hardwood floors, as well as on different rugs and upholstery. Even the cheapest vacuums could pick up pet hair from bare floors in our tests, but the excellent models—with powerful airflow and suction, plus optimized nozzles—eradicated fur from even the clingiest rugs and furniture.
Multiple attachments and an electric floor brush: We tested each vacuum’s attachments and cleaning modes and noted whether it had an efficient upholstery tool or a mini turbo brush for pet-hair removal. We compared turbo (propelled by airflow) and electric (motor-powered) cleaner heads and attachments to see whether their plastic or rubber bristles managed to pull pet hair off rugs, couches, and car seats.
Maneuverability and versatility: We tested the comfort and maneuverability of each vacuum. Those that caught our eye were able to reach into nooks and crannies and easily capture dust bunnies under furniture. Some full-size vacuums, such as our cordless stick vac pick, can convert into handheld models for above-floor cleaning (a plus). For robot vacuums, we assessed how well they navigated around furniture and toys.
Pet-grooming tools: Some newer models come with pet-grooming tools, usually a brush that attaches to the vacuum hose. We are wary of them: Many pets, particularly cats and rabbits, are terrified of the sound of vacuum cleaners, and trying to groom them with one is sure to distress them.
Run time: We compared advertised run time with real-life run time in battery-powered test models and noted how long each machine operated before running out of juice.
Tim Heffernan and Liam McCabe wrote a previous version of this guide, which we first published in 2018. This article was edited by Ingrid Skjong and Courtney Schley.
Frequently asked questions
Are bagged vacuums better than bagless models for pet hair?
Bagged or bagless has no meaningful or direct impact on how much hair a vacuum can pick up. However, if you have several very hairy pets, bagless vacuums, particularly cordless stick vacs, tend to fill up more quickly. Bagless vacuums have lower operating costs (new bags can be expensive), but they expose you to dust, hair, and dander when you empty them. Generally, bagged models have better filtration than bagless models.
What is the best vacuum for pet hair and allergies?
Plenty of vacuums are great at picking up pet hair, plenty of vacuums are great at filtration, and plenty of vacuums are great at both things. If you have severe allergies, the consensus among experts is that you should choose a bagged, sealed-system vacuum with a HEPA or S-Class filter, such as the SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium, the SEBO Felix Premium, or the Miele Complete C3 Calima PowerLine.
Meet your guide
Sabine Heinlein
Sabine Heinlein is a staff writer at Wirecutter. Her work has previously been published by The New York Times, The Guardian, Psychology Today, and many other publications. When she is not following her dream of an immaculate home and a flood-proof basement, she is taking care of her menagerie and creating magical animal quilts.
Further reading
The Best Vacuum Cleaners
by Sabine Heinlein
For a dependable, versatile, and affordable cleaner, we prefer a bagless upright, but we have recommendations for other types of vacuums as well.
What’s the Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors?
by Sabine Heinlein
Any vacuum can clean bare floors, but some models make it a little easier. We think the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction does an excellent job.
The Best Robot Vacuums
by Sabine Heinlein
Robot vacuums never get bored or tired, so with little effort on your part, they can keep your floors consistently tidy.
The Best Car Vacuum
by Sabine Heinlein
We recommend four handheld vacuums that have helpful tools and the ability to reach into the nooks and crannies of a car.
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