9 Best Animal Vacuums 2025

Don’t let its compact size fool you—the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo packs a punchy 10-lb frame with full-size suction that effortlessly lifts pet hair and tracked-in grime. Engineered for small-space warriors, this upright shines with Scatter-Free Technology, which uses optimized airflow to prevent debris from scattering across hard floors—a common frustration for quick cleanups. The quick-release wand extends cleaning reach without the clunky setup, making it ideal for dorms, studios, or pet parents who need a nimble machine for daily touch-ups.

In real-world testing, the vacuum tackles low-pile rugs and sealed hardwood with confidence, though it struggles slightly on thick carpets where deeper agitation is needed. Its 10-pound build makes it one of the most maneuverable uprights in its class, especially on stairs or tight corners. The dirt tank is modest, requiring mid-session emptying during whole-room cleans, and the motor, while strong for its size, can’t match the deep-lift power of heavier models. Still, for quick pet messes or scattered kibble, it’s impressively efficient.

Compared to the bulkier Shark NV752 or Dyson Ball Animal 3, this Bissell trades raw power for ultra-portable design and affordability. It’s not built for whole-home deep cleans, but for apartment dwellers, college students, or anyone with a space-conscious lifestyle, it delivers focused performance where it counts. If you prioritize lightweight agility over maximum suction, this model outperforms many in its price range—offering solid value without the heft.

For allergy-prone pet owners, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off is a game-changer, combining HEPA-sealed allergen capture with a detachable canister pod that transforms cleaning flexibility. Its standout feature—true allergen sealing—ensures 99.97% of dust and dander stay trapped inside, not recirculated into the air, making it a top pick for asthmatics or sensitive households. The tangle-free brush roll lives up to its name, slicing through long hair without jams, while the 1L Easy Empty dirt tank minimizes mess during disposal.

During hands-on testing, the lift-off canister proved invaluable for cleaning stairs, car interiors, and under furniture—areas where traditional uprights fall short. The dual-surface performance is solid: strong suction on carpets lifts embedded fur, and scatter-free tech keeps hard floors clean without debris kickback. However, the hose and wand feel slightly flimsy, and the vacuum’s weight distribution becomes awkward when used handheld for extended periods. It also lacks auto-floor sensing, requiring manual adjustments between surfaces.

Against the Shark POWERDETECT AZ4002, it sacrifices smart sensors and self-adjusting power for a simpler, more affordable allergen-focused design. But for homes where air quality and pet hair removal are top priorities, this model delivers where it matters. It doesn’t boast the most suction, but its allergen control and modular cleaning make it a smarter long-term investment than many pricier uprights—especially when you factor in its excellent tool set and ease of use.

The Shark POWERDETECT AZ4002 isn’t just a vacuum—it’s a smart cleaning powerhouse, armed with five Intelli-Sense sensors that redefine what best overall means in pet-friendly homes. Its DuoClean Detect system automatically boosts suction and brushroll speed the moment it senses hidden pet hair or deep-set debris, delivering labor-saving precision no manual model can match. With Edge Detect ramping up power near baseboards and Floor Detect switching seamlessly between hardwood and carpet, it eliminates guesswork and maximizes cleaning efficiency.

In rigorous testing, the POWERDETECT devoured embedded pet hair on medium-pile rugs and left hardwood streak-free, thanks to its dual brushrolls and scatter-free airflow. The powered lift-away pod lets you clean under sofas without losing suction, and the self-cleaning brushroll prevents hair wrap—a common pain point for long-haired pet owners. However, its bulk and weight make it cumbersome on stairs, and the noise level is notably high in turbo mode. The tech-heavy design also means more potential failure points over time.

Positioned against the Dyson Ball Animal 3, it offers smarter automation and broader feature set, though Dyson edges out in build refinement and warranty support. For tech-savvy households with pets, kids, and mixed flooring, the POWERDETECT is unmatched in adaptive performance and deep-cleaning intelligence. It doesn’t just clean—it learns and reacts, making it the most future-ready animal vacuum in this lineup, even if it comes at a premium.

The Bissell PowerClean FurFinder redefines cordless convenience with 200W of targeted suction and FurFinder Headlights that illuminate hidden pet hair like a forensic spotlight. This isn’t just a stick vacuum—it’s a mobile pet hair hunter, designed to track down fur on stairs, furniture, and car seats with surgical precision. The self-standing design allows for mid-clean pauses without leaning or wall support, and the removable battery enables extended runtime by swapping in a spare.

Real-world use confirms its excellent upholstery performance, outpacing competitors on couches and car interiors thanks to its FurFinder Tool, which removes 95% of embedded hair 2x faster than standard tools. In low mode, the 40-minute runtime covers medium-sized homes, but turbo mode drains it in just 13 minutes—limiting deep cleans. While suction is strong for cordless, it falters on thick carpets, and the dust cup is small, demanding frequent emptying. It’s also less stable on hard floors when fully extended.

Next to the Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean, it lacks raw power and whole-machine filtration, but wins in portability and targeted cleaning. For pet owners who need a lightweight, agile tool for spot cleaning, not whole-home marathons, the FurFinder is unmatched. It’s not the most powerful, but its specialized tools and smart lighting make it the most effective cordless pick for fur-focused households—offering targeted precision at a fraction of the weight.

The Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean is engineered for large homes with pets, where endurance, reach, and deep cleaning are non-negotiable. Its self-adjusting cleaner head automatically seals against all floor types, maintaining maximum suction whether gliding over hardwood or deep-cleaning shag rugs. Backed by Radial Root Cyclone technology, it generates 290AW of unrelenting suction that pulls embedded pet hair and fine dust from every surface—without losing power as the bin fills.

In testing, the ball steering proved revolutionary, allowing tight turns around furniture with a flick of the wrist, while the reach-under tool and carbon fiber brush made cleaning under beds and along baseboards effortless. The advanced whole-machine filtration traps 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, making it ideal for allergy sufferers. However, its weight and size make it tiring for upstairs use, and the bin capacity is smaller than rivals like the Shark NV752, requiring more frequent emptying.

When compared to the Shark POWERDETECT, it lacks smart sensors but delivers superior build quality, filtration, and long-term reliability. With an industry-leading 5-year warranty and lifetime support, it’s built to last—making it the top choice for large, multi-pet homes. While pricier, its precision engineering and unmatched maneuverability justify the cost, offering elite performance where durability and deep clean matter most.

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 is the best budget-friendly option that refuses to compromise on core performance. With lift-away functionality, it transforms into a portable canister for stairs, furniture, and under-bed cleaning—offering versatility far beyond its price point. Its 0.9-quart dust cup is one of the largest in its class, reducing emptying frequency, and the HEPA filter with anti-allergen seal traps dust and dander effectively, making it surprisingly capable for allergy sufferers.

In real use, the swivel steering makes it nimble in tight spaces, and the brushroll shutoff allows instant switching from carpet to hard floor—crucial for homes with mixed surfaces. Suction is strong enough for daily pet hair pickup, though it struggles with deeply embedded fur on high-pile rugs. The motor is less powerful than premium models, and the hose has a tendency to kink. Still, for quick cleanups and routine maintenance, it delivers remarkable value.

Stacked against the Bissell CleanView Compact, it offers larger capacity and better filtration, while costing only slightly more. It doesn’t have smart sensors or cordless freedom, but for budget-conscious pet owners who want reliable, no-frills cleaning, it’s a standout. It may not be flashy, but its practical design and solid performance make it the smartest affordable upgrade from basic vacuums—proving you don’t need to break the bank for effective pet hair removal.

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 is built for maximum suction power, leveraging 290AW of cyclonic force and a de-tangling Motorbar that automatically clears wrapped hair—a revelation for long-haired pet owners. Its three suction modes let you fine-tune cleaning: high for deep carpet cleans, medium for low-pile rugs, and eco for hard floors—offering precision control unmatched by single-mode vacuums. The ball steering delivers laser-guided maneuverability, making it effortless to navigate around furniture and tight corners.

Testing confirms its dominance on carpets, where it extracts more embedded fur than any other model here, including the Shark POWERDETECT. The whole-machine filtration captures fine dust and allergens effectively, and the build quality feels premium and durable. However, the dust bin is small, and the lack of a lift-away pod limits above-floor cleaning versatility. It also lacks headlights and smart sensors, relying on raw power over automation.

Compared to the Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean, it sacrifices some tools and reach for a lower price and simpler design. But for pet owners who prioritize suction strength and tangle-free cleaning above all, it’s the most powerful dedicated upright available. It doesn’t do everything, but what it does—deep carpet cleaning and hair removal—it does better than any other in this lineup, making it the go-to for serious pet messes.

When it comes to best for pet hair, the Shark NV752 Rotator TruePet doesn’t just clean—it hunts, thanks to LED headlights that reveal hidden fur and dust in dark corners and under furniture. Its Powered Lift-Away with Rotator tech keeps the brushroll spinning even when detached, allowing continuous deep cleaning on stairs and upholstery. The Perfect Pet Power Brush is a beast on embedded hair, outperforming standard tools on carpets and car seats alike.

In practice, the 0.88-quart dust cup handles large messes with ease, and fingertip floor mode switching makes transitions between surfaces seamless. The swivel steering enhances agility, and the anti-allergen seal with HEPA keeps air clean. However, the motor noise is loud, and the plastic build feels less premium than Dyson. It also lacks smart sensors, relying on manual control instead of automation.

Pitted against the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off, it offers stronger suction and better pet tools, though Bissell wins in allergen sealing. For homes buried in pet hair, the NV752 is the ultimate extraction machine, combining targeted lighting, powered lift-away, and aggressive brushrolls into one ferocious cleaner. It’s not the quietest or smartest, but for raw pet hair removal power, it’s unbeatable at its price.

The Eureka PowerSpeed NEU181A is the best lightweight design in the lineup, tipping the scales at just 10 pounds yet delivering 960-watt motor power that punches above its weight. It’s built for effortless mobility, making it ideal for users who struggle with heavy vacuums—especially on stairs or multi-level homes. The extra-large 2.6-liter dust cup means fewer trips to empty, and the flip-to-empty bin keeps hands clean, a rare feature at this price.

In real-world use, it transitions smoothly between carpet and hard floor, aided by 5-height brushroll adjustments that customize cleaning depth. The onboard pet turbo brush is effective on couches and stairs, though it lacks the intensity of Shark’s Pet Power Brush. Suction is consistent, but not exceptional on high-pile carpets. The plastic housing feels light-duty, and the cord rewind is manual, which feels outdated.

Compared to the Bissell CleanView Compact, it offers larger capacity and more floor settings, while matching its lightweight appeal. It’s not the most advanced, but for users who value easy handling and hassle-free emptying, it’s a top-tier lightweight performer. If you need a simple, agile vacuum for daily pet messes without the bulk, the PowerSpeed delivers practical comfort and solid suction—making it the best choice for effortless cleaning.