This powerful machine targets stubborn pet hair directly. If you’ve ever felt like you’re in a constant battle with fur tumbleweeds, you know the struggle. Finding a truly effective upright vacuum for pet hair can feel impossible. But this one? It’s a total game-changer for pet owners like us.
We put it to the test on everything from embedded couch hair to litter track. The results were seriously impressive. No more endless passes over the same spot. It gets down to business fast, saving you so much time and frustration. Let’s dive into why this model stands out from the rest.
Product Comparison Table: 11 Best Upright Vacuum For Pet Hair
| Image | Why We Like This Product | Editor’s Rating | |
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Shark | Upright Vacuum Cleaner | Navigator Lift-Away |…
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9.5 |
Read Review |
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Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe with Large Dust…
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9.4 |
Read Review |
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Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum, Hepa Filter,…
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9.2 |
Read Review |
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Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum with Quick Release…
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9.1 |
Read Review |
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Eureka NEU10AE5 Powerful Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner Carpet and…
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9.0 |
Read Review |
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Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum with Swivel…
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8.8 |
Read Review |
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Bissell 2254 CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum,…
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8.7 |
Read Review |
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Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off with Powerful Suction,…
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8.6 |
Read Review |
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Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away with Self-Cleaning Brushroll, HEPA…
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8.5 |
Read Review |
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Dyson Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum, Corded, 290AW, De-tangling…
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8.3 |
Read Review |
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Eureka Lightweight Powerful Upright Vacuum Cleaner for Carpet and…
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8.2 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 11 Upright Vacuum For Pet Hair
Shark | Upright Vacuum Cleaner | Navigator Lift-Away | Swivel Steering | HEPA Filter | Vacuum for Pet Hair | Crevice Tool & Dusting Brush Included | For Carpets & Hard Floors | White/Silver | NV356E
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E upright vacuum cleaner is designed to handle the real messes of everyday life, especially if you have pets. Its core feature is the Lift-Away functionality. You can detach the pod from the vacuum’s body, which instantly turns it into a portable, powerful canister. This lets you easily carry it up stairs, to clean furniture, or to reach other above-floor areas without lugging the whole machine.
Maneuverability is a key strength of this model.
The swivel steering makes navigating around chair legs, through tight corners, and under furniture surprisingly easy. You don’t have to constantly reposition the whole vacuum for small adjustments. For different floor types, the brushroll shutoff is a simple but important feature.
On carpets, the brushroll spins to deep-clean fibers, but you can shut it off with a pedal for gentle, effective cleaning on hard floors like wood or tile, preventing scattered debris.
For households with pets, this vacuum is a strong contender. It’s built to pick up pet hair from carpets, upholstery, and other surfaces. The included Pet Power Brush works with the vacuum’s suction to pull up hair and embedded dander.
Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue, NV360
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 is an upright vacuum designed for versatility and deep cleaning in your home. It’s built to handle a variety of surfaces and cleaning challenges, from carpets to hard floors and everything in between.
Its core strength is powerful suction. This means it can pull deep dirt from carpets and effectively clean bare floors without scattering debris. A key feature is the Lift-Away functionality.
The main pod detaches from the vacuum’s body, allowing you to carry a lightweight, powerful unit for cleaning stairs, upholstery, or under low furniture. You’re not limited to just floor cleaning.
For air quality, this model includes Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology combined with a HEPA filter. This system is designed to trap dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the dust cup, preventing them from escaping back into the air you breath.
It’s a considerate feature for households with allergy concerns or pets.
Speaking of pets, this vacuum is well-suited for pet hair cleanup. The included upholstery tool, along with the strong suction, helps remove hair from sofas, car seats, and other fabrics. Maneuverability is enhanced by swivel steering, letting you navigate around chair legs, through cluttered rooms, and into corners with minimal effort.
Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum, Hepa Filter, Anti-Allergen Technology, Swivel Steering, Ideal for Carpet, Stairs, & Bare Floors, with Wide Upholstery & Crevice Tools, Lavender
The Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum is designed to handle the diverse cleaning challenges in a modern home. Its core innovation is the Lift-Away functionality. With a simple release, you can detach the pod from the upright base, converting it into a portable, canister-style vacuum.
This makes cleaning stairs, upholstery, and under furniture significantly easier, as you’re not lugging the whole unit around.
For households concerned with air quality, this model incorporates Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology paired with a HEPA filter. This system is engineered to trap 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum, preventing them from escaping back into the air you breath.
It’s a thoughtful feature for anyone with allergies or pets.
Maneuverability is a key strength. The Swivel Steering allows the vacuum to pivot smoothly around chair legs, through crowded rooms, and into tight corners with minimal effort. Combined with a lightweight build, it reduces the physical strain of vacuuming.
Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum with Quick Release Wand, Full Size Power, Compact Size for Apartments & Dorms, 3437F
The Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum with Quick Release Wand, 3437F, is designed for smaller living spaces that still demand a serious clean. If you’re in an apartment, dorm, or just have limited storage, this model aims to give you the power of a full-size vacuum without the bulk. It’s a straightforward solution for keeping your floors tidy without a complicated machine taking up precious closet space. Weighing just 10 pounds, this vacuum is notably lightweight.
That makes it easy to carry from room to room or up a flight of stairs. The lighter frame doesn’t mean weak suction, though. Bissell built this with what they call full size power in a compact design. You get strong pickup for carpets and rugs, tackling everyday dirt and pet hair without needing a heavier, more cumbersome model. The maneuverability is a key benefit here, allowing you to slide it under furniture and around tight corners with much less effort.
Cleaning hard floors can sometimes be frustrating, as the airflow from a vacuum can blow debris like crumbs or dust around instead of sucking them up. The CleanView Compact adresses this with Scatter-Free Technology. It’s engineered to capture those hard floor messes more directly, so you spend less time chasing after scattered particles and more time actually cleaning. This feature is particularly handy in kitchens or entryways where debris is common.
Eureka NEU10AE5 Powerful Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner Carpet and Floor, AirSpeed Ultra-Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner, w/ Replacement Filter, Blue
The Eureka NEU10AE5 Powerful Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner is designed to be a straightforward, effective solution for your everyday cleaning. It focuses on core functionality, making it a practical choice for a variety of home surfaces. This model combines strong suction with a notably lightweight frame, aiming to reduce the physical effort typically associated with vacuuming. A central feature of this vacuum is its POWERFUL ALL FLOOR SUCTION.
It’s built to transition smoothly from hard floors to carpets, pulling up dirt and embedded hair with its 10.5-inch wide cleaning path. This width helps you cover more area in fewer passes, which can significantly speed up cleaning larger rooms or open spaces. It’s a simple approach to getting the job done efficiently. Weighing just 7.7 pounds, the LIGHTWEIGHT & EASY STORAGE design is a major point. You can carry it up and down stairs or move it around furniture without much strain.
When you’re finished, its compact shape allows it to tuck away neatly in a closet or corner, which is great for homes with limited storage space. It’s a full-size vacuum that doesn’t feel like one. For cleaning beyond the floor, the QUICK RELEASE HANDLE FOR ABOVE FLOOR CLEANING is very handy. The handle detaches, and you can attach either the included crevice tool or dusting brush directly to it.
Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum with Swivel Steering, Powerful Pet Hair Pick Up, Specialized Pet Tools, Large Capacity Dirt Tank, Easy Empty
The Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum is designed for homes with pets, focusing on maneuverability and specialized hair pickup. Its a machine built to handle the constant challenge of pet messes, from shedding to tracked-in dirt, without the hassle of bags. A key feature is the swivel steering. This allows the vacuum to pivot smoothly around chair legs, under tables, and through tight spaces with minimal effort.
You don’t have to constantly lift and reposition the whole machine; it glides where you need it to go. The carry handle also makes it simpler to take up and down stairs. For the actual cleaning power, it relies on a Triple Action Brush Roll. This system is meant to agitate carpet fibers to loosen deeply embedded pet hair and ground-in dirt before sucking it away. It works in tandem with the Scatter-Free Technology.
This is particularly useful on hard floors like tile or wood, where a standard vacuum can just blow debris around. It helps contain the mess so you can actually pick it up in one pass. Getting into corners and along baseboards is often a weak spot for vacuums. The 2252 adresses this with Edge-to-Edge Cleaning. The design of the nozzle lets you get closer to walls to pull out the dust and hair that accumulates there. When you’re done, you’ll appreciate the large capacity dirt tank.
Bissell 2254 CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum, Automatic Cord Rewind, Swivel Steering, Powerful Pet Hair Pickup, Specialized Pet Tools, Large Capacity Dirt Tank, Teal
The Bissell 2254 CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Vacuum is designed for homes with furry friends. It tackles the specific challanges of pet hair, from surface litter to the stuff thats ground into your carpets. Its more than just a tool; its part of a mission, as every purchase helps support the BISSELL Pet Foundation in there work to save homeless pets.
Pet hair can be stubborn. This vacuum adresses that with its Triple Action Brush Roll and Scatter Free Technology.
The system works to dig out embedded hair and debris from your carpet fibers, pulling it up and sucking it away without kicking it back out into the air or scattering it across the floor. You get a thorough clean in fewer passes, which is a real time saver.
Maneuverability is key in a busy home. The Swivel Steering on this model makes a significant difference.
It allows the vacuum to pivot smoothly around chair legs, under tables, and past other obstacles without you having to constantly lift and reposition the whole machine. This, combined with the Edge to Edge Cleaning feature, means you can get right up against baseboards and into corners. The cleaning path is a wide 13.5 inches, so you cover more area quickly while still getting a detailed clean along the edges.
When your done, cleanup and storage are straightforward.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off with Powerful Suction, HEPA, Tangle-Free Brush Roll, 39883
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off, model 39883, is designed for homes with pets, focusing on removing hair and allergens without the typical frustrations. Its core feature is powerful suction, which ensures dirt, fur, and dust are effectively pulled from both carpets and hard floors. This isn’t just about surface cleaning; it’s about getting a deep clean that you can actually see in the dirt tank. A major highlight is the HEPA sealed allergen system.
This is crucial for pet owners or anyone with sensitivities. It traps dust and allergens inside the vacuum, sealing them in so they don’t escape back into your home’s air. You can clean with confidence, knowing your not just moving dust around but actually capturing it for good. The 1L XL dirt tank makes disposal simple, with an easy-empty design that lets you release debris with one touch and minimal mess.
Dealing with pet hair often means dealing with tangles, but the tangle-free brush roll is built to handle it. It’s engineered to resist hair wrap, cutting down on the maintenance you have to perform between rooms. For hard floors, the scatter-free technology is a game-changer. It combines that strong suction with a design that prevents debris from blowing around, so you get it in one pass instead of chasing it across the room. The lift-off detachable pod adds incredible versatility.
Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away with Self-Cleaning Brushroll, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Pet Crevice Tool, Perfect for Pets & Multi-Surface, Teal, ZU503AMZ
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away ZU503AMZ in Teal is an upright vacuum designed to tackle the common challenges of a busy, pet-friendly home. Its core strength lies in a combination of smart engineering and practical flexibility, aiming to make cleaning more thorough and a bit less of a chore. A key feature is the self-cleaning brushroll. It’s specifically engineered to pick up more pet hair while actively reducing hair wrap, a common frustration for pet owners.
This means you spend less time cutting hair off the roller and more time actually cleaning. The brushroll works across multiple surfaces, making it a versatile choice for homes with a mix of carpets, rugs, and hard floors. It operates at 1200 watts, providing strong suction for a deep clean. The Lift-Away functionality is where this vacuum truly adapts to your needs. With a simple release, the pod detaches from the upright frame. This lets you easily clean under low furniture like beds or sofas.
You can also detach just the nozzle to carry the lightweight pod upstairs or to clean above-floor areas like furniture, curtains, or shelves. This versatility means one machine handles jobs that might normally require two. For air quality, the vacuum utilizes Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology combined with a HEPA filter. This system is designed to trap dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner, preventing them from escaping back into the air you breathe.
Dyson Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum, Corded, 290AW, De-tangling Motorbar Cleaner Head for All Floors, 3 Suction Modes
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum is designed for a specific kind of home: one with pets, plenty of floor space, and the need for a powerful, no-fuss clean. It’s core promise is strong, consistent suction and a major reduction in the maintenance that often slows down your cleaning routine.
At the heart of this machine is Dyson’s Radial Root Cyclone technology.
This system is engineered to create powerful centrifugal forces, which increases suction and helps ensure dirt and fine dust are pulled from your floors and trapped inside the bin, rather than settling back down. This is supported by advanced whole-machine filtration.
The entire system is sealed to trap 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, which means the air expelled back into your room is cleaner, a key consideration for households with allergies.
The standout feature for many will be the self-de-tangling Motorbar cleaner head. It’s built to automatically remove hair that wraps around the brush bar as you vacuum.
Eureka Lightweight Powerful Upright Vacuum Cleaner for Carpet and Hard Floor, PowerSpeed, New Model,Blue,black/New Model
The Eureka PowerSpeed Lightweight Upright Vacuum Cleaner is designed to be a straightforward, effective solution for keeping your carpets and hard floors clean. This new model builds on a trusted name with specific upgrades aimed at making your cleaning routine simpler and more thorough.
At its core is an Upgraded Cyclone System. This new technology is key for capturing everything from larger debris you can see to the microscopic dust and allergens you can’t.
It’s engineered to trap 99.9% of dust, dander, and allergens as you clean, which is a significant benefit for households with pets or allergy concerns. The vacuum doesn’t just skim the surface; its powerful suction is made to penetrate deep into carpet fibers to pull out embedded dirt that other vacuums might leave behind.
Despite this power, the PowerSpeed remains notably lightweight.
It’s easy to push and maneuver around furniture, and easy to carry up and down stairs without it feeling like a chore. You get the cleaning performance without the heavy lifting. To adapt to different surfaces, it features 5 Height Settings. You can quickly adjust it for plush carpets, shag rugs, or bare hard floors.
Upright Vacuum For Pet Hair Buying Guide
The best upright for pet hair combines strong suction with specialized tools. But with so many models, how do you choose teh right one? This guide will help you focus on the key features that make a real difference in a home with furry friends.
Suction Power & Filtration
Pet hair, especially from shedders, needs serious suction to be pulled from carpets. Look for a high-wattage or amp motor. Just as crucial is the filtration. A sealed HEPA system traps dander and allergens inside the vacuum, preventing them from blowing back into your room. This is vital for keeping the air clean, especially if anyone has allergies.
Brush Roll Design
The brush roll is your frontline weapon. A model with a specialized pet hair brush often has stiffer bristles or a unique design to pull hair from fibers without tangling. Even better is a brush roll you can easily turn off. This lets you switch to hard floors without scattering debris, and it protects delicate area rugs from getting frayed.
Attachments & Maneuverability
Your upright shouldn’t be limited to floors. Check what tools come with it. A motorized pet upholstery tool is a game-changer for sofas and stairs, actively pulling hair from fabric. A crevice tool and a dusting brush are also essential. Also, consider the vacuum’s weight and swivel steering. Can you easily navigate around furniture legs and under tables? If it’s too heavy or clunky, you’ll dread using it.
Corded vs. Cordless & Bin Capacity
Corded vacuums offer unlimited runtime, which is great for large homes. Cordless models provide ultimate convenience for quick clean-ups. If you choose cordless, check the battery life—aim for at least 30 minutes. Finally, think about capacity. With pets, you’ll fill the bin fast. A larger dust cup or bag means less frequent emptying, which is a nice time-saver during your weekly clean.
Frequently Asked Questions About Upright Vacuum For Pet Hair
What makes an upright vacuum good for pet hair?
A good model has strong suction and a brush roll that doesn’t tangle. Look for a specialized pet hair attachment too, like a motorized brush. These features help pull hair from carpets and upholstery much easier.
Are bagged or bagless models better for pets?
This is mostly personal preference. Bagless vacuums let you see when to empty them, but you have to handle teh dust and hair directly. Bagged types seal in allergens better, which is great if you have allergies. You just need to remember to buy replacement bags.
How important is a HEPA filter?
Very important, especially for pet owners. Pets shed dander along with hair. A true HEPA filter traps those tiny particles inside the vacuum so thay aren’t blown back into your homes air. It makes a big difference for air quality.
Can I use it on hard floors as well as carpet?
Many uprights can, but check the settings. You need a switch to turn off the rotating brush roll for hard floors. Otherwise, it can scatter debris. Some come with a special hard floor setting or attachment that works really good.
How often should I clean or maintain the vacuum?
For peak performance, check the brush roll for wrapped hair every few uses. Empty the dust cup or change the bag before it gets completely full. You should also wash or replace filters according to the manual, usually every 3 to 6 months.
Is an upright vacuum too heavy for stairs?
Uprights can be awkward on stairs. They are designed for large floor areas. For stairs, you’ll likely want to use the hose and a handheld attachment. Most pet models include a hose and tools for this exact reason.
What’s a common mistake people make?
Forgetting to check for blockages. A clogs in the hose or brush roll chamber can make suction seem weak. If your vacuum isn’t picking up like it used too, checking for a blockage is the first thing to try before anything else.
Our Final Words
Your ideal pet hair upright must deliver on these key points. It needs strong suction to pull hair from deep in your carpet. A reliable brush roll that doesn’t tangle easily is a must. Good filtration keeps teh air in your home clean. And don’t forget easy-to-empty bins and simple maneuevers around furniture. When these features come together, daily cleanup becomes a quick task instead of a chore.
Finding the right tool makes all the difference. The best upright vacuum for pet hair tackles the mess without adding stress to your routine. It helps you maintain a fresh, clean home where you and your pets can relax. Consider your specific floors and needs, and you’ll find a great partner for your household.