The Best Handheld Vacuums for Pet Hair in 2024

We love our pets, but we don’t love trying to pick up their hair around the house. Luckily, there is a line of powerful and compact handheld vacuums available that excel at getting deep into your carpet and removing embedded pet hair and dander. However, it can be challenging to pick out the best fit for your home.

This is why we put together a short buyer’s guide that will outline what you want to look for when you shop for your new vacuum. We also have seven high-quality handheld vacuums that you can compare and read our reviews. Our goal is to help you decide on the best product with as minimal fuss as possible.

Our Top 7 List

#	Preview	Product	Our Rating	Link	Price / Value
1		Shark Rocket HV292	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
2		Bissell Pet Hair Eraser	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
3		Shark Pet-Perfect II	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
4		Holife Handheld Vacuum	4/5	Check Today's Price	9/10
5		Black+Decker Max Lithium Flex	4/5	Check Today's Price	9/10
6		Shark Wandvac Handheld Vacuum	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	8/10
7		Bissell Cleanview Deluxe 47R51	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	8/10

This corded handheld vacuum by Shark comes with the brand’s legendary reputation and a decent price point. It has a True Pet Motorized Brush that allows you to deep clean your upholstery, furniture, or stairs each time you use it to get out stubborn pet hair. You also get an easy to empty dust cup, and it’ll empty with the touch of a button.

The 15- cord gives you more than enough length to vacuum your entire room. Finally, it stores in a very compact form, and this is excellent for people who have limited space.

Takeaways

Bissell donates five dollars for each Pet Hair Eraser you buy, and it comes backed by a high-quality company. The motorized brush tool lets you pick up embedded pet hair and dirt for maximum cleanliness, and the dirt cup holds 0.7 liters. This is large enough to vacuum your home a few times without worrying about having to stop and empty it.

You’ll get a set of specialized tools to help you clean that includes an upholstery tool, motorized brush, and crevice tool. There is a triple-level filtration system attached to this vacuum, and this helps trap and lock dirt, dust, pet hard, dander, and allergens.

Takeaways

This vacuum comes with an extra-large detachable motorized brush that can tackle both ground-in dirt and embedded pet hair. The filter detaches for easy cleaning, and you can allow it to air dry between uses. This helps ensure your filter traps the most pet hair and dirt, and it keeps your vacuum’s suction strong.

The dust cup can hold up to 0.56 quarts, and this means you can vacuum for extended sessions between dumping it. You get three tools plus the direct suction option to add to the versatility of this vacuum.

Takeaways

You can use this vacuum in wet and dry environments, and it comes with three attachments that allow you to reach into various areas of your home. The powerful suction, combined with the multi-layer filter, gives you cyclonic suction that works well for daily pickups or in-depth cleaning.

The cordless and lightweight design ensures it’s easy to carry this vacuum up and down stairs when you use it, and it gives it greater flexibility to clean different environments. The battery holds a charge for three to four hours, and there is a rapid charging feature as well.

Takeaways

This cordless, ultra-compact, and portable vacuum from Black+Decker comes with a four flexible hose that allows you to easily reach high shelves, drapery, and tight spaces. There is a three-stage filtration system that traps and locks dust, pet dander, and debris each time you vacuum. You can also convert your vacuum with a stick vac floor head converter to cover wider spaces.

The filter and dust bowl are washable for easy cleanup, and the dust bowl can hold 18.9 ounces of dust and debris. You get several components included that make cleaning easier, and it has a powerful Lithium-Ion battery to power it.

Takeaways

This sleek vacuum comes with a high-speed, brush-less motor that is powerful enough to get ground-in dirt and pet hair out of your carpeting. It features a very lightweight and flexible design that makes it easy to maneuver around furniture or in tight areas. The tapered nozzle makes it quick and easy to pick up larger debris and fine dust.

The dust cup holds up to 0.08 quarts, and this means you don’t have to stop and empty it multiple times during a vacuuming session. You get several tools to help you clean more effectively, and Ion charging dock gives you quick access to your battery.

Additional reading: Here is our top list on Shark vacuums.

Takeaways

This vacuum has an 18- power cord that allows you to reach every area of your room without having to unplug and plug it into a dozen different outlets. This is a bagless vacuum cleaner that is very easy to empty between uses, and it empties at the touch of a button. It can hold 0.78-liters of dust and debris, and you can see when it’s time to empty it.

The flexible rubber nozzle is excellent for removing dirt and hair in your stairs, and there are several cleaning attachments, including a crevice tool and a wide mouth tool. The power button is easy to maneuver, and it has a compact design that is easy to store.

Takeaways

Buying Guide

Because it can be confusing to pick out a new vacuum, we want to outline a few specific things you want to keep in mind when you shop. This way, you’ll be able to confidently compare products to find the best one.

Why Should You Buy a Pet-Specific Handheld Vacuum?

Pets shed throughout the year, and some shed all year round. This can build up on your furniture and in your carpet, and it sticks to your clothing when you touch it. A pet-specific vacuum can successfully remove it.

Additionally, many pet-specific vacuums have multi-stage filtration systems, and these systems help to gather up and trap pet dander. Pet dander is what causes allergens, and these vacuums remove them from your home. In turn, you’ll get a healthier environment for your entire family.

Important Components to Consider

Since handheld vacuums differ between manufacturers, there are several specific components you want to keep in mind. They include but are not limited to:

Attachments

One of the most critical features with your handheld vacuum is the attachments that come with it, and a brush roll is one of the most important ones. A brush roll is one of the most effective tools for picking up pet hair on every surface. It cleans upholstery, carpets, and drapery without missing any.

Another necessary attachment is the crevice tool, and this tool helps you get into tighter corners and areas around your home, like between your furniture. A hose is another excellent attachment to keep an eye out for because it helps you reach higher areas in your room like corners, shelving, and fans.

Bagged or Bagless

Bagless vacuums are more popular than the traditional bagged versions because they need no replacements, and they’re very easy to empty. They usually have transparent canisters that show you when it’s time to empty them, but you do let dust float around when you empty them.

Cord or Cordless

You can get corded or cordless vacuums, and the type you pick depends entirely on your preferences. If you have a power outlet or two in every room and you don’t have a problem switching outlets, a corded vacuum will give you a constant stream of power while removing the fear that the battery will run out. You can find coded vacuums in varying lengths.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have cordless pet hair vacuums that run on batteries. You’ll get an additional layer of freedom that allows you to move freely around your home while you vacuum. However, the run-time varies depending on the battery life, and some will only run 30 to 45 minutes on a single charge.

Filter System

Ideally, your vacuum will come with a filter that you can quickly wash out between uses and leave to air dry. This can cut down on the future costs of operating this vacuum, especially if you wash it over and over again. Most of the vacuums we reviewed don’t have a HEPA filtration system, but they have tight seals at cleaning out the pet dander.

If allergies are a problem for someone in your home, look for a HEPA filtration system or a triple-layer filtration system. These systems are more effective at trapping pet dander, and this is what triggers allergies. HEPA filtration systems are also more expensive, but it can be worth looking into if you have severe allergies.

Price

We chose handheld vacuums in a variety of price points, and this ensures that everyone can comfortably afford one without breaking their budgets. Functional attachments and powerful motors can drive the prices of these vacuums up, but it is a good investment for the cleaning power they pack in. Of course, the cheapest option is to use a broom for cat and dog hair. And you should always groom your cat with pet hair gloves to remove loose hair from the source before it gets on the floor in the first place.

You want to consider your cleaning needs and figure out which vacuum matches those needs the best. You don’t want to buy a less expensive vacuum that can’t perform like you need it to because this is a wasted investment — instead, balance price with functionality.

If you want to go for an automatic robot vacuum, you’re living with convenience but the price tag is on the higher end if you want something decent.

Suction Power

The suction power of a canister vacuum dictates how well it picks up your pet hair and other debris, and the same is true for handheld devices. Usually, corded versions have larger motors, and this makes them more powerful than their battery-powered components. However, battery-powered vacuums have come a long way, and you can get powerful models here as well.

Take a look at each vacuum’s suction power, the motor size, and how it gets rid of dust. For example, cyclonic suction power sweeps the dirt and dust through the filter into a containment system while maintaining a strong suction. The amount of hair you expect to handle with your vacuum will also impact your suction power.