The best vacuum cleaners for picking up pet hair

It doesn't always come cheap, but the formula for picking up pet hair is simple: power and performance. That’s what you get with the Dyson Detect Absolute V15, arguably the best cordless stick vacuum available. It will cost you — this is a premium Dyson model, after all — but you'll be amazed with the results. 

It delivers 230 airwatts of suction and 60 minutes battery at full charge. The best feature for collecting cat and dog hair is its Laser Fluffy floor-head — essentially a laser pointer that shows up the hairs and dirt that the human eye doesn’t usually see. That alone makes the Dyson Detect Absolute V15 among the most effective vacuums for a hair-free carpet.

That goes for hard floors, too. It uses Dynamic Load Sensor technology, which automatically recognises the surface and adjusts the suction power accordingly. Also, there's an LCD timer that keeps you up to date with blockages and battery power. It even tells you how much dirt you’ve sucked up so far.

No list of hard-working vacuums is complete without an appearance from Henry — in this case, the Henry Pet. He has all the durability and heavy-duty power of a regular Henry, but with extra added features designed especially of pet owners. 

The floor head is equipped with a special HairoBrush, which is powered by the airflow to get pet hair from carpets with relative ease. No matter how big the room is.

It also has a MicroFresh filter that keeps pet odours locked it. That goes for dust and dirt too. A self-seal tab prevents anything from escaping when you change the bag. That makes this ideal for pet homes with allergies.

It also has the benefit of a much larger capacity that most bagless vacuums. If you’ve got a big home — or a very big pet ­— Henry is the man for the job. 

Miele is to vacuums what Mercedes-Benz is to cars: A well-made German brand known for performance. And if you’re looking to invest in a versatile, powerful, and “stylish” vacuum that's in for the long haul, the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog is a top choice.

If you have big rooms, no problem. The hose has an 11-metre reach, plus a telescopic wand. It’s easy to manoeuvre too, with an ergonomic handle that makes steering the floor-head easier than ever. The handle is fitted with power and +/- buttons for pumping up the suction, while Vortex technology ensures a high-powered, aerodynamic airflow.

The floor-head itself is a turbo brush, which easily picks up pet hair and debris. Perfect for homes with allergies. There’s a mini turbo brush attachment for handheld cleaning, plus crevice and upholstery tools. Tools are stored dust-free within the body of the canister. Also impressive is a sensor-powered self-cleaning filter and one-click easy-empty bin. 

One clean sweep with the Eufy BoostIQ 30C and you’ll be wondering how you ever managed without a robot vacuum. It's at the budget end of the price scale for robot vacuums. But without cheaping out on the actual technology.

It connects with either Alexa or Google Assistant for easy voice control and cleans where and when you want. Just give it the command, or programme the vac via the EufyHome app. It's reasonably quiet, so it won’t interrupt your relaxation time. Because what’s the point of getting a robot vacuum if you can’t relax?

It works on both hardwood floors and carpet and automatically increases suction power where extra oomph is needed, so you always get the best clean. Special tech keeps it within the borders of any pre-mapped area and stops it falling off steps or ledges. And with 100 minutes of battery life, it beats other more expensive robot vacuums.

Vax is a long-time favourite in the high-powered vacuum game, and it’s impressing with premium features and great performance. The Vax ONEPWR Blade 4 Pet is — as the name suggests — specifically made with stubborn pet hair in mind.

It works its animal magic via a motorised pet tool which is designed to agitate and shift seriously stubborn dirt and hair. That makes it especially useful on pet beds, upholstery, and thick carpets. And with two power modes it has plenty of pet-cleaning wallop.

The floor-head switches easily between carpet and hard floors, with antimicrobial protection that keeps bacteria and other nasties from clinging to the bristles. 

Vax boasts that this has a 45-minute battery life, which is average compared to competing vacuums, but it has dual batteries so you can swap them round quickly and easily. The Vax ONEPWR Blade 4 Pet also includes LED headlights, so you won’t miss any dirt or debris while you’re on your cleaning rounds, plus extra tools.

Handheld vacuums don't usually have the power for effective pet hair cleaning, but the Shark HandVac is designed for that exact purpose.

The Pet Eraser comes with three tools – a dust tool, crevice tool, and (of course) a motorised pet tool. This gives the Shark HandVac extra leverage for working embedded pet hairs out of sofas and other upholstery. The crevice tool also helps you collect hair from otherwise tricky-to-reach nooks and crannies.

It’s lightweight, easy to use and, despite its small size, boasts a relatively generous bin capacity. It’s comfortable to hold, too, with simple-to-use controls on the handle.

The downside is its battery life of just 10 minutes, which is below other handhelds. But it's designed for quick and effective action in targeted areas.

What makes the Roidmi R10 cordless vacuum good for pet owners is its row of anti-tangle teeth — small plastic rivets in the brush head that prevent hairs from tangling and clogging the vacuum. That makes it perfect for cleaning up after long-haired cats and dogs. 

While it’s tough on hairs, the Roidmi R10 won’t suck your bank account dry — it’s a very affordable model that performs well beyond its price point.

There’s a magnetic charging station to ensure that it’s always fully charged and ready to go. That compensates for an otherwise average battery life. 

As a lower-priced model, it does lack advanced features. But it does the basics very well. There’s a magnetic brush feature for eliminating dust mites and a multi-stage filtration system. It converts quickly and easily onto a handheld vacuum, which is ideal for reaching overhead and under-the-furniture spots easily.