2021’s Best Canister Vacuums for Pet Hair (According To Our Pets!)

My thoughts on the Dyson Animal 2 Vacuum:

As the name suggests, this vacuum made by Dyson is made – or rather, engineered – for homes with pets. It’s built to collect and suck out all sorts of dirt and allergens in your home.

So, if your current vacuum still leaves a lot of pet hair and dander floating around, or hiding in hard-to-reach areas, then you should definitely consider getting this vacuum.

Its HEPA filtration is top notch. Unlike other cheaper vacuums, you’re not going to find yourself sneezing while cleaning!

Imagine how exciting it is to be able to finally clean in peace and not worry about spreading more germs into the air!

Now, one thing I really like about this vacuum is the fact that it truly has one of strongest suctions out there.

Because of this, you and everyone in your family should stay away from testing the suction strength with your bare hands (you’ve probably tried this with lesser vacuums).

You don’t want to end up regretting your decision. But if you want to try out your luck, then consider yourself warned. 🙂

Because of its superb suction strength, this particular model may not work for all carpets (shag and plush carpets come to mind).

But overall, this Dyson works great for regular carpets, wooden floors, tile floors, and other types of hard floors.

Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Shark Rotator TruePet NV752 Vacuum:

This particular Shark vacuum provides good value for money over the Dyson Animal 2 vacuum. 

The suction strength is A+ but it’s not as strong as the aforementioned Dyson. Still, you’re not going to regret running it over your carpet. 

Most users love the fact that the suction strength is just right which makes it a good option for cleaning shaggy carpets. (Just be careful when vacuuming the rugged ends though).

Just like the name suggests, this vacuum converts from upright mode to powered lift-away mode. How? By simply removing the dust canister! 

As you can imagine, cleaning under couches and furniture would be next to impossible using an upright vacuum. 

But, by simply removing the canister, you can now clean under your bed, couches, and other tight spaces!

And you know how dark those areas underneath the furniture can get, right? 

Thankfully, this Shark Rotator vacuum includes a few LED lights on the motorized nuzzle so you can clearly see if you’ve missed any dirty spots on the floor.

Likewise, you can easily clean the stairs all the way to your ceiling (if it’s low enough or you’re tall enough). 

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Additionally, I like the fact that Shark has included a mini motorized brush in the package. This makes it very easy to extract pet dander, dust and dirt from your pillows, upholstery, and more.  

Lastly, no other vacuum on this list offers the same 7-year warranty as Shark (Dyson is close at 5 years). It’s pretty obvious to me that Shark stands behind their products. 

Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 1650A Vacuum:

If you’re looking for a vacuum that’s specifically made for cleaning pet hair, but isn’t going to cost an arm and leg, then you may want to take a look at this particular Bissell model.

The Bissell 1650A vacuum is even more affordable than the Dyson Animal 2 and the Shark Rotator NV752. 

It’s perfect for homes where majority of the residents are of the animal kind. So, if you fit the bill, and you want the perfect vacuum for pet owners, then this may be exactly what you’re looking for.

So, what makes this vacuum so special?

Well, I think most of its features are on par with the more expensive vacuums on this list. However, this vacuum really shines in one particular department. And that is Bissell’s patented Cyclonic Pet Hair Spooling System.

What this spooling system does is it traps and separates the hair from all the other debris the vacuum picks up. It spools the hair together, so it’s easier to dispose of when you empty the dust bin!

Additionally, the tangle-free brush roll works exactly as advertised. In other vacuums, you’d need to literally cut the hair loose from the brush. 

But with this vacuum, you’re not going to have this problem. So, that’s an awesome bonus for those who vacuum tons of pet hair on a daily basis! And this is mainly why it's my choice as the best bagless canister vacuum for pet hair.

Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Hoover UH70400 Upright Vacuum:

Hoover is one of the most trusted names when it comes to vacuums. Sure, there are better pet vacuums out there that’s been manufactured in more recent years. But those come at a nice price tag too.

Now, in case you didn’t know, this Hoover UH70400 has been around for several years. But I still decided to add this vacuum to the list of the best canister vacuums for pet hair. Why? 

Well, it still does what it’s supposed to do – and very well at that, I might add. 

For instance, the WindTunnel Technology may be older tech compared to more recent Dysons and Sharks. However, it’s still great at removing both loose and embedded dirt on most surfaces.

It’s also one of the most affordable upright pet vacuums you can buy right now. For the price and its performance, there’s no question in my mind that this vacuum deserves to be on this list.

One of my favorite features is its weight. At only 12 lbs, this vacuum isn’t going to leave you sore after a few minutes of dragging it around. It may not have swivel steering, but at this weight, moving this vacuum around isn’t a problem.

Another favorite feature is the free 3-in-1 combination tool – it’s a (1) crevice tool, (2) upholstery tool, and (3) dusting brush. These accessories extend your Hoover’s reach since it lets you clean all sorts of surfaces, whether it be high or low on the ground.

With the extension hose and wand, you can extend your vacuum’s reach by up to 14 feet! This means you can easily clean those hard to reach areas without needing to rearrange your furniture.

Lastly, the no-scuff bumper is a bit of a bonus for Hoover fans. Some vacuums can easily scratch or scuff furniture or baseboards, but not this Hoover. The bumper will protect those edges for you. 

Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Kenmore 600 Series Bagged Canister Vacuum with Pet PowerMate vacuum:

I think this Kenmore 81614 Pop-N-Go Bagged Canister Vacuum is comparable to the Shark TruePet NV752 in terms of both price and features. 

I love the purple color of this vacuum. This may or may not matter to you, but for those who care about looks, this little canister vacuum is very pleasing to the eye. 

If you have guests over and you need to do some last-minute cleaning, you won’t feel apprehensive about bringing this baby out in front of everybody!

Now, on to the serious stuff. One of the main selling points on this vacuum is the Pet PowerMate. It’s a motorized attachment which is perfect for removing loose pet hair and embedded dirt on various surfaces.

This vacuum’s suction is on par with most of the vacuums here on this list, bar the Dyson Animal 2. It does a good job of cleaning both hard floors and carpets. 

I love how Kenmore paid attention to the small details. I mean, storing the vacuum shouldn’t be a hassle, right? 

But you and I both know just how annoying it is to store regular vacuums when you don’t have a lot of storage space. 

Fortunately, for this Kenmore, the canister has free space where you can store all the accessories that came with your vacuum.

I also love how the variable suction controls are on the handle itself. This means you can quickly adjust the suction strength without needing to bend over. 

For carpet cleaning, there’s a height adjust pedal on the PowerMate nozzle. You can adjust the settings to:

• HI (for shag and ultra-plush carpets), 
• MED (for medium to deep pile carpets), 
• LO (for low to medium pile), and 
• XLO (for low pile carpets and bare floors).

Also, this is the first vacuum on the list which uses a bag to collect dirt. Now, you may or may not be a fan of the old-fashioned bag dust collector. 

The good thing is the bags are made with HEPA material. And if you need to replace the bags, you can purchase them at a very affordable price. 

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Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Eureka PowerSpeed Turbo Spotlight NEU202 Upright Vacuum:

At a little over a hundred bucks, this is one of the cheapest vacuums on this list of ‘best canister vacuums for pet hair.’ 

But don’t let the low price fool you. Trust me, you’re going to be in for a surprise if you buy this vacuum!

First off, the powerful suction on this thing is on par with more expensive models. When choosing vacuums, this is always the first thing you need to look at. 

Sure, it may not be as strong as the Dyson Animal 2 which claims to have the strongest suction on a pet vacuum. But for the price, the suction power is a nice surprise.

Also, I love how the dust bin on this thing is of the XL kind! I mean, at 3.8 liters I can literally vacuum my entire house and not fill up the entire bin. This means I can do more vacuuming and less dust-bin-emptying which is great for cleaning productivity.

However, the downside to this vacuum is, of course, the lack of a HEPA filtration system. 

If you’ve got people in your home who are sensitive to pet dander and various allergens circulating in the air, then you may wish to look at other vacuums on the list. 

Otherwise, if you’re healthy as an ox, then the lack of HEPA filter shouldn’t be a problem.

I also like the fact that at this price point, Eureka’s added the height adjustment feature. This means you can adjust the height depending on the type of surface you’re cleaning at the moment – you can do hard floors, carpets, rugs, etc. 

The downside is that you need to be careful when cleaning hard floors because you can’t switch off the brush roll. So, if you’re trying to clean your hard floors, the brush can potentially send dirt flying in all directions!

Lastly, when it comes to removing pet hair, the Pet Turbo Brush is your best accessory. You can use it to clean your pet’s bed, the couch, the stairs, and other upholstery in your home. 

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Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Ovente ST2620 Cyclonic Bagless Vacuum:

If you’re on a tight budget but you really need to get a vacuum with HEPA filtration, then this is the best vacuum you can buy right now. 

At less than $100, I was surprised to find out this Ovente came with HEPA filtration. 

Most of its competitors in the same price range don’t bother with HEPA filters; most of them just use the regular, non-HEPA type.

This is especially great if you have pets who shed. I mean, even animals with hypoallergenic hair and fur still have dander. 

So, if you’re allergic to that, then you absolute need to get a vacuum that has a built-in HEPA filter (like this Ovente).

I also like the fact that the manufacturer includes a lot of premium accessories for free. At the price, this is unbeatable value. Check out these freebies:  

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This vacuum is great at doing what it’s supposed to do. It provides powerful, non-stop suction for cleaning different surfaces. 

When using the standard floor brush, there are two settings you should be aware of (there’s a pedal on the nozzle):

Note the brush isn’t motorized, but still, I think it does a pretty good job of removing pet hair and other kinds of dirt. 

This vacuum is great for the price point. However, you do need to be aware of a few caveats:

The power cord is shorter than the other vacuums on this list (the average is around 30 feet). It’s only 5 meters or 16.5 feet. 

Additionally, the hose is also a bit short at 5 feet. The telescopic stainless steel wand is extendable, but it’s only good for up to a meter (about 3 feet). 

So, keep this in mind if you’re planning on cleaning some hard-to-reach areas. 

Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Severin BC7058 Vacuum Cleaner:

I’ve always had a fondness for German and Japanese brands. More often than not, products from either country are at the very top of their class. A little pricey, yes, but you do get something that’s worth every red cent you spend. 

Why did I mention this?

Well, Severin is a premium German brand. They may not be a household name yet like Hoover and Dyson, but if they keep up their production of high-quality vacuums, well, they may soon be. 

Here’s a few reasons why I love this vacuum:

(1) Soft sound design

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There’s not a lot of quiet canister vacuums on this list. Most of them are downright noisy especially if you live in an apartment. You probably get the neighbors complaining every time you turn on your old vacuum. 

Well, if you’re tired of having your ear drums abused every time you clean your home, then perhaps you should replace your old vacuum with the Severin BC7058! Your pets are going to thank you as well.

(2) Powerful accessories included

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There’s a ton of ultra-useful accessories included when you buy this vacuum. Here, check them out:

• Switchable floor nozzle – use this for optimum dust absorption on your floors
• XL hard floor nozzle – gently cleans parquet and wooden floors without causing any damage
• XXL upholstery nozzle with claw collect system – great for removing pet hair in upholstery
• Jet-Drive turbo brush -  deep cleans rugs, carpets and mattresses
• Furniture brush – perfect for cleaning furniture in your home
• Crevice nozzle – clean those hard-to-reach areas in sofas and other tight spaces

(3) HEPA 14 active carbon filter

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I’m a big fan of vacuums which use HEPA filters. However, I have to say I was totally blown away by this Severin’s HEPA filtration. It’s not just any HEPA filter, too. 

They use active carbon in the filter, so in addition to trapping the tiniest dust particles and allergens, it also traps all the bad smells and odors!

So, yeah, if you’ve got anyone in your household with allergies, I highly recommend this vacuum.

Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Bissell Zing Canister 2156A Bagless Vacuum  :

This is a pretty good canister vacuum when you consider how much this thing costs. 

Now, there are some serious shortcomings that you’d expect at this price. But if you’re on a really tight budget and this is the best you can do, then I think you’re still getting a pretty sweet deal. 

For one thing, it does what it’s supposed to do: remove the dirt and clean your home. 

It won’t be as powerful as other, more expensive vacuums on this list. But it will get the job done, albeit a little bit longer as you may need to a do a few extra passes to fully remove embedded dirt from your carpets and floors.

I also like how Bissell managed to add the variable control setting for this vacuum. I know this feature is available on their more expensive offerings, like the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 1650 vacuum. But it’s a nice surprise to see the variable control dial on this budget canister vacuum.

Additionally, it helps that you can quickly switch between hard floors and carpets by flipping a switch on the nozzle. 

While the power cord is a bit short at only 15 feet, it helps that the hose is at least 6 feet, which means the cleaning radius is a respectable 21 feet. 

Fortunately, dragging the vacuum around the room isn’t a problem as it’s extremely lightweight at only 7.5 pounds. 

The auto power cord rewind is a nice feature at this price point, too. It’s just a tiny detail, but some of the more expensive vacuums don’t even have this (*cough* Dyson Animal 2 *cough*).

Lastly, the non-HEPA filter is to be expected at this price. It’s just disappointing that Bissell didn’t include one because the nearest competitor at this price point (the Ovente ST2620 Bagless Canister Cyclonic Vacuum) has a HEPA filter. 

So, I guess, if you’re sensitive to dust or allergic to pet dander, then this Bissell may not be for you. 

Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Prolux Tritan Bagged Canister Vacuum:

We’re now on our 10th vacuum on this list. The Prolux brand may not be as well-known as some of the other brands on this article, but don’t let that deter you. This vacuum has hundreds of positive reviews online, and there’s a good reason for that.

But first, let’s talk about the price, shall we? 

All things being equal, I don’t think this vacuum is priced very competitively. It’s more expensive than the Hoover WindTunnel UH70400, Eureka NEU202, and Ovente ST2620. However, specs-wise and features-wise, I don’t think this vacuum stands out from those cheaper models. 

Regarding the weight, depending on whether you like feather-light vacuums or those with a bit of heftiness in them, you may find that 19.9 pounds to be just right. Personally, I like light vacuums, but 19.9 pounds is still comfortable to drag around. 

This vacuum’s radius is pretty good too. The cord length is 23 feet, the hose length is 6 feet, and the telescopic wand can extend by up to 3 feet. This means you can clean spots up to 32 feet away from the power source. 

Of course, the Dyson Animal 2’s power cord is already at 35 feet, so 32 feet away is nothing special really IF you don’t look at the price difference. But since the Dyson is a few hundred dollars more expensive than this Prolux, I say it’s a pretty good tradeoff. 

I know this article is about the best canister vacuums for pet hair, and this vacuum is pretty good on its own. However, when you consider the competition, I think the cheaper models from Hoover, Eureka, and Ovente are better investments. 

The 1-year warranty on this vacuum is also disappointing. Hoover and Eureka both offer 2-year warranties, so you may be better off choosing either model if you want peace of mind for at least two years.

Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Miele Classic C1 Canister Vacuum Cleaner:

This is one of the most expensive vacuums on the market. If you can spare about a thousand bucks for a vacuum, then you should find this vacuum to be more than sufficient. 

However, at this price point, I’d expect something more. I mean, the quality of this thing is excellent; the manufacturer did not scrimp on the materials used to create this vacuum. This thing is tough and durable, but still manage to remain lightweight. 

A lot of people love this vacuum. But to be honest, aside from the build quality, it’s lacking certain features that you’d expect from an expensive vacuum. But before I share my cons, here are a few positives:

(1) I like the fact that this is lightweight.  At only 16.1 pounds, this thing is easy to drag around the home. It also helps that the 3 rubber wheels at the bottom of the vacuum rotates 360 degrees, so it’s easier to maneuver and move around.

(2) I also like how quiet this machine is. I mean, if you’ve got neighbors, you wouldn’t dare to use the vacuum at night. But not this Miele. You can use it in the middle of the night, and no one’s going to call the cops on you! Yes, it’s that quiet.

(3) The variable speed control, automatic cord rewinder, and included accessories are all to be expected at this price point. 

Now, here are the things I don’t like about this Miele C1 vacuum:

(1) The price is prohibitive for most vacuum users. If you don’t want to spend a thousand bucks, the Dyson Animal 2 is the next obvious choice. Or even the Shark TruePet NV752 will do if you want something on the higher-end but still get value for your money.

(2) This vacuum has a HEPA filter, but it’s not sealed. Only the more expensive Miele C2 and Miele C3 gets the sealed HEPA filters. This is a deal-breaker for me (and I guess, for most of you as well). This means that the dirt you collect can still get out into your environment.

(3) The one-year warranty simply breaks my heart. The Shark TruePet NV752 offers a 7-year warranty, while the Dyson Animal 2 offers 5 years. 

Summary of the Pros and Cons:

My thoughts on the Dirt Devil SD40120 Vacuum:

On paper, this vacuum looks really good. It’s got good suction strength, it’s got a HEPA filter, it’s lightweight, and it’s priced competitively. 

However, when you look at similarly priced vacuums, you'll probably come to the same realization as me – it doesn’t provide enough value for your money.

Here’s why:

(1) The build quality is questionable. I know this is no Miele or Dyson or Shark. But at its current price, you’d think the manufacturer would use better materials to ensure durability.

There are plenty of complaints about the build quality. Initially, it does look and feel good to the touch, but when you start using it, you’ll probably soon see why other users dislike this vacuum! 

(2) This vacuum has one of the shortest power cords on the market (only 12 feet!). At its price, it should at least be in the 20+ foot range.

The hose length, on the other hand, is pretty standard at 5 feet. But it will still limit your cleaning range, that is, you’d need to stay pretty close to a power strip. 

(3) The accessories included are pretty disappointing, too. Other vacuums at this price offer 5 or 6 accessories. But for this Dirt Devil, they only include a 2-in-1 dusting brush and crevice tool. 

(4) The one-year warranty is a little concerning too when you factor in the fact that people are saying the build quality isn’t too great. A longer warranty will probably make people overlook this vacuum’s shortcomings. 

Summary of the Pros and Cons: