The 5 Best Handheld Vacuums For Pet Hair - Fall 2022 Reviews

The best handheld vacuum for pet hair we've tested is the Wyze Handheld Vacuum. This cordless vacuum delivers superb pet hair cleaning performance on bare surfaces, like countertops or shelves, as well as low and high-pile carpets. Its onboard HEPA filter helps seal in some fine particles, though it doesn't have an allergen-sealed construction. Its compact size makes it a breeze to store in cupboards, closets, or larger drawers. It also comes with a fairly wide variety of accessories to help make cleaning hard-to-reach areas easier, like a flexible extension hose for a bit of added reach and an upholstery tool for dealing with pet hair on furniture. It should last for about half an hour in its default suction power mode, which is quite long for a handheld vacuum of this size. However, its runtime drops to a little over 10 minutes when using it in its 'Max' mode, so you need to work quickly when spot-cleaning dense carpeting.

While this vacuum does a fantastic job of dealing with pet hair, you should be careful when cleaning around bulky debris, which can clog its suction inlet. It's also worth noting that, unlike the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+, it doesn't come with a miniature turbo brush for easier cleaning of fabric surfaces. That said, the Shark lacks a HEPA filter and doesn't last nearly as long on a single charge.

If you want to spend as little as possible on a handheld vacuum for cleaning up pet hair, you could take a look at the BISSELL AeroSlim. It does a fantastic job of dealing with pet hair on low and high-pile rugs as well as bare, flat surfaces, like hardwood floors or shelves and tables. It comes with a crevice tool/extension wand to help you clean tight spots and extend your overall reach, not to mention a slip-on soft-bristle tool for cleaning delicate surfaces. Its battery life of almost 15 minutes isn't very long, but it should be enough to spot-clean hair from a few places.

This handheld vacuum is remarkably compact, allowing you to store it in a large drawer or at the back of a cupboard or cabinet. Its simple design is easy to maintain, and despite its affordable price point, the dense plastic body feels reasonably robust. Unfortunately, its very compact size begets a tiny dirt compartment that needs very frequent emptying.

The Dyson Humdinger is a great option if you're looking for a handheld vacuum for dealing with pet hair and require superb air filtration performance. This compact handheld vacuum has an allergen-sealed construction, resulting in whole-machine HEPA filtration and making it a fantastic option if you suffer from allergies, even when compared to other models with just a HEPA filter, like the Wyze Handheld Vacuum. It does a fantastic job sucking pet hair on flat, even surfaces like hardwood or tile, as well as low and high-pile carpet. Its miniature turbo brush attachment is quite effective for dealing with pet hair on upholstered surfaces. It also has relatively few parts that need periodic cleaning.

This vacuum's lightweight plastic construction makes it easy to pick up and carry from room to room, though it also leaves it feeling somewhat fragile in places. It can run for a maximum of roughly half an hour on a single charge, which should be more than sufficient for most spot-cleaning tasks. You can increase its suction power for dealing with especially stubborn messes by using the 'MAX' suction switch, though running it in this power mode decreases its battery life to roughly 10 minutes.

If you want a handheld vacuum that can hold a larger-than-usual amount of hair, the Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is worth a look. This handheld vacuum has a relatively large dustbin that doesn't need emptying very frequently. It does a fantastic job of sucking up pet hair on bare surfaces as well as low and high-pile carpets. It also comes with a miniature turbo brush to help deal with hair on upholstered surfaces, not to mention a built-in crevice tool/extension wand to give you a bit of added reach. It can run for about 30 minutes in its default power mode, which is quite long for a vacuum of this type.

Unfortunately, this vacuum doesn't have an allergen-trapping HEPA filter. As a consequence, it does a terrible job of sealing in fine particles, so it isn't the best option if you suffer from allergies. Thankfully, the build quality is decent, and despite its relatively big dustbin, it's still easy to store in a cupboard or a cabinet.

The Samsung Jet 70 Pet is the best stick/handheld vacuum for pet hair we've tested. This cordless stick vacuum is remarkably effective at clearing away pet hair on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. It also does a decent job of dealing with pet hair on furniture, though its miniature turbo brush attachment is a little cumbersome and can leave some small strands of hair behind. Its five-stage filtration system is quite effective in trapping fine allergens like pet dander. If you plan on using it more in its default stick configuration, you can also buy a dedicated mopping floorhead separately, which is great for clearing away stuck-on dirt and debris that your pet might track in after going outside.

Unfortunately, while this vacuum can run for up to 50 minutes in its most energy-efficient 'MIN' mode, you need to work fast when using it in its high-power 'MAX' mode, which can drain its battery in as little as five minutes. If you want a cheaper alternative that lasts longer on a charge, the Wyze Cordless Vacuum is a great alternative, though it doesn't come with a miniature turbo brush attachment and takes much longer to recharge.