The 4 Best Handheld Vacuums For Pet Hair - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best handheld vacuum for pet hair we've tested is the Shark WANDVAC. This cordless handheld vacuum does a fantastic job of handling pet hair on hard surfaces like countertops and shelves, as well as carpets. While it doesn't come with a turbo brush tool for dealing with pet hair on fabric surfaces, it does have a decently effective upholstery tool. The vacuum also feels decently well-built and has an easy-to-maintain design. While its standard post-motor filter isn't HEPA rated, the vacuum does a great job trapping fine allergens like pet dander. Besides, if you want to increase its allergen-trapping performance, several third-party manufacturers sell compatible HEPA filters.

Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly for a vacuum of this size, its dirt compartment is tiny and needs to be emptied frequently. Bulky debris can also clog the entry to its dirt compartment. Its battery life of a little over 10 minutes is short, even for a handheld model, so it's best suited for quick clean-ups.

If you want a handheld vacuum that costs a little less and can hold a relatively large amount of hair, the Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is worth a look. This handheld vacuum is much bulkier than the Shark WANDVAC and doesn't feel as sturdily-built. However, it has a much larger dustbin that won't need emptying nearly as frequently. It does a fantastic job of sucking up pet hair on bare surfaces and 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, but unfortunately, its battery isn't designed to be removed or replaced.

This vacuum also 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.

If you want to spend as little as possible on a handheld vacuum for cleaning up pet hair, you could look at the BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim. It has a shorter battery life and inferior deep-cleaning performance compared to the Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet, but it's a good alternative if you're looking for something cheaper and smaller. It does a fantastic job of dealing with pet hair on rugs as well as bare surfaces like hardwood floors or shelves and tables. Unlike the Black+Decker, it doesn't come with a miniature turbo brush for cleaning fabric surfaces, but it does have a crevice tool/extension wand to help you clean tight spots, not to mention a slip-on soft-bristle tool for cleaning delicate surfaces.

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, the compact size begets a tiny dirt compartment that needs frequent emptying.

The iRobot H1 is one of the best hand vacuums for pet hair we've tested if you suffer from allergies and require superb air filtration performance. While it's a lot pricier than the Shark WANDVAC, not to mention most other handheld vacuums, its dual-layer filtration system allows it to capture fine allergens like pet dander, even compared to other models with just a HEPA filter. It also does an exceptional job of dealing with pet hair on bare floors, as well as rugs and carpets. Its miniature turbo brush attachment is quite effective for dealing with pet hair on upholstered surfaces, though the brushroll inside isn't removable and is consequently quite difficult to clean.

This vacuum is on the bulky side compared to other handheld vacuums and isn't as easy to stow away as a smaller alternative like the BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim. Thankfully, it does feel very well-built, which makes sense considering its premium price point. It can run for up to almost half an hour on a single charge, which will be more than sufficient for most spot-cleaning tasks. You can increase its suction power for dealing with stubborn messes by using the 'Max' suction switch, though running it in this power mode decreases its battery life to roughly 10 minutes.