A lightweight handheld vacuum is one of the easiest ways to stay on top of pet hair between deeper cleanings, letting you quickly tackle fur that builds up in corners, on furniture, and in other hard-to-reach spots. The best handheld vacuums for pet hair pick up fur and dander across a variety of surfaces. They should be easy to carry around, come with tools for tackling tricky areas, and have enough battery life and dustbin capacity to get through a full cleaning session. A HEPA filter is also handy since it traps allergens as you clean.
We've tested over 110 vacuum cleaners, and below are our recommendations for the best hand vacuums for pet hair. We've chosen our recommendations not only for their pet performance on different types of surfaces but also for their feature set and price. For more buying recommendations, look at our lists for the best cordless vacuums for pet hair and the best vacuums for pet hair. Or, if you decide to swap the handheld vacuum for a hands-free one, check out our recommendations for the best robot vacuums for pet hair.
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Best Handheld Vacuum For Pet Hair
Pets7.4Portability8.9Total Weight2.78 lbs (1.26 kg)Pet Hair Pickup9.5See all our test resultsPet Hair Furniture Performance6.5The best handheld vacuum for pet hair we've tested is the Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet. This cordless handheld vacuum does a fantastic job of picking up pet hair on bare surfaces and carpets, and it performs well in clearing hair from furniture too. It has a higher-capacity dustbin than most handhelds, so you won't have to empty it as frequently. A built-in crevice tool and extension wand give you added reach for awkward spaces. It can run for about 30 minutes in its default power mode, which is pretty long for a vacuum of this type.
Its larger body makes it heavier and harder to store than the Shark WANDVAC, and it doesn't feel quite as sturdy. Unfortunately, the battery isn't removable, so you can't swap in a fresh one if it loses its ability to hold a charge over time. This vacuum also does a terrible job of sealing in fine particles like pet dander, so it isn't the best option if you suffer from allergies.
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Best Mid-Range Handheld Vacuum For Pet Hair
Portability9.4Total Weight1.37 lbs (0.62 kg)Pet Hair Pickup6.0See all our test resultsPet Hair Furniture Performance7.0If you're looking for a compact, lightweight option, the Shark WANDVAC is a great mid-range alternative. This cordless handheld vacuum does a very good job of handling pet hair on hard surfaces like countertops and shelves, as well as on bare floors and carpets. While it doesn't come with a turbo brush for furniture, it does include an upholstery tool that does a decent job of removing pet hair from upholstered couches and chairs.
The vacuum feels decently well-built, is lightweight, and has a user-friendly design that makes it easy to maintain. Out of the box, its post-motor filter still doesn't do a good job of trapping fine allergens like pet dander, but you can get compatible third-party HEPA filters to improve the vacuum's allergen-trapping performance. Like any bagless vacuum, you have to be careful when emptying its dustbin, as shaking it out can release a cloud of fine grit and dust. Unfortunately (though unsurprisingly for its size), the dirt compartment is tiny and needs frequent emptying. Its battery life of a little over 10 minutes is also short, even for a handheld model, so it's best suited for quick clean-ups.
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Best Budget Handheld Vacuum For Pet Hair
Pets7.0Portability9.5Total Weight1.23 lbs (0.56 kg)See all our test resultsPet Hair Furniture Performance6.0The BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim is the most compact handheld vacuum on this list, and it's also the most affordable. It does a fantastic job of picking up pet hair on rugs and bare surfaces like hardwood floors, shelves, and tables. It has a shorter battery life than the Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet and a less powerful suction motor, but it's a good choice if you're looking for a cheaper, smaller option for pet hair. Unlike the Black+Decker, there's no included miniature turbo brush for cleaning fabric surfaces; however, it has a crevice tool/extension wand to help you clean tight spots and a slip-on soft-bristle tool for cleaning surfaces that scratch easily.
This handheld vacuum is remarkably compact, taking up roughly the same amount of space as a bottle of wine, allowing you to store it in a large drawer or at the back of a cupboard or cabinet. Its simple design makes it easy to maintain, and despite its affordable price point, the dense plastic body feels reasonably solid. Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly, given its size, its small dustbin will need emptying after almost every cleaning session.
Recent Updates
Apr 21, 2026:
We verified that all our picks were still available and made some edits to the text.
Nov 19, 2025:
We removed the Dyson Humdinger and the Notable Mention Wyze Handheld Vacuum, both discontinued. We removed the Notable Mention Black+Decker 16V MAX dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum due to its poor performance on pet hair. We made other minor text changes.
Apr 17, 2025:
We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock, but haven't made any changes to our recommendations.
Jan 09, 2025:
We've replaced the Wyze Handheld Vacuum with the Dyson Humdinger as our recommendation for the 'Best Handheld Pet Vacuum for Allergies,' as the Wyze is often out of stock, moving it to the Notable Mentions section instead. We also made small edits throughout for clarity.
Sep 30, 2024: We've verified that our recommendations are all in stock and represent the best choices available. We've also made edits for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are currently the best handheld vacuums for dealing with pet hair to buy. We factor in a fairly wide range of factors, including availability, price, and reader feedback.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our handheld vacuum reviews, ranked by their performance in picking up pet hair. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no vacuum is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.