Hair can be somewhat challenging for some vacuums. Long strands of hair can get caught in brushrolls or clog various components, compromising overall suction performance. Vacuums that are well-suited to dealing with this kind of debris shouldn't only excel in cleaning pet hair but should have removable brushrolls for easy cleaning of hair wraps or have vacuum heads that have some anti-tangling function.
We've tested over 115 vacuum cleaners, and below are our recommendations for the best vacuums for long hair. These recommendations are based on their hair cleaning performance on different types of surfaces and on their design and price. If you're looking for alternatives, take a look at our list of the best vacuums for pet hair, the best cordless vacuums for pet hair, the best robot vacuums for pet hair, and the best handheld vacuums for pet hair.
The best vacuum for long hair that we've tested with a cordless design is the Dyson V15 Detect. This stick vacuum does a fantastic job dealing with pet hair on most surfaces, from bare floors to high-pile carpet. The brushrolls for its primary and secondary vacuum heads, not to mention its turbo brush, can be quickly removed for easier cleaning of tangled hair. The vacuum also has a washable allergen-trapping HEPA filter, which is handy if your pet sheds heavily.
This vacuum supplies up to 70 minutes of runtime on a single charge, more than sufficient for cleaning most areas, though that can drop to as little as 10 minutes in its high-power 'Boost' mode. The LED display on the back of the vacuum shows you the remaining battery life as well as an estimate of the size and number of particles it sucks up. What makes this vacuum so versatile is that you can reconfigure it into a handheld vacuum for spot-cleaning small areas. It also comes with a wide array of tools and accessories.
Unfortunately, build quality is only passable overall, which is disappointing for a vacuum at this price point. It can drag around lighter rugs or get caught on very high-pile carpets due to its strong suction force. Also, while it incurs virtually no recurring costs, it does have many components requiring regular cleaning. Otherwise, its versatile overall performance, maneuverable design, and dense feature set make it one of the best bagless vacuums we've tested.
If you don't want to spend as much on a cordless vacuum for dealing with long hair, the Samsung Jet 70 Pet is a good option. This cordless stick vacuum has a shorter battery life than the Dyson V15 Detect and only comes with one multi-purpose floorhead. However, it does do a similarly fantastic job of handling long hair on a wide variety of surfaces. You can also easily remove the brushroll in its floorhead to cut away any tangled hair. This vacuum's five-layer filtration system, which includes an onboard HEPA filter, helps it capture fine allergens as you clean. It's also lightweight and can be easily reconfigured as a handheld vacuum to clean small areas. It comes with a couple of attachments, including a miniature turbo brush for dealing with messes on upholstered furniture, though its loose attachment hinge can make it somewhat unwieldy to use.
Get the Dyson if you want a cordless vacuum with more attachments and longer battery life. Look at the Samsung vacuum if you prioritize performance and don't mind giving up a few convenience features.
If you're looking for a corded vacuum for tackling long hair, the Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine is a good option. This canister vacuum does a fantastic job of dealing with hair on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. This variant has a basic straight suction floorhead, so you don't need to worry about hair getting tangled within a mechanism. Instead, pet hair tends to get stuck at a set of bristles near the front of the floorhead, making it easy to pull away by hand.
This vacuum is also remarkably effective when dealing with hair on upholstered surfaces. It feels amazingly well-built, with a sturdy canister body made of high-grade plastic and dense rubber wheels that enable it to roll smoothly over rugs and obstructions like power cords. It features an allergen-sealed construction and an onboard HEPA filter, resulting in superb air filtration performance.
Unfortunately, it does use smaller dirtbags and filters with a shorter service life than alternatives like the SEBO Airbelt D4, resulting in high recurring costs. Also, its power cord is a little on the short side, so you might need to swap outlets when vacuuming larger areas. Otherwise, its superb hair-cleaning performance, advanced air filtration system, and sturdy build quality make it one of the best canister vacuums we've tested.
If you're looking for a handheld vacuum to deal with long hair, consider the Shark ION W1 WANDVAC. This compact vacuum can easily handle hair on bare surfaces like countertops or shelves and low and high-pile rugs and carpets. Unlike alternatives like the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+, it doesn't have a turbo brush for dealing with messes on upholstery. However, it's still quite effective when dealing with hair on fabric surfaces, and you don't have to worry about hair getting tangled around a brushroll.
This vacuum's compact size allows you to store it in most cupboards or closets, and its lightweight plastic construction makes it easy to carry wherever you might need. It also feels fairly well-built and is easy to maintain. Unlike many other handheld vacuums, it has an onboard HEPA filter to help trap fine particles as you clean, which is great if you suffer from allergies.
Unfortunately, this vacuum's short battery life of a little over 10 minutes forces you to work quickly when dealing with larger messes. It also has a tiny dirt compartment that needs regular emptying. Still, it's a fantastic option for dealing with hair on a wide variety of surfaces, while its compact size and strong performance make it one of the best vacuums for pet hair that we've tested.
The best robot vacuum we've tested for long hair is the iRobot Roomba S9. This premium robot vacuum does an incredible job of sucking up pet hair on a wide variety of surface types, ranging from bare floors to low and high-pile carpet. It also has a HEPA filter to trap allergens as it cleans and feels amazingly well-built.
This vacuum's surface detection feature lets it automatically adjust its head height depending on the floor type that it's currently on. You can use its companion app to set up no-go zones or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. It's also very maneuverable, as it can easily navigate around furniture or climb over rugs and electrical cords without getting stuck. You can expect anywhere between 50 to 150 minutes of runtime depending on your choice of settings and usage habits, which should be more than sufficient for most areas.
Unfortunately, this vacuum has many parts that need regular cleaning, but thankfully, you can easily remove its brushrolls to clear any tangled hair or stuck-on debris. Quite a few components need periodic replacing, so recurring costs are high. Otherwise, it's an excellent option if you're looking for a robot vacuum that can easily handle long hair on a wide variety of surfaces.
If you're on a budget, the best vacuum for hair is the Wyze Cordless Vacuum. This budget-friendly stick vacuum does a fantastic job sucking up hair on bare floors and low and high-pile carpet. Its floorhead has an easily removable brushroll, so it isn't especially hard to clear tangled hair wraps either. What is unusual for a vacuum in the price range is that it includes a HEPA filter, which is helpful if you have serious allergies.
This vacuum is very easy to maneuver thanks to its lightweight plastic construction and pivoting floorhead. It can be easily reconfigured into a handheld vacuum for spot cleaning and comes with an upholstery tool, a slide-on soft-bristle dusting brush, and a crevice tool for tackling debris in tight corners. An LED touchscreen display at the back of the vacuum allows you to change its suction power mode or monitor its battery life, which can vary between roughly 10 minutes to an hour depending on your choice of settings and attachments.
However, this vacuum doesn't feel especially sturdy in places, especially its fragile clear plastic dirt compartment and easily-scratched floorhead. Many components need regular cleaning. Otherwise, its budget-friendly price point, strong performance, and maneuverable design make it one of the best cordless stick vacuums that we've tested.
Apr 26, 2022: Article rewrite to align with test bench update. Replaced Shark Rocket Pet Pro with MultiFlex IZ163H with Samsung Jet 70 Pet as 'Cheaper Alternative' pick. Replaced Shark APEX UpLight with Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine as 'Best Corded Vacuum For Long Hair' pick. Replaced Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ with Shark ION W1 WANDVAC as 'Best Handheld Vacuum For Long Hair' pick. Added SEBO Airbelt D4, Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+, Shark Rocket Pet Pro with MultiFlex IZ163H, and Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away to Notable Mentions.
Feb 24, 2022: Ensured all main picks are still available and represent the best option for user needs and expectations.
Dec 23, 2021: Replaced BISSELL CleanView Swivel Pet with Wyze Cordless Vacuum as 'Best Budget Vacuum For Long Hair' pick. Added BISSELL CleanView Swivel Pet to Notable Mentions.
Oct 27, 2021: Ensured that all main picks are still in stock and represent the best choice for their category.
Oct 08, 2021: Verified that all main picks are still available and represent the best choice for their given category. Added Wyze Cordless Vacuum to Notable Mentions.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are currently the best vacuums for long 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 vacuum reviews ranked by their pet hair cleaning performance. 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