- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Vacuums
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently tested over 20 Shark vacuums. Shark is a manufacturer of homeware goods like irons and mops in addition to vacuums. Unlike other brands like Samsung or BISSELL that focus on a limited range of vacuum designs, Shark offers a little bit of everything, including robot vacuums, secondary handheld configurations, as well as corded and cordless designs. Their vacuums come at a variety of price points, so you can find something available that fits your budget.
For more recommendations, check our articles for the best vacuums for stairs, the best vacuum cleaner brands, and the best car vacuums.
Updates
- 07/16/2021 Shark EZ Robot Self-Empty AV911S reviewed
- 04/28/2021 Shark IQ Robot AV992 reviewed
- 03/18/2021 Shark Navigator Lift-Away updated
- 03/11/2021 Shark ION Robot R77 reviewed
- 02/12/2021 Shark IQ Robot RV1001 updated
Best Shark Vacuums
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Best Cordless Shark Vacuum
Vacuum TypeStick/HandheldBaglessYesCordlessYesAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)YesThe Shark Rocket Pet Pro with MultiFlex IZ163H is the best cordless Shark vacuum that we've tested. This cordless stick/handheld vacuum delivers exceptional cleaning performance on bare floors, easily clearing pet hair as well as small and bulky debris like rice or cereal. It also does a great job of cleaning low and high-pile carpet, though it might take an extra pass or two to suck up debris like baking soda. The speed of the main vacuum head's brushroll can be adjusted when cleaning different floor types, and you can pull the trigger on its handle to increase the suction power for dealing with stubborn debris. It's also highly maneuverable, even in cluttered environments, thanks to its lightweight construction, slim design, and easily swappable attachments, including a hard bristle dusting brush and dedicated upholstery and crevice tools. It also comes with a HEPA filter to trap allergens as you clean.
Unfortunately, you can drain this vacuum's battery in a little over 10 minutes if it's run continuously in its high-power 'MAX' mode, though you can extend its battery life drastically if you use it more conservatively. It also lacks a turbo brush to more easily clear debris on upholstered surfaces, unlike the handheld Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+. Also, many parts need regular cleaning, though its bagless design and washable filters result in low recurring costs. Still, this vacuum's overall versatility and maneuverable design make it one of the best cordless stick vacuums that we've tested.
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Best Shark Vacuum For Bare Floors
Vacuum TypeUpright/HandheldBaglessYesCordlessNoAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)YesThe Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV is the best Shark vacuum for bare floors that we've tested. This corded upright does a remarkable job of sucking up everything from pet hair to bulky debris like cereal on flat, even surfaces. Its main vacuum head uses two brushrolls, with the fluffy brushroll being removable to clear stuck-on debris more easily and the other featuring angled fins to reduce the incidence of hair wraps. Better still, its suction performance doesn't noticeably drop as its decently spacious dirt compartment fills up, which is good if you have several large messes to deal with. It doesn't use a dirtbag and has a washable pre-motor and allergen-trapping HEPA filters, so recurring costs are also low. Its "Lift-Away" design allows you to pick up and carry the canister with one hand while maneuvering the wand in the other, making it easier to clear messes in closed-off areas. The vacuum's power cord is also fairly long, allowing you to clean large rooms without swapping outlets.
Unfortunately, this vacuum isn't the most maneuverable despite its pivoting vacuum head, so you may want to consider the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless if that's a concern. The bulky front-mounted dirt compartment may get in the way when cleaning under tables and chairs, while rug tassels can get caught in the vacuum head. In addition, the vacuum hose is rather short, which can be annoying when trying to clean high-up shelves. Still, if you're looking for an upright vacuum that offers exceptional bare floor performance, this is an excellent choice.
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Best Shark Vacuum For Carpet
Vacuum TypeUpright/HandheldBaglessYesCordlessNoAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)YesThe best Shark vacuum for carpets that we've tested is the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Upright. This corded upright does a fantastic job of sucking up debris on low-pile carpet and cleans an impressive amount of material on high-pile carpet, ranging from pet hair to larger debris like sand, though it may take an extra pass to fully clear finer material like baking soda. Thankfully, it doesn't lose a noticeable amount of suction force as its dirt compartment fills up with debris. Its three-level surface adjustment feature also helps in allowing you to clean different surfaces. You can also uncouple its body from its main head and detach its wand, allowing you to use the vacuum in a semi-handheld configuration to clean furniture and shelves a little more easily. Its bagless design and washable pre-motor and allergen-trapping HEPA filters result in a near-total absence of recurring costs, too.
Unfortunately, the vacuum's large dirt compartment can make it tricky to clean under tables and couches. Its brushroll can also get caught on some lighter rugs. The short vacuum hose can make it hard to reach far-away areas, like high-mounted shelves. There are also quite a few parts that need regular cleaning. Otherwise, its versatile overall cleaning performance makes it one of the best vacuums for high-pile carpet that we've tested.
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Best Robot Shark Vacuum
Vacuum TypeRobotBaglessYesCordlessYesAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoThe best robotic Shark vacuum that we've tested is the Shark IQ Robot RV1001. This robot vacuum smart-pathing navigation system gives you access to a wide variety of automation features. You can use its companion app to check the remaining battery life, direct it to a specific room in your house, or schedule cleaning sessions in advance. It also comes with a physical boundary marker strip that you can use to prevent it from entering certain areas. It feels sturdily built and is small enough to fit under couches and tables without too much difficulty. It does a great job of sucking up various kinds of debris, ranging from pet hair to rice, on bare floors, though be aware that it can struggle with sucking up bulky material like cereal as its dirt compartment fills up. It also performs decently well on carpets, but it might take an extra pass to clean fine debris like baking soda. Depending on the suction power mode you select, it supplies roughly anywhere between 70 to over 160 minutes of runtime on a single charge, which is more than sufficient for most spaces, though this can vary in the real world.
Unfortunately, it takes a very long time to recharge. Also, many parts need to be cleaning or replacing regularly, so recurring costs are quite high, though that's quite common for robot vacuums. In addition, it doesn't maneuver quite as well as the Shark AI Robot, though the IQ offers superior cleaning performance on all surface types. Overall, this vacuum is a solid choice if you're looking for a hands-off method of keeping your floors clean.
Compared to other brands
- Virtually no recurring costs. Most Shark vacuums have parts that can be washed or cleaned, so you may never have to replace them as long as you properly maintain them. Even though some models have a small dirt compartment, they're typically bagless, which further helps to cut down on recurring costs.
- Tools and brushes included. While they may not have specialized tools like a pet grooming brush or a ceiling fan tool, they come with a solid selection of tools and brushes to help get the job done.
- Can be configured into a handheld vacuum. Shark vacuums tend to be reconfigurable into a smaller, handheld mode so that you can access more difficult-to-reach messes.
- Okay build quality. Shark vacuums tend to have a plasticky build and certain parts, like their dirt compartments, seem especially prone to cracking if dropped.
- Quite a few maintenance needs. Most Shark vacuums have several parts that need ongoing maintenance, depending on your usage.
- Manual cord storage. Corded Shark vacuums usually require manually winding the electrical cord for storage instead of automatically storing it away.
Shark produces a variety of different vacuum types at different price points. They're smartly designed to be reconfigured into a handheld design should you need a closer clean, and there are cordless options available. When comparing their stick vacuums to Dyson's offerings, Shark vacuums feel better built and sturdier. However, they also tend to have a similar but slightly worse performance on carpet. Their upright vacuums usually perform better on all surface types than BISSELL vacuums. Note that Shark doesn't currently make canister vacuums.
Recent Updates
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Jul 23, 2021: Replaced Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ with Shark Rocket Pet Pro with MultiFlex IZ163H as 'Best Cordless Shark Vacuum' pick. Replaced Shark Rocket Pet Pro with MultiFlex IZ163H with Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV as 'Best Shark Vacuum For Bare Floors' pick.
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Jun 25, 2021: Ensured that all main picks are still in stock and represent the best choice for their given category.
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May 28, 2021: Verified that all main picks are still in stock and represent the best choice for their category.
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Apr 30, 2021: Added the 'Best Robot' category and made the Shark IQ Robot RV1001 the pick. Confirmed the rest of the picks are in stock and still the best recommendations for our users.
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Mar 31, 2021: Checked picks to ensure the best products are being recommended and that they're in stock.
Conclusion
Shark is a good household manufacturer that produces items like mops and irons alongside a selection of vacuums at different price points and styles. You can also use many Shark vacuums as handhelds, which is nice if you need to clean hard-to-reach places. If you want an easily portable model, Shark also sells some cordless vacuums. However, they tend to have quite a few maintenance needs, and some models can be a little more tricky to clean.