Best Shark vacuums — 9 tried and tested models we love

The best Shark vacuums are reliable, long-lasting, and guaranteed to sweep up even the grossest of messes.

 But given there are quite a few to choose from, which is best for your abode? We'll help you figure it out. Whether you're combatting pet hair and dander or messy little ones, there's a Shark vacuum just right for you. 

We've tested the best vacuums the brand has to offer, with everything from suction to noise and weight in mind. And for the newly initiated, we also have a rundown of Shark terminology for you to sink your teeth into. 

The best Shark vacuums: everything you need to know

The quick list

Want the short version of our Shark vacuum reviews? We've got the basics covered for you! We've got a feeling you'll be swept up by all of these enticing features. Every household has different wants and needs, so this guide has a mix of cordless vacuums we're convinced are the best, premium handheld vacuums for quick mid-week cleans, plus the best vacuum for pet hair if you've had enough of the fluff!

Types of Shark vacuums

Curious what's available? A little bit of everything, actually. We told you all different types of homes would have a suitable pick.

• Stick — great for apartments and smaller homes, even if you have pets. These usually transform to become a handheld vacuum too. You'll have to empty your stick vacuum more frequently than larger models. These can be corded or cordless, with the latter being more expensive.
  
• Upright — corded or cordless, these are bulkier to store but are great for busy homes or larger homes as they usually have a larger dust cup to store more dirt.
  
• Robot — handy to have as a secondary vacuum, but you might find it a bit difficult if this is your main vacuum. A robot vacuum makes keeping up with cleaning easy, but it can't really be used to deep clean as they struggle to get into corners, and you can't use them on furniture.
  
• Handheld — handy to have as a secondary vacuum, especially if your main vacuum can't transform into a handheld. These are usually super lightweight and they make easy work of cleaning corners, upholstery, and also your car. They're usually super affordable at around $100.

The best overall Shark vacuum

Shark Stratos is the latest line of vacuum cleaners from the brand. It's one of the best vacuums for pet hair, and is undoubtedly the best Shark vacuum you can buy. It excels at picking up dust, debris, and pet hair as both a stick cordless vacuum and a handheld vacuum.

This vacuum includes the following types of technology: CleanSenseIQ, Multi-Flex, DuoClean, PowerFins HairPro, Anti-Hair-Wrap, Odor Neutralizer, HyperVelocity Plus, and a Self-Cleaning brush roll. 

Tried, tested, and very much loved by our head ecommerce editor Annie, this vacuum is super easy to use thanks to Clean Sense IQ technology, which automatically controls the suction depending on how dirty your floors are. She found it more than capable of cleaning her spacious two-bedroom apartment, and it easily picked up the hair her pug left behind without getting stuck in the brush roll. Another feature she loved is that it works with recyclable pods to emit a lovely smell as you clean (ideal for dealing with lingering pet odors). It comes equipped with Flexology tech so the vac bends instead of you, and it glides across floor types like a dream.

Finally, this stick vac folds, so it can stand upright and out of the way, making it great for apartments and smaller homes. This particular model comes with a pet hair removal tool and a bag for keeping all the tools together.

Read our full review of the Shark Stratos IZ862H, which we wrote in the UK. The only difference between these models is that in the US it comes with different tools.

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The best value Shark vacuum

With a lightweight design, this particular vacuum is great value for money if our first pick is slightly out of budget. Yes, it is corded, but at 30 feet long, you can wander and never run out of power in the middle of a job. It's nice and easy to store for small space dwellers and it picks up pet hair well.

This vacuum features DuoClean Powerfins, Multi-Flex, Anti-Allergen Seal, Hypervelocity Suction, and a Self-Cleaning brush roll. Our reviewer Jaclyn loved the Hypervelocity Suction feature. It's noticeably effective with this vac, and she felt as if propelled her along while she cleaned.

Emptying this vacuum was made simpler by the max fill marking line, however, she noted would be better if there was a bigger capacity for dust. It did manage to pick up after her pup, though, and when she transformed it into a handheld vacuum it excelled at cleaning a rug.

While Jaclyn had no complaints performance-wise, she did find the Multi-Flex technology to be underwhelming. It was tougher to control when maneuvering under low furniture. However, the flexible frame allows the vac to fold over into one piece for storage.

Read our full Shark Vertex HZ2002 review.

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The best handheld Shark vacuum

For sucking up small messes, tackling dirt in your car, or cleaning your couch, the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is the ultimate handheld vacuum cleaner. It's Shark's most affordable handheld model, and is designed for households with pets. If you’re regularly reaching for your main vacuum to clean little messes, then this lightweight model could very well become your go-to for smaller jobs. It comes with a handful of useful accessories, too.

As with all of Shark’s full-size cleaners, the UltraCyclone also utilizes a self-cleaning brush to prevent hair from getting wrapped around the roller. Our reviewer Jen found that the mini motorized attachment did an incredible job of lifting dirt from one of her rugs, filling up the 0.45-liter dust canister with its sheer power, and collecting pet hair with ease. Jen also found that the level of power remained consistent throughout using this vacuum, even though there were only 15 minutes of power available to her. 

The 10.8 V battery provides similar cleaning power to a regular vacuum, although you only get 15 minutes on a charge and a recharge takes about six hours. The dust compartment is pretty small, but it’s easy to empty and large enough for spot cleaning.

Read our full Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ review.

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The best Shark vacuum for large homes

If you're looking for a vacuum that can deliver impressive cleaning power in a large home, this model is it. Billed as Shark's most powerful vacuum, this is also Shark's most premium upright design. This vacuum features the following technology: LiftAway, DuoClean Powerfins, a self-cleaning brush roll, Hypervelocity Accelerated Suction, and Anti-Allergen.

When using this vacuum to clean up after a renovation period at home, Jaclyn found that it suctioned everything in its wake with minimal repeat passes. And hair? It never wrapped around the self-cleaning brush roll or clogged the vacuum shaft, so it's safe to say this vacuum is pet-parent-approved. The LiftAway feature also made cleaning the stairs during testing significantly easier, though the vacuum felt bulky and a little tiring to operate after a while. Remember it's corded, but it does have a 30-foot wire to work with. It also boasts Hypervelocity Accelerated Suction technology, so it practically walks itself around your home.

The one-quart capacity got Jaclyn through all our tests before needing to be emptied. One disadvantage is that this is the heaviest Shark vacuum out there, a feature we sadly felt in our tests, so one to avoid if you need a more maneuverable pick. Its motor also emits a lot of airflow while in use, leading to extra noise. Additionally, it transforms into a handheld model to reach high places and get into small corners.

Read our full Shark AZ2002 vacuum review.

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The best Shark robot vacuum

Shark's IQ Robot is here to help you reclaim your time, so instead of vacuuming your home every day, you can do it just three times a week and program your robot vacuum to do the job on the other four days. With powerful suction and the same anti-hair wrap feature involved with full-size vacuums, this robot is a winner for pet-friendly homes, too.

This vacuum includes Matrix Clean Navigation and CleanEdge. 

This vacuum was tested in an environment with plenty of pet traffic thanks to our reviewer Jaclyn's dog, Reese. By replacing her usual cordless vacuum with this robot version, Jaclyn found that there was a true luxury in no longer having to empty a dustbin every five minutes. She also loved that she could control it from anywhere thanks to the app. It works intuitively with wheels that help it seamlessly go between hard floors and area rugs. It moves in methodical back-and-forth patterns and doesn't get caught off-guard by any furniture in its wake. 

On the first day of testing, Jaclyn found the separate dust bin in the base was relatively full after covering around 1,000 square feet of floor space. On day two, there was significantly less, a sign that it had picked up most of the debris on day one, and everything else was routine upkeep. She loved that it empties itself once it has finished cleaning, but there are a few ways it could've been better. She noted that it wasn't the best at cleaning the edges between her hard floor and area rug, nor was it great at collecting larger pieces of debris, like cereal or paper scraps.

It can take several cycles for the robot to "map" your home, according to many reviewers, though it only took two run-throughs for us to get a relatively accurate reading. Even if you don't use the no-go strips, you can add boundaries in the app for future cycles, it avoids that area. Due to the mapping technology, if you move the base, the robot vacuum will have to recreate the map of your space from scratch. There is only support for one map at a time, so it's not possible to move it between floors or in spaces separated by a step. Just remember that you'll need space for its charging base to sit, and this will need to be nearby a plug.

Jaclyn reviewed the Shark RV1001AE vacuum over on our sister site, Homes & Gardens.

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The best Shark vacuum for small spaces

This Shark Wandvac is an affordable buy for small homes and apartments. It is a 2-in-1 vac, though bear in mind it's designed to be a handheld-to-stick model, not the other way around. So its suction is considerably better as a handheld vacuum. If you only have a small home and you want something lightweight, cheap, and reliable to make cleaning super easy, this could definitely be your next vacuum. This vacuum includes a self-cleaning brush roll, Hypervelocity, and PowerFins.

During testing, our reviewer Annie concluded that the suction was more impressive as a handheld unit. It works as a stick vacuum, but she wouldn't recommend it as a main vacuum cleaner for busy homes or homes with pets. It can definitely cope with apartments with wooden flooring, though. She didn't notice a huge difference between the normal and boost modes but the easy storage element made this vacuum a real winner. It comes with a stand where the stick frame lives, which can be placed in a corner or closet. All that needs charging is the handheld unit. It's definitely not the most powerful Shark vacuum on this list, but it proves itself to be a winner in smaller homes.

Annie loved the accessories that came with this vacuum cleaner system. Particularly, the multi-surface tool, which has removable bristles for different messes. It made cleaning her sofa, kitchen countertops, and corners a total breeze.

Read our full Shark Wandvac review. 

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The best Shark vacuum for cars

If you have a smaller home and don’t want to store a full-size wet-dry vac, the Shark MessMaster is 100% a worthwhile investment. Our reviewer Camryn was blown away by its powerful suction, which worked well on all types of grime. She found it incredibly useful that you can use any type of plastic bag inside the vacuum’s dust cup, which makes clean-up infinitely easier. 

She said it worked best for cleaning her car. The extra-long power cord gave her the flexibility to work all around it, the crevice tool easily got debris out of the cracks between the seats and around the doors, and its powerful suction had no problem picking up dirt, dust, and even bigger debris like straw wrappers, leaves, and small rocks. 

When cleaning wet messes, she recommends switching to the squeegee tool rather than the carpet attachment, as it can suction up moisture more quickly. The only downside to this machine was that she said while it cleaned up wet pet messes well, it wasn’t the best on pet hair.

Read our full Shark MessMaster VS101 review.

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The best Shark vacuum for carpets

If your home has lots of carpet or area rugs and is prone to getting messy, the Shark StainStriker is a brilliant option. Our reviewer and former deputy editor Camille said it was so easy to unpack and uncomplicated to use. The instructions came with simple diagrams and a QR code with videos that made getting going a breeze — and once she did, she was seriously impressed.

She tried it on dried-out stains and found that it removed them all pretty much instantly. What impressed her most was its ability to clean a two-year-old wine stain after using the wide tough stain tool, scrubbing, and then going over it again the next day. As well as this, Camille tested it on fresh yogurt stains and was amazed at how clean and odor-free it left her carpet.

Cleaning the machine is as easy as using it. With the tank, you just empty the water into the sink and rinse it, for the crevice tool you just run it through the hose-cleaning tool, and the filter can be rinsed, too. The only negatives that she had were that it didn’t clean up dried bike oil stains and was a little loud — which may be a deterrent for renters and pet owners.

Read our full Shark StainStriker PX201 review.

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The best smart Shark vacuum

The Shark Cordless Detect Pro Auto-Empty System with QuadClean Multi-Surface Brushroll vacuum cleaner is one of the brand's newest models to date and shows just how far home technology has come.

As the name suggests this cordless cleaner detects hidden dirt, and adjusts power accordingly, sensing edges (i.e.: skirting boards), and drawing in debris from the side, as well as in front of it. The powerful LED light means you won't need to squat in search of dust bunnies and under-furniture fluff — because the vac is already on a military-style search and destroy mission. It is even smart enough to work out what type of floor surface it is on (be it carpet or hard floor) and optimize performance.  This also means you don't have to waste time changing settings or brush heads.

This new-to-market model alleviates one of the biggest pet peeves with the post-vacuum process: emptying the machine. Gone are the days of tipping the contents of your vac into the trash, only for a cloud of dust to re-appear in the air — or worse still, you miss the bin altogether. This appliance can be parked in its docking station where it will empty anything it has captured into a HEPA-sealed container — a cleaner, more hygienic solution — especially for anyone with allergies.

For lighter jobs like cleaning a couch or removing cobwebs, this vacuum can also be used as a handheld device to reach crevices, nooks, and crannies. Our tester was able to access ceilings and get between cushions on her upholstered furniture with ease. 

However, one of the biggest downfalls is its inability to suck up pet hair. Our reviewer owns four cats and fosters other animals, and found that the dust cap clogged up when in self-empty mode, resulting in a mess on the floor. Fortunately, you can manually empty this compartment and decant the waste straight into your bin.

Read our full Shark Cordless Detect Pro Auto-Empty System with QuadClean Multi-Surface Brushroll Vacuum Cleaner review

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Compare these Shark vacuums

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Shark vacuum terminology

Many of Shark's vacuums, whether cordless, corded, or robotic, have similar technologies that you'll see above as we listed each vacuum's features. To help you choose a Shark vacuum, here's some info on the most common technologies and terminology that you may come across. Some of these might be a must-have for you, whereas others you can take or leave.

• Lift Away / Powered Lift Away - For upright vacuums or cannister vacs. It means you can detach the bin and the suction part of your vacuum from the main unit, so that you can reach high places or tiny spaces, like the stairs, car, or to clean your upholstery. Essentially, it means your vacuum can also work as a handheld model. Powered LiftAway means the motor can be carried around, too.
• Self-Cleaning Brush Roll / Anti Hair Wrap -  A style of brush roll that will clean hair from carpets and wooden floors without it getting tangled around the brush. Meaning you won't have to go at it with your scissors every few weeks. A game-changer whether you have pets or not.
• DuoClean PowerFins / DuoClean Powerfins HairPro - All in all, this is a type of brush head. It's called DuoClean because it comprises of two motorized brush rolls. One with flexible silicone fins (PowerFins) and the other is a traditional soft roller for a polished look on hard flooring. Paired together, these work to ensure nonstop contact on carpets and floors, meaning every inch of your floors will be clean. These brush rolls have integrated Anti Allergy and Anti-hair wrap. The HairPro addition means it works even harder to pick up hair.
• Anti Allergy - Shark's sealed HEPA filtration system captures and traps 99.9% of dust, allergens, and dander to remove them from the air inside your home and keep them sealed in your vacuum's bin. Essentially, this technology ensures that the air your vacuum emits doesn't contain allergens.
• CleanSenseIQ - This technology works to auto-adjust your vacuum cleaner's suction when going over a floor that's dirty (even if you can't see it). CleanSenseIQ vacuums will have an indicator on their floor head so that you can see when a spot is truly clean.
• MultiFlex / Flexology - This allows cordless Shark vacuums to bend in their stick, to reach underneath furniture. Meaning you don't have to bend down. These vacuums also fold down when it comes to storing. A great feature for smaller homes.
• Odor Neutralizer - A new technology that works with pods (available at Shark) to emit a scent as you clean. You place a pod in the designated hole in your floor head and choose an intensity on the dial. Then, as you vacuum you will be able to smell the pod. 
• HyperVelocity / HyperVelocity Plus - These refer to a specific type of motor. A HyperVelocity motor is a high-speed motor that offers super powerful suction in a lightweight design. This suction feels like it is accelerated and will almost pull you along as you clean. The Plus part is just even more suction.
• CleanEdge - For robot vacuum cleaners, this technology ensures that the corners of your home, by your baseboards, are cleaned too. The side of your robot vacuum cleaner will have a hole to eject a puff of air to push dust and debris into the robot's cleaning path.
• Matrix Clean Navigation - Only for robot vacuum cleaners, this is the specific pattern this vacuum cleans in. It also means that your robot vacuum will clean with multiple passes. This means the vacuum will cover every spot on your floor sometimes even twice.

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FAQs

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How we reviewed these Shark vacuum cleaners

Here at Real Homes we like to get some hands-on experience with each of the products we feature in our buyers' guides. This means that it'll help us understand more about what you are getting for your money. That's why nearly every vacuum you see featured in this guide has been tested at home by a member of the Real Homes team. 

You can read our full reviews by clicking the highlighted product titles in orange and if you want to know more about the specific tests we conduct, we've got an extensive guide on how we test vacuum cleaners. You'll see that they have been used for a number of weeks (sometimes months) in our own homes, so they are faced with real-life challenges. Sometimes brands kindly gift us the vacuum cleaners after testing, so we can update our guides as we continue to learn about them over a longer period of time. We've considered all the important factors, such as maneuverability, run-time, emptying of the canister (or bag), and general controls.

And, on occasion, the brand will invite us to their headquarters to see the vacuums in their research and development stage. This is important to learn about the technology contained within the device.

• Don't miss our expert guide on how to clean a Shark vacuum cleaner to keep yours looking and working at its best

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Meet our Shark vacuum reviewers

Our expert team of Shark vacuum testers tested these models in their own small homes, meaning they were able to challenge each vacuum's capabilities in a real life setting.

Annie Collyer

Our head ecommerce editor Annie has tried the Shark Wandvac and loves it as a handheld vacuum for getting into corners, cleaning her upholstery, and dusting her skirting boards. Otherwise, she uses the Shark Stratos IZ862H as her main vacuum and thinks it's brilliant at cleaning the mess her pug Doug leaves behind on a daily basis.

Jaclyn Turner

Jaclyn was our former ecommerce editor at Real Homes. Jaclyn has tested three Shark vacuums from this list. She has tested our standout top pick, the Shark Vertex HZ2002, and was impressed by the lightweight, multi-flex design, which makes everyday vacuuming much easier. She also tried the Shark AZ2002 vacuum and gave it four stars.

Jennifer (Jen) Oksien

Jen is the homes editor at TechRadar. Previously she has written for Ideal Home, Real Homes, and Homes & Gardens as our appliances editor. From this list, she has tested the handheld cordless Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ in her home.

Camryn Rabideau

Camryn is the contributing reviews editor for Real Homes, specializing in home and kitchen products. She tested the Shark MessMaster VS101 in her small homestead in Rhode Island. While it worked well in her home, her favorite place to use it was her car.

Danielle Valente

Danielle is the content editor at Real Homes. She tested the Shark Rocket HV301 for us in her New York apartment and found it useful for cleaning her smaller home, despite it being slightly cumbersome. She has previously written for My Imperfect Life and Woman&Home. 

Eve Smallman

Eve is a staff writer at Real Homes. She has reviewed numerous homewares since joining the team in 2022, testing everything from pillows to white noise machines. This time she tested the Shark HydroVac Pro XL WD201, which she found cleaned her hard wood flooring brilliantly.

Camille Dubuis-Welch

Camille is the former deputy editor of Real Homes where she covered a broad range of topics, including house tours, small space design, and gardens. She tested the Shark StainStriker in her home which has lots of carpets.

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