You’d be forgiven for believing that every single handheld vacuum cleaner can handle pet hair – but the truth is, many can’t.
Any owner of a shedding cat or shaggy dog will acknowledge that cleaning up after pets is among the toughest jobs and most frequent cleaning jobs on the calendar.
The complications are manifold. Pet hair never stops increasing. It frequently appears (in massive amounts) and is remarkably good at sticking to stuff.
The floor head of a standard vacuum might make a great effort as long as it uses a stiff, bristled rotating brush bar. But you don’t want to use it to remove hair from your furniture, and it’s too bulky for the stairs.
Fortunately, from our round-up below – you can choose from the best handheld vacuums – specifically for cleaning pet hair. Luckily, there is currently an expansive and quality range of products designed specifically with pet lovers in mind.
A Deep Dive – The 6 Best Handheld Vacuum Cleaners for Pet Hair (scroll to the end to find our Bonus Model):
Let’s take a look at our detailed reviews of the seven best handheld cleaners for tackling pet hair around the home, in your car – or wherever else you might find it.
Before we do though – here is a quick summary of all the models we’ve reviewed:
| - | Products Mentioned In This Article | A Quick Look | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
BEST OVERALL  | Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Hand Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
RUNNER UP  | BLACK+DECKER BDH2020FL GEN 2 Flex VAC |
| Check Latest Price |
A CUSTOMER FAVORITE  | Shark WV201 WANDVAC Handheld Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
BEST VALUE  | BISSELL AeroSlim Lithium Ion Cordless Handheld Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
MOST VERSATILE  | Tineco A11 Hero Cordless Lightweight Stick Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
BEST FOR PET HAIR!  | Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
1.) Best Overall: Hoover ONEPWR Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Cordless
Key specs :
- Dimensions: 6.5 x 16.5 x 5 In
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Power Supply: cordless
- Battery Runtime: 14 minutes
- Bin Volume: 0.4 liters
This remarkable cleaner is a pet owner’s favorite because it’s easy to use, cordless, has great bin volume, and delivers powerful suction on different surfaces.
It ranks top of the heap for maneuverability, set-up, effectiveness, and ease of emptying. It also comes with a tapered nozzle for efficient vacuuming of tight spaces.
Hoover ONEPWR is also practical to maintain, thanks to its washable filter. The durable, interchangeable lithium-ion battery can also power other appliances by Hoover, including leaf blowers and stick vacuums.
This is among the pricier brands on this list. But its striking performance makes it worthwhile if you need a robust, reliable dust buster and pet hair remover.
Pros
- A large dust bin
- Potent suction
- Ease of emptying
- A tapered nozzle to fit tiny spaces
Cons
- It’s relatively costly
- The powerful battery back means additional weight
- Lightweight, power in the palm of your hand
- Powerful suction for quick pick-ups
- Easy-empty, xl dirt cup
- On-board crevice tool to tackle hard-to-reach areas in cracks and crevices
- Powered by the ONEPWR lithium-ion battery for the fade-free power and run time to clean anywhere
2.) Runner-Up: Black+Decker 20V Max Flex
Key specs:
- Dimensions: 14.88 x 10.68 x 6.5 In
- Weight: 3.2 pounds
- Power Supply: cordless
- Battery Runtime: 20 minutes
- Bin Volume: 0.44 liters
The 20-volt, cordless Max Flex amazes many pet owners with its unmatched versatility, clever design, and suction power.
It nearly made it to the top of this list, but you must operate it with two hands, and that inconvenience docks it. However, this is a good pick if you have no problem holding the motor in your right hand while you vacuum with your left (or vice versa).
The cleaner has a flexible four-foot hose that lets you quickly clear fur and debris from stairs, vehicle floor mats, or upholstery. This hose wraps around the motor, making it space-saving and easy to store. The cleaner also has a pet hair tool that does a remarkable job.
Notably, the vacuum is noisy enough to hinder a conversation. But you can complete multiple messy tasks without making a single trip to the trash can.
Pros
- A flexible four-foot hose
- Pet hair attachment
- Storage simplicity
Cons
- You need to use both hands
- Relatively noisy
- Cordless, portable, & ultra compact - 20v max lithium hand vac
- Four-foot flexible hose - clean floor to ceiling
- Washable bowl and filter - easy-to-clean
- 17 oz. capacity dirt bowl.
- Quick charging - charging station and base keeps the unit charged and accessories organized
- Pet brush - clean stubborn pet hair from carpets, stairs, and other upholstery
3.) Best Splurge: Shark WV201 WANDVAC Handheld Vac
Key specs:
- Dimensions: 16.5 x 2.5 x 2.4 In
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
- Power Supply: Cordless
- Battery Runtime: 9.5 minutes
- Bin Volume: 0.78 liters
Are you looking for a light, small, and cordless vacuum that won’t fatigue your arms? The Shark WV201 WANDVAC could be a perfect pick.
While it doesn’t have a particularly long battery life, there’s no denying that it’s lightweight. Its two nozzles and small size make it the ideal cleaner for zeroing in on the puppy fur in your seat cracks or the bread crumbs your baby dropped in the car’s backseat.
The suction power is way better than most models at its level too. You can also easily dump after cleaning without vitrifying your hands.
Another remarkable feature of this handheld vacuum is its well-designed charging dock. It also doesn’t take long to charge, offsetting the inconvenience of limited battery life.
Pros
- Portable, ergonomic design
- One-touch trashing
- Powerful suction
Cons
- A relatively smaller dustbin
- Limited runtime
- Powerful cordless suction: high-speed, brushless motor delivers unbelievable suction power.
- Ultra-lightweight: at just 1.4 lbs., the hand vacuum is designed for maneuverability
- Easy to maintain: hand vacuum maintenance is simple with a detachable dust cup
- Brilliant filtration technology to capture both dust and large debris.
- Sleek charging dock designed for quick access and fast charging.
- One-touch empty with the single touch of a button
- Led indicator on the control panel indicates charging status and remaining battery life.
- Ergonomic handle design provides comfortable cleaning and heightened control
- Includes tools for pet hair and tight spaces: use the multi-surface pet tool for upholstery, carpets
4.) Best Value: Bissell AeroSlim Hand Vacuum
Key specs:
- Dimensions: 2.75 x 12.6 x 3.62 In
- Weight: 1.37 pounds
- Power Supply: Cordless
- Battery Life: 12 minutes
- Bin Volume: 3.38 ounces
This is arguably among the most portable vacuums available.
Just so you understand its size, a quart of water weighs two pounds, but this cleaner weighs only 1.3 pounds. The palm-sized handheld vac measures slightly over a foot long, and you can store it upright on its charging station.
Bissell AeroSlim’s compact and lightweight design makes it ideal for hard surface pick-ups. It combines a soft brush accessory and crevice tool that can take care of the fur on your computer keyboard or between your cushions.
The mini handheld vac also has a storage stand for holding the vacuum upright and stores the accessory tool. It also has a washable filter, average battery life, and convenient charging via a USB port.
Pros
- Small, compact design
- Potent suction
- Can be charged with a laptop or in the car
Cons
- The fan placement isn’t great
- It doesn’t work optimally on low-pile carpet
- Every Bissell purchase helps save pets. Bissell proudly supports Bissell pet foundation
- Lithium-ion battery provides up to 12 minutes of cordless cleaning power
- Compact enough to store, clean and charge in your car or office
- 2-in-1 crevice tool & dusting brush store together with hand vacuum on one stand
- Charging is convenient and versatile with the standard charger and included USB charging
- Sleek design. Fits into any space with its modern aesthetic and integrated tool storage and stand
5.) Most Versatile: Tineco A11 Cordless Stick Vacuum
Key specs:
- Dimensions: 11.2 x 10.4 x 43.7 In
- Weight: 11.46 Pounds
- Power Supply: Cordless
- Battery Runtime: Up to 40 minutes
- Bin Volume: 20.28 ounces
The Tineco A11 Hero is a great all-rounder that will deal with all manner of clean-ups – including your pet hair.
The A11 win’s ‘Most Versatile’ on our list as it offers up countless features and functions including a wall-mount charging dock, a huge one-touch empty dustbin, 3 power modes, great battery life and countless attachments to hit any area in your car or around the home.
Even though it looks pretty big and unwieldy for a handheld vac, the stick can easily be removed to make it much smaller and more portable for those tight spaces.
Definitely worth a look as a general-use vacuum that can easily tackle your pet hair problems as well
Pros
- Multiple attachments
- Removable battery
- Remarkable cleaning ability
Cons
- Pricier when compared to smaller units
- 3 power modes - max power mode delivers ultra-powerful suction at 120w, allowing it to easily pick up everything
- Portable handheld vac converts to a lightweight portable handheld vacuum for use anywhere
- Long run time with a detachable high performance battery delivers up to 40 minutes of uninterrupted cleaning
- Front led lights for lighting up dark spots
- Better cleaning results from a 4-stage, fully sealed filtration system to capture fine particles
6.) Best for Pet Hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Hand Vac
Key specs:
- Dimensions: 16 x 4.5 x 5 In
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Power Supply: Cordless
- Battery Life: Up to 17 minutes
- Bin Volume: 23.7 ounces
Yep – this one is our top pick SPECIFICALLY for pet hair! You don’t have to pull out your heavy-duty vacuum to get rid of pet hair – the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is your one-stop vac.
This handheld vac can quickly tackle dirt from fur to kibble on all flooring types. Users appreciate the simple, portable design comprising a dust bin push button and an on-off switch. Moreover, the attachments clip on and off with ease, so no worries about them popping off.
The only concern with this handheld cleaner is its emptying style requiring the user to remove the filter before they dump the contents.
That aside – the Pet Hair Eraser is great at its specific task and is well worth the price tag.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Powerful brush head
- A massive dustbin
Cons
- One must remove the filter to empty the device
- Buy Bissell, Save pets. Bissell will donate 5 dollars for each pet hair eraser purchase
- Remove more embedded dirt and pet hair with a motorized brush tool and lithium-ion battery
- Large, easy-to-empty dirt bin to help get rid of pet hair easily
- Triple-level filtration
- A set of specialized pet tools includes: a motorized brush tool, upholstery tool, and crevice tool
BONUS MODEL: Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum
No matter what you are using it for – no cordless handheld vacuum list is complete without the Dyson V11.
This is one of the best handheld vacuums ever made and rivals the performance of many corded vacuums.
Dyson is known the world over for their class-leading reputation and reliability, paired with unbeatable innovation, technology and design.
We’ve put this as our ‘Bonus Model’ as it is top of the class in almost every way – however, commands a much higher price and maybe a bit of ‘overkill’ if you simply need a small vacuum for pet hair.
If you’re looking to go a notch above though and get a high-performance vacuum, this is the one.
- 2x the suction power of any cordless vacuum
High Torque cleaner head intuitively adapts to any floor type in Auto mode
The Integrated LCD screen displays an active countdown timer and the machine's performance in real-time
The Digital motor inside the V11 delivers 40% more suction power than the Previous Dyson V8 cord-free
Guidelines for Choosing the Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair
Not every handheld vacuum cleaner does a good job when it comes to pet hair and dirt. But with the following considerations in mind, you’re better placed to make an informed decision:
Price and Budget
No one wants to pay too much, but in the same breath, you don’t want to have to buy twice (or thrice!). These machines serve specific purposes, so it’s essential to pick one that aligns with your purpose before considering the price. A one-time investment is way better than buying several fake cleaners.
Weight
Cleaning pet hair on furniture, floors, car upholstery, or stairs requires you to turn, pull, push, and lift the pick.
The vacuum’s weight becomes quite noticeable when you use it for a long time, so if this is a concer for you – you should probably consider a more lightweight model. Keep in mind that lightweight vacuums typically have smaller dustbins and shorter battery life. This is the trade-off.
Warranty
Typically, some brands offer a more extended warranty than their competitors. Always go for the maximum warranty time available when it’s offered if you are shopping in the higher price range.
Battery Life
You don’t want your preferred cleaner to quit on you before you complete a cleaning task, so battery life is a crucial consideration. On average, cordless vacuums span between 9 and 45 minutes. Also, pay attention to the charging time, which may reach as much as ten hours. Consider a brand with interchangeable batteries if you wish to complete lengthy tasks efficiently.
Included Attachments
Your handheld vacuum’s versatility depends on the included attachments, although they’re limited in variety compared to their full-sized counterparts. At a minimum, go for an upholstery brush and a crevice tool that lets you access narrow spaces like beside the legs of a table and between appliances.
HEPA Filter
HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration and effective dust capture are crucial for your home’s dust reduction and deep cleaning. A HEPA filter eliminates 99% of pollen, dust, mold, and other small particles.
Suction
Hands down, the utmost consideration when looking for a handheld vacuum. A brand with better suction can quickly pick up debris, dirt, and fur, and you may even enjoy using it.
Power
Do you have to plug in the device, or is it cordless? Can you charge it in your car, or must you have a wall outlet? Before you choose a brand, check out the manual to ascertain whether you’re comfortable with its average run time. Consider a corded model if you need one for more extensive cleaning.
Bin Capacity
Handheld cleaners have varying storage capacities. Obviously, a larger container is ideal for pet owners because it will take longer to be emptied. Also, a clear container adds some “transparency” to the whole process, and you’ll easily know when to empty it.
Verdict: The Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair
You have multiple options to check out when looking for the best handheld vac to deal with pet hair.
As mentioned, we think the Dyson V11 is the best cordless vacuum on the market at the moment – but if you don’t have the budget and really only require it for pet hair – the best models to consider are the Hoover ONEPWR, Black+Decker 20V Max Flex, and Shark WV201 WANDVAC.
Check all the top considerations while considering your needs and preferences as you compare.
| - | Products Mentioned In This Article | A Quick Look | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
BEST OVERALL | Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Hand Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
RUNNER UP | BLACK+DECKER BDH2020FL GEN 2 Flex VAC |
| Check Latest Price |
A CUSTOMER FAVORITE | Shark WV201 WANDVAC Handheld Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
BEST VALUE | BISSELL AeroSlim Lithium Ion Cordless Handheld Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
MOST VERSATILE | Tineco A11 Hero Cordless Lightweight Stick Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
BEST FOR PET HAIR! | Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions regarding handheld vacuum cleaners.
Which Is the Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair?
Many cordless handheld vacs can get the job done if you’re dealing with pet hair. But the best overall for this job is the Hoover ONEPWR.
What’s The Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair On Stairs?
An excellent handheld vac for eliminating pet hair on stairs must have a specialized head for efficient cleaning. The best device in this category is the Shark WV201 WANDVAC.
Which Is the Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair On Furniture & Upholstery?
The best vacuum with the right nozzle to clean furniture and upholstery is the Tineco A11 due to it’s brilliant versatility and decent power.
What Should You Consider When Looking for The Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair in Cars?
Besides considering your needs and preferences, you must also compare the respective devices’ battery runtime, bin volume, portability, ease of storage, suction power, and filter.
That’s It!
We all love our pets, but there’s no denying they can make a mess of the house and car. With the right vacuum for hair, and the right steam mop for any ‘indoor accidents’ – you’ll always be able to keep on top of whatever needs cleaning.
We hope this has helped you make your decision as to which cordless handheld vacuum is best suited for your particular pet hair mess!
There are some great models to choose from that suit a range of specific needs across all budgets – check them out, have a closer look at the details and get to work!
P.S. – if the Dyson V11 has caught your eye and you want to know more about it – this is probably the best review and walkthrough on it you’ll find:
