Updated By Matt Clayton A Week Ago

6 Best Upright Vacuums For Pet Hair In 2022 (Tested and Reviewed)

Are you looking for the perfect upright vacuum that will tackle pet hair and all other pet-related messes? Something powerful and efficient, yet versatile, adaptable, and easily maneuvered?

 Our expert team did some extensive research and tested the most popular upright vacuums in real pet homes to find the ones with great performance and ideal features to benefit pet owners.

Out of all our contestants, these are the 6 best upright vacuums for pet hair.

Table of Contents
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    Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner For Pet Hair – Reviews

    Best Overall + for Carpets
    Shark APEX
    Shark APEX
    Our Score
    9.8
    Best for Usability
    Shark Rotator Lift-Away TruePet
    Shark Rotator Lift-Away TruePet
    Our Score
    9.4
    Best Budget Option
    Bissell Cleanview
    Bissell Cleanview
    Our Score
    8.6
    • Shark APEX - Best overall (+ best for carpets)
      High-power vacuum with strong suction, tangle-free brush, and advanced filtration
    • Shark Rotator Lift-Away TruePet Most user-friendly
      Agile design with practical tools, excellent filtration, and top performance
    • Bissell Pet Hair EraserBest midrange option
      Specifically designed for pet hair and other pet-related messes
    • Hoover UH70120 T-Series WindTunnel Reliable and practical
      Slightly older but a popular and functional vacuum that cleans carpets thoroughly
    • Bissell CleanviewNifty budget option
      Very reasonably priced vacuum with tools designed for pet-related messes
    • Eureka PowerSpeed – For a tight budget
      Great attachments and filtration, but doesn’t quite compare in performance

    We select and review all products independently; however, we may earn a small commission on purchases made through our links. Learn more.

    1. Shark APEX (Best Overall+Best for Carpets)

    Editor's Choice

    Most powerful vacuum from Shark with amazingly strong suction, a tangle-free cleaning head, and an advanced filtration system to benefit pet owners with pets that shed — the top dog for picking up pet hair. Check the latest price on Amazon.

    Shark APEX Upright Vacuum with DuoClean for Carpet and HardFloor Cleaning, Zero-M Anti-Hair Wrap, & Powered Lift-Away with Hand Vacuum (AZ1002), Espresso

    If you're looking for a high-power upright vacuum that is easy to use and offers excellent cleaning results –especially on carpets, then you should definitely consider this one.

    Not only does it do a wonderful job at keeping all types of surfaces clean from the floor to ceiling, but it also has some unique features that make vacuuming your home a whole lot easier.

    Let's find out why we love the Apex and why it keeps getting those high ratings from users.

    The Shark Apex lives up to its name; it really is the top upright vacuum from Shark in terms of performance, power, and features. And not only when compared to Shark vacuums; this vacuum gives all competitors a run for their money with the strong suction and innovative features that benefit pet owners especially.

    Performance and ease of use

    Shark APEX Upright Vacuum with DuoClean for Carpet and HardFloor Cleaning, Zero-M Anti-Hair Wrap, & Powered Lift-Away with Hand Vacuum (AZ1002), EspressoFirst of all, we have to mention the Lift-Away feature, which makes Shark vacuums stand out from many other upright vacuums. The Lift-Away technology allows you to detach the body of the vacuum from the hose, turning the vacuum into a kind of canister vacuum that you can easily carry around.

    With the wand and cleaning head separated from the motor and body of the vacuum, you can easily clean areas such as staircases or under furniture. It makes the Apex extremely adaptable compared to other sturdy and heavy-built uprights.

    Although the vacuum is not the most lightweight upright vacuum, it's not the heaviest either. And especially in the Lift-Away mode, you will have no trouble carrying it around.

    Active Glide technology makes it easy to maneuver, and you will have no difficulty steering the vacuum between furniture and on all types of surfaces. Actually, the vacuum even seems to pull itself forward, which makes using it effortless in the upright configuration. However, when you use the Lift-Away mode, the vacuum may even seem a bit difficult to pull back on the carpet — just a minor shortcoming, but something that should be mentioned.

    The DuoClean feature combines the sturdier brush roll with a soft roller in one cleaning head. Because of this innovative design, the vacuum picks up all types of dirt on all kinds of floor surfaces.

    The performance is fantastic on both floors and carpets, and it basically picks up anything from kibble, sand, and cereal to fine dust and pet hair. This is why the Apex gets excellent ratings in performance: it picks up both bigger debris and finer dust with precision.

    The vacuum has three modes: hard floor, low-pile carpet, and thick rugs. On the hard floor mode, the vacuum uses the powerful suction and reduces brush roll speed, but when you turn on one of the carpet modes, the brush rolls speed up to give those excellent results on a more challenging surface as well.

    Shark APEX Upright Vacuum with DuoClean for Carpet and HardFloor Cleaning, Zero-M Anti-Hair Wrap, & Powered Lift-Away with Hand Vacuum (AZ1002), EspressoFor pet owners, we have some excellent news: this upright vacuum is the top dog when it comes to picking up pet hair. And not only is it able to lift up that persistent needle-like hair that gets stuck on your carpet, but it also has no problem sucking in long pet hair too. The new innovative brush roll technology called Zero M actively removes pet hair that tries to wrap around the brush — no more getting out the scissors to free the brush roll from a wrap of hair. How amazing is that?

    The vacuum even has LED lights on the floor nozzle and the handle to enable you to see all the dust and hair that lurks under furniture and appliances or in those dark corners. It's a great feature that adds to the usability of this vacuum.

    And that's not all. The wonderful engineers at Shark have even added a noise reduction design, which keeps the running noise down. In pet homes, this can be a huge plus because pets may often get stressed out if appliances make a high-pitch or loud noise.

    Attachments

    The main cleaning head has the DuoClean design with the double brush roll, making it very effective on both hard floors and carpets. The width of the cleaning path is 11 inches, which allows you to vacuum a wide area with each pass. The cord length is 30 feet, and the length of the hose is 5.5 feet, which gives you that much-needed reach in bigger homes or rooms.

    In addition to the DuoClean head, you get three attachments:

    • A 12-inch Crevice Tool for cleaning tight spaces
    • A two-in-one Pet Multi-Tool with an upholstery tool and a bristle brush combined
    • Mini Motorized Pet Brush with a spinning brush roll that is ideal for removing pet hair from surfaces like upholstered furniture, carpeted stairs, and car seats.

    If you want to upgrade your toolset, more attachments like the Under Appliance Wand and Anti-Allergen Dust Brush are available as well.

    By combining the Lift-Away technology with a flexible hose and some clever attachments, Shark has designed a versatile all-around vacuum that lets you easily clean not only floors and carpets but all the above-floor areas as well. The Apex is a smart choice for any home because of its unique adaptability.

    Filtration

    Shark APEX Upright Vacuum with DuoClean for Carpet and HardFloor Cleaning, Zero-M Anti-Hair Wrap, & Powered Lift-Away with Hand Vacuum (AZ1002), EspressoThe filtration system in the Shark Apex is called the Advanced Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology with HEPA filter. What it means is that the filtration system is completely sealed, and dirty air will not leak from the vacuum before it has been cleaned. For people with allergies (and homes with pets), this is an important feature. Many vacuums have excellent filters, but if the system is not sealed, some of the dust and other small particles leak back into the air and reduce the indoor air quality.

    With the sealed system, the air is guaranteed to be filtered before it exits the vacuum. In this case, all the dirt, dust, hair, and other debris is filtered out by foam filters and a washable lifetime HEPA filter.

    The filtration system in the Apex is very advanced, and it ensures that the dirt the vacuum picks up actually lands in the dirt bin, making this vacuum an excellent choice if you have allergies, asthma, or you want to take care of your indoor air quality.

    The dirt bin holds 1.4 liters of dirt, which is pretty sizeable. Even if you have more than one shedding pet, the container will be able to hold quite a lot of pet hair and other dirt before it needs to be emptied.

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    What We Like

    + Strong suction
    + Amazing cleaning performance  
    + Duo Clean double head for hard floors and carpets
    + Lift-Away technology
    + Zero M tangle-free brush roll
    + Sealed filtration with a washable lifetime HEPA filter
    + Sizeable dirt cup
    + Mini Motorized Pet Brush for pet hair
    + Crevice Tool and Pet Multi-Tool

    What We Dislike

    - We would like to see a longer hose
    - On carpets, the pull can be even too strong

    Bottom Line

    The Shark Apex is an amazingly strong upright vacuum that offers superb cleaning performance and picks up anything from kibble and sand to dust and pet hair. It performs well on not only hard floors and all kinds of carpets, but it also does an excellent job on the above-floor areas.

    It is easy to use with the innovative Lift-Away mode that turns it into a portable canister vacuum, and who wouldn't love a tangle-free brush roll?

    It comes with a sealed HEPA filtration system and washable lifetime filters. Also, the dirt cup is big to fit all that pet hair the vacuum pulls up from your carpets with the DuoClean cleaning head that combines two brush rolls for maximum pick-up.

    All in all, this vacuum is a powerful and versatile appliance for effortless yet thorough cleaning. Cudos to Shark for designing such a great product!

    Our rating

    2. Shark Rotator Lift-Away TruePet (Most user-friendly)

    Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet vacuum cleaner has an innovative design combining the power of an upright vacuum and the agility of a canister one. This Lift-Away feature sets it apart from other upright vacuums and makes it incredibly versatile. With excellent filtration, adaptable attachments and many convenient features a pet owner would love to have in a vacuum cleaner; this vacuum was sure to make the top upright vacuums for pet hair. Click here to read user reviews on Amazon.

    Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Crevice Tool, Pet Multi-Tool and Power Brush with a Bordeaux Finish

    Performance and ease of use

    With its unique Lift-Away design, the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet vacuum is truly an all-around vacuum.

    In the upright mode, it uses the brush roll head to give all carpets thick and thin a thorough cleanup. In this mode, the machine is quite bulky, but Shark has found an innovative way to turn it into an agile canister vacuum for narrow spaces. You can just pick up the canister and...

    use the hose and wand combo to vacuum underneath furniture and in tight spots where you couldn’t fit a full-sized upright vacuum. It even turns into a handheld vacuum to give those stairs a proper cleanup. You can carry the canister with you and attach tools to the hose to clean stairs, vents, curtains, and even the car interior.

    How great is that?

    To make your cleaning job even easier, the Rotator has LED-lights to offer visibility and fingertip controls so you don’t have to keep bending down for adjustments. It also has Dynamic Swivel Steering to help you maneuver the vacuum around furniture.

    Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Crevice Tool, Pet Multi-Tool and Power Brush with a Bordeaux Finish

    The filtration has three stages with two washable pre-motor filters made out of foam and felt, and a post-motor HEPA filter. It also comes with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, which, combined with the HEPA filter, makes sure that only extremely clean air is blown out of the vacuum and all allergens and pollutants are left inside the dirt cup.

    And speaking of the dirt cup: it is a bit on the small side when it comes to capacity, but it does have an Easy-to-Empty feature which takes care of dumping the dirt with just a push of the button. No need to pull out wads of pet hair, as the content just falls out into the trash bin when the bottom of the dirt container is opened.

    Attachments

    To get the most out of your upright vacuum, you need to have some excellent attachments. Upright vacuums are great on carpet, but if you want to use them on other surfaces as well, you can add versatility with different tools rather than having to buy another vacuum for above-floor cleaning. The accessories of the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruPet include:

    • Hard Floor Hero floor head
    • TruePet Mini Motorized Brush
    • Pet Multi-Tool
    • Duster Crevice Tool
    • as well as a canister caddy, and
    • accessories bag

    Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet vacuum has the combined benefits of an upright vacuum and a canister vacuum. In the upright mode, the floor head with the brush roll engages carpets for a deeper clean, and in the Lift-Away mode, the vacuum cleaner turns into an agile canister vacuum ready to give a thorough cleanup on hard floor areas.

    The Hard Floor Hero floor head is used by attaching it to the hose and wand. It has a sleek design that allows it to be maneuvered under and between low-built furniture, and it is perfect for picking up cat litter and food pellets in your kitchen.

    The Duster Crevice Tool, TruePet Mini Motorized Brush, and Pet Multi-Tool are what you need for above-floor cleaning. With these tools, you can tackle surfaces like upholstered furniture, curtains, baseboards, bed, and car seats.

    The Pet Multi-Tool is very handy with its pet hair attracting lining and brush, but for really tackling that pet hair, you should bring out the TruePet Mini Motorized Brush.

    This tool will lift up even the most persistent pet hair – long or short – and quickly push in in the suction path to be lifted up by the suction. This tool is one of the most advanced motorized tools on the market and something every pet owner would love to have.

    What We Like

    +  Stylish and sleek design
    +  Lightweight
    +  Powerful 270AW suction
    +  Hard Floor Hero Attachment
    +  Powered Lift-Away system for added versatility
    +  Motorized brush tool for removing stubborn pet hair
    +  Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and HEPA filter to reduce allergens
    +  The bright LED lights on the handle and cleaning head for visibility
    +  Dynamic Swivel Steering for easy maneuvering
    +  Various carpet height settings

    What We Dislike

    -  May tip over when the canister is in Lift-Away mode
    -  Although considered lightweight in its category, quite heavy when carried around

    Bottom Line

    It may feel like this review is full of praises, which it is. The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet is one of the bestselling pet hair vacuums, and that is for a good reason. Its performance is excellent, and so are the many features that make vacuuming quicker and more comfortable for the user.

    The price is reasonable, and with this kind of versatility, it’s well worth the investment. The features and quality it comes with back up the price tag. If you want a versatile upright vacuum to tackle pet hair, this is the one to choose.

    Our rating

    3. Bissell Pet Hair Eraser (Best midrange option)

    The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is one of the top upright vacuums for pet hair and here’s why: it has been specially designed for removing pet hair and other pet-related messes, and the amazing attention to detail and unique features are why it can efficiently tackle all those cleanups pet owners encounter. Click here to read real user reviews on Amazon.

    Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 1650A Upright Vacuum with Tangle Free Brushroll

    Powerful suction combined with great attachments is what makes this vacuum such a great purchase. It is not perfect, but it comes pretty close. And the small downsides are made up for with some very useful details and pricing that is precisely where it should be.

    Performance and ease of use

    This Bissell upright vacuum comes with a 30-foot power cord to give you reach and to bring the strong suction with you everywhere in your home. It is quite heavy at 18 pounds, but... 

    swivel steering makes it easy to maneuver, and the Quick Release Wand with an extension hose allows you to get to those hard-to-reach areas.

    The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser upright vacuum has a large 1,5-liter washable dirt cup, which saves you the hassle of buying dust bags and allows you to vacuum heaps of pet hair before you have to empty the dirt container.

    Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 1650A Upright Vacuum with Tangle Free Brushroll

    It is perfect for households with many pets or pets that shed a lot because in addition to the large capacity the dirt cup also has a Pet Hair Spooling System to prevent clogging and to guarantee hands-free emptying. No more pulling yucky pet hair out of the dirt cup with this vacuum!

    Unfortunately, the filtration is not HEPA level, but it is efficient and performs well. The vacuum has a SmartSeal Allergen feature which consists of a sealed multi-level filtration system that includes three filters: two pre-motor filters made of mesh and foam, and one pleated post-motor filter.

    The pre-motor filters are washable, which saves money in the long run. To add another benefit for pet owners, the post-motor filter has a Febreze Pet Odor Eliminator feature to eliminate those nasty smells pets can bring to your home. Even when vacuuming damp pet hair, the air will come out clean, fresh, and smelling nice.

    Attachments

    The main cleaning head has edge-to-edge suction and a unique tangle-free brush roll to offer impressive cleaning results on all floor surfaces. Four different height settings allow you to adjust the floor head specifically for the type of surface you are cleaning from plush high-pile carpet to hardwood floors. Especially owners of long-haired pets are pleased with the tangle-free brush roll.

    Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 1650A Upright Vacuum with Tangle Free Brushroll

    The Quick Release Wand disconnects with a push of a button enabling you to quickly attend to all those above-floor areas you come across when vacuuming. Furniture, curtains, stairs, vents… They all get a thorough cleanup with the interchangeable one-click tools specifically designed with pet owners in mind.

    To better serve pet owners, Bissell has integrated some ingenious details into the attachments.

    • The crevice tool has LED lights to offer better visibility in those tight spots where pet hair tends to collect, and it even comes with a rubberized head to attract that hair.
    • The 2-in-1 Pet Brush is designed for delicate dusting, and
    • the Pet TurboEraser Tool will take care of tougher spots with its powerful spinning brush roll that works perfectly in picking up persistent pet hair.
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    What We Like

    +  Quick Release Wand offers adaptability
    +  Even more versatility with specially designed attachments
    +  Very efficient with excellent cleaning results
    +  The tangle-free brush roll is a lifesaver with pet hair
    +  Pet Hair Spooling System prevents clogging
    +  SmartSeal Allergen System reduces allergens
    +  Febreze Pet Odor Eliminator filter removes pet odors
    +  Ultra-maneuverable vacuum head
    +  Broad cleaning head with edge-to-edge cleaning
    +  Cleans both carpets as well as hard surfaces and above floor surfaces
    +  Easy to assemble
    +  Impressive 5-year limited warranty

    What We Dislike

    -  Like many upright vacuums, it is quite heavy at 18 pounds
    -  No retractable power cord
    -  No HEPA filter
    -  Can lose suction if not properly cleaned and maintained

    Bottom Line

    The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser upright vacuum has been designed to tackle all those pet-related messes, and that is what makes it a great pet hair vacuum. Attention to detail and convenient features are the reason it deserves its place on our list of top upright vacuums for pet hair.

    At the price point this vacuum is at, you will definitely make a good investment should you decide to buy it. Thousands of pet owners using the Pet Hair Eraser vacuum and giving it praising reviews can’t be wrong, and when you look at what this product has to offer, you know why.

    Our rating

    4. Hoover UH70120 T-Series WindTunnel (Reliable and practical)

    This Hoover vacuum is one of the bestselling pet hair vacuums on Amazon, and for a good reason. It is powerful and efficient, and it has many convenient features to help out pet owners. It comes at an affordable price considering all the features, and users praise it for being easy to use and having good suction power. Click here to read real user reviews on Amazon.

    Hoover T-Series WindTunnel Rewind Plus Upright Vacuum Cleaner, with HEPA Media Filtration, Lightweight and Corded, UH70120, Green

    Performance and ease of use

    The Hoover T-series WindTunnel Pet vacuum has a traditional upright vacuum design with the pretty bulky self-standing construction. Although it is quite large and heavy, it has some nice features that add convenience and ease-of-use.

    This vacuum boasts a 5-position carpet height adjustment, which enables you to have perfect cleaning results on all surfaces, and you can turn the brush roll off with a tap on the foot pedal. Because of...

    these adjustments, this vacuums has excellent performance on all kinds of carpets as well as hard floors.

    The floor head has the WindTunnel design, which means two subsequent suction paths which minimize blowback and make sure that particles are sucked in and not scattered around. This feature is convenient when vacuuming cat litter or food pellets scattered on the floor.

    It is bagless with a dirt canister that is easy to empty. Some users have found difficulties with emptying the dust cup, but if you follow the instructions and do it correctly there should be no problem and all the dirt is quickly dumped into the trash.

    This Hoover T-Series WindTunnel uses a Dual-Cyclonic Air System, which separates larger debris from the finer particles before they reach the filter. By doing this, the system lengthens the lifetime of the filters and prevents them from getting clogged.

    The filtration is excellent: the carbon filter absorbs nasty pet smells and the HEPA filter filters out all the allergens before the air is pushed back out. Again some very beneficial features for a pet owner to have in their vacuum cleaner.

    The handle is foldable to allow the machine to be stored in a small space, and the 25-foot cord has a rewind function that lets you skip the hassle of coiling the power cord and trying to keep it untangled. It even has headlights to enable you to see all that pet hair and dust that accumulates under the bed and large pieces of furniture.

    Attachments

    With the Hoover T-series WindTunnel Pet vacuum cleaner, you get a very nice set of attachments that will help you with the above-floor cleaning. The vacuum itself is somewhat bulky like most upright vacuums are. The sturdy design offers power and efficiency, but you need convenient and functional attachments to make sure you can reach all the areas of your home that need vacuuming.

    To offer that much-needed reach, this Hoover vacuum comes with a 4-foot extension hose and a 12-inch wand. You can attach the flexible crevice tool at the end to make cleaning of the baseboards and vacuuming between cushions comfortable and easy. Some users say the extension hose is short but adequate for most cleaning jobs you find at your average home.

    To take care of the pet hair accumulating on your furniture and bedding, you get two amazing attachments: a Pet Upholstery Tool and an Air-Powered Pet Hand Tool.

    The edge of the upholstery tool has a lining that attracts pet hair, and it can be used on more delicate fabrics like curtains and cushions to remove loose pet hair.

    For a deeper clean on carpeted stairs and tougher fabrics and to pull out that stubborn embedded pet hair, you can change to the Air-Powered Pet Hand Tool. With its spinning brush roll and stiff bristles, it can dig into carpets pulling out all dirt, hair, dander, and dust.

    The attachments ride along with the vacuum, which is convenient as you have them at hand at all times and they don’t go missing. They also have folding handles, which saves storage space.

    All in all, the attachments of this Hoover upright vacuum are a well-designed, user-friendly and great for pet hair.

    What We Like

    +  Strong suction to suck up all that pet hair
    +  Odor eliminating carbon filter and HEPA filter
    +  Very efficient with pet hair
    +  Easy to maneuver
    +  Air-powered Pet Hand Tool for furniture
    +  Excellent quality at an affordable price
    +  Ergonomic foot pedal and cord retractor for convenience
    +  A foldable handle allows compact storage
    +  Headlights for better visibility
    +  Quiet but powerful

    What We Dislike

    -  Somewhat bulky and heavy build
    -  No dusting brush attachment

    Bottom Line

    With this vacuum cleaner, you get good quality and excellent features that suit pet homes. HEPA filtration, carbon filtration for odors, the cord retractor, and an Air-Powered Pet Hand Tool are all useful details to help you keep your home clean.

    It’s definitely worth the investment if you’re looking for a practical upright vacuum for pet hair with all the essentials functions.

    Our rating

    5. Bissell Cleanview (Nifty budget option)

    This new upright vacuum from Bissell is packed with great features. It is designed for homes with pets, and although it has all those critical features that offer excellent performance, the price is still very moderate. Check the latest price here.

    BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner, Teal

    The Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet is a new upright model from the well-known Bissell company. All though it has not been on the market for long, it has already gained excellent reviews from satisfied users.

    It is very easy to use, and it provides pet homes with excellent cleaning results.

    But are there any downsides to this vacuum? Keep on reading to find out.

    Performance and Ease of use

    This upright vacuum from Bissell allows you to maximize removing pet hair in a home with furry pets.

    The Triple Action Brush Roll loosens, lifts, and removes pet hair and all embedded dirt. This sturdy brush roll ensures the vacuum will engage the surface with the strength needed to remove even the most stubborn dirt, and the strong suction pulls in everything from dust to larger debris.

    The main cleaning head also has what Bissell calls Scatter-Free Technology and an edge-to-edge cleaning feature. These two details make sure that dirt and debris won’t escape the suction. The scatter-free technology helps pet owners pick up spilled pet food, scattered cat litter, or soil and sand brought in by your pet.

    The edge-to-edge feature, on the other hand, enables you to clean more floor area in one pass to make vacuuming a quick no-sweat job. The width of the cleaning path is 13.5 inches, and with the strong suction and brush roll being distributed evenly across the cleaning path, the vacuum makes sure every inch is thoroughly cleaned.

    Another detail that ensures excellent performance is the 5-step height setting on the brush roll. It will help you get the optimal clean by correctly adjusting to the surface.

    Although it is not very lightweight, the Bissell Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet is easy to maneuver with the Swivel steering feature. It has a 27-foot power cord so that you can reach every corner of your home, and a cord retractor to make packing up quick and easy.

    With this upright vacuum cleaning is fast and effortless. It offers a careful clean on all hard floor surfaces and carpets, but it also enables you to easily clean above-floor areas with the extension hose and tools that come along.

    Attachments

    No upright is perfect without an extension hose that offers adaptability and enables you to use that strong suction on areas that gather dust and pet hair like your upholstered furniture, carpeted stairs, blinds, etc.

    The Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet comes with an 8-foot extension hose that offers that much-needed reach. Also, with this vacuum, you get 4 fantastic tools that provide the versatility you need from an upright vacuum.

    First of all, you get two multi-use tools: a combination of a dusting brush and an upholstery tool, and a crevice tool.

    The first tool does a perfect job at dusting surfaces and delicate objects while the second tool lets you vacuum those tight crevices. And to make sure you can reach everywhere with these tools, you also get an extension wand.

    These are the basic tools, but wait – there is more.

    Pet owners will be delighted to hear that there are two more tools included which are highly valuable to owners of pets that shed a lot.

    • The Pet Hair Corner Tool does exactly what it says: it gets every last hair trying to hide in those corners.
    • But what is even better is the Pet Turbo Eraser which is a powerful motorized brush roll tool designed to lift up pet hair from upholstery and other such surfaces. It does a wonderful job at cleaning your carpeted stairs, upholstered furniture, pet bed or car seats. A highly useful tool for any pet owner battling that pet hair.

    Filtration

    The Bissell Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright uses a Multi-Cyclonic Suction System to prevent pet hair from blocking the suction and Multi-Level Filtration to ensure all those nasty particles stay inside the vacuum and are not blown out.

    The 1-liter Easy Empty Dirt Cup is pretty sizeable, but it could be even larger. It is quickly and easily emptied by detaching the container and holding it above the trash can while you press the button that opens the bottom of the cup. Simple and straightforward.

    The dirt container and separator are washable, as are the pre-motor filters. The third filter that is positioned after the motor is not washable, but it is a lifetime filter you don’t need to worry about washing or changing it.

    The first pre-motor filter is made of foam while the second one is a carbon filter designed to eliminate nasty (pet) odors. You can wash them under warm water and use a mild detergent if needed. Cleaning your filters will ensure they last longer – which of course cuts down the maintenance costs.

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    What We Like

    + With swivel steering, this vacuum is easy to maneuver
    + Triple-Action Brush Roll performs well on all surfaces
    + Scatter-free Technology for vacuuming debris like pet food and cat litter
    + Edge-to-edge cleaning to cover more area with each pass
    + 13.5-inch cleaning path
    + 5 surface height settings for optimal results
    + 27-foot cord and automatic cord retractor
    + Multi-Cyclonic Suction System to prevent pet hair from clogging the vacuum
    + 8-foot extension hose
    + Extension wand and two multi-use tools
    + Pet Hair Corner Tool and Pet Turbo Eraser motorized brush
    + The two pre-motor filters are washable
    + Carbon filter eliminates nasty smells
    + Washable Easy Empty Dirt Cup

    What We Dislike

    - The 1-liter dirt cup is large but could be even larger
    - Does not have HEPA a filter

    Bottom Line

    The Bissell Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Vacuum Cleaner is an excellent choice for an affordable upright vacuum for pet hair. It is one of the favorites because it has all those useful and highly valuable features that pet owners love, but no extra high-tech frills which would bring up the cost.

    This product is a powerful and highly rated all-around upright vacuum that will make vacuuming less of a chore with its functional design and easy-to-use features. It will definitely help you win the war against pet hair.

    Also, pet owners will be happy to know, that the company will donate 10 dollars to Bissell Pet Foundation for each purchase.

    Our rating

    6. Eureka PowerSpeed (For a tight budget)

    The Eureka PowerSpeed upright vacuum is a great budget option with the necessary features every pet owners needs. High performance combined with useful details like a huge dirt cup, motorized brush roll tool for pet hair and other handy tools. Click here to read user reviews and see the latest price on Amazon.

    Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Pet Turbo, Black

    It might not have all the bells and whistles, but this new upright vacuum from Eureka has everything you need for pet hair removal. It is a budget option for pet owners looking for an upright vacuum with a large dirt cup, strong suction and a motorized brush roll tool to effectively remove pet hair.

    The Eureka PowerSpeed upright vacuum is a bestselling vacuum that gets excellent reviews from pet owners using it. If you want to know more about this vacuum, then continue reading.

    Performance and ease of use

    The Eureka PowerSpeed vacuum is extremely lightweight at only 12.3 pounds. You can easily lift it up and carry it around for above-floor cleaning or vacuuming the stairs. Other upright vacuums with similar features and power are significantly heavier, which makes this vacuum an excellent choice for especially those who need a very lightweight vacuum.

    The 25-foot cord is fairly long, and the vacuum has an automatic cord retractor which makes it easy to pack it up. With a push of the button, the cord is quickly whipped inside the vacuum minimizing the hassle.

    The main cleaning head has a strong suction and powerful brush roll which together will wipe out all kinds of dirt. The brush roll will pull up pet hair from carpets, and it has a 5-step height adjustment feature to get the perfect clean on all types of surfaces. Also, the 12-inch cleaning path ensures you get more floor area vacuumed with each pass.

    Other details that make vacuuming a breeze for you are the LED headlights that offer better visibility under furniture and the 10’ extended reach feature with the hose that allows you to get to those hard-to-reach areas like vents, fans, and ceilings.

    Some users find the vacuum to be a bit loud and some find it cheap looking. But at this price, you can’t really expect to get a Dyson. What you can expect though, is a well-performing upright vacuum with all the features that you would want to find in a pet hair vacuum.

    Attachments

    With the Eureka PowerSpeed upright vacuum, you get four tools:

    • 7" Crevice Tool
    • Dusting Brush
    • Upholstery Tool
    • a Pet Tool. 

    These tools are precisely what you need to keep your home pet hair-free.

    With the crevice tool, you can get to all the pet hair that tends to collect in small crevices and between cushions. You can also use this attachment to vacuum baseboards.

    The dusting brush, on the other hand, is a great tool for dusting. Traditional dusters can waft dust, dander, and other allergens into the air, but using your vacuum cleaner and a dusting tool will make sure all those nasty particles are sucked into the vacuum and filtered.

    The upholstery tool is something you can use to give your furniture a quick cleanup before the guests arrive, but if you really want to give that couch a thorough cleanup, you might want to bring out the Pet Tool.

    It is a motorized brush roll tool that allows you to carefully clean car seats, upholstered furniture, pet beds, carpeted stairs, and other such areas. The motorized brush roll is especially effective with pet hair and can remove it quickly and easily from all surfaces.

    Filtration

    Pet owners will also appreciate the huge 2.6-liter dust cup that will be able to take a massive amount of pet hair. It is also a Flip-Bottom Dust Cup making it easy to empty once it gets full.

    And because the dirt cup is enormous and the vacuum uses cyclonic airflow pet hair won’t block the air flow easily. Just remember that although the container is large, it should be emptied regularly to prevent loss of suction.

    The vacuum has a foam filter that can be washed and reused to avoid maintenance costs.

    We always prefer seeing a HEPA filter in vacuums, but since the price point is low, it’s understandable there isn’t one. For most people, this type of filtration is enough, but if you have allergies, you might want to consider one of the vacuums with a HEPA filter.

    What We Like

    + 25-foot cord
    + Automatic Cord Rewind
    + 12.6-inch cleaning path
    + 5 height settings for optimal cleaning results
    + Lightweight at only 12.3 pounds
    + 10’ Extended Reach for hard-to-reach places
    + Large washable dirt cup for pet hair
    + Flip Bottom Dirt Cup for easier emptying
    + Washable filter means to maintenance costs
    + 7" Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Upholstery Tool and Motorized Pet Tool
    + Tools can be stored onboard

    What We Dislike

    - Some users find it cheap looking
    - Suction may fade if the filter is not properly cleaned
    - Some find the vacuum noisy

    Bottom Line

    At this price point, you can’t expect to get everything, but when you compare the price and what you get, it’s totally worth the investment. The Eureka PowerSpeed vacuum is incredibly lightweight, and it provides very good cleaning results on carpets as well as hard floors. With the extension hose, wand, and tools this vacuum is an all-around vacuum you can use on all surfaces of your home.

    Pet owners will love the large dirt cup and motorized brush roll tool for wiping out pet hair. And you shouldn’t forget about some of the little details like LED lights and Flip-Bottom Dirt Cup that make vacuuming a whole lot easier.

    It isn’t a top-notch vacuum, but neither is the price. If you’re looking for a budget option for wiping out pet hair, then you should choose this product as your upright vacuum. It has all the right features to be a valuable tool in any pet home.

    Our rating

    Full Comparison: Best Upright Pet Vacuum

    *star rating by PetHairPatrol

    Buying Guide – 7 Factors to Consider

    Are you looking for the ideal upright vacuum to win the battle against persistent pet hair?
    This is what you need to take into consideration when choosing the right product for your needs. And for those not sure, check out what are upright vacuum cleaners.

    Small gray kitten on floor

    1. Suction power and performance

    The most important aspect of any vacuum cleaner is its ability to perform and deliver excellent cleaning results. All other features are pointless if the vacuum doesn’t do its job.

    As you probably know, pet hair can be one of the toughest things to clean up, and that is why you need to find a top-grade vacuum to keep your home tidy.

    All of the upright vacuums we have listed are corded to offer maximum power for the suction. Keep in mind though, that suction power is not the only factor affecting performance. You also need functional attachments, that suit your cleaning needs.

    If you think some other type of vacuum could be a better fit for your needs, you can click here to see all the best pet hair vacuum cleaners, including the best handhelds, canisters, robots and sticks.

    2. Size and weight

    Upright vacuums are often considered bulky and heavy. For other people, this implies power and capability, for others lugging around a massive machine to do your cleaning.

    To be fair, most upright vacuums are much lighter than they used to be. The design is still bulky compared to stick vacuums, but they do also have a stronger suction and wider cleaning path. When choosing an upright vacuum, you need to figure out how important size and weight are for you.

    The big size keeps you from vacuuming under furniture and can be a problem when storing the vacuum. Most upright vacuums have a solution for reaching under low built furniture; some offer a hose and wand, other a detachable handheld vacuum. When choosing your vacuum cleaner, keep in mind the kind of furniture you have at home. Which features would work the best?

    The weight is another thing to keep in mind. Upright vacuums are designed to be pulled and pushed around, not lifted. Although the wheels and swivel head enable easy maneuvering, this type of vacuums can be heavy and not suitable for carrying around.

    For some people, the sturdy design is no problem, but for others, it can be an important factor. If you have carpeted stairs, do you need to pick up the vacuum as you go, or is there a feature that allows you to use a specialized tool attached to a hose without lifting the machine itself? Is there a feature to enable easy vacuuming of above-floor surfaces?

    You can find the weight of our top upright vacuums for pet hair in the comparison table.

    3. Attachments

    The first and most crucial attachment in upright vacuum cleaners is the main cleaning head. Often it is not actually considered an attachment, but it is the most important tool in a vacuum of this type. For the cleaning head to actively pull up pet hair from carpets, it needs to have a spinning brush roll. All of the vacuums in our top 5 listing have this feature because it is the best tool for picking up pet hair and thoroughly cleaning carpets from all kinds of dirt.

    To optimize the cleaning results when moving to hard floors, the brush roll should have some settings. Usually, you can set the height or speed of the brush roll, or the vacuum does this automatically. Height settings make sure all kinds of carpets and bare floors are properly engaged by the brush enabling thorough cleaning, and lower speed makes sure debris isn’t scattered on hard floors. Also, the bristles should be able to deal with many kinds of dirt, dust, and debris as well as hair. Some vacuums have a tangle-free brush roll, but even without this specific feature, the brush should be designed so that pet hair won’t tangle around it or prevent it from spinning.

    attachments for vacuum cleaner

    In addition to the primary cleaning head, you should have at least the basic attachments for your upright to provide adaptability and enable cleaning of other surfaces than just floors.

    • A crevice tool is something that is always handy, as is a dusting brush. These are tools that come along with all vacuums.
    • If you need to vacuum furniture and you want to do it effectively, you should make sure the vacuum has a special upholstery tool designed for pet hair. The most efficient ones are the motorized brush roll tools, which meticulously brush the surface of upholstery fabrics lifting up dust, dander and pet hair.

    To use the provided attachments you should also have a practical system for attaching them on the vacuum. Many upright vacuum cleaners have a hose and wand system, which enables you to reach surfaces high and low.

    Our comparison table introduces you to all the attachments our top upright pet hair vacuums come along with.

    4. Filter

    Upright vacuums used to be mostly bagged, but nowadays, they come with a washable dirt container and many kinds of filtration systems.

    Some offer cyclonic filtering, which is an effective way to filter all dirt from the air. By cleaning the air with a cyclonic system before it is guided through the filter, you can prevent the filter from clogging and lengthen its life.

    Other details you should take into account are the materials filters are made of, are they considered to work well, and whether they a washable. Having washable filters saves you the cost of replacing them every few months.

    Another important detail specifically for people with allergies is whether the filter is a HEPA filter, and if the system is sealed. HEPA filters will filter out all allergens, but only if the system is appropriately sealed not to let any air escape the system before going through the filter.

    5. Surface mostly used on

    The type of floor surface you have at your home should be taken into consideration when picking the perfect vacuum cleaner.

    If you have wall-to-wall carpet or thick rugs, an upright vacuum should be your choice. With the power and weight of the upright vacuum, you will be able to give your carpet a deeper clean than with another type of vacuum cleaner. With their powerful brush roll, upright vacuums can dig deep into the carpet and remove all dust and debris.

    Upright vacuums work well on carpets as well as hard floors, but for the ideal cleaning result, you need to have some adjustments available. Adjusting the height of the brush roll and the strength of the suction enable you to move from carpet to floor without losing the cleaning power. In some upright vacuums, these functions are automated, which makes the job even easier for you!

    If you have large pieces of upholstered furniture or you would like to use the vacuum cleaner in your car, you need to have some sort of hose and a special upholstery tool. With a motorized brush roll tool, you will be able to get all that stubborn pet hair off your recliner in no time!

    When choosing the vacuum cleaner you should take into consideration the surfaces it is used on and whether the vacuum has the right features for the purpose it is intended for.

    The top products we have listed have amazing performance on carpets, hard floors, and above-floor areas alike.

    small dog lying on white sheets

    6. Bagged or bagless

    Upright vacuums used to be mostly bagged, but nowadays more and more vacuums have washable easy-to-empty dirt canisters.

    • The positive aspect of having a washable container is the fact that you don't have to keep buying dust bags, which saves you money.
    • On the other hand, removing a dustbag can be more hygienic depending on how well the emptying system of the canister has been designed.

    Luckily, the well-known vacuum cleaner brands do spend time and money on the design, which means that the containers are often easy, quick, and hygienic to empty.

    7. Budget

    When it comes to the price, there are some good options in every price range, but you can't expect to get all the attractive features in the lower price categories.

    A vacuum cleaner is something that will last for many years if it is durable and high-quality, which is why you should not skimp when buying one.

    Vacuuming your home is a burdensome job as it is, and your vacuum cleaner should make the job easier. If getting the vacuum out annoys you because it isn't well-designed or it doesn't have the right features, you won't be spending much time vacuuming, and you will have wasted your money.

    It's better to invest in something that is convenient and has all the right features, because only then will you be able to enjoy vacuuming and actually use the product you've invested in.

    Why choose an upright vacuum for a pet home?

    Let me guess, you have one or two dogs or cats, and you’re in an ongoing battle to keep pet hair from taking over your home. It’s a daily struggle, and the supply of that pet hair is not running out.

    Pet hair is one of the most challenging things to clean up. Especially that short needle-like hair that seems to cling onto everything like there is tomorrow or the long hair that seems impossible to remove.

    If you want a powerful vacuum cleaner that will clean both floors and carpets thoroughly, you should find yourself an upright vacuum. These strong and sturdy yet versatile machines are what you need to wipe out pet hair.

    But not just any upright vacuum. You need a few special features from what we call an upright pet hair vacuum. The vacuum needs to have powerful suction, a sturdy brush roll, and a large dirt cup to fit all that pet hair. But that’s not all.

    cleaning carpet with an upright vacuum cleaner

    As you know, pet hair will find its way everywhere. A brush roll will give those thick carpets a proper cleanup, but you also need to vacuum above-floor areas. As pet hair, dander and dust get wafted up into the air, they are bound to land on your furniture, drapes and other such areas. To get that perfectly clean home, you need your vacuum to adapt to all surfaces.

    That’s where versatility and attachments come into play.

    With an upright vacuum that has an extension hose and wand, you can direct that powerful suction to all areas of your home. You won’t just be cleaning the floor, area rugs, and carpets, but everything else as well.

    The best upright vacuums for pet hair have a motorized brush roll tool that will work miracles on upholstered furniture and carpeted stairs. You can even use your upright vacuum for dusting by popping on the dusting tool. With the best part being that hair and dust are sucked right inside the dirt cup and not wafted back into the air.

    An upright vacuum is the best choice if you have carpeting or many thick area rugs that need to be cleaned properly. A powerful motor will offer strong suction and power to that motorized brush roll which can pick all that pet hair right up.

    Just make sure you pick up a product that has all those features you need in a pet home and one that is easily maneuvered and handled. After all, you don’t want to waste your money on something that doesn’t make your life easier.

    If you’re looking to keep your home free of pet hair, then getting one of these fantastic pet hair vacuums will do the trick. Just get out your upright vacuum and get your home thoroughly cleaned. (This is how you use your upright vacuum to get the most out of it.)

    Our #1 Recommended Upright Vacuum for Pet Hair is...

    All these top 6 upright vacuums for pet hair are great products with functional features and excellent cleaning performance. However, our test team did have an ultimate favorite they chose as their number one recommendation. That vacuum is the Shark APEX DuoClean Zero-M.

    What convinced our team was the powerful suction, tangle-free brush roll, and great filtration. The APEX did extremely well on all surfaces and provided a deep clean on even our high-pile carpets.

    What really tipped the scale in favor of this vacuum was the Lift-Away feature that allows you to reach every nook and cranny under and between furniture. No other upright vacuum has this level on maneuverability.

    We highly recommend the Shark APEX because it's amazing (and because it's what we use ourselves!).

    Our Top Pick
    Shark APEX

    Shark APEX

    • Incredibly strong suction
    • Excellent cleaning results  
    • DuoClean multi-surface nozzle
    • Practical Lift-Away technology
    • Tangle-free brush roll
    • Sealed HEPA filtration
    • Mini Motorized Pet Brush

    FAQ

    The best upright vacuum for carpet is the Shark APEX DuoClean Zero-M because it has strong suction and an efficient brush roll that lifts up ingrained dirt from even the most challenging carpets. It also comes with other highly useful features like a fully sealed HEPA filtration system and a tangle-free brush roll.

    Upright vacuums are at their best on carpets. They may be heavy, but the sturdy design allows them to apply pressure on the carpet for the brush roll to dig deep between fibers. Upright vacuums are usually corded to have the maximum power for deep cleaning in tough areas such as thick carpets. This type of vacuum is the best choice for someone having carpets and big area rugs in their home.

    Upright vacuums usually have a switch to change the brush roll setting from carpet to hard floor, or the vacuum does this automatically. With a change of settings, the vacuum performs better on hard floors without scratching the surface or scattering larger debris.

    To add versatility, most upright have some kind of system for above-floor cleaning. Because the vacuums itself is too heavy to be lifted, the design includes a hose with a wand or such to offer reach and enable cleaning in all hard-to-reach areas.

    The problem with upright vacuums is that it can feel burdensome to get the vacuum out and plug it in for small cleanups.

    • If you don’t have carpeting and you think a lighter vacuum cleaner could do the trick, have a look at our top stick vacuums.
    • Alternatively, if you need a sturdy vacuum, but you feel an upright vacuum is too bulky, your choice could be one of our top canister vacuums

    An upright vacuum should be your choice if you're looking for a robust and powerful vacuum to be the primary vacuum of your home and to do weekly cleaning. It is the best choice for homes with medium and long pile carpeting, and anyone looking for a very strong vacuum for tough jobs.

    Not sure if the upright is the ideal type of vacuum for you? Check out our listing of the best vacuums for pets.

    Yes, upright vacuums can remove pet hair from most surfaces. This type of vacuums have motors which give a strong suction and sturdy design to apply pressure to the area being cleaned. Usually, they also have many useful features and attachments which provide them with versatility. With all these features an upright vacuum is perfect for removing stubborn pet hair.

    To choose the right upright vacuum for pet hair, you need to consider a few key points:

    • Does it have a strong suction for removing pet hair?
    • Are the attachments designed for pet homes?
    • Is the size suitable for your home?
    • Is it lightweight enough to carry?
    • Is the filtration adequate for your needs?
    • Do you prefer a bagged or bagless vacuum?
    • What is your budget?

    To find the right upright, have a look at our reviews and comparison table. With the information provided, you will be able to compare these top upright vacuums against each other to find the perfect match for your home.

    Upright vacuums are not better than canister vacuums. They both have their pros and cons, and it is up to individual preference which type is better for your home.

    An upright vacuum cleaner is great for thick carpets because the weight of the vacuum adds to the cleaning power. However, upright vacuums can be more difficult to maneuver and steer, and depending on the design, they may not fit under low-built furniture.

    A canister vacuum is easy to maneuver, and it fits under furniture and appliances. Still, the cleaning performance is not quite as good when it comes to very challenging surfaces like thick and dense carpets.

    The best upright vacuum to buy is the Shark APEX DuoClean Zero-M. It is the most powerful vacuum cleaner from Shark, and it has many excellent features like the fully-sealed filtration system with a washable HEPA filter, DuoClean tangle-free brush roll, and three attachments, including a motorized pet tool. This incredibly powerful upright vacuum is highly functional, and it offers fantastic cleaning performance.

    The best upright vacuum for hardwood floors is the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away with the Hard Floor Hero brush roll attachment. This upright vacuum carefully yet thoroughly cleans hardwood floors, giving them a polished look.

    Matt Clayton
    Matt Clayton
    Chief Editor & Founder of PetHairPatrol

    Matt is the founder of PetHairPatrol.com and has years of experience helping pet owners keep their homes clean. He's been featured in publications like Reader's Digest, Money, and BestLifeOnline. When this neat freak is not searching for better ways to get rid of pet hair, dander, and other messes pets leave behind, he's usually enjoying outdoors with his two (hairy) Goldens: Ben and Jerry. Read more.

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