7 Best Upright Vacuums for Pet Hair 2026

The Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel is a game-changer for pet parents who dread navigating around furniture while battling stubborn fur. With its swivel steering, this vacuum glides like a dream, making tight corners and cluttered living rooms feel like open spaces. The triple action brush roll aggressively lifts embedded pet hair from carpets, while Scatter-Free Technology ensures dry messes on hardwood don’t explode into a secondary cleanup project—solving two of the most common frustrations in pet-heavy homes.

In real-world testing, the 2252 shines on medium-pile carpets and hard floors, where its multi-cyclonic suction maintains consistent power without clogging. The 1.5-liter dirt tank is spacious enough for a 1,500 sq ft home, reducing emptying frequency, and the edge-to-edge cleaning captures fur along baseboards where pets shed the most. However, it struggles slightly on high-pile rugs, where the brush roll can bog down, and the cord rewind must be done manually—a minor inconvenience but notable compared to models with auto-retract.

When stacked against the Bissell 3534, the 2252 trades automatic cord rewind for superior maneuverability and a more agile nozzle. It’s ideal for households with multiple pets and mixed flooring, especially where furniture density demands precision. While it lacks a HEPA filter, its specialized pet tools and easy-empty tank make it a practical, no-fuss pick for daily maintenance—delivering strong value with a focus on usability over bells and whistles.

The Bissell 3534 CleanView Rewind stands out with a brilliantly simple yet often overlooked feature: automatic cord rewind. For anyone who’s ever wrestled with tangled cords after cleaning, this one-button retraction is a game-changing convenience, especially in larger homes. The Active Extension Wand extends reach up to 10 feet, making it a top performer for cleaning stairs, ceiling corners, and under high furniture—areas where pet hair accumulates but are often missed. Its OnePass Technology promises (and largely delivers) full carpet coverage in a single sweep, thanks to optimized airflow and brush roll dynamics.

During real-world use, the 3534 handles low-to-medium pile carpets with ease and transitions smoothly to hard floors using Scatter-Free Technology, minimizing debris scatter. The 1.9-liter dustbin is among the largest in its class, allowing for uninterrupted cleaning sessions. However, the wand, while useful, feels slightly flimsy under prolonged use, and suction isn’t as aggressive as higher-wattage competitors—noticeable when tackling deeply embedded pet hair on thick rugs.

Compared to the Shark ZU503AMZ, the 3534 offers less suction power and no HEPA filtration, but wins on pure convenience and ease of storage. It’s best suited for pet owners in smaller-to-midsize homes who prioritize quick cleanups and hassle-free storage over deep-cleaning intensity. While it doesn’t match the filtration or power of premium models, its user-friendly design and reliable pet mess handling make it a smart choice for maintenance cleaning—especially when paired with its strong value proposition.

The Shark NV752 is a deep-cleaning powerhouse engineered for pet owners who refuse to compromise on performance. Its Powered Lift-Away technology is a standout—detach the pod and keep the brush roll spinning while cleaning under sofas or on stairs, a feature that transforms how you tackle pet hair in hard-to-reach zones. Combined with the self-cleaning Pet Power Brush, it aggressively pulls out matted fur and ground-in dirt, while LED headlights reveal hidden hair and debris like a forensic investigator scanning a crime scene.

In practice, the NV752 excels across all surfaces, from plush carpets to tile, thanks to fingertip mode switching and strong 1200-watt suction. The 0.88-quart dust cup is easy to empty and resists clogs, even after multiple pet hair sessions. The anti-allergen complete seal with HEPA filter traps 99.9% of dust and dander, making it a top pick for allergy sufferers. That said, the unit is bulkier than others, and lifting the pod frequently can feel cumbersome over time—especially on carpeted stairs.

Against the Eureka PowerSpeed, the NV752 is heavier and pricier but delivers far superior deep-cleaning capability and filtration. It’s the go-to for large homes with multiple pets, allergy concerns, and mixed flooring. While not the lightest or cheapest, its versatility, reach, and true deep-clean performance make it a benchmark for what a high-end pet vacuum should be—offering more features and power than budget models without the premium price tag of the ZU102.

The Eureka FlexReach Plus is a breath of fresh air for allergy-prone pet households, combining medical-grade filtration with smart automation. Its Complete Seal HEPA system captures 0.3-micron particles—including pet dander and pollen—making it one of the most effective vacuums for improving indoor air quality. The real magic lies in Floor Sense+React Tech, which automatically detects carpet vs. hard floor and adjusts suction on the fly, eliminating guesswork and protecting delicate surfaces while still delivering 192AW of raw power on embedded pet hair.

In real-world use, the 30-foot power cord is a game-changer for large homes, allowing full-floor cleaning without outlet hopping. The anti-tangle brush roll lives up to its name, slicing through long pet hair without jams—a common pain point with lesser models. However, the vacuum’s tall profile makes storage tricky, and the automatic sensor occasionally lags when transitioning between surfaces, requiring a second pass.

Compared to the Bissell 2252, the FlexReach offers superior filtration and smarter operation but lacks swivel steering, making it less agile around furniture. It’s ideal for pet owners with allergies or asthma who want a set-it-and-forget-it cleaning experience with hospital-grade air protection. While it doesn’t have the deep-cleaning lift-away of Shark’s premium models, its auto-adjusting suction and HEPA excellence deliver unmatched respiratory benefits at a mid-tier price.

The Eureka PowerSpeed is a budget-slaying champion that punches far above its weight in pet hair cleanup. At just 10 pounds, it’s one of the lightest uprights available, making it a dream for quick cleanups, stairs, and homes with multiple levels. Don’t let the weight fool you—the 960-watt motor delivers consistent suction across carpets and hard floors, and the 5-height brush roll adjustment lets you fine-tune cleaning for everything from shag rugs to hardwood.

In testing, the PowerSpeed handled daily pet shedding with ease, and the 2.6-liter dust cup meant fewer trips to empty—rare in this price range. The onboard Pet Turbo Brush is surprisingly effective on upholstery and car seats. However, it lacks advanced features like HEPA filtration or automatic floor sensing, and the plastic build feels less durable over time. It also lacks a detachable canister, limiting above-floor reach.

Against the Bissell 3534, it’s half the price but sacrifices cord rewind and deep-reach wands. Yet for pet owners on a tight budget or those needing a secondary vacuum, the PowerSpeed is unbeatable for basic, high-frequency cleaning. It’s the go-to for renters, small homes, or anyone who wants lightweight power without breaking the bank—proving you don’t need premium features to win the daily war against pet hair.

The Shark ZU503AMZ Navigator is the undisputed king of pet hair pickup, thanks to its self-cleaning brushroll that actively prevents hair wrap—a chronic issue for pet owners. This isn’t marketing fluff: in real-world testing, long dog hair and cat fur were pulled in without tangling, maintaining peak suction over time. The lift-away pod transforms it into a portable unit for stairs, furniture, and ceilings, while swivel steering ensures effortless navigation around legs and tight corners.

With HEPA filtration and a complete seal system, it traps allergens as effectively as it removes fur, making it ideal for homes with shedding pets and sensitive lungs. The suction is strong enough to pull embedded hair from medium carpets, and the included pet crevice tool excels in couch seams and baseboards. However, the dust cup is smaller than competitors, requiring more frequent emptying during heavy sessions, and the hose lacks stretch, limiting reach compared to extendable models.

Stacked against the Shark NV752, the ZU503AMZ offers similar deep-cleaning reach but with better hair-handling tech and a more compact design. It’s perfect for pet-centric homes that demand daily, no-mess cleaning with zero brush roll maintenance. While it doesn’t have LED lights or odor control, its pet-focused engineering and reliability make it a smarter daily driver than bulkier models—delivering elite pet performance at a balanced price.

The Shark ZU102 is the best overall pet vacuum on the market, merging cutting-edge hair capture with long-term home freshness. Its PowerFins HairPro technology isn’t just marketing—it actively grips and pulls long, short, and pet hair from carpets with a texture that prevents clogs and boosts traction. Paired with a self-cleaning brushroll, it eliminates hair wrap entirely, a game-changer for long-haired pets. Add Odor Neutralizer Technology, and this vacuum doesn’t just clean—it keeps your home smelling clean, neutralizing trapped odors inside the dust cup.

In real-world testing, the 3XL dust cup (2.9L) allowed uninterrupted cleaning of a 2,000 sq ft home, and the 12-foot extendable hose made above-floor cleaning effortless—no ladder needed for ceiling fans. Suction is relentless, tackling high-pile rugs and ground-in messes with ease. The only hiccup? The sheer size makes storage a challenge in tight closets, and the unit is heavier than most, which may deter some users.

Compared to the ZU503AMZ, the ZU102 offers more capacity, better odor control, and superior reach, justifying its higher cost for serious pet owners. It’s the ultimate choice for large homes with multiple pets, heavy shedding, and odor concerns. While it’s the most expensive model here, its combination of power, capacity, and smart tech makes it the most complete package—delivering premium performance that justifies every dollar over simpler alternatives.