10 Best Hand Vacuums for Pet Hair – 2023 Reviews & Top Picks

Having a pet is wonderful; they’re good for your mental and physical health and are the perfect best friend for any kid. But they are also time-consuming, and cleaning pet hair off your clothes, furniture, rugs, and out of your car can sometimes seem like a never-ending job.

So, you want a hand vacuum that you can trust, isn’t cumbersome, and makes your life a little bit easier. It can be tricky working out where to start when picking the perfect vacuum for you, so we’ve found the best options to give you a clue of what to look for and what is out there. Hopefully, these reviews will make cleaning up after that special pet in your life much less bothersome!

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

The 10 Best Hand Vacuums for Pet Hair

1. Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip Corded Handheld Vacuum Cleaner – Best Overall

The Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip Corded Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is our pick for the best overall hand vacuum for pet hair. While it isn’t cordless, it has a lengthy power cord to simplify cleaning your stairs and car interior. It doesn’t contain a vacuum bag to make it easier to empty and keep clean. It’s also designed to get into those small, hard-to-reach places pet hair likes to hide in. Some owners noted that the Dirt Devil is as powerful as promised but quite loud, so if your pet has a nervous disposition, it might be best to keep them out of the room when using it.

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2. Dirt Devil 4V Express Hand Dog & Cat Vacuum – Best Value

The Dirt Devil 4V Express Hand Dog & Cat Vacuum is the best hand vacuum for the money, thanks to its affordable price. Hand vacuums, especially when they are cordless, can be quite costly, and if you’re on a tighter budget, it can be difficult finding a quality machine in your price range.

This vacuum is incredibly lightweight, charges quickly, and has a long-lasting battery. At 1.9 pounds, the Dirt Devil is one of the lightest models we reviewed. However, some owners mentioned that it isn’t the most powerful vacuum, so if your pet sheds a lot, you might need something with more power.

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3. Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum Cleaner – Premium Choice

The Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum Cleaner is cordless and our premium choice since it’s one of the more expensive options. It features a motorized head that is perfect for sucking up stubborn pet hair, and it doesn’t have a bag, so it’s easy to see when it needs to be emptied and is easier to clean.

Some owners expressed disappointment that it wasn’t quite as powerful as advertised and believed that for the price, it should be a little more reliable. However, the long-lasting battery and handy crevice tool make it stand out among similar competitors.

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4. BLACK+DECKER 20V Lithium Compact Hand VAC

The BLACK+DECKER 20V Lithium Compact Hand VAC is compact and has a rotating slim nozzle that will adjust to the shape of the space you are cleaning. It’s powerful and has a cyclonic action that also keeps the filter clean. Some owners mentioned it is a loud vacuum, so if your pet startles easily, keep them out of the way when vacuuming.

There is a light that will signal when it is fully charged, and the motor is much more powerful than those in other handheld vacuums. There is no bag, so it’s easier to see when it needs to be emptied, and it’s simple to clean. Thanks to the onboard extension, you won’t need to bend over as much.

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5. Shark Pet-Perfect Cordless Bagless Portable Hand Vacuum for Carpet and Hard Floor

The Shark Pet-Perfect Cordless Bagless Portable Hand Vacuum for Carpet and Hard Floor is easy to use and promises a consistently strong suction, which owners seemed to agree it delivers. It’s cordless with no bag, making it easy to see when it needs emptying and simple to keep clean.

It promises to have a long battery life. However, newer reviews of this product mention that the battery life is a lot poorer than older models and didn’t last as long as they first expected. So, you might need to charge the battery more often, which makes it slightly less reliable than advertised.

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6. Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand and Car Vacuum

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand and Car Vacuum comes with a crevice tool to get into those tight, hard-to-reach spaces. It even comes with a telescoping extension wand to make it easier to get into even tighter spaces. It’s cordless and developed specifically to make vacuuming pet hair a little easier.

Some owners mentioned that the battery life is not as long as advertised. However, Bissell’s customer service was helpful and sent out replacements when needed. It also advertises that it is easy to clean, but some owners mentioned it’s a little tricky, making it less easy to use than some of our other options.

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7. VacLife Handheld Vacuum Mini Portable Rechargeable Wireless Vacuum Cleaner

The VacLife Handheld Vacuum Mini Portable Rechargeable Wireless Vacuum Cleaner is cordless, convenient, and lightweight, making it easy to clean anywhere you need it. It promises to have a powerful suction, but it left some owners a little disappointed. There are two tools included with the vacuum, so you can brush the pet hair to loosen it before vacuuming it up.

VacLife’s LED light illuminates dirty, dimly lit corners and is much brighter than the lights on most vacuums. Compared to other cordless models, the VacLife doesn’t have suction or power problems. If you have any issues with this product, you can contact Vaclife’s customer support number, and according to customers, their customer service is top-notch.

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8. Hoover DustChaser Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

The Hoover DustChaser Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is designed to tackle hard-to-reach places so you can get all the pesky pet hair removed. It has an extended nozzle and accompanying tools to make all of that easier. It’s lightweight and promises to collect 99.97% of pet dander, so the Hoover might be a useful product if someone in your life suffers from pet allergies.

Owners mentioned that the dust cup is relatively small, and you have to remove the battery to charge it, which feels like an unnecessary, added step when most handheld vacuums can be charged as they are.

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9. BLACK+DECKER Cordless Handheld Vacuum

The BLACK+DECKER Cordless Handheld Vacuum is lightweight and ideal for a quick cleaning; because of its size, we recommend it for smaller dogs as the suction might not keep up with larger breeds that shed a lot.

It’s affordable and comes with a wall mount base, so it’s easy to store. There is no bag needed, so it’s simple to clean and easy to see when it needs to be emptied. Some owners mentioned that you have to hold the button down to keep it on, which they found annoying, and the battery life is shorter than other cordless models.

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10. VOLTORB Cordless Handheld Vacuum

The VOLTORB Cordless Handheld Vacuum is an excellent choice if you need a vacuum that is small, compact, and helpful for smaller jobs. It promises to be easy to use, but some owners mentioned that it is a little tricky to clean because you have to push the filter out with your fingers, which gets them dirty.

The dust cup and filter are washable, which saves you money because you don’t have to replace the bags. This vacuum is so lightweight that it weighs the same as an empty hot water bottle, and thanks to its compact size, you can easily charge it anywhere, even the car.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Hand Vacuums for Pet Hair

How to Pick the Right Hand Vacuum for You

When it comes to picking the right vacuum, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration. Of course, what you’re looking for will be specific to your needs; if your dog is a large breed and sheds a lot, you need something slightly different from an owner with a small, low-shedding breed. Here are a few elements to consider when shopping for a hand vacuum.

Corded or Cordless?

There are pros and cons for cordless and corded models. A vacuum with a cord means less freedom. However, you never have to worry about it running out of charge or failing to charge. Cordless vacuums tend to have a shorter lifespan since most batteries are expected only to last around 2 to 3 years. However, they give you the freedom to vacuum areas that don’t have electrical outlets required for corded models

Attachments

The vacuum’s attachments may be incredibly important for your decision. Some vacuums are designed specifically for pets in mind, in which case they will come with the appropriate attachments. Some might require you to pay extra, but most of the brands we reviewed come with at least a couple of accessories.

Weight and Size

Handheld vacuums are desirable because are lighter. You want something that isn’t going to be cumbersome to operate, especially as vacuuming up after your pet can be time-consuming! If you can’t try out the product before you buy, make sure it’s returnable in case you’re unhappy with it.

Storage

Some vacuums come be installed on the wall, but you’ll have to plan for where you’re going to keep your vacuum. Chances are you’ll have another vacuum for more extensive cleaning, so you probably don’t want something very big if space is tight.

Easy to Clean

You’re likely going to be using your handheld vacuum a lot, so you want something that’s easy to clean. If a vacuum is difficult to disassemble and clean, it may not be worth your time. They might be small, but hand vacuums can sometimes be pricey, so you want something you can trust that you won’t have to replace in a few months.

Conclusion

It might not be cordless, but the Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip Corded Handheld Vacuum Cleaner has a lengthy cord, so you can reach those tight, hard-to-reach places. For an affordable model, look no further than the Dirt Devil 4V Express Hand Dog & Cat Vacuum, which is lightweight, fast charging, and has a long battery life.

And lastly, we have the Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum Cleaner, which is one of our pricier options but comes with a motorized head. Whatever you’re looking for, there is a hand vacuum for you, and we hope these reviews have helped you find something that will make cleaning up after your messy pet a little bit easier!

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Featured Image Credit: Andrea C Miller, Shutterstock