The list in brief ↴
1. Best overall: Shark Stratos Cordless
2. Best low maintenance: Shark Cordless Detect Pro
3. Best for pet hair: Shark Vertex Bagless
4. Best for overhead cleaning: Shark Vertex Pro Cordless
5. Best robot: Shark Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot
6. Best handheld: Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro
How we test
FAQs
Cleaning is one of life's chores, but the best Shark vacuum cleaner can make it a far more pleasant experience. Whether you are in the market for one of the best handheld vacuums or like the sound of the best robot vacuums, we've tested and reviewed all the bestselling Shark models, so you don't have to.
Shark may still be a relative newcomer to the cleaning world, launching in 2007, but it's incredibly popular thanks to its affordability. It still gives close rivals Dyson and Miele a run for their money when it comes to performance.
Our team has handpicked and tried all the bestselling Shark vacuums to help you find your perfect match. So whether you need a vacuum for pet hair like the Shark Vertex Bagless Corded, want a fuss-free handheld for the car, such as the Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro, or like the sound of a robotvac doing the hard work for you, like the Shark Detect Pro Self Emptying Robot, we've got you covered.
We've looked at price, value for money, design, performance, pros and cons, and who each appliance is best suited to. Read on to find out what our testers thought of the best Shark vacuum cleaners, and make sure you check out our guide to the best vacuum cleaners, too.
The quick list
Short on time? Use this quick list to skim through the best Shark vacuum cleaners. When you see a machine you like, simply jump down to read a more detailed review of the model, including pros and cons, standout features, and who it is best suited to.
The best Shark vacuum cleaner overall
The Shark Cordless Vacuum is versatile, intelligently designed with CleanSense IQ technology, and has attachments for crevices and allergens.
The best low-maintenance Shark vacuum cleaner
This lightweight cordless vacuum comes with auto-sensing tech to help you clean floors more efficiently, plus the auto-empty station holds a month’s worth of dirt. Powerful and versatile, the Shark Detect Pro is one of the most low-maintenance machines we’ve tested.
The best Shark vacuum cleaner for pet hair
One of two of Shark’s canister vacuums, the Vertex Corded, is the more feature-rich and expensive. It delivers a deep and thorough clean with dual brush rolls featuring the brand’s PowerFin technology. Its powerful suction and advanced brush roll tech make it one of the best vacuums for pet hair.
For
The best Shark vacuum cleaner for overhead cleaning
This Shark Vertex Pro is unique to most of the best cordless vacuums because instead of the usual handheld unit with a wand and floorhead attached, this model concentrates all of the weight lower down, so your arms have less stress. This makes it an excellent option for anyone who needs to do a lot of overhead cleaning.
The best robot Shark vacuum cleaner
The Shark Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot Vacuum is a decent-performing machine that helps eliminate one household chore, although it’s not the best robot vacuum we’ve tested. The machine itself works well, but the companion app lacks features and intelligent mapping.
The best handheld Shark vacuum cleaner
Powerful and lightweight, the Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro is easy to use and empty and deserves a place on the shortlist for best handheld vacuums. It’s ideal for spot cleaning situations or where you need to clean up a couch or car, however it only lasts for ten minutes on a single charge and is loud.
The best Shark vacuum cleaners we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The best Shark vacuum cleaner overall
✅ You have pets: It comes with odor-neutralizer tech to guard against pet hair and dander.
✅ You live in a 'hairy' home: Short and long hair was easily cleaned and sent straight to the dust cup without getting clogged on the brush bar.
✅ You have limited storage: The Shark Stratos Cordless has a flexible design that can be folded for compact, freestanding storage.
❌ You need a larger dust cup: At 0.72 qt, it might not be big enough for larger homes unless you're prepared to empty it frequently.
❌ You have a large home: Along with the small dust cup, the one-hour run time may not provide enough power to finish the job.
❌ You want a corded vacuum that lasts longer: Corded vacuums need frequent recharging, especially if you have a big space to clean.
🔎 The Shark Stratos Cordless is a high-performing vacuum cleaner that offers great value for money. It's well-designed and powerful, although some might find the floorhead heavy. ★★★★½
Powerful and versatile, the Shark Cordless Vacuum can be folded for compact freestanding storage and is well-designed and intuitive to use. It even finishes the clean with a spritz of air freshener (although the scent might not suit all, and there's only one option). The floorhead is also heavy, so some may struggle to vacuum the stairs in upright mode.
Design: While it looks like your average stick vacuum cleaner, the Shark Cordless's floorhead is at the end of a wand, with a dust cup and controls at the other. It comes with Clean Sense IQ, which shows when power has been boosted and the floor is clean. It also has odor-neutralizer tech.
It can be folded for compact freestanding storage and bent to clean under furniture. It's very comfortable to hold and use and has three power modes: CleanSense IQ, Eco, and Boost. The Shark Stratos Cordless has a Duster Crevice Tool and Anti-Allergen Brush that can be used when the vacuum cleaner is transformed into a smaller handheld.
Performance: This high-performing machine makes light work on most surfaces. The duster crevice tool and anti-allergen brush attachments are great for getting rid of cobwebs. The Stratros charges in three hours and has a 60-minute runtime depending on the suction setting. It's not too noisy either, 72dB on Eco and CleanSense IQ and 84dB on Boost (about the same as loud singing or the indie of a car).
Value: This vacuum cleaner is available for $499.99 and can be bought directly from Shark Clean or through retailers like Amazon. It is often discounted, so bookmark our Shark Black Friday deals page.
Read more: Shark Stratos Cordless review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Well designed but some might find the floorhead heavy. | ★★★★★ | Row 0 - Cell 3 |
| Performance | Excellent performance with no debris left on brush bars. | ★★★★ | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| Value | Great value for all the tech and functionality. | ★★★★★ | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
The best low maintenance Shark vacuum cleaner
✅ You want an auto-charging, self-emptying station: This means you come into minimal contact with dust and debris thanks to the self-emptying and auto-charging station that can hold up to 30 days’ worth of dust and debris.
✅ You need a powerful vacuum with great edge cleaning: Dirt and floor-detecting technology allows the vacuum to adjust suction power based on the type of floor and the intensity of the mess.
✅ You like low maintenance: This appliance is easy to use, clean, and maintain, so it takes the stress out of vacuuming.
❌ You don't want to stoop to get under furniture: This vacuum's shaft is not bent, so it's hard to reach beneath low furniture.
❌ You have a lot of hair on furniture: The pet multi-tool is a nice accessory, but even in Boost mode, it does a below-average job of removing human hair from furniture.
❌ You want a long battery life: Because it's cordless, this vacuum only lasts 60 minutes on a single charge, so if you have a big space to clean, it will mean lots of recharging time.
🔎 The Shark Cordless Detect Pro is a lightweight vacuum with auto-sensing tech that helps clean floors better. It's not as powerful as some corded models, but it is a high-performing machine. It has a decent battery life and an auto-empty station with 30 days' worth of dirt and debris. ★★★★½
The Shark Cordless Detect Pro is a lightweight and powerful vacuum with an impressive auto-empty system that makes cleaning easier. The battery life is on par with other cordless machines and enough for a small home.
Design: The Shark Cordless Detect Pro is lightweight and compact, so it's great for overhead cleaning and easy to store. However, the auto-empty station cord could be longer, and the head lock mechanism is a little overzealous.
Performance: This vacuum performs phenomenally on all floors thanks to its three suction settings (eco, auto, boost). Eco mode has a run time of 60 minutes, while the battery on auto mode can last up to 40 minutes. The auto-empty station is as impressive as the vacuum, making the vacuuming much easier.
Value: The Shark Cordless Detect Pro is $449.99 at the more affordable end of cordless stick vacuums with auto-empty stations. It's available on the manufacturer's website and at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Home, Depot, and Bed Bath & Beyond.
Read more: Shark Cordless Detect Pro
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Sleek, modern and lightweight but would be better if the shaft could bend to reach under furniture. | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Versatile and powerful machine with useful self-emptying tech. | ★★★★ |
| Value | This is on the mid-to-lower price range compared to similar models. | ★★★★★ |
The best Shark vacuum cleaner for pet hair
✅ You want a well-designed vacuum: A lot of thought has gone into the design and functionality of this high-performing vacuum.
✅ You need to get rid of pet hair: This is one of the best vacuums for pet hair due to its powerful suction and advanced brush roll technology.
✅ You don't mind paying more for quality: At $479.99, this machine doesn't come cheap, but it's excellent at sucking up pet and human hair.
❌ You're on a budget: At under $500, this canister vacuum is cheap compared with some of the leading cordless machines, but it's expensive compared with most other canister models.
❌ You need to do a lot of overhead cleaning: It's quite heavy when vacuuming overhead.
❌ You need to do a lot of edge cleaning: This vacuum isn't the most adept at edge cleaning, so if this is something you need to do, you might be better off with a different model.
🔎 The Shark Vertex Bagless Corded is a well-designed and high-performing bagless canister vacuum. It comes with a touchscreen LCD on the handle and is very efficient at removing human and pet hair. ★★★★½
Well-designed and powerful, the Shark Vertex Bagless Corded is an impressive vacuum that cleans multiple types of floor and is excellent at removing human and pet hair.
Design: This lightweight machine is well-designed and easy to maneuver, although it can feel heavy during overhead cleaning. It looks premium and comes with a handy pet crevice and upholstery tool.
It's also ideal for allergy sufferers because of its HEPA filter and anti-allergen complete seal, which it claims traps over 99.9% of dirt, dander, and allergens.
Performance: Quiet and with impeccable cleaning power, the Shark Vertex Bagless Corded vacuum is an impressive appliance that takes a lot of the effort out of household cleaning - as long as you don't mind it being attached to a power source.
Value: This vacuum is $479.99 from Shark, Amazon, and other big retailers, including Wayfair and BestBuy. Shark only has two canister vacuums in its collection, and this one is the top of the range, making it the pricier of the two.
Read more: Shark Vertex Bagless Corded Vacuum review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Sturdy and well made, it's a robust cleaner designed to deep clean without damaging floors. | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Gives a deep and thorough clean although edge cleaning on the carpet is a bit lacklustre. | ★★★★★ |
| Value | It's on the more expensive side but comes with great features and functionality. | ★★★★ |
The best Shark vacuum cleaner for overhead cleaning
✅ You want a machine without a cord: Travel around the home without unplugging your vacuum.
✅ You need to do overhead cleaning: Because it's bottom-heavy, this vacuum requires less effort from the arms and is also good for overhead cleaning.
✅You want a multipurpose machine: This appliance comes with various extra tools to make help clean smaller areas and tight corners.
❌ You’re on a budget: While there are more expensive machines available, this Shark model may be out of your price range if you’re trying to bag some big savings.
❌ You want something streamlined: This cordless vacuum is bulkier than most and not as compact as you'd expect.
❌You need a long run time: This vacuum only lasts 60 minutes on a single charge, so if you have a big house or space to clean, it will need recharging.
🔎 The Shark Vertex Pro Cordless is an impressive deep cleaning machine that what it lacks in design makes up in performance. It's a bit bulkier than most cordless machines, but it is efficient at cleaning, including stubborn pet hair. ★★★★
The Shark Vertex Pro Cordless provides a deep clean with minimal effort. While it's not the smartest-looking vacuum, its performance more than makes up for that.
Design: This isn't one of Shark's best-looking vacuums, and it lacks the streamlined, sleek style we've come to expect. It's also a bit bulkier than you might want for a cordless vacuum, but it has great functionality. The handle has a display panel and controls, which can make it slightly uncomfortable to use the machine for longer.
The floorhead has two brush rolls for deeper cleaning and a self-clean function that prevents hair from tangling around the brushes.
Performance: The bottom-heavy design means the Shark Vertex Pro feels lightweight and easy to maneuver around tight corners. Because the weight is lower, there's less stress on your arms, which makes it a great choice for people who need to do a lot of overhead cleaning.
It's impressive at deep cleaning fine dust and larger debris, as well as pet hair, and having the controls on the handle means adjusting the suction level is fast and effective.
Value: Available for $399.99, the Shark Vertex Pro Cordless is in the mid-range bracket for this type of vacuum. It’s the only cordless model from Shark with the vacuum pod at the base rather than the handle. As a result, the various configuration options with the powered lift-away function are unique. It's available directly from Shark, Amazon, and other large retailers such as Bed Bath & Beyond.
Read more: Shark Vertex Pro Cordless review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Slightly bulky and not as sexy as other Shark vacuums, it is a sturdy and intuitive machine. | ★★★ |
| Performance | Deep cleaning with ease, this vacuum delivers on power and performance. | ★★★★★ |
| Value | It comes in as a mid range vacuum and offers value for money, without the bells and whistles of more stylish models. | ★★★★ |
The best Shark robot vacuum cleaner
✅ You are time-poor: With just one button, your vacuum is off cleaning without any effort from you.
✅ You want a sleek-looking appliance: The Shark Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot is well-designed and compact.
✅ You live in a small house: This machine is ideal for those living in smaller spaces, as it’s easy to tuck away in the corner of a room.
❌ You're on a budget: The Shark Detect Pro robot costs $599.99.
❌ You are a tech geek: Unfortunately, the app is somewhat lackluster.
❌ You have a multi-level home: The Shark Clean app only allows you to save one map at a time, so if you want another level of your home cleaned, you have to delete it and make a new one.
🔎 The Shark Detect Pro Self Empty Robot Vacuum is a decent performing machine, but the app seriously lacks features and intelligent mapping. It's expensive, comes with a higher profile, so it doesn't fit under all furniture and is noisy when self-emptying at the base station. ★★★½
If you're time-poor and in the market for stress-free cleaning at the push of a button, you might want to consider the Shark Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot Vacuum. It's a sleek and stylish machine that delivers on cleaning, but the accompanying app leaves much to be desired.
Design: This machine looks good and cleans well, but there are a few design flaws we can't help but mention. While the bagless dust bin is great, the odor-neutralizing tech on the base feels like a gimmick. It's a mini air freshener designed to help with the dustbin door, but it's not necessary.
The self-emptying base allows the robot vacuum to slot into the dust box to empty and charge it easily. It does this after every cleaning, which is a great design feature.
Performance: The robot performed well on different surfaces and in different modes (normal, eco, and max) and isn't too noisy, about 65 dB at its loudest, which is similar to a window air conditioner. It's nothing too bad, although you might not want to run it at night. It's much noisier when emptying its dust box at the base station, about 75 dB. The main issue we found, apart from the lackluster app, was that it only records one map at a time. So, if you have different floor surfaces, you must delete your current map to create a new one.
Value: This comes in on the more expensive side for robot vacuums, and with the lack of intelligent mapping and a lackluster app, it might not offer enough to justify the price.
Read more: Shark Detect Pro Self Empty Robot Vacuum review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Smart and compact design although the black does tend to attract dust. | ★★★★ |
| Performance | While a decent vacuum, the self-emptying base doesn't always remove the dustbin contents, navigation and the app are lacking. | ★★★ |
| Value | This vacuum is more expensive than similar models with the same functionality. | ★★★★ |
The best handheld Shark vacuum cleaner
✅ You want a powerful vacuum: Despite being lightweight, the suction ability is excellent.
✅ You don't mind paying for quality: This isn't the cheapest handheld vacuum on the market, but it has impressive cleaning power and is worth the investment.
✅ You want something light: The Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro is incredibly lightweight, and you won't get arm aches using this machine.
❌ You need a long battery life: With a 10-minute battery life, you'll need to keep charging it if you have a big cleanup job.
❌ You're on a budget: The Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro costs $89.99.
❌You need something for big jobs: This vacuum is ideal for small jobs, and while it can cope with picking up bigger items like cereal, it only has a 10-minute run time so that bigger jobs will mean constant recharging.
🔎 The Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro easily deserves a spot on the shortlist for best handheld vacuums. It's so simple to use, lightweight but powerful, and excellent for spot cleaning in the car or on the couch. The main drawback is that it lasts only ten minutes on a single charge and is loud. ★★★★
The Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro is a well-designed, smart-looking cordless vacuum ideal for spot cleaning a couch, car, or small spills. This high-quality machine is powerful, easy to use, and empty. Our main complaint is that it only has a ten-minute run time.
Design: The Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro is an attractive, well-designed handheld vacuum with a black finish and removable 0.45 qt dustbin. It's a decent size, but if you plan on using it daily, you'll be emptying it often and charging the battery, which only lasts 10 minutes.
It's lightweight and has just one control: the power button. It only has a single LED light to indicate power, so you can see it's on but have no idea when it needs charging.
Performance: Let's be honest. This cordless vacuum is designed for small jobs, so its battery life is limited—10 minutes on a single charge—and it's also quite loud (70 dB, which is not far off a full-size machine).
Regarding suction, it does a great job of picking up fine dust and debris, including dog hair. It's also competent when it comes to removing larger items like cereal. It has a crevice tool to get into tight spaces, which works superbly.
Value: The Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro sells for $89.99 directly from Sharkclean.com. You can also find it at Best Buy and Amazon or a slightly higher price of $99.99 at Kohl’s. You could spend less on a handheld; it’s double or almost double the price of the eufy HomeVac H11 or the Dirt Devil QuickFlip BD30025B, two models that grace our best handheld vacuum cleaners list. But, it’s more powerful than both, though they all have a short battery life.
Read more: Shark Dual Cyclone Pet Pro review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | It's lightweight, compact and easy to use. | ★★★★1/2 |
| Performance | It's powerful but has a 10 minute run time and is loud | ★★★★ |
| Value | It's more expensive than the competition but it's competent. | ★★★★ |
How we test the best Shark vacuum cleaners
How we test the best Shark vacuum cleaners
We take testing Shark vacuum cleaners very seriously here at Top Ten Reviews. The vacuums are tested in our reviewers' homes for two weeks to two months. They are intensely used for this duration, cleaning various floors and different types of dirt and dust.
We'll try the various programs and record the noise level to see if they're suitable for those living in shared accommodation or for households of different sizes.
Cleaning and maintaining the Shark vacuum cleaners is an important consideration, too. Once done cleaning, we'll determine how easy it is to maintain and keep clean.
Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners and other appliances.
Shark vacuum cleaners FAQs
Are Shark vacuums better than Dyson?
If budget is an issue, Shark ($100-$500) is significantly cheaper than Dyson ($300-$1,050) while still providing excellent cleaning power and performance.
Both machines are well-made, efficient, and flexible, although Dyson has a higher price tag due to its technological innovation and advanced features.
Can you wash the Shark vacuum canister?
Yes, you can wash the Shark vacuum canister. When you’ve removed it, all you need to do is rinse it in warm water and then place it on its side with the lid open to air dry (ideally for 24 hours before use).
Do Shark vacuums have Hepa filters?
Some HEPA vacuums don’t effectively seal their filter, so dust, allergens, and irritants can be blown into your home. That’s why Shark invented its version of the HEPA filter, the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal.
The high-efficiency particle air filter is contained within a completely sealed vacuum cleaner, so the only route out for the air is through the filter. This means pretty much all the dust and allergens (Shark claims 99.9%) are captured and trapped inside the machine.
