This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
Having a pet is great, particularly the furry kind. If you have a cat or a dog your life is likely all the richer and more fulfilling for having them. But there’s a downside to sharing you home with fur ball family members: Pet hair. On everything. All the time.
It’s in your car, on your clothes, on your sofa, and matted into the carpet. There’s probably even a circle of pet hair on your bed, a lasting reminder of their favourite sleeping spot right next to you. Cute but also, well, ewww.
Of course, you love them anyway, but that doesn’t mean you need to give up and accept a house full of pet hair. You have options, like buying a good handheld vacuum. The great thing is, you can find handheld vacs made specifically for sucking up pet hair. Here's some useful information and a round-up of the best available models.
Are handheld vacuums best for pet hair?
Traditional and robot vacuum cleaners are great, but let’s be honest, they don’t let you really get down into small corners or the small, dark crevices of your sofa. Handheld vacuums are ideal for pet hair because they’re generally small and lightweight, allowing you to walk around the house and attack any hair-strewn spots you find without having to drag a heavy vacuum behind you. A small handheld vacuum will get to work on your stairs, in your bedroom, or in your car.
Some pet vacuums are also modern and stylish, so you won’t mind leaving them out around your home and you can grab them whenever needed for a quick whizz around. This is especially true if you get a handheld vacuum with a docking station. Handheld vacuums are also quieter than traditional vacuums.
Best of all, most handheld vacuums are cordless and cost way less money than traditional cordless vacuums. This makes them even more convenient for your home and car. It also means you can use them on your clothes, too, because let’s be real: A handheld vacuum is way better at getting pet hair off your coat than a lint roller.
What vacuum features are good for pet hair?
If you’re shopping for a handheld vacuum that’s built to tackle pet hair, there are a few features you’ll want to consider:
Ergonomic design — You hold a handheld vacuum in your hands, which means you want to buy one that you can hold comfortably. Look for one that has an ergonomic handle so that you can hold and control it easily as you clean your home.
Weight — The whole point of a handheld vacuum is portability, so make sure it’s lightweight. Of course, everyone has a slightly different definition of “lightweight”, but in general, you want to make sure your arm doesn’t tire out faster than the battery.
Battery life — Most handheld vacuums are designed to be small, so they don’t hold a charge for long. Constant recharging can get frustrating quickly. Shop around for a vac with decent battery life. Some come with swappable batteries.
Suction power — It goes without saying, but a vacuum with weak suction is pretty useless, especially if you’re trying to clean up pet hair. So when you’re looking for a handheld vacuum, make sure you look for one with strong suction power.
Attachments — A good handheld vacuum will come with a variety of specialised tools to help you easily clean specific fabrics, crevices, or material types. Look for handheld vacs with motorised brushes, crevice tools, or pet hair brushes.
Storage — Some of the smaller handheld vacuums come with convenient charging docks for storing and charging n one place. Some docking stations have space to stash your attachments and accessories.
What is the best handheld vacuum for pet hair?
There are lots of vacuums on the market right now, so it can be tough to find “the one.” That’s why we’ve done the research for you and rounded up the best of the best. These handheld vacuums all suck, but in the best way possible.
These are the best handheld vacuum cleaners for pet hair in 2025.
