The 7 Best Shark Vacuums of 2022, Tested by The Spruce

Best Overall: Shark IZ462H Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5

The Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum was the clear winner in our search for the best Shark vacuum—and best vacuum in general. It features powerful suction on all surfaces, a storage-friendly handle, and generally quiet operation. As we discovered in The Lab, it has the power you need to leave your carpets deeply clean and your hardwood floors sparkling. This model earned a perfect, 5-star rating for its effectiveness and didn't cause any debris to scatter in process. In fact, it cleaned up every material in just a pass or two, regardless of flooring type. We found that the 1.4-quart dust bin empties easily, but given the vacuum’s powerful suction and long-lasting battery, we do wish it had more capacity.

However, the Shark vacuum does feature a flexible wand that is a real game changer for reaching under furniture. You can stop ignoring the dust bunnies under your sofa, since Shark designed this vac with a hinge that gives the floor head greater reach. Plus, the Vertex series from Shark includes dual rollers in the floor head but, unlike other Shark models, one roller is equipped with grippy rubber fins to maintain contact with the floor. While making use of the 60-minute battery life, which is significant compared to many other cordless models, you can feel this technology working. Our tester noted the vac essentially pulls itself, and called it "flawless" before giving it a 5-star rating for maneuverability.

Notably, you can also make this vacuum more compact for storage, since the handle can fold in half. Its canister converts into a handheld vacuum you can use, too, but our tester found the handheld vac to be decently heavy. It may be fine for grabbing a few cobwebs, but don’t expect to use it overhead for a long time. All in all, this vac is a suitable pick for a variety of living spaces and situations, even if it there's not a designated spot on it for attachments. It took just three minutes to assemble and totally impressed.

Best Budget: Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum

4

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  3.5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5
• Ease of Setup
  5/5

If you need a basic yet beloved vacuum that won’t break the bank, consider the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum. This model has fewer vacuum features than others, but it costs less, too. Our testing team gave it a 5-star rating for its simple setup—it was assembled and ready for use in less than five minutes—and a 4.5-star rating for maneuverability. They found it difficult to move around on carpet surfaces, and docked its rating for this reason, but did add that the vacuum is not too heavy overall.

As a corded, upright model, you won’t have to worry about running out of battery power with this pick by your side either. The 25-foot cord gives plenty of reach and the lift-away canister is useful for accessing hard-to-reach areas. Our tester did find the canister was best used from the ground. In addition, the hair easily collected in the stationary brush roll in our testing on hardwood floors, which blocked the vacuum from picking up debris very effectively. The model tended to push around heavier materials like popcorn kernels. All of these insights led to a low effectiveness rating.

However, the anti-allergen seal and HEPA filter means this vacuum does effectively trap dust. You'll also enjoy the clear dust bin that allows you to see what you're capturing in real-time and releases very easily with the help of built-in latches. At this price point, you can't beat it.

Best Stick: Shark HV301 Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum

4.4

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  4/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Noise Level
  3/5
• Ease of Setup
  5/5

A good stick vacuum should be lightweight, but not necessarily light-duty. The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum made an impression on our tester for its maneuverability and effective suction on all types of flooring. It needed help transitioning from a hard surface to a rug, giving it a maneuverability rating of 4 stars. However, the stick vacuum proved to be nimble and flexible when navigating the living room obstacle course. Our tester pointed out that it seamlessly reached under the couch. It twisted and turned around the coffee table, too. It “moves with me," noted our tester.

All in all, the vac turned out to be a great cleaning partner that never quits on you, since it's not powered by a battery. It was able to easily pick up all the materials on the low-pile carpet, and ultimately earned a 4.5-star rating for effectiveness—getting docked for slightly struggling on the high-pile rug and also not easily navigating the hardwood floor. Notably, at nearly 4 feet, this vacuum is much taller than expected. Since it doesn’t stand up on its own either, you’ll have to lean it against your furniture or gently rest it on the floor if you need to pause your vacuuming session. However, like many other stick vacs, you can use the Shark Rocket in handheld mode, with or without an extension, to clean furniture, ceilings, stairs, and more.

Best Upright: Shark NV151 Navigator Swivel Pro Complete Upright Vacuum

4.1

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  3/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5
• Ease of Setup
  4/5

For an upright vacuum that works well on carpets and bare floors, look no further than the Shark NV151 Navigator Swivel Pro Complete Upright Vacuum. This model has adjustable suction levels and brush roll speeds to maximize your cleaning efforts. Don’t expect it to be as light or nimble as a stick vacuum, but know you'll be pleased with its maneuverability and effectiveness. In our testing, it impressed our tester with how easy it was to push across hardwood floors and carpets of all pile heights. They only docked it for its bulkier design, which made it difficult to reach under lower furniture, and poor transfer from a flat surface to a rugged one. (They ultimately gave it 3 stars for maneuverability for these reasons.) In terms of effectiveness, it captured all the materials in fewer than five passes and was pretty straightforward.

The Navigator series is basic in its features, but has a removable dust bin and plenty of cord length for cleaning average-sized rooms. Plus, accessories like the motorized brush, upholstery tool, and crevice nozzle can be used to deep clean specific areas of your home. The fully sealed system with a HEPA filter locks in dander and allergens, while the dust bin is quick and easy to empty. Our tester gave the process of emptying the machine 5 stars, and also noted that it's pretty quiet for a powerful pick.

Best Wet-Dry: Shark VacMop Pro Cordless Wet/Dry Stick Vacuum

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

Capture dry debris and spiff up your hard floors with a multi-purpose vacuum, like the Shark VACMOP. It is designed for use on sealed hardwood, tile, or laminate floors, and glides effortlessly on them all. A tank for Shark cleaning solution, which is included in your purchase, is built into its body. The floor head uses replaceable mop pads that include a unique chamber for collecting debris, and features an easy-release button so you don't have to touch the dirty pad when your cleaning session is done, too.

In our testing, the VACMOP earned a perfect score of 5 stars across every category. It was described as being very lightweight, and a great option for small spaces or those with limited mobility. While it offers an easier way to mop floors, keep in mind that you’ll need to hold the power button down to trigger the vacuum function of this wet-dry vac. While it's easy to spray cleaning solution onto your floor thanks to a well-placed button on the handle, you may also need to refill the solution often. The canister isn't very big, which may not bode well for larger cleaning jobs. However, you'll enjoy a light on the floor head that does allow you to see into the nooks and crannies of your home.

Best Handheld: Shark WV201 WANDVAC Cordless Handheld Vacuum

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

Weighing 1.4 pounds, the Shark WANDVAC Cordless Handheld Vacuum is the smallest member of the Shark vacuum family. However, despite its size, it offers powerful suction for small messes. While we didn't test this pick in The Lab, The Spruce's home product tester put the vacuum through real-world testing, trying it out on pet hair, crumbs, dust, and debris. They noted that it picked up everything so quickly, but was pretty loud when doing so. In addition, although assembly was simple, the handheld pick needed to be charged fully before use, which took about two and a half hours.

This handheld vac is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a high-speed brushless motor. It runs for 10 minutes before needing a recharge, which definitely isn't long and was one of the biggest downsides for our product tester. Clearly, it's meant for quick clean-ups, like picking up spilled cereal or removing crumbs from car seats. The dust bin is also small but easily empties with the push of a button. You can make use of a duster crevice tool and multi-surface pet tool, both of which store neatly on the charging dock when not in use. Ultimately, our tester only docked the WANDVAC for its charge time and noise level, giving both attributes a rating of 4 stars.