The 9 Best Shark Vacuums of 2021

Best Overall: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E

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When it comes to getting a clean home, the Shark Navigator Professional NV356E is our top choice. With lift-away technology and a brushroll shutoff, this is a practical choice for hardwood floors or any solid surface floor cleaning, as well as carpets.

The Shark Navigator NV356E has a bristle brush that will agitate carpet fibers to remove deep-seated dirt but can be deactivated to protect hardwood floors from scratches and wear. But what really sets apart this upright Shark vacuum for hardwood floors is the included Dust-Away attachment with a microfiber pad. When using the Lift-Away vacuum in canister mode, simply attach the Dust Away tool, which is essentially a large microfiber pad that will pick up fine dirt and dust from hardwoods, tiles, and more. Combining the suction from the Dust-Away attachment with the microfiber pad means the vacuum will suck up larger items in its path while sweeping up dust and fine particles with the pad’s surface.

The biggest complaint about the Shark Navigator Professional NV356E is that the floorhead isn’t as wide as some other models. The cleaning path is only 9.5 inches wide. However, the dust cup is an impressive 2.2 dry quarts so you won’t need to make frequent trips to empty this vacuum during cleaning sessions.

Best for Pet Hair: Shark Rotator TruePet - NV752

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If you have pets, you likely have an ongoing battle to keep fur and dander under control. The Shark Rotator TruePet NV752 is a popular choice when shopping for a Shark vacuum for pets.

Built on the popular Rotator model upright vacuum that many love for its deep cleaning and lift-away functionality, the TruePet model from Shark incorporates a motorized brush and pet multi-tool. The result is a powerful vacuum with sustained suction that can be used to eliminate pet hair buried deep in carpets, stuck between seat cushions, or clinging to drapes.

Instead of sticking a flimsy attachment on the vacuum’s hose and hoping that you’ll be able to suction the pet hair stuck to your sofa, the Rotator True Pet allows you to attach a motorized brush to the hose and take the lift-away canister with you wherever pet hair lurks. Conquer those pet fuzzies under the bed or on your favorite chair with high-powered bristle action and powerful suction.

In addition, pet owners and allergy sufferers alike will appreciate the fact that this model of Shark vacuum also features a sealed air system and a HEPA filter to trap up to 99.9 percent of allergens. Testers that have used the Shark NV752 say that it’s definitely the way to go for pet-friendly homes and rave about the agitation and power of the motorized brush in comparison to other vacuums for pet hair that use turbine technology or suction alone to remove fur.

Best Splurge: Shark AZ2002 Vertex DuoClean Upright Vacuum

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With this advanced model, Shark has outdone itself: The self-cleaning brushroll is an improved version of previous designs, made to pick up even more pet hair with a single pass without the risk of hair wrap. The DuoClean system features silicone fins that maintain constant contact with the floor (even when transitioning from carpets to hard wood) and a soft roller that pulls in small and large debris to a more efficient extent than the original iteration of Shark's DuoClean technology. The LED-lit nozzle makes it easy to see exactly where to go to get every last bit of dirt and the 30-foot cord is long enough that you can coast across a room without having to move where you're plugged in.

The dusting brush, pet crevice tool, and self-cleaning pet power brush handle messes in small spaces and on furniture—and the HEPA filter and anti-allergen complete seal ensures that the dust and dander that they bring in stay trapped. The lift away pod, meanwhile, allows you to clean high up or under furniture without worrying about lugging the whole vacuum along with you (which, at 16 pounds, is on the heavier side).

In short, this model melds what you love about Shark vacuums with minor—but meaningful—upgrades, making it well worth its price.

Best for Hardwood: Shark Apex Upright Vacuum - AZ1002

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If you’re looking for a technologically advanced vacuum cleaner with powerful suction, we recommend the Shark Apex Upright Vacuum. It will not only clean your room, but it will also clean itself! Armed with a self-cleaning brushroll for nonstop hair removal, this 16-pound vacuum is one of the most efficient products Shark has to offer. 

The Apex is easy to assemble and features Shark DuoClean, Powered Lift-Away, and Zero-M technologies. In addition to its advanced design, this product sports a detachable canister that extends the reach of the cleaner head, making hard-to-reach messes a thing of the past. The Apex’s quiet sound design and performance on various surfaces—hardwood floors, carpet, even upholstered furniture—makes it suitable for cleaning just about any room of the house. Furthermore, the product’s advanced anti-allergen complete seal technology and HEPA filter add to its overall efficiency.

Best Cordless: Shark Navigator Freestyle Upright Stick Cordless Bagless Vacuum

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If you want to vacuum without wrangling a cord, a battery-operated model is the best choice for you. Perfect for quick pick-ups or small spaces, the Shark Freestyle Cordless Stick Vacuum is a nimble, cost-effective choice.

The Freestyle is powered by a rechargeable battery that offers run times up to about 20 minutes, based on whether you are running it on high or low power. Note that this isn’t a lithium-ion battery, which makes this Shark vacuum lag slightly behind the competition in the cordless vacuum segment. However, it is affordable and the charging station is integrated into a handy storage dock for the vacuum.

This cordless vacuum by Shark might struggle to pick up cereal or larger debris. Even still, this vacuum makes it so much easier to vacuum high-traffic areas frequently or keep up in between deep cleaning sessions. If you’re looking for a light-duty vacuum with no cord hassle from Shark, the Freestyle Cordless Stick Vacuum fits the bill.

Best Stick Vacuum: Shark APEX DuoClean Corded Stick Vacuum, ZS360

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Stick vacuums are a great buy for any busy household. They do a solid job at cleaning up everyday messes without the need of lugging out the big guns. While cordless options can seem like a smart purchase, they often have a short battery life which can leave you high and dry when you need it. That's why we love the Shark APEX DuoClean—it boasts the reliability you expect from a corded model, with the maneuverability of a stick vacuum.

This new model has the ability to clean floors but it can also be broken down into a handheld version to tackle stairs, furniture, upholstery, and such. The best feature of this stick vacuum is the self-cleaning brushroll technology that eliminates the need to physically remove wrapped around hairs.

Best for Carpet: Shark Rotator Professional Vacuum- NV501

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Conquer carpet with a Shark vacuum that is up to the task, thanks to powerful suction and a deep agitating brushroll. The Shark Rotator Professional NV501 is a great choice for people that have carpeted surfaces to clean and want the versatility and convenience of a Shark vacuum.

Equipped with a wider floorhead than the Navigator line of vacuums, the Rotator Professional will give you a wider cleaning path—which means less effort on your part to clean the floors. The advanced swivel steering built into the Rotator Professional vacuums makes it easier to maneuver, which is a plus since this vacuum weighs 15.5 pounds.

Under the floorhead is the key to the Rotator’s carpet cleaning abilities. Plenty of suction power combines with a bristled brush to extract dirt and debris from its hiding place in your carpeting and area rugs. This model of Shark vacuum is the perfect partner in marathon vacuuming sessions, thanks to its strong suction and impressive cord length.

Best 2-in-1 with Handheld: Shark Rocket DuoClean with Lift-Away Hand Vacuum - HV382

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This stick vacuum is a corded model—meaning you will have to plug it in for operation. However, you don’t have to worry about charging batteries and finishing the job before the juice runs out. This vacuum is super lightweight and weighs only 7.6 pounds. The detachable hand vacuum weighs only 4.6 pounds and is perfect for tackling small jobs and tight spaces—like under the couch cushions or the seats of your car.

The Rocket also comes with a crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush, and a Hard Floor Hero—which is perfect for use on solid flooring that needs a touch-up. There is only room to attach two of the three smaller attachments (crevice tool, upholstery tool, and dust brush), which can be an inconvenience if you think you’ll misplace the loose attachment. One other thing to note is that this 2-in-1 model of Shark vacuum has a rather small dust cup at just .42 dry quarts.

This is a great Shark vacuum to consider if you are debating between a Shark hand vac and stick vacuum. With the Shark Rocket DuoClean, you’ll have easy access to a larger corded stick vacuum for cleaning more square footage along with the convenience of a smaller hand vacuum for quick jobs.