The 8 Best Shark Vacuums of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins

4.8

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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. Although we recently tested the Shark Cordless Pro with Clean Sense IQ, the newest model in this specific line, it did not compare in suction capability or ease of use to the older PowerFins model. The Shark Vertex PowerFins Vacuum 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 rating for its effectiveness and didn't cause any debris to scatter in the 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 and one 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. We noted the vac essentially pulls itself, and we gave it a perfect 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 we 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. There's also not a designated spot for attachments, which was disappointing, so you'll need to repurpose a box or bin to keep the attachments together in your home.

If you're looking for the powerful suction of an upright vacuum but the convenience of a cordless stick vacuum, this is the one for you. And with such a long battery life, you could vacuum your apartment multiple times or clean an entire two-story house before having to charge it. For all of these reasons, plus the easy three-minute assembly time, this is our top pick.

Price at time of publish: $430

_{Dimensions: 46.46 x 9.65 x 10.24 inches | Weight: 9.04 pounds | Cord Length: Cordless | Battery Life: 60 minutes | Bin Volume: 1.4 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 10.63 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet, multi-surface, and hardwood}

Best Budget

Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum

4.8

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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 the highest possible marks for its simple setup—it was assembled and ready for use in less than five minutes. We found it difficult to move around on carpet surfaces, and slightly docked its maneuverability rating for this reason, but we did note 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. The 25-foot cord gives plenty of reach and the lift-away canister is useful for accessing hard-to-reach areas. We 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, this vacuum's anti-allergen seal and HEPA filter do 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.

Price at time of publish: $220

_{Dimensions: 45.5 x 11.4 x 14.9 inches | Weight: 16 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Battery Life: Not applicable | Bin Volume: 0.9 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 9.5 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hardwood, carpet, laminate, and tile}

Best Stick

Shark HV301 Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum

4.4

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A good stick vacuum should be lightweight, but not necessarily light-duty. The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum impressed us with its maneuverability and effective suction on all types of flooring. It needed help transitioning from a hard surface to a rug. However, the stick vacuum proved to be nimble and flexible when navigating the living room obstacle course. We found that it seamlessly reached under the couch. It twisted and turned around the coffee table, too.

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, but we docked a bit off its effectiveness score for slightly struggling on the high-pile rug and 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.

Price at time of publish: $250

_{Dimensions: 46 x 9.8 x 10.5 inches | Weight: 8.2 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Battery Life: Not applicable | Bin Volume: 0.31 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 8.5 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hardwood, carpet, laminate, and tile}

Best Upright

Shark NV151 Navigator Swivel Pro Complete Upright Vacuum

4.3

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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 us with how easy it was to push across hardwood floors and carpets of all pile heights. We 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. 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. We gave the process of emptying the machine a perfect score, and we also noted that it's pretty quiet for a powerful pick.

Price at time of publish: $200

_{Dimensions: 45.66 x 12 x 9.64 inches | Weight: 15 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Battery Life: Not applicable | Bin Volume: 0.4 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 12 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet, laminate, and hardwood}

Best Wet-Dry

Shark VacMop Pro Cordless Hard Floor Vacuum Mop

4.9

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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 it 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 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.

Price at time of publish: $99

_{Dimensions: 47.87 x 9.5 x 5.3 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Cord Length: Not applicable | Battery Life: 20 minutes | Bin Volume: 0.03 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 10 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hardwood, tile, laminate, and vinyl}

Best Handheld

Shark WV201 WANDVAC Cordless Handheld Vacuum

4.3

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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, we put it through real-world testing in a home. We tried it out on pet hair, crumbs, dust, and debris. We found it to be startlingly loud (and the sleeping pets in the home seemed to agree with that sentiment). But we found the suction to be very powerful—and we thought the noise was worth the trade-off. In addition, although assembly was simple, this 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 of this model. 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, we only docked the WANDVAC for its charge time and noise level.

Price at time of publish: $130

_{Dimensions: 16.5 x 2.5 x 2.4 inches | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Cord Length: Not applicable | Battery Life: 9.5 minutes | Bin Volume: 0.08 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 3.35 inches | Compatible Floor Type: All floor types}

Best for Carpet

Shark Navigator DLX Upright Professional Vacuum

4.2

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The Shark Navigator DLX Upright Professional Vacuum offered powerful suction and performed great on low, medium, and high-pile carpets in The Lab. For that reason, it's the right choice if you're looking for a vacuum cleaner that'll effectively clean your area rugs and carpeted floors. We docked a point from its overall rating for its cleaning effectiveness, but it can still get the job done—on average, it cleaned up the cereal, popcorn kernels, and strands of hair in just three to five passes. At 3.5 quarts, the dust bin of this upright vacuum is larger than most, too. Our testing team loved this feature and found the dust bin to be super easy to empty.

We found that the greatest strength of the Shark Navigator DLX is also its weakness. While the powerful suction made it faster and easier to remove debris, it also increased the effort we had to put forth to use the vacuum on the medium and high-pile carpets. Even still, we gave this Navigator model solid marks for maneuverability and positive notes on the swivel steering. This type of steering will give you easier access to corners, and it makes this pick a bit more pleasurable to use.

Price at time of publish: $125

_{Dimensions: 47 x 11.5 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 18.63 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Battery Life: Not applicable | Bin Volume: 3.5 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 9.25 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet and hardwood}