The 5 Best Shark Vacuums of 2024 Reviews

Updates

• 05/24/2024 Shark Matrix Plus reviewed
• 05/24/2024 Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pet reviewed
• 05/16/2024 Shark Detect Pro [IW1111, IW3511, IW3615] reviewed
• 03/11/2024 Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe [NV360, UV440] updated
• 02/29/2024 Shark Stratos Cordless updated

Best Shark Vacuums

1. Best Shark Vacuum

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Shark Stratos Cordless 9

   
   Bare Floor

   N/A

   Low-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   High-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   Pets

   N/A

   Stairs

   N/A

   Cars

   N/A

   Workshop

   N/A
   Vacuum Type

   Stick/Handheld

   Bagless

   Yes

   Cordless

   Yes

   Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)

   Yes

   Wet Compatible

   No

   See all our test results

   The best Shark vacuum we've tested is the Shark Stratos Cordless. It's the flagship model in Shark's lineup of cordless stick vacuums, so it's no surprise that it has a variety of convenience features. This includes its Clean Sense IQ system, which uses infrared sensors to measure how much debris gets sucked into the dustbin and allows the vacuum to adjust its suction power as needed. It also features an odor-neutralizing system that works via a replaceable cartridge in its floorhead, which emits a detergent-like scent as you clean. The vacuum's folding wand makes it easy to clean under most furniture since you won't have to crouch deeply, and it reduces its vertical footprint when stowed away. It has the newest iteration of Shark's DuoClean twin-roller floorhead, which comprises a soft roller and a finned multi-surface roller.

   Unfortunately, despite being advertised as self-cleaning, it isn't the best shark vacuum for pet hair, as pet hair can still get trapped in the floorhead. Since this primary brushroll isn't removable, it can be a nuisance to clean. This vacuum can run for up to an hour on a charge, which is good by the standards of other cordless vacuums. If you live in a larger residence and would prefer using a corded vacuum so you don't want to worry about running out of charge, the Shark Stratos Upright is a solid option with a substantially higher-capacity dustbin. However, it lacks the cordless model's automatic power adjustment feature and has a much bulkier upright body.

   See our review

2. Best Mid-Range Shark Vacuum

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Shark Stratos UltraLight 2

   
   Bare Floor

   N/A

   Low-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   High-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   Pets

   N/A

   Stairs

   N/A

   Cars

   N/A

   Workshop

   N/A
   Vacuum Type

   Stick/Handheld

   Bagless

   Yes

   Cordless

   No

   Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)

   Yes

   Wet Compatible

   No

   See all our test results

   The Shark Stratos UltraLight is among the best Shark vacuums for pet hair we've tested and a great choice if you're looking for something a little more affordable. It's the flagship corded stick model in Shark's lineup and borrows some features from other vacuums that share the Stratos name, like the Shark Stratos Cordless. Like those other models, it features a replaceable cartridge to mask unpleasant odors as you clean, as well as the newest iteration of Shark's twin-roller DuoClean floorhead, which features a primary brushroll with built-in fins to minimize hair buildup. However, it shares a common downside: this primary brushroll isn't removable. While it doesn't have the go-anywhere range of a cordless model, its operating radius of over 30 feet is still reasonably long, allowing you to clean most large rooms without swapping outlets.

   Performance on bare floors, as well as low- and high-pile carpets, is excellent. Unfortunately, you can't adjust the height adjustment for its brushroll, so it can get tangled in thicker carpeting. It also feels noticeably less well-built than the Shark Stratos Cordless, and it has a smaller dirt compartment that'll need emptying more regularly.

   See our review

3. Best Budget Shark Vacuum

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Shark IX141 8

   
   Bare Floor

   N/A

   Low-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   High-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   Pets

   N/A

   Stairs

   N/A

   Cars

   N/A

   Workshop

   N/A
   Vacuum Type

   Stick/Handheld

   Bagless

   Yes

   Cordless

   Yes

   Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)

   No

   Wet Compatible

   No

   See all our test results

   The Shark Pet Cordless (IX141) is the best budget Shark vacuum we've tested. It's as basic as cordless vacuums get, with far fewer features compared to a higher-end model like the Shark Stratos Cordless. There's no automatic power adjustment capability and no telescopic wand. However, this cheap vacuum delivers impressive performance on bare floors as well as low- and high-pile carpets. It comes with a crevice tool for handling messes in tight corners, an upholstery tool for cleaning fabric surfaces, and a soft-bristle brush to deal with dust on delicate, easily scratched surfaces.

   Unfortunately, this vacuum is a hassle to keep clean; its floorhead's brushroll isn't removable, so removing any long hair wrapped around its brushroll is a nuisance. Battery life isn't all that impressive either, as it can only run for up to 40 minutes, though that's a downside shared with the pricier Stratos Cordless. If you want to avoid running out of charge, the Shark Rocket Corded is a good substitute, albeit one that feels more cheaply built and doesn't perform quite as well overall.

   See our review

4. Best Robot Shark Vacuum

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Shark RV2310AE 9

   
   Bare Floor

   N/A

   Low-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   High-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   Pets

   N/A

   Stairs

   N/A

   Cars

   N/A

   Workshop

   N/A
   Vacuum Type

   Robot

   Bagless

   Yes

   Cordless

   Yes

   Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)

   No

   Wet Compatible

   No

   See all our test results

   The best Shark robot vacuum we've tested is the Shark Matrix Robot. This robot vacuum can automatically empty its dustbin into an external dirt compartment mounted to its charging dock, reducing hands-on maintenance requirements. The RV2310AE variant has an extra-large dock with room for 45 days' worth of debris, so you won't have to worry about disposing of what's inside very often. The vacuum's LIDAR mapping sensor allows for quick and precise room mapping; you can also use its companion app to schedule cleaning sessions or set up no-go zones to prevent the vacuum from entering an area where it might get stuck or knock over something delicate. Performance on bare floors is excellent, though the vacuum has a harder time dealing with debris on low- and high-pile carpeting.

   Compared to older Shark robot models, like the Shark AI Ultra Robot, the integration with the SharkClean companion app is noticeably improved, providing a smoother user experience and fewer glitches. Unfortunately, this variant of the Matrix doesn't have a mopping system to deal with stains. If you're shopping at a similar price point and don't mind giving up its self-emptying capability for a mopping system, you could opt for the Shark IQ 2-in-1; this robot vacuum's mopping system isn't especially complicated, but it does a fantastic job of handling stains on hard surfaces.

   Another similar robot vacuum to consider is the Shark Matrix Plus. It has better debris pickup performance on bare floors and is slightly better at picking up pet hair; however, its battery life isn't quite as good, lasting a maximum of about an hour and a half compared to the Matrix Robot's three hours. Also, this model may be harder to get for some since it's a Costco exclusive.

   See our review

5. Best Handheld Shark Vacuum

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Shark CH951 4

   
   Bare Floor

   N/A

   Low-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   High-Pile Carpet

   N/A

   Pets

   N/A

   Stairs

   N/A

   Cars

   N/A

   Workshop

   N/A
   Vacuum Type

   Handheld

   Bagless

   Yes

   Cordless

   Yes

   Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)

   No

   Wet Compatible

   No

   See all our test results

   The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is the best cordless Shark vacuum with a handheld design that we've tested. Unlike the Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless or any other Shark stick vacuum, it's only intended for quick spot-cleaning sessions. It does a fantastic job dealing with pet hair and solid debris on flat, even surfaces, and it delivers a superb overall performance on carpets and rugs. It feels surprisingly sturdy and has a simple, easy-to-clean design that incurs minimal costs of ownership. The CH951 variant comes with a crevice tool for tackling messes in tight corners, a hard-bristle brush to dislodge stuck-on dirt and debris, and a turbo brush for cleaning furniture, though unfortunately, the latter isn't very effective for dealing with pet hair on upholstered surfaces.

   Its battery life of a little over 10 minutes isn't especially noteworthy, even by the standards of other handheld vacuums, and you'll need to work fast when cleaning bigger messes. It also has terrible air filtration performance, so it isn't the best option if you suffer from allergies. If that's a concern, consider the Shark WANDVAC, which does a much better job of sealing in allergens like pet dander; you can further bolster its filtration performance by purchasing an aftermarket HEPA filter. However, it has a much smaller dustbin.

   See our review

Compared To Other Brands