While finding your perfect vacuum depends on your specific needs, we determined that the best model for most people is the Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum. It has a very long battery life, powerful suction, and a compact design.  Here are the best Shark vacuums, backed by our thorough testing. 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 5-star 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Price at time of publish: $220 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. Price at time of publish: $200 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. Price at time of publish: $140 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. Price at time of publish: $100 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. Price at time of publish: $130 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, our tester gives this Navigator model a 4.5-star rating for maneuverability and comments positively on the swivel steering. This type of steering will give you easier access to corners, and makes this pick a bit more pleasurable to use. Price at time of publish: $125 In addition to sucking up pet hair quickly, we also love this vacuum’s large dust bin because you won’t have to worry about emptying it mid-clean. When it is time to empty the dust bin, keep in mind that it’s a little tricky to pull apart. Our tester said that if she did not properly place the two pieces together, the vacuum lost suction power once restarted. She also had to pull some hair out of the dust cup from crevices that did not initially empty. This Shark model is a little bulky for a handheld vacuum, but we think the extra-large dust bin makes it worth it. The attachments are what make this vacuum really shine, but there’s no included storage for them, so you’ll need to repurpose a box or bin to make sure you don’t lose them. Overall, our tester said this vacuum’s performance was very impressive given its size and single suction setting. Price at time of publish: $96 Shark RV1001AE IQ Robot Self-Empty XL: After testing—specifically with pet hair, kibble, and newer models of robot vacuums—we found that this vacuum is honestly mediocre at best. While it excelled at cleaning up minor messes on hard flooring, it struggled to transition to and clean high-pile carpet. Our tester also said pieces of kibble became caught in the beater and had to be pulled out for the vacuum to continue its cleaning session. All in all, this vacuum may be convenient for small areas and for homes that aren’t in a rush to clean, but it wouldn’t be best for homes with reactive pets, busy children, or major messes. Shark Cordless Pro with Clean Sense IQ: As we noted above, this model is the newest version of the Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum, our best overall pick. But, it doesn’t have the same cleaning capabilities as its older counterpart. While our tester was pretty impressed with this vacuum’s effectiveness on carpet and hard flooring, they noted that the vacuum struggled to pick up pet hair off of upholstery with any attachment. Debris also fell out of the vacuum whenever our tester changed attachments. Even with its initial cleaning power, our tester said the debris falling out didn’t make this model worth its price point, especially given the overall mediocre performance. Shark Stratos Cordless with Clean Sense IQ: Despite Shark’s claim that this vacuum has the strongest suction power of any of its models thanks to HyperVelocity Plus, this vacuum has a few major design flaws that left our tester frustrated. Rather than picking up more debris when pulling backward on carpet, this vacuum dragged debris behind it, which resulted in more work for our tester. The top-heavy design—although common in most cordless stick vacuums—combined with the suction, which naturally drives this vacuum forward, also left our tester’s arm feeling fatigued and sore after just 10 minutes of testing. Overall, we expected more from a model that’s claiming to be one of the best designs yet, especially at a price point comparable to Dyson’s vacuums.

How We Tested the Shark Vacuums

We’ve tested over 50 vacuums side-by-side in The Lab and at home—several of which come from Shark. During our tests in The Lab, our testers completed the setup of each model first, timing how long it took to complete this process and how thorough the instructions were. From there, we put each pick through its paces, and evaluated its effectiveness on hardwood and three types of carpet. The vacuums were tasked with cleaning up measured amounts of hair, popcorn kernels, and a parent’s constant companion: Cheerios. While testing, we noted how many passes were needed to clean up the materials, if any hair was tangled in the brush roll, and the vacuums’ weight, noise level, and portability. In addition, we gathered insights on how well each pick transitioned from smooth floors to a carpet, while testing its maneuverability in our living room-inspired obstacle course. We also noted how long cordless models stayed charged. Our testers tested the ease of emptying the dust bins, noting if the process was messy, as expected, or thrillingly simple. At home, additional vacuums were rated on the same attributes in real-world environments and situations. Lastly, when determining the overall value of each product, we considered our entire experience with the product in comparison to the price. Our editors took all of the consistently applied testing data that was gathered at The Lab and at home, and boiled it down to the Shark vacuums we believe are the very best.

What to Look for in a Shark Vacuum

Type

Shark makes a variety of vacuum types including upright, stick, and handheld models. Choose the type of vacuum that fits your cleaning objectives and preferences. Upright vacuums typically offer the most suction and dust bin capacity, but stick vacuums are super convenient for daily cleaning and maintenance of floors. A Shark handheld vacuum is ideal for small cleaning tasks in the house or car, and takes up minimal storage space.

Corded vs. Cordless

When shopping for a vacuum, the decision between a corded and cordless model depends on your specific needs and priorities. A corded vacuum offers an unlimited runtime and is a good choice for whole-house cleaning. Pay attention to the length of the cord to minimize how often you’ll need to stop and switch outlets, though. Most upright vacuums have 25 to 30-foot-long cords. Cordless Shark vacuum cleaners offer major convenience but are limited to shorter cleaning jobs since runtime is dependent on battery life. Most models will last between 10 and 40 minutes. But, take note: If you plan to use the vacuum cleaner on plush, high-pile carpet or use a higher setting, you’ll have a shorter runtime. 

Included Accessories

Accessories shouldn’t be an afterthought when shopping for a Shark vacuum, since the right tools can help you complete your cleaning tasks more quickly and easily. Accessories typically include: a crevice tool for cleaning tighter spots around appliances, behind furniture, or in the car; a duster to gently grab dust from soft surfaces like lampshades and curtains; and a wand extension tool that’ll help you reach spots above the floor. More specialized accessories, including a motorized pet brush and specialized floor brush for hardwood floors, may also be included with your vacuum. These can provide a more suitable clean in specific situations.

Standout Features

Washable Filter

While some vacuums have filters that need regular replacement, a washable filter is both easy to maintain and minimizes the recurring expense of buying new filters. By regularly cleaning it, you can keep your vacuum operating at peak levels of suction and particle capture. Plus, you’ll know that it’s not being overworked. This feature is very handy for any household, but particularly one that’s conscious of their environmental impact or sticking to a budget.

Self-cleaning Brush Roll

Anyone with long hair or substantial levels of pet hair understands the struggle that comes from a tangled brush roll. Instead of using scissors to clear hair wrapped around the brush roll, some new Shark vacuums are equipped with a self-cleaning brush roll that is designed to clear accumulated hair and pet fur without user intervention. It uses silicone fins to grab hair from the bristles as you clean.

Detachable Canister

Some Shark vacuums are equipped with a detachable canister that adds “lift-away” functionality to the machine. This is useful if you want to do a lot of above-floor cleaning, such as removing dust or debris from stairs, ceilings, and upholstery. To make use of this feature, just remove the detachable pod, and carry the canister with you. Use the hose of the vacuum and the appropriate attachment to reach elevated areas of your home and clean them thoroughly. You should keep in mind when shopping that Shark vacuums offer both powered and non-powered lift-away canisters. When it comes to powered lift-away canisters, you’re able to use the motorized floor head with its spinning brush roll while in lift-away mode. 

Why Trust The Spruce?

Erica Puisis has been a writer for The Spruce since 2017. She’s an experienced product researcher with years of experience in covering large and small appliances. For this piece, she used in-depth research and evaluations on features, cleaning modes, and accessories, in addition to the firsthand insights from our product testers at home and in The Lab, to inform her writing. She also conducted an interview with Danielle Lessing—VP of Global Product Development at SharkNinja—to learn more about the features of Shark vacuums. Also, regularly inspect the brush roll for wrapped hair, string, or lodged debris and carefully remove any obstructions using scissors. According to Danielle Lessing, VP of Global Product Development at SharkNinja, owners of Shark vacuums equipped with DuoClean Technology should “hand wash the soft roller as needed (using only water) and let it air dry for 24 hours before use.”  All that said, read your Shark vacuum’s user manual beforehand, to make sure your particular model has a rinsable filter. For Shark vacuums with washable filters, you will need to rinse the pre-motor filters every 30 days. Any household with pets or heavy dirt accumulation might need to rinse the filters more often. Washable HEPA filters only need to be rinsed every 12 months.  To disassemble a Shark vacuum cleaner, you typically start by unhooking the hose from the body of the vacuum. Then, you remove the wand assembly. Next, lay the vacuum on its back and use a screwdriver (or other tool as indicated in the owner’s manual) to open the floor head compartment and remove the brush roll. Once you have completed these steps, you can then inspect the pieces or deep clean your vacuum before reassembling it as indicated. Lessing suggests the following tips for extending the life of your vacuum: “If you don’t have our Anti-Hair Wrap Technology, we suggest removing hair from brush rolls at least once a month or sooner if you notice some jamming. Cleaning your filter frequently can also help extend your vacuum’s lifespan.” Marisa Casciano is a senior commerce editor for The Spruce, and has been in The Lab for our vacuum tests. She has firsthand knowledge of how our vacuum tests were both developed and performed, as well as where each product excelled or fell short. Before conducting lab testing, she scoured brand and retailer websites, and considered price, verified customer reviews, features, and design when selecting the vacuums to test. She also considered the latest technology, practicality, and real-life cleaning situations. Emma Phelps, an updates writer for The Spruce, also assisted in updating this roundup to note the latest Shark vacuums we tested that didn’t quite make our final list.

What Is Spruce Approved?

Here at The Spruce we want to ensure we fully stand behind every product we recommend, and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut. We also pride ourselves on transparency and will always let you know if we received a product for free.