I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing vacuums — these are the 6 best Shark vacuum cleaners for powerful, hassle-free cleaning

You probably don't need me to tell you that Shark is a market leader in the appliance world. And while you could deck your whole house out with Shark appliances, this brand really shines in the vacuum space - offering impressive suction power, innovative engineering and technology, and sleek designs rivalling big vacuum brands like Dyson and Miele.

Although Shark has rightfully found its place in our best vacuum cleaners guide, it's fair to say that buying a Shark vacuum cleaner can be daunting. With so many different types and models (and not to mention the confusing model names that seem to include every letter in the alphabet), it can be hard to determine whether a corded upright with powerful pickup or a lightweight cordless vacuum will suit your home and cleaning needs best.

That's why myself and Ideal Home-approved testers have spent months following our testing process to determine which Shark vacuums are worth your hard-earned money and even whether they have what it takes to rival the best vacuums for tackling pet hair. As a result, I'm confident that the recommendations below are the best-in-class Shark vacuum cleaners you can buy today.

Quick list

Short on time but looking for the best Shark vacuum around? Take a look at our quick list below to find the one you're looking for quickly.

Best Shark vacuum cleaners 2025

Best Shark vacuum overall

Image 1 of 7

The Shark PowerDetect Clean and Empty System is the newest addition to the brand's roster of vacuum cleaners, and it combines many of the features we have loved and raved about in past models, all in one fantastic piece of kit. Namely, it's got the four-detection technology that was introduced with the release of the Shark Detect Pro, the anti-odour technology from the Shark Stratos, and an all-new technology dubbed Direction Detect. This means that the vacuum has been designed to pick up debris, dust, and hair in both forward and reverse, ensuring nothing gets left behind. This makes for precise pick-up with less effort exerted. Paired with the auto-empty dock, which cleans out and charges your vacuum for you so it's always ready to go, there really is little to criticise about this new launch.

Our only main gripes are while the auto-empty dock is brilliant, it's not perfect. During testing, there were circumstances where hair would sometimes get stuck and the suction couldn't clean it out entirely, in this case our tester Jullia had to just manually dislodge it herself. Not to mention, it can get a little top-heavy when you're using it in handheld as it's almost 3kg in weight. But all in all, it's still a 5-star buy across the board.

Features we loved during testing

The Detect technology was easily one of the best we have ever come across, and as Jullia navigated through different areas in her house, she found that the vacuum quickly switched gears and adapted as was necessary. She even found that on the areas where the maximum suction was needed, it almost felt as though the vacuum was propelling you forward, which made for super easy cleaning and manoeuvring of the appliance.

When she was done, she was shocked with just how much dust had accumulated in the dustbin, as it wasn't even that long ago that she had last vacuumed. She would've been none the wiser had it not been for the PowerDetect. Typically, she would veer away from stick vacuums because she finds them more of a hassle than anything with storing and manoeuvring, but the smooth movement and auto-empty dock instantly answered these concerns.

Read our Shark PowerDetect Clean and Empty cordless vacuum review for more details.

Best budget Shark vacuum

Image 1 of 6

The Shark PowerPro is one of Shark's newest vacuums, but it's also one of the cheapest. Perfect for those looking for their first Shark vacuum or a second vacuum on a budget, it doesn't have too many bells and whistles, but it still thoroughly impressed me during testing.

Offering impressive Floor Detect Technology, this budget Shark vacuum cleaner has a multi-surface floorhead that will adjust its suction power and the brush roll speed to suit your floors - whether that be carpets, rugs, or hard flooring. I found the suction power to be more than enough for everyday debris and quick cleans, although you might want to opt for something like the Shark PowerDetect if you're looking for big bursts of power.

Features we loved

During testing, I loved how lightweight and easy the Shark PowerPro was to use around the house. I didn't have to faff around with changing the floorhead (which I do with my Dyson), and it quickly transformed into a handheld vacuum for more targeted cleaning. The XL dust capacity meant that I could vacuum my whole house without having to stop and empty it.

I also tested the pet model, which came with a motorised pet tool that was perfect for sucking up hair and pet dander in my home. However, you can also buy the non-pet version for £30 cheaper if you don't want this extra tool. But the one thing I will always love about Shark vacuums is the Flexology wand, which allowed me to vacuum under chairs and furniture without having to move them out of the way. This is found on most Shark vacuums, excluding the upright model in this guide.

Read our Shark PowerPro Cordless Stick Vacuum review for more details.

Best Shark vacuum for battery life

Image 1 of 4

The Shark Stratos goes further than other vacuums from the brand to make debris and dust pick-up as easy, and nice-smelling as possible. It showed unbelievable suction power during testing, and left carpets visibly cleaner, with no issues with pet hair or human hair. We suspect this advanced cleaning is made possible because of the Clean Sense IQ Technology, which works to detect and then act upon the identified dirt and debris on your floors.

There's no doubt that our testing process proved that this vacuum is worth the large price tag that it carries. Even if you don't have to deal with shedding pets, the ease with which this vacuum does away with hair is astounding, and our Kitchen Appliances Editor, Molly Cleary, found that it was unmatched when it came to suction. Similar to the Shark IZ300UK Anti Hair Wrap cordless vacuum, it has a two-battery option, resulting in exceptional battery life for a whole house clean without the need for a charging break.

Features we loved during testing

The capacity of this vacuum to transform into a smaller handheld model is phenomenal, and you'll be reaching for the smaller attachments all the time to quickly resolve smaller messes all over your home. Another highlight during testing was the new Anti-Odour capsules that you can pick up with this vacuum, which make that horrible dusty smell a thing of the past. These come with a dial so you can choose how strong you want the scent to be, and then you simply pop it into the dustbin and go on your merry way.

You can fork out more for the two-battery Shark Stratos model if you think you need a spare pack on charge while the other is in use, but it's not a necessity if you live in a small or medium-sized home. All in all, this is admittedly a pricier vacuum, but if you can afford to fork out, it will impress you time and time again.

Read our Shark Stratos IZ420UKT cordless vacuum review for more details.

Best Shark vacuum for pet hair

Image 1 of 4

Shark claims that the Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap cordless upright vacuum has all the power of a corded vacuum cleaner but in cordless form, and after testing we couldn't agree more. In fact, if you had to really ask us, we'd even dub it the best Shark vacuum for carpet overall. This is in part thanks to the carpet roll that features Shark's innovative PowerFins technology, which is a rubberised fin that sits between the brushes to prevent hair from building up on the roller. It also helps with digging in deep into carpet fibres to pick up even the most stubborn of pet hair.

The Shark ICZ300UKT upright vacuum also comes with DuoClean, which makes switching modes immensely straightforward, and the controls make it easy to see how much battery you have left. To charge, simply lift out the battery on the side of the dust tank and pop it into its charging port.

Features we loved during testing

The vacuum has lights that illuminate its path, and it left a visible path of clean carpet when we took it through the floor around the bed of a fluffy black Labrador. Needless to say, its suction power for pet hair pick-up was very impressive, so prepare to remember what colour your carpet was when you moved in.

It is worth noting that coming in at over 6kg, this cordless upright vacuum is quite heavy compared to the lighter cordless stick models you're probably more familiar with; but it does have the Powered Lift-Away feature to make it easier to tackle stairs and upholstery without having to break your back to do so. Another minor gripe during the testing period was the small dust tank, which fills up very quickly when you're dealing with pet hair. We can confirm the battery life does extend to around one hour though, so this Shark cordless can tackle your entire home in one go.

Read our Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright vacuum cleaner review for more details.

Best handheld Shark vacuum

This handheld vacuum from Shark is a must-have handy for those quick tidy-ups that don't require the need to lug out a whole full-size vacuum cleaner. The (up to) 8 minutes battery life is sufficient enough for sweeping up dust, and crumbs and taming those stray hairs which seem to get anywhere and everywhere. After use, it can be neatly stored away in its little charging dock that is compact enough to keep tucked away to a corner of a room or inside a storage cupboard, ideal for those who are already pressed for space in a small home.

All of these features combined with strong suction power and a decent noise level is what has earned the Shark WandVac a spot in our round-up of the best handheld vacuum cleaners. However, we do think that it's quite expensive for a handheld vacuum and considering its short run-time, it's possible that some may find it hard to justify its price tag as a result.

Features we loved during testing

Our expert tester Helen loved how this vacuum empties at the touch of a button, flipping the dirt directly into the bin. She thought it made emptying quick and mess-free. When using it to clean her car, Helen was very impressed with the overall performance, with the vac effectively removing dirt from her car. It did struggle a little more to collect hairs from the carpet, but overall the suction was strong.

Overall, we love this vacuum for its performance and how it looks, as it's pretty enough to keep out on your worktop. It's almost full marks from us on this one.

Best Shark vacuum mop

Image 1 of 7

Not quite a full vacuum cleaner but not just a mop, the Shark VacMop Cordless 2-in-1 Vacuum Mop is the latest addition to the Shark floorcare family. And while you can't vacuum and mop at the same time, this small cordless appliance lets you suck up large debris and dirt in the debris chamber before using the cleaning solution to mop your hard floors - and I found it to be extremely effective.

You can then dispose of and replace the mop head when you're finished, with a quick click of the floorhead. This does mean you'll need to buy more eventually, but you do get 6 spare mop heads when you buy the appliance - which is a nice touch.

Features we loved during testing

One thing I couldn't get over when I tested the Shark VacMop was just how lightweight it was. At just 1.5Kg, it's easy enough to carry around the house, and it's also small and compact enough to either hang on a hook (without encroaching on your storage space) or simply lean against a wall when you're not using it.

The mopping process also left my floors wet without being soaked, so I didn't have to worry about damaging my floors. Instead, they were left perfectly clean and disinfected, and the lingering scent from the dedicated Shark cleaning solution was a delight. Of course, it'll never fully replace a vacuum cleaner, but it's certainly a fancy mop with benefits.

Read our Shark VacMop review for more details.

Best Shark vacuums at a glance

How we test Shark vacuums

At Ideal Home, we take how we test products very seriously. We believe that the only way to give our honest verdict (and feel confident recommending them to you) on the best Shark vacuum cleaners is to test them in a home environment while diligently following our vacuum cleaner testing protocol. If it’s not possible to test in a home, we instead follow these steps in our dedicated testing facility, which has been set up to mimic an average UK house.

To create this guide, members of the Ideal Home team reviewed every Shark vacuum on this list, and we all followed the same testing process to ensure validity across the board. For every review, we aim to test and explore every inch of the product - from the overall look of the Shark vacuum to the cleaning features it offers - for at least two weeks and sometimes even months. This allows us to face real-life challenges and use the product as any other customer would.

During this process, each vacuum is also tested on different floor types – hard flooring and carpet – to pick up cereals (crushed and whole), a mix of flour and sugar, and hair in individual tests. To achieve a perfect pick-up score, we expect a vacuum to pick up both fine and heavy debris across these surfaces with a single pass. These tests allow us to see how well the vacuum lives up to manufacturer claims, including its ability to tackle large amounts of debris and the effectiveness of hair-repelling features.

Everything has been considered during our in-depth reviews, starting from unboxing and assembly right off the bat. Factors such as manoeuvrability, run-time, emptying of the canister (or bag), included accessories and general controls also play a huge factor in determining the ratings we award each vacuum we test.

Where possible, we also try to compare the Shark vacuum with other vacuums on the market. These may be different Shark models (for example, we may compare them with older or newer models with different functionalities that may suit you better) or models with similar functionalities and different price points from other brands on the market.

Image 1 of 13

Taking all of the above into account, we can then assign the Shark vacuum cleaner a dedicated star rating. They are as follows:

5 stars - an exceptional Shark vacuum cleaner that does exactly what you expect and cannot be faulted in any way.

4.5 stars - as we always want to look at products with a critical eye, any Shark vacuum that leaves us wanting more will sacrifice that crucial half-mark.

4 stars - an amazing Shark vacuum cleaner that is worth your money but may need some fine-tuning before it suits everyone and every price point.

3 stars - a good Shark vacuum cleaner that works well but doesn't wow us with its cleaning ability. It may be under-specced, too expensive, or difficult to use.

2 stars - the Shark vacuum lacks key features but is affordable, so it may suit someone if they're in a rut and need a vacuum immediately.

1 star - the Shark vacuum does not work as intended, and we wouldn’t recommend you buy it.

Meet our testing team

Lauren Bradbury

Lauren is Ideal Home's Content Editor and Certified Expert in Training for Vacuums. She's spent 100s of hours testing the best vacuums on the market, speaking to industry experts, and even going behind the scenes to see how big brands design and test their vacuum cleaners.

For this guide, Lauren tested the Shark PowerPro and the Shark VacMop. She also used other testers' reviews to compile her top 6 picks overall.

Molly Cleary

Molly is currently Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, but she was previously our Ecommerce Editor and regularly tested the best vacuum cleaners on the market.

In this role, she countless vacuums - including the best Shark vacuums - both in her home and at Future's dedicated test facility. She also visited Shark's HQ to get a behind-the-scenes peek at how they design and build Shark vacuum cleaners.

Jullia Joson

Jullia many hours testing vacuum cleaners during her time at Ideal Home - including many of the Shark vacuums you see on this list.

Throughout this testing process, she got hands-on experience with a range of vacuums from leading brands such as Shark, Dyson, Gtech and more. The Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Cleaner was her particular favourite.

Millie Fender

Millie is Ideal Home's former Head of Reviews, and during her time in this role she thoroughly tested a wide range of products - from cookware to vacuum cleaners.

Before that, she was the Small Appliance and Cookware Editor, so she's no stranger to reviewing essential home appliances like vacuum cleaners.

How to choose a Shark vacuum cleaner

Knowing how to choose a vacuum cleaner can be tough, and this isn’t made any easier if you already know that you want to buy a Shark vacuum cleaner. Although you may have settled on the brand, there are many other things you need to consider. These include:

The type of vacuum cleaner: Shark is a brand that offers a wide range of vacuum cleaners, from upright corded options to slimline cordless stick vacuums. It’s worth reading up on our guide of Shark corded vs cordless vacuum cleaners to determine which one suits you best, as they all differ in terms of run-time, suction power, dust bin capacity, ease of use, and affordability. Of course, you could also choose the best handheld and best robot vacuums from the Shark brand.

Features on offer: Like many other vacuum brands, Shark is constantly evolving and coming up with new, innovative features that aim to make cleaning easier. So, you need to decide whether you want a simple Shark vacuum that gets the job done without too many bells and whistles or opt for something that comes with impressive cleansing features such as Anti-Hair Wrap technology, Anti-Odour Capsules, Duo-Clean technology, DirectionDetect technology, or even Auto-Emptying capabilities. Our full guide on Shark terms will help you decode what these mean.

Accessories: If you want to vacuum pet hair or use your Shark vacuum cleaner to clean your car, it’s also a good idea to choose a Shark vacuum cleaner that comes with accessories. Just make sure that you check out our guide on what vacuum tool is right for each job so you use them as effectively as possible.

Maintenance: Maintenance is key if you want to extend the life expectancy of your vacuum. And while modern Shark vacuums are now offering auto-emptying systems and becoming simpler to use, you still need to know how to clean a Shark vacuum cleaner to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible for the next few years. Alongside this, you also need to know how to clean a Shark vacuum filter.

By taking all of the above into account, you should feel confident enough to make your purchase and start using your new Shark vacuum cleaner. Just ensure you don’t forget the places you're probably forgetting to vacuum - otherwise, you won’t get value for money.

FAQs

What is the best Shark vacuum for the money?

Among the ones we've tested, we think the best budget Shark vacuum overall is the Shark PowerPro Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner. Not only is it one of Shark's newer models, but it's also one of the cheapest. It has also proven to be reliable through rigorous testing, and its suction power, compact design, and fairly affordable pricing make it, in our opinion, the best-value Shark vacuum out there.

When is the best time to buy a Shark vacuum cleaner?

It's possible to find pretty good deals on Shark vacuums year-round over on our cordless vacuum deals page, but there is one time of the year that's undoubtedly better than any other to take the plunge on this brand. Yep, we're talking about Black Friday deals, which start cropping up in November.

In previous years we've seen discounts of up to 50% on Shark vacuums, meaning that this pre-Christmas rush is most definitely the time to shop for essentials for your home, including vacuums. If you miss out on Black Friday, then there's plenty of cash to be saved with Boxing Day deals too.

Are Shark vacuums better than Dyson?

Shark's value for money, with RRPs often near to half of what Dyson's vacuums are, means that there is constantly a comparison raised between the brands. Our explainer on Shark vs Dyson has the full lowdown on the technical differences, but we think that if you're looking for a budget vacuum, you can't go wrong with investing in a Shark.

After reading through our guide, we hope that we've helped clear the mist surrounding choosing the best Shark vacuum for your needs. But if you're still not convinced, it's well worth reading my guide on the things I wish I knew before buying a Shark vacuum cleaner.