Buying guide for best Shark vacuum
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Shark vacuums are everywhere. The Shark brand burst onto the scene in 2007 and hasn’t looked back, offering a wide series of models, from handhelds to stick vacuums to uprights, available from every major retailer you can think of. With bagless, zero-loss-of-suction designs and what sometimes seems like a never-ending parade of new features, Shark vacuums are among the most popular vacuums in the world.
With such a wide array of categories and models to choose from, it can be a little dizzying to find the right Shark vacuum for you. This is where we come in. In this buying guide, we highlight the best Shark vacuums you can buy based on our research and experience testing Shark vacuums in the BestReviews Testing Lab.
From our testing and research, we think the best Shark vacuum is the Shark Stratos Cordless Stick Vacuum, offering great cleaning power, portability, versatility and convenience. For a lower-cost, traditional pick, try the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum, a mainstay of household cleaning since 2011.
Expert Tip
Shark vacuums have the easiest cleaning filters because you can simply rinse them with water until they turn white and let them fully air dry.
BestReviews Cleaning Expert
Our top picks
Best Bang for the Buck
Cord Length: 25’ | Suction Power: 1,200 W | Bin Capacity: 1.1 qt | Weight: 12.5 lb | Dimensions: 15" L x 11.4" W x 45.5" H
Not often do you find a vacuum that's stood the test of time, but the Shark Navigator NV352 Lift-Away Upright Vacuum is exactly that. It was introduced back in 2011 and has been available ever since.
The Navigator Lift-Away is an upright vacuum with 25 feet of cord length. It offers 1,200 watts of suction power and a dust-cup capacity greater than 1 quart.
Its killer feature, adopted by many other Shark uprights, is its ability to detach from its floor nozzle to become a portable vacuum with a 30-inch suction hose for cleaning furniture, windows, shelves and stairs. In this configuration, it weighs just over 8 pounds.
The Navigator Lift-Away comes with a HEPA filter to keep dust from escaping while vacuuming. Its swivel-steering floor nozzle is basic but effective, although its single-bristle brush will tangle with hair from time to time.
It doesn’t come with up-to-date tech like headlights or a dirt sensor, but it provides a thorough cleaning on both carpets and bare flooring at a wallet-friendly price.
Best Handheld Vacuum
Run Time: 10 min | Suction Power: 88 W | Bin Capacity: 0.44 qt | Weight: 2.8 lb | Dimensions: 20.8" L x 3.8" W x 4.3" H
For smaller jobs that require hands-on attention, the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus makes a lot of sense. It boasts a wide mouth and good dust-cup capacity, yet it’s light and portable enough to use in your vehicle or home.
Though a hand vacuum isn’t meant to replace your full-size vacuum cleaner, it complements it, helping you with small messes and in-between cleaning.
The UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus has 80 watts of suction power and a mouth wide enough to suck in large pieces of debris without clogging. Its dust cup holds almost a half-quart of debris, which is good for a hand vac.
Among its attachments is a tangle-resistant powered roller brush that’s great for grabbing pet hair. And at less than 3 pounds, it’s easy to pull out for quick cleaning jobs.
The UltraCyclone’s battery takes 240 minutes to charge, which can be a drag, and it lasts only 10 minutes at a time. But you shouldn’t need more than a couple of minutes for the kind of cleaning it’s designed for. It’s the best Shark handheld vacuum for a car, RV or around the house.
Best Battery Life
Run Time: 120 min | Suction Power: 309 W | Bin Capacity: 1 qt | Weight: 8.82 lb | Dimensions: 10.24" L x 14.7" W x 46.5" H
The Shark Vertex Pro IZ682H Cordless Stick Vacuum is tops for battery life. It’s identical to the Vertex Pro IZ462H, which we tested, but instead of just one rechargeable battery pack, it comes with two.
In our testing sessions, the Vertex Pro Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum models were capable cleaners. We liked their maneuverable floor heads that changed direction with a flick of the wrist, and we appreciated how their headlights illuminated tight spots beneath counters and behind couches.
The DuoClean floor nozzle passed our suction tests with no issues except for a little snow plowing with loose debris, such as cereal on bare flooring. We also liked how quiet they were, never getting louder than a hair dryer, even in max-suction mode.
The Vertex IZ682H comes with two battery packs, which doubles your effective cleaning time. The IZ462H we tested came with just one battery pack and provided us with 60 minutes of battery life.
This model doesn't have auto-sensing capability, and you have to switch from carpet to bare floor manually. But otherwise, the Vertex Pro Cordless models are excellent stick vacuums for everyday cleaning.
Feature-packed
Run Time: 60 min | Suction Power: 309 W | Bin Capacity: 0.72 qt | Weight: 8.9 lb | Dimensions: 13.78” L x 10.24” W x 51.18” H
The Shark IZ862H Stratos Cordless Vacuum combines some of Shark’s most advanced and useful features into a cordless stick vacuum that’s more than capable of tackling everyday cleaning chores, and it wowed us in our hands-on testing.
The Stratos Cordless has a 60-minute battery life, which we confirmed in our tests — enough to cover 800 square feet of testing space (carpet and bare floor) without needing to recharge.
Its CleanSense IQ detects dirt you may not see and increases suction automatically until the dirt is gone.
We appreciated the nimble swivel steering and tangle-resistant brush rollers of its DuoClean PowerFins HairPro floor nozzle, and we felt its long, flat dusting wand was fantastic on curtains and blinds.
The Stratos Cordless' suction power of 309 watts isn’t as powerful as a full-size upright, and it takes three hours to recharge. But its smart tech, versatility, portability and suction test results dispelled any doubt in our minds that it’s a primary everyday vacuum you can rely on.
Best for Pet Hair
Cord Length: 25’ | Suction Power: 960 W | Bin Capacity: 0.8 qt | Weight: 14.35 qt | Dimensions: 13” L x 12” W x 45.5” H
With more features and capabilities, the Shark’s Rotator vacuums are a step up from its Navigators. The Shark Rotator LA701 Pet Lift-Away Upright Vacuum exemplifies that with its dual-roller, tangle-resistant floor nozzle and streamlined lift-away design.
Unlike the older Navigator NV352, the Rotator Lift-Away easily detaches from its floor nozzle with the push of a pedal. It sports Shark’s DuoClean PowerFins Hair Pro floor nozzle with two rollers and tangle-resistant, self-cleaning fins to power through pet hair.
It also comes with bright LED headlights to illuminate dust and dark corners. Plus, it offers a cartridge that neutralizes odors while you clean, which is a welcome plus for pet households.
In lift-away pod mode, it can clean shelves, stairs and furniture with its hose, comfortable handle and attachments. It’s maneuverable enough to steer around couches and tables, too.
While its suction power is less than that of older models, its advanced design makes up for that.
Expert Tip
Don't allow your canisters to get completely full. This will help with suction and prevent possible vacuum malfunction.
BestReviews Cleaning Expert
How we tested
The BestReviews Testing Lab obtained eight Shark vacuums and put them through their paces, rating suction, maneuverability, ergonomics, hair wrap, ease of maintenance and other factors.
Suction power
We used a variety of household items to test suction power on both carpet and hard flooring, including hardwood and vinyl planks. We measured specific amounts of fine particulates such as sugar and ground coffee; medium and large particulates such as birdseed and breakfast cereal; and faux fur or pet hair. We then gauged the amount each vacuum picked up in a single pass and how many passes it took to complete the job.
Maneuverability and comfort
We used each vacuum in a real-world environment to see how it steered around furniture and into corners and crevices. We noted how comfortable and ergonomic each was to hold for above-floor cleaning and how easy or difficult it was to use and change attachments.
Pet features
We checked for hair clogs and tangles in the floor nozzles, wands, hoses and attachments of our test units, as these problems often afflict vacuums in pet households. When present, we also evaluated Shark’s odor-neutralization features for effectiveness and practicality.
Cleaning and maintenance
We noted how easy it was to open the dust cup of each test unit and empty it into the trash. We also noted how to remove the dust cup completely for rinsing and cleaning and how to access and clean all filters, floor rollers and accessories.
Noise level
We used a smartphone app to measure the noise levels of each vacuum as we operated it, checking for variations related to floor surface and power level.
Cord length and battery life
For corded models, we measured the length of their power cords, noted if they got in our way, and observed how easy or difficult it was for us to store them. For cordless models, we tracked their total battery life and how long it took them to recharge from empty.
Features to consider
What kind of features should you look for in a vacuum? We’ve got some suggestions.
Cleaning performance
The most important capability of any vacuum is how well it cleans. This translates to suction power and how well a machine’s nozzles and attachments pick up and hold onto dirt. Wattage is a quick way to get an idea of how powerful a vacuum is, but it doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. Other elements like airflow, the number of brush rollers, brush roller design, the size of the cleaning path and hose length also affect how well a vacuum does its primary job.
Dust cup capacity
How much dust can a vacuum hold before it needs to be emptied? The answer to this question impacts how often you must stop cleaning to empty the bin. Shark vacuums don’t use bags, so their dust cups empty directly into the trash.
Maneuverability and usability
There’s no point in buying a vacuum that isn’t easy to use. So, ask yourself these questions before buying a vacuum. Is it easy to push along your floor? Is it too heavy for you to move? Can it get into corners and under tables and desks? How comfortable is it when cleaning items above the floor, such as the couch cushions or stairs? A vacuum you hate to take out of the closet is a vacuum that won’t get used.
Pet hair performance
We love our furry friends, and part of that love is dealing with the hair they shed. Look for a vacuum with rollers that won’t get tangled with hair and fur so badly that you need to take a pair of scissors and clear it every month or so. Also look for vacuums with filters that are reusable and washable, hoses that resist clogging and attachments that can get at pet hair and messes above the floor. Odor-fighting scent cartridges are nice to have as well.
HEPA filtration
HEPA filters prevent dust particles smaller than 0.03 microns from escaping back into the air from the vacuum. A vacuum with a HEPA filter won’t recirculate these microparticles and allergens into your room's air, keeping your home cleaner and healthier.
Cord length and battery life
Corded electric vacuums deliver more power for suction, but cordless battery-powered vacuums are much more convenient. If you’re looking at a corded vacuum, note how long the cord is. You don’t want to have to keep changing power sockets all the time. Also, see if there’s an easy way to store the power cord. For cordless vacuums, check how long the battery life is supposed to last, how long it takes to recharge and whether it has a removable, replaceable battery.
Attachments and accessories
A vacuum is at its best when it has practical accessories. Here are some to look for:
- Floor nozzle: This is the main floor-level cleaning head of most vacuums. Consider how wide its cleaning path is, how many rollers it has, what kind of rollers they are, if it’s easy to turn and maneuver, if it can get under furniture and if it has headlights and other useful extras.
- Crevice tool: This is used for cleaning nooks and crannies, between couch cushions, along the fridge and behind the bookcase. Look for one with the length and reach you’d prefer and a nozzle that’s big enough to pick up debris but not too wide to fit where you need it to go.
- Upholstery brush: This is a short, wide attachment for cleaning the cushions of couches and chairs as well as curtains and drapes. It’s helpful to find one that can change angles so you can vacuum the sides and back of a piece of furniture, not just its seat. If the brush detaches, it can be used with textured surfaces or thick piles.
- Powered brush: Like a mini-floor nozzle, a powered brush has a roller that spins with the vacuum, digging deep and picking up objects that won’t budge from suction alone. It’s great for cleaning pet hair off of furniture.
- Dusting wand: This is a long, flat tool that can cover a large area quickly. It’s suitable for cleaning blinds, shelves and surfaces that accumulate a lot of fine dust. Other wands can slide under low furniture.
Expert Tip
If you ever feel like your vacuum is losing suction, always check for debris behind the brush roll. In my experience, this is a common issue for Sharks.
BestReviews Cleaning Expert
Shark vacuum types
Shark currently makes five main types of vacuums: upright, canister, stick, handheld and robot.
Upright vacuums
Upright vacuums stand on their own. The motor and dust cup are located in a main section that attaches directly to the floor nozzle. These vacuum cleaners can be pushed or pulled along the floor.
Shark makes upright vacuums in its Navigator, Rotator and Apex/Vertex/Stratos lines. Many Shark uprights have main sections that lift away from the floor nozzle and act like canister vacuums.
Canister vacuums
Canister vacuums have dust cups and motors in a separate pod or housing that attaches to a floor nozzle using a hose. This makes their floor nozzles more mobile and easier to reach with than uprights, but you have to move the canister part of it around as well. Canister vacuums have a reputation for cleaning better on carpet and hardwood, as there’s less weight on the floor nozzle to catch on high pile or damage fine hardwood floors.
Stick vacuums
Stick vacuums have motors and dust cups that are small and light enough to fit on the end of their wands, making them lighter and slimmer than uprights. They can be corded or cordless and usually provide less suction than uprights and canisters. However, they are easier to move and maneuver.
Stick vacs may convert into handheld vacuums just by removing their wands. They’re great for small spaces and quick cleaning jobs. Shark makes stick vacs in its Vertex, Cordless Pro and Stratos series as well as its longstanding Rocket series.
Handheld vacuums
The smallest vacuums, handheld vacs can also be called car vacs since they became popular as a cleaning solution for vehicles and RVs. Unlike stick vacs, they don’t usually come with floor nozzles or long wands. They typically have the smallest dust cups and motors, but they can be highly effective at small cleaning jobs. Shark’s hand vacs include its Pet Pro series.
Robot vacuums
Robot vacuums are some of our favorite cleaning assistants. These autonomous little gadgets roll around your home looking for and picking up dirt without you needing to tell them where to go, at least not after some initial setup. They don’t have as much power as full-size vacuum cleaners, and they may struggle with corners and edges. But they do the work for you, and they’re cute. Shark’s robot vacuums include the Matrix, IQ and AI series.
Care and maintenance of your Shark vacuum
Like all appliances and electronics, your Shark vacuum needs occasional maintenance and attention. Go over the outside of your Shark vacuum with a dry or slightly dampened cloth if it gets dirty or dusty.
Dust cup
You should empty the dust cup of your Shark vacuum whenever it gets full. Don’t let it get over-full, as that could affect suction efficiency. Additionally, you should wash or rinse the dust cup every so often to get rid of built-up grime.
Filters
Shark vacuums have reusable, washable filters, which is a big plus for your budget and the environment. To maintain these filters, remove them, shake them clean over the garbage and then rinse them and let them air dry. Do this about once a month, depending on usage. If your Shark vacuum has a HEPA filter, this can be shaken clean and rinsed once a year.
Brush roller
Check the brush roller of your Shark vacuum’s floor nozzle from time to time to make sure it isn’t tangled with hair or stuck with debris. Shark’s PowerFins HairPro rollers are designed to resist tangling, but older bristle rollers may need some hands-on time with a pair of scissors. It helps if your Shark’s floor nozzle has rollers that can be removed for cleaning.
Clearing blockages
Clumps of hair, crumpled paper, socks and other objects can get trapped in your vacuum’s hoses and air conduits. Check your user manual for information about clearing internal clogs. Before you go poking around, turn the vacuum off and unplug it or disconnect it from its battery.
Tips
- Have two vacuums. Many people find it handy to have two separate vacuums: a small one, like a handheld or stick vacuum, for small, quick cleaning jobs, and a full-size upright or canister vacuum for weekly or monthly deep cleaning. Having both gives you a more comprehensive cleaning regimen.
- Keep an eye on discounts. Shark vacuums don’t cost as much as some competitors do, and they get discounted pretty regularly — sometimes very deeply during major shopping days like Black Friday. You can grab a feature-packed, higher-end model at a bargain price if you look for these regular Shark sales, even directly on Shark’s website.
- If your vacuum comes with a crevice tool, use it. It takes just a moment to snap on a crevice tool, and the precise cleaning you get from using the tool is highly satisfying.
- Ask Alexa. If you have a Shark robot vacuum cleaner, you can pair it with Amazon Alexa. Download the Amazon Alexa app, or visit the “skills store” for Alexa on Amazon’s website. Then, simply enable the “Shark skill” to control your robot vacuum via Alexa.
- Add a mop. If you’re a huge Shark fan, look into their line of mops as well. Some of our favorite steam mops come from Shark. Many Shark mops include a starter kit to get you going.
FAQ
Q. How much do Shark vacuums cost?
A. Shark vacuums range in price, from about $60 for its Cyclone Pet handheld vacuum to about $500 for the Stratos Cordless stick vacuum. Its Navigator uprights range from $200 to $240, and its Rotator series ranges from $250 to $400.
Cordless models tend to cost more than corded models, and Shark’s top full-size uprights cost the same or less than its cordless stick vacuums. Shark’s robot vacuums cost from $250 for its ION models to $800 for its AI-combo vacuum-and-mop robot.
Q. How long should a Shark vacuum last?
A. A Shark vacuum motor has a five-year warranty. This is a good gauge for how long the vacuum will last overall. Parts that get a lot of wear and tear, like a floor nozzle’s brush rollers, aren’t covered by this warranty, and anecdotal evidence indicates you may need to replace a Shark’s brush roller sooner rather than later.
Some customers report owning and using their Navigator uprights for more than five years before needing a replacement.
Q. How often do you change the filter on a Shark vacuum?
A. Shark vacuums with reusable, washable filters don’t need their filters changed unless they become punctured or damaged. The HEPA filter on a Shark vacuum can be washed and reused, but it requires replacement every three years.
Q. Can Shark vacuums be repaired?
A. Whether it’s worth it to repair a contemporary vacuum is an open question. Longevity and ease of repair are somewhat sacrificed by Shark’s lightweight and advanced electronics. Shark will repair or replace any vacuum still under its five-year warranty unless the problem lies with its “consumables,” such as a brush roller.
Vacuum repair shops have pointed out difficulties in repairing Shark vacuums. What’s more, throwing away a mostly plastic appliance raises sustainability and environmental concerns. You may want to keep this in mind when shopping. That said, if there’s a problem with a smaller part like the floor head or dust cup, those can be replaced without throwing out the entire vacuum.
Our expertise
Jmar Gambol has been a writer for BestReviews since 2021. He’s written more than 70 articles and reviews on a wide variety of products, including many in the area of household cleaning and appliances. He’s done his own housekeeping since college and is always on the lookout for a vacuum that cleans the most with the least effort. He personally tested five Shark vacuums for this guide as well several Shark robot vacuums and a dozen other robot vacuums from competing brands. His testing experiences have led him to switch from his 10-year-old discount upright to a Shark cordless stick for everyday cleaning. The weekly floors he leaves to his robot vac, Spot.
