Best Shark Vacuum Models: Our Top 9 Picks for Efficient Cleaning

Features:

• • Bagless, corded, upright vacuum

• • Anti-Allergen Complete Seal + a HEPA filter

• • Powered Lift-Away

• • LED lights

Pet owners who are in a battle to keep dander and fur of their pet under control should have a look at the Shark NV752 - one of the most popular Shark vacuums for pets.

This model is built on the body of the Rotator upright vacuum that many customers love thanks to its Lift-Away and deep cleaning functionality. This TruePet version includes the Pet Multi-Tool and a motorized brush to increase the efficiency in getting rid of pet hair.

Instead of using a thin attachment on the hose, you can attach this motorized brush while only carrying the canister to dive into pet dander and hair anywhere it may lurk.

The addition of those features creates a powerful suction that you can use to remove hair clinging to drapes, stuck between cushions, or buried in carpets.

On top of that, pet owners who suffer from allergic conditions will be happy to know that the NV752 has a sealed filtration system with a HEPA filter, which can trap most allergens.

The fingertip controls are another nice touch. They allow you to switch between vacuuming modes for different floor types. You can also find the LED lights on the handle and nozzle, which helps illuminate poorly lit closets, areas under your furniture, and other dark corners.

The motorized brush sucks up a large amount of pet hair from area rugs and upholstered furniture. And even though it has powerful suction, the brush is gentle enough to vacuum lighter fabrics.

The only major issue of this upright comes from its steep price tag. But if loads of pet hair is your nightmare, it's really worth it.

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Features:

• • Bagless, corded upright vacuum

• • HEPA filter

• • Ultra-lightweight

• • Never Loses Suction technology

Shark has always been known as a brand with affordable products that have features and performances comparable to higher-end vacuums. This is also what attracts many customers when they are looking for a vacuum with a limited budget. But if you want to save even more money, the Shark Navigator Swivel Plus NV46 is a dirt cheap option with decent value.

This inexpensive vacuum comes with many basic features you can expect in a Shark model: HEPA filtration, brush roll auto-shutoff and swivel steering.

You can hardly find any vacuum at this price point that has high maneuverability like the NV46. With the swivel steering design, you can control and maneuver it in a flexible way around your furniture.

But to bring the price down, Shark has cut a lot of corners.

Even though you can receive three default attachments - a dusting brush, an upholstery cleaning tool, and a crevice wand, the NV46 has no onboard storage for this upholstery tool. On top of that, the power cord isn't retractable.

You also have difficulties while removing the brush roll from the cleaner head, which you can only access by turning the machine upside down. And this upright vacuum doesn't seem to work great with pet hair.

However, for the money you must pay, the Shark Navigator Swivel Plus is still a decent option that can handle the most basic vacuuming needs.

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Features:

• • Lift-Away

• • Anti-allergen Complete Seal with a HEPA filter

• • Brush roll shutoff

There are many reasons you should consider the Shark Navigator Professional NV356E as your first choice: a lightweight body, a shutoff feature for the brush roll, and Lift-Away technology. These features make the NV356E a solid option for any bare surfaces, especially hardwood floors.

This vacuum features a bristle brush that can shake the carpet fibers in order to get rid of all the deep-rooted dirt. But what makes it great for delicate floors is the ability to deactivate it to prevent scratches and damage.

The included Dust-Away accessory also has a large microfiber pad to protect your hardwood floors. You can attach this tool in the Lift-Away canister mode to remove dust and dirt from tiles or hardwoods.

This Dust-Away attachment gets so much love from customers, who have said that combining this microfiber pad and powerful suction means the NV356E can pick up larger debris on the way while sucking other fine particles.

But it'd be a lie if we say there are no issues with this upright vacuum. The width of its cleaning path is just around 9.5 inches - not as big as many customers might expect. But luckily for you, the dust cup is quite big with a capacity of 2.2 quarts. So you still won't need to empty this vacuum often during vacuuming sessions.

The canister is also wobbly, especially on hardwood floors. When attached to the extension wand and other accessories, it may constantly rock back and forth on the floor.

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Features:

• • Bagless, corded upright vacuum

• • Lift-Away

• • Anti-allergen Complete Seal with HEPA filtration

• • Swivel steering

• • Ultra-quiet

• • LED lights

The Shark NV501 is a popular model among people who want to deal with dirt imprinted on their carpeted surfaces while having the convenience and versatility of a Shark vacuum. Thanks to the deep agitating brush roll and powerful suction, it's up to the task.

This Rotator Professional vacuum has a wider cleaner head than the Navigator series, giving you a bigger cleaning path. As a result, you need less effort to clean your house. And with the help from the swivel steering, maneuvering the NV501 is made considerably easier even though it has a weight of 15.5 pounds.

The secret of its solution to carpet cleaning is under its floorhead. This is where the bristled brush combines with the suction power to pick up debris and dirt from your carpeted surfaces.

But be aware of some hardware failures if your unit comes from an early batch, which has had a problem with its reliability. But as long as you can get your hands on a newly made machine, there should be no issue. And even though the NV501 dominates on carpets, the performance on hardwood floors is not as great.

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Features:

• • Voice control & Wi-Fi

• • Mobile app

• • 7-day Scheduling

• • Multi-Axis, Quiet Mode, Max Mode

Instead of doing all the vacuuming yourself, let's outsource it to a robot vacuum like the Shark S87 - one of the highest quality robot vacuums on the market.

This cleaning system consists of a robot vacuum and another handheld vacuum in a single body. While they come together and share the same charging station, you can pick one machine to help you with the cleaning, depending on whether it's on-floor or above-floor vacuuming.

While the robot works great with floors, the handheld can deal with tiny dust bunnies and other small messes that get on curtains, tables, and walls around your house. This handheld unit is also a great car vacuum. Just attach the pet brush and it can pick up all the dust, hair, and crumbs trapped in your car's upholstery.

The handheld vacuum is powerful yet lightweight, making it a great tool for spot cleaning. On the other hand, the ION robot vacuum is a high-performance machine that can connect to Wi-Fi and your smartphone. This allows you to remotely control it via Google Assistant or Alexa whenever you want.

Compared to the S86 system, this newer version features Smart Sensor Navigation 2.0 technology, which is intended to help the robot navigate around your house effectively. Despite the compact size, its XL dust cup is fairly big, allowing the robot to vacuum your house in a single run.

However, this cleaning system still has the same issues of current robot vacuums. The automatic cleaning and the ability to avoid obstacles are really hit-or-miss. On top of that, while the S87 is as pricey as premium manual vacuums, the suction power is a lot weaker.

   ➜ RELATED: Shark Ion Robot R85 Vacuum Cleaner: Awesome Facts You Need To Know

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Features:

• • Sleek and compact design

• • Tapered nozzle

• • Fast charging

• • Convenient charging dock

Shark WV201 WANDVAC Handheld Vacuum is super lightweight and compact - an ideal choice for quick clean-up tasks.

The first thing you probably notice about this machine is its unusual design. It's a compact vacuum that resembles a thick rod while the nozzle is tapered to make picking up large debris easier.

When you place the vacuum and all the attachments on the charging dock, they fit perfectly together with an elegant and sleek look.

The WANDVAC weighs only 1.4 pounds, so you should have no trouble handling it. This weight is impressive given the suction it produces. Thanks to that and the compact size, vacuuming under furniture and other tight areas is a breeze with the WANDVAC.

Using this machine is as easy as other handheld units. Just grab it from the docking station and point to the mess, this sleek machine will handle the rest. You don't need to deal with a bulky vacuum that can topple or a cord that needs a power outlet to run and can become tangled anytime.

However, at the end of the day, it's still a handheld model. The dust cup is quite small, and even if its capacity is larger, you can cover a larger area since the running time is limited to its battery life.

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Features:

• • DuoClean and Zero-M

• • Convertible to a handheld unit

• • LED lights

Even though there are countless new vacuums with different designs on the market, stick models are still a solid option for busy households. That's why high-quality sticks like the Shark APEX ZS362 will never become outdated or unpopular.

To compete with other vacuums, the ZS362 is equipped with a host of advanced features and technologies.

It can act as a traditional stick vacuum, but Shark also allows you to break it down to a handheld unit to clean upholstery, furniture, stairs, and such. The swivel steering makes movements from one floor to the other smoother, especially when you need to pick up the dust under your furniture.

But the most notable features that really make the ZS362 worth your money are the DuoClean and Zero-M technologies.

This vacuum comes with a dual brush design (hence the DuoClean name): one soft brush to tackle small debris and a larger one to deal with stubborn dirt embedded in your carpeted surfaces. On the other hand, the Zero-M provides the ZS362 the self-cleaning ability, meaning there is no pet hair tangled around the brush roll anymore.

While the number of advanced features in this machine is really exciting, the filtration system is a disappointment. There is no HEPA filter - not great news for people with allergic conditions. And since the ZS362 is top-heavy, it can't stand on its own and topples easily.

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Features:

• • Ultra-lightweight

• • DuoClean

• • Convertible to handheld mode

• • Brushroll garage

This stick vacuum is extremely lightweight, weighing only 7.6 lbs. And in the handheld mode, it even weighs 3 lbs less - a perfect compact tool to tackle small cleaning tasks at tight spaces like seats in your car or under your couch cushions.

Despite the weight, Shark has managed to incorporate the DuoClean into this unit. And since it's a corded model, you don't need to worry about running life before finishing the job. The lack of batteries also contributes to its light weight.

The HV382 provides the Hard Floor Hero tool, a dusting brush, an upholstery tool, and a crevice tool - a great combo for cleaning up solid flooring.

But as many customers have pointed out, the machine only has enough room for two tools at the same time. This is a big hassle if you often misplace and lose those attachments. The dust cup is also quite small with only 0.42 dry quarts.

Overall, the HV382 is a great choice if you prefer a light vacuum but don't want a handheld model. It still has many traditional vacuum features with decent suction while not taking a toll on your back like other heavy models.

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Features:

• • Powered Lift-Away

• • DuoClean and Zero-M

• • Big dust cup

• • Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology with HEPA filter

• • LED lights

Shark APEX AZ1002 is not only a great upright but overall also one of best vacuum cleaners from this brand. If you are in search of a high-end unit with technologically advanced features, look no further.

The AZ1002 doesn't just clean your floors, but this machine can also clean itself. With the Zero-M self-cleaning brushroll, it can get rid of hair wrapped on itself.

Like other Shark vacuums, you can have an easier time vacuuming even the hardest to reach places in your house with the Power Lift-Away design. This allows you to detach the canister to extend the cleaning reach to vacuum your furniture or above-floor surfaces.

Additionally, the DuoClean makes sure that the AZ1002 delivers the best deep-cleaning performance in carpets, even with the most stubborn debris, while maintaining a polished look for your hard floors.

While this vacuum has strong suction, it's pretty quiet. And of course, a top-of-the-line model like the AZ1002 has a completely sealed filtration system with a HEPA filter.

But it's not true that this upright vacuum doesn't have its weak point. With so many features and a powerful motor, it's quite bulky and heavy at 17.1 lbs.

And its price tag is not exactly great news for your wallet as well. But if you want a top-notch machine with great cleaning capabilities, the AZ1002 doesn't have so many competitors that are worth considering.

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Why Should You Use A Shark Vacuum

Shark has always been known as a manufacturer that doesn't make you pay through the nose for their vacuums. Most of their models bear a reasonable price tag, especially if you compare them to vacuums from another brand like Dyson.

Shark vacuums usually come with their proprietary features like DuoClean and give decent cleaning results on most floors, but they are less expensive than comparable units from other companies.

On top of their advanced features and affordable prices, Shark vacuum cleaners tend to work well as all-purpose appliances.

Many models give you multiple running modes, and some even allow you to transform them into handheld or Lift-Away mode in an instant. Even though they're often targeted one or some specific floors or purposes in mind, you can generally use it as your main vacuum to deal with different floors, corners, ceilings, and furniture. There are few brands that can offer a whole-house cleaning capability like that.

Understanding Shark Technologies and Naming

Shark has a lot of features and model names that salespeople find confusing and hard to remember at times. Below is the list of the most common technologies, names, and purposes that you should now.

DuoClean

The DuoClean technology is a new design of the cleaner head of some Shark vacuums, which incorporates an additional soft roller into the existing spiral brush bar. This dual brush roll design is intended to improve the cleaning capability for all kinds of debris, from stuck-on dust to small and large particles.

This is a great choice if your house has multiple types of floorings: a vacuum equipped with DuoClean can deep clean your carpets while leaving a polished look on your bare floors.

Zero-M

Shark created Zero-M as a gift to pet owners, who often get frustrated when they find a lot of pet hair wrapped around the brush roll of their vacuums. This technology gives the brush roll the ability to self-clean itself from all types of hair. No scissors needed anymore.

The Zero-M technology Via: Amazon

Lift-Away and Powered Lift-Away

Shark vacuums that have Lift-Away or Powered Lift-Away on its label allow you to detach, lift out, and carry the canister with you. This compact model is a great solution for cleaning hard to reach areas, your car, furniture, and stairs.

Powered Lift-Away is slightly more advanced as you can do all that by simply pushing a single button.

Anti-Allergen Complete Seal

When it comes to the air filtration system in a vacuum cleaner, people often only focus on filters like HEPA. But that's not enough. A good system should also be properly sealed that no harmful particles in the air can escape before going through the filters.

A HEPA filter Via: Amazon

Shark wants to solve this problem with the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal - a technology that works side by side the HEPA filters to trap all particles, debris, dust tightly in the canister. As a result, it can help reduce the number of allergic or asthmatic reactions.

TruePet

Some Shark vacuums, mostly upright, are labeled as TruePet. You can easily guess from this name that these units include extra attachments to deal with pet hair. But on top of that, TruePet models also come with the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal design above to trap more fine particulates, pet dander, and general dust.

APEX

APEX is a premium vacuum series that combines some of the most advanced features from Shark, from DuoClean, Powered Lift-Away, Zero-M, Anti-Allergen Complete Seal, Noise Reduction, and Active-Glide wheels. The specific features available depend on each model, but overall, they are all top-of-the-line products for customers with the highest demands.

APEX - Shark’s flagship series Via: Amazon

APEX vacuums have a great build quality and can last long with their Lifetime belts and filters policy. But of course, if you want to own one of these awesome vacuums with all the bells and whistles, you must spend a lot of money.

Navigator and Rotator

The traditional Navigator and newer Rotator are two popular upright series from Shark.

While Navigator models have a classic design with standard wheels, the Rotator is more streamlined with a sleek look. They still look like a full-size upright machine but have swivel steering features instead. This allows you to push the Rotator vacuums around and under furniture easier.

Besides this, there are few differences between these two series, which can share the same features, depending on specific models.

ION and IONFlex

Simply put, ION and IONFlex are cordless vacuums that are powered by battery, including both traditional cordless stick and robot vacuums.

ION is the robot vacuum lineup of Shark Via: Amazon

The 'Flex' in IONFlex means a flexible stick construction, which has a pivoting joint in the middle of the body. Thanks to this joint, you can vacuum around obstacles and under furniture easier, and when you're done, storage won't take up much space.

How to Choose A Shark Vacuum

Since there are so many models from this brand alone, you must ask yourself some questions to narrow down which unit will suit you the best.

What is your budget?

There is nothing embarrassing about answering this question honestly. Everyone must set a budget for everything they buy, vacuum cleaner included.

With a little money, you can still get a Shark vacuum that can get the job done, especially when you don't have any special needs or a large house with multiple flooring.

Inexpensive models like Shark Navigator Swivel Plus NV46 above or Navigator Freestyle are all simple machines with basic features. Even though we can't expect any fancy technology or superior durability, they can still deliver acceptable results for basic needs.

If you can afford to spend more, Shark Rotator and Navigator are your best bet. At this price range, you can hardly find any other options that can perform better. Depending on the specific model, they even offer one or some convenient features.

When money is not really in the equation, going for a top-of-the-line Shark APEX vacuum should satisfy even the most meticulous customers. They come with all the bells and whistles, giving you an ultimate solution for household cleaning.

Stick or Upright?

Even though Shark has recently introduced robot and handheld vacuums, stick and upright models are still the main players in its catalog.

Shark's Rocket stick vacuums have a slim look like the cordless models from Dyson. They are lighter, and thanks to the swivel steering technology, they can go into hard-to-reach areas.

Upright series like Navigator and Rotator, on the other hand, provides strong suction power and a wider range of attachments. They are a great choice when you need to deal with multiple flooring types, furniture, and even your car.

Traditional or Lift-Away?

Lift-Away is a convenient feature that allows you to transform your vacuum into a more portable unit. But if your cleaning task doesn't involve many stairs, ceilings, and furniture, it may not be necessary. Opting for a traditional model will help you save some money if this is the case.

Lift-Away is a must-have for vacuuming floors Via: Amazon

What are your floor types? Hard floors, carpets, or a mix of both?

Some series like the Rocket can produce solid results for most wood floors. They are simple and seamless solutions when you don't need to switch between many flooring types.

But if you need to get rid of the dirt imprinted in any carpeted surface, invest in Navigator, Rotator, or even APEX if your budget permits.

Most of these models are designed to work on multiple floors in mind. For example, the dual brush roll in DuoClean technology makes sure that the machine can pick up all debris on carpets while leaving a polished look without any damage on bare floors.

Corded or Cordless?

Corded vacuums from Shark have great suction power without a limited runtime, as long as you can plug them into an electric outlet. The situation in which the machine runs out of power in the middle of a vacuuming session will never happen.

But if you prefer a cordless model, Shark also offers many units that are powered by batteries with decent runtime. This frees you from the worries of tangled cords and finding power outlets.

Cordless Shark vacuums are usually handheld models Via: Amazon

Full-sized, Handheld, or Robot?

While traditional vacuums lead the race when it comes to suction power and number of accessories, handheld and robot models have their own advantages and use.

While Shark doesn't make many handheld vacuums, they are all portable and a great choice for vacuuming tight corners, cars, and furniture. On the other hand, robot vacuums come into handy when you're too busy to clean your house after work.

Final words

Like any other household appliance, your needs, situation, and budget are always what you should give thought to. It's hard to answer exactly which the best Shark vacuum is if you don't really know how you plan to use it.

Each of them offers a unique set of features and capabilities. Some come with all the bells and whistles while some only provide basic functionality. But at the end of the day, they are all great tools to get rid of dust and debris from your house.

In-depth Reviews of Shark Vacuums

If you want to learn more about these amazing machines, click through the links below to read our full, detailed reviews of many Shark vacuums.