Buying a vacuum involves more decisions than ever before. There are so many different types of vacuums, from robots to cordless stick vacuums to uprights. Then there are all the manufacturers like iRobot, Dyson, Samsung, Ecovacs, iLife, Hoover, and so many more. As a vacuum brand, Shark is just one option in a vast ocean of many. But when you go with a Shark, you typically get a relatively well-made vacuum at an affordable price point. It may not be the top-of-the-line unit on the market or sport all of the latest bells and whistles, but it will likely be a powerful and reliable vacuum that won’t break the bank and will get the job done.
If you’re in the market for a new Shark vacuum, we’ve included our picks for the best models you can buy right now. If you’re looking for a Dyson unit, be sure to check out our list of the best Dyson vacuums.
Best corded stick vacuum
Shark Apex UpLight
- Works well on hard floors, carpets, and area rugs
- Picks up pet hair
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Affordable price
- Dust cup could be larger
- Vacuum hose is difficult to click back into place
The Shark Apex UpLight offers extremely strong suction power, a self-cleaning brush roll, and stellar performance on both hard floors and carpets. At 10.7 pounds, it’s easy to carry around the home, and it maneuvers nicely, twisting and turning around corners with ease. A great deal of thought went into this unit's design, with features like LED lighting on the vacuum’s head, so you can clean in different lighting conditions and still see the dust and dirt.
This vacuum has two brush rolls. The front brush roll gives hard floors a polished look, while the main self-cleaning brush roll cleans dirt and hair lodged deep down in carpets. The vac completely disassembles and includes an army of attachments that you can store on the vacuum’s wand, allowing you to clean stairs, curtains, furniture, and crevices. In addition to its exceptional performance, the Apex UpLight traps (almost) all allergens in its filtration system, so you can clean your home without getting the sniffles.
Best cordless vacuum
Shark Rocket Cordless Stick Vacuum
- Extremely portable design
- Power battery
- Easy disassembly
- Battery vacs are best for smaller homes or spaces
With cordless vacuums, some people fear the unit will lose suction over time or that the battery won’t last long enough. Even if the unit does maintain its suction and has a long battery life, will it cost a fortune? This is why we like the Shark Rocket. Its 40-minute run time is long enough to tackle a routine house clean, and its suction power is top-notch. Plus, the Rocket maintains that suction power even after months of use, provided you maintain and clean the unit properly.
The Shark Rocket Cordless Stick Vacuum disassembles, making it easier to clean couches, stairs, and vehicles. At only 7.5 pounds, it’s lightweight enough to maneuver around the house without straining your back.
Best robot vacuum
Shark ION AV751
- Wall-sensing technology
- Triple-brush design
- Voice assistant compatibility
- Can't entirely take the place of a full vacuum cleaner
This update to Shark's botvac line includes welcome improvements: Instead of needing to lay down guiding strips, the vac can now sense walls, ledges, and furniture automatically, maneuvering itself to avoid causing any problems. As with all the best robot vacuums, you can use the app to start and schedule cleaning sessions. It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant so you can give on-the-spot voice commands if you prefer.
The battery life also impresses providing 120 minutes of performance before it needs a recharge. The model has a brush roll, channel brushes, and side brushes for baseboards, so it can offer a fairly complete cleaning experience as long as you run it regularly.
Best upright
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Swivel Pro
- Affordable for the size
- Large dust bin
- Swivel steering
- Not very portable
Shark has introduced various upright units and produced quite a few iterations of the Navigator vacuum. But few full-sized upright units can compare to the Navigator Swivel Pro because of its amazing suction and affordable price. The vacuum is powerful enough to suck up dust and dirt lodged deep down in carpets and performs exceptionally well on bare floors, grabbing large and small particles from hard floors and tiled surfaces. At 14 pounds, it’s not the lightest vacuum on the list, but its 11-foot extendable hose, extra-large dust compartment, and swivel steering make the unit easy to operate day to day.
This unit is built to last, too. If you clean the brush roll and replace the filters regularly, you can likely get a lot of years out of the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Swivel Pro.
Best vac for pet hair
Shark NV752 Rotator
- TruePet tech with dedicated pet brush
- HEPA filtration for pet dander
- Lift-away design for flexibility
- Carpet and hard-floor modes
- HEPA filters require frequent replacement
This hefty Shark vac comes with TruePet technology, which means it offers a self-cleaning brush attachment made specifically for pet hair and a HEPA filter that helps remove any pet dander and similar allergens as it works. This model offers swivel steering to get around furniture and modes for both carpet and hard flooring. If you have stairs, the lift-away design allows you to lift up the pod and carry it briefly for more flexible cleaning. The 0.88-quart dust bin, meanwhile, ensures that you'll have the capacity to deal with larger messes. Keep in mind that you'll have to replace that HEPA filter regularly to keep the vac working.
