Shark vacuum cleaners have exploded in popularity in the US – but are often overlooked in the UK. This is a shame, as the company produces a range of innovative vacs at reasonable prices. Keep reading for our top Shark vacuum reviews.
Top Pick: Shark NZ801UKT
Shark NZ801UKT
The Powered Lift Away NZ801UKT is our top pick for a Shark vac.
It’s one of Shark’s powered lift-away models, making it useful for cleaning stairs and under furniture. It also provides excellent suction, along with extras such as LED headlights, anti hair wrap technology and efficient filtration.
The Shark vacuum cleaner brand, which is developed by a company called Euro-Pro, has grown in popularity in recent years. While Shark hasn’t received the recognition of Dyson, Vax or other popular brands, they still produce some excellent vacuums.
The company manufactures a range of upright and stick vacuum cleaners. These typically combine several proprietary features, such as:
- Lift-Away – A detachable canister to improve mobility and turn the vac into a more portable vacuum cleaner. There are also powered lift-away vacuums which maintain a powered brush bar when the canister is detached.
- DuoClean – A dual brush floor head that’s designed to remove both small and larger debris. It’s great for moving between hard floors and carpets without changing floorhead.
- TruePet – Models with this tag include a pet turbo tool. The turbo tool is great for removing hair from upholstery, stairs and car interiors.
- Anti Hair Wrap – Technology in the floorhead that prevents (most) hair from becoming tangled around the brush bar.
In this article, we’ve listed our favourite Shark vacuum cleaner reviews. Each of the models on this list provides great value, excellent cleaning performance and has been well received by buyers. These aren’t the only Shark vacuums that are worth buying – but we believe they are the cream of the crop.
Tip: Want to see how Shark stacks up against Dyson? Check out our in-depth comparison of these two popular brands.
Which Are the Best Shark Vacuums?
Shark NZ801UKT |  Shark HZ3000UKT |  Shark IZ251UKT |  Shark HandVac CH950UKT |  Shark HV390UKT |  Shark IZ300UKT | |
| Price Range | £££ | £££ | ££££ | £ | £££ | £££ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Upright | Stick | Cordless | Handheld | Stick | Cordless |
| Bag Type | Bagless | Bagless | Bagless | Bagless | Bagless | Bagless |
| Dust Capacity (L) | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.45 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Weight (kg) | 6.5 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 1.39 | 4.8 | 4.58 |
| Hose? | ||||||
| HEPA Filter? | ||||||
| Pet Tool? | ||||||
| Overall Rating View Rating Breakdown | ||||||
Type: Stick | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £££ | Dust Capacity: 0.3 litres | Weight: 4.4kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: No
- Versatile corded stick vacuum with excellent pet hair pickup
- Anti-odour filter is a bonus for pet owners
- Can be used as a handheld vacuum
- Very small dust capacity
- Messy emptying process
We think the Stratos Corded Stick Pet Pro is one of Shark’s best-value models for pet hair. It’s a bagless stick vacuum with a stylish appearance, excellent features for pet owners, and strong suction power.
In terms of design, the Shark HZ3000UKT is a stick vacuum that looks similar to most cordless models – and it even has a detachable handheld. The addition of 10 metre power cord to supply the 450W motor means you don’t need to worry about battery life though. Having a stick design also makes it lighter than most cordless vacuums at just 4.55kg.
As we’ve come to expect from Shark, the HZ3000UKT has a huge range of features – including some that we haven’t seen from Shark before. A good example is anti-odour technology, which helps remove pet smells before they can spread around your home. The HZ3000UKT also includes anti-hair wrap technology, a flexible wand for cleaning under furniture, and a pet tool.
How does the vacuum perform though? It’s a strong all-rounder that does a great job on carpets, laminate, tiles, and other hard floors. It doesn’t excel at any one flooring type, but it’s capable of cleaning most debris from all surfaces.
It’s particularly effective at cleaning pet hair. Whether you need to remove hair from carpets, hard floors, stairs, or upholstery, we don’t think the HZ3000UKT will let you down.
It’s certainly not a perfect vacuum though. One of our biggest complaints about the HZ3000UKT is the tiny 0.3 litre dust capacity. This is around half the size of most cordless vacuums, which usually have smaller capacities than cordless models. Considering how effective this vacuum is at picking up dirt, you must be prepared to empty it regularly.
This makes it frustrating that the bin doesn’t have a hygienic emptying system. It’s a quick process, but we recommend doing it outdoors to prevent dust from escaping back into the house.
There’s no doubt that the Shark HZ3000UKT is an excellent vacuum for the price though. If you’re looking for a lightweight corded vacuum for cleaning pet hair, then it’s an option to consider
2. Shark Cordless IZ251UKT True Pet
Type: Cordless | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: ££££ | Dust Capacity: 0.7 litres | Weight: 4.1kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: Yes
- Cordless vacuum with Shark's DuoClean floor head
- Great for pet hair (which cordless models often struggle with)
- Flexology design to make it easier to clean under furniture
- Doesn't quite match the Dyson V11 for cleaning performance
If you’re looking for a Shark cordless vacuum cleaner, the Shark IZ251UKT is an excellent choice – especially if you have pets.
The stand-out feature of the IZ251UKT is the combination of Shark’s DuoClean floor head and anti hair wrap technology. In short, the head contains two different brushrolls, which combine to remove both large debris and smaller particles. Many people have also found the DuoClean technology helps remove more pet hair, while the anti hair wrap system reduces the amount caught around the brush roll.
Aside from a DuoClean head, the IZ251UKT is built with Shark’s “Flexology” technology. This is a joint in the middle of the stick, allowing you to clean under furniture more conveniently. It’s also useful for storage – especially as the vacuum can’t stand up on its own.
Like most Shark vacuums, the IZ251UKT comes with a range of other features. These include a handheld mode (similar to the Dyson V8 or V10,) LED headlights and a relatively lightweight design. Pet owners will also enjoy the motorised tool for cleaning upholstery and stairs.
Shark has greatly improved the run-time compared to previous cordless pet vacuums. In contrast to the IF200UKT, which could only last 22-minutes, the Shark IZ251UKT has dual batteries for up to 80-minutes run-time (although this drops in maximum power mode.)
While the Shark is excellent at cleaning pet hair and hard floors, we don’t think it quite matches the carpet cleaning standards of the Dyson V11. It provides decent carpet pickup – and excels on hardwood or tiles – but it can struggle with thick fibres.
Even so, the DuoClean IZ251UKT is an excellent vacuum cleaner and one of the best cordless vacs for pet hair. It’s great for cleaning hard floors, makes quick work of dog and cat hair, and is convenient to use around the home.
Full Review: Shark IZ251UKT
Note: If you don’t have pets, the cheaper IF251UK is the same vacuum but without the pet hair tool. There’s also the Shark IF201UK, which doesn’t have the second battery or a pet tool.
Type: Cordless | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £££ | Dust Capacity: 0.7 litres | Weight: 4.58kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: No
- Excellent carpet pickup for a cordless vacuum
- Comfortable to hold despite the relatively heavy weight
- Great for cleaning pet hair
- No HEPA filter
- Anti hair wrap isn't 100% effective
The Shark IZ300UKT, like many Shark vacuums, is a great choice for pet owners. In fact, we think it’s one of the best mid-range cordless vacuums for pet hair – even if it can’t quite match the all-around performance of pricier cordless vacs.
Let’s start with the basics though. The IZ300UKT isn’t the lightest cordless vacuum on the market, but it’s easy to use and generates strong suction. We also think it’s a great choice for carpets, as the DuoClean floorhead provides excellent pickup.
Several features make the IZ300UKT a great choice for cleaning pet hair. Firstly, we found the vacuum generates decent suction for a cordless, which is important for pet hair removal. Shark has also added “PowerFins” to both the main floorhead and smaller tool, which improves pet hair pickup further. Additionally, the IZ300UKT comes with anti-hair wrap technology, which we think is useful for cats or dogs with long hair.
As you would expect from Shark, the IZ300UKT comes with a range of other interesting features. These include a “Flexology” joint in the stick for vacuuming under furniture, LED headlights, and three tools. It also has a 60-minute maximum run-time, although this is only when the vacuum is set to ECO mode and there’s no motorised tool attached.
We do have a few complaints about the Shark IZ300UKT cordless vacuum though. While the anti-hair wrap is useful, in our testing we’ve found that it isn’t 100% effective – especially for thicker rug fibres. We also think it’s a shame that Shark hasn’t included a HEPA filter with the IZ300UKT.
Despite these issues, the Shark IZ300UKT provides great value for money. If you need a cordless vacuum for pet hair without spending a fortune, then it’s definitely a model we recommend looking closely at.
Type: Stick | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £££ | Dust Capacity: 0.5 litres | Weight: 4.8kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: No
- Turbo tool for removing pet hair
- Great on hard floors
- Stick design means it's lighter than other Shark vacuums
- Lack of hose makes it harder to clean higher locations
- Messy to empty
Another excellent Shark pet vacuum cleaner is the DuoClean HV390UKT. Shark calls it a “Handstick” vacuum, as it can convert between stick and handheld modes for more versatile cleaning. It also comes with a mini turbo tool, for removing pet hair, and a dual-brush floorhead that excels at both small and large debris.
Unlike the other vacuums on this list, the HV390UKT is primarily a stick upright vacuum. This provides a middle ground between a cordless and upright, as its lightweight yet isn’t constrained by battery life. It has a small one litre capacity (0.5 litre max fill), yet is one of the most energy efficient vacuums on the market with a power rating of 450W.
The HV390UKT’s biggest strength is its versatility. For pet owners, the vacuum comes with a miniature turbo tool that’s more effective than a basic upholstery tool. It’s also effective on carpets and comes with both a dusting brush and crevice tool.
An additional feature is the HV390UKT’s “Flexology” design. This is effectively a joint in the middle of the stick, which is great for cleaning under furniture.
A drawback of the stick design is that it’s more difficult to clean higher locations. This is partly solved by the handheld mode, although you don’t get the extra reach of a traditional hose. It can also be quite messy to empty.
Despite these minor issues, the Shark DuoClean True Pet is a great choice for a pet vacuum if you don’t want a full-size upright. While it has a small capacity, its versatile array of attachments and relatively lightweight design are why we think it’s the best Shark stick vacuum.
5. Shark NZ801UKT Powered Lift-Away
Type: Upright | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £££ | Dust Capacity: 0.8 litres | Weight: 6.5kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: No
- Pet tool is effective at removing hair from sofas and carpets
- Great on hard floors
- Anti hair wrap technology (although not 100% effective)
- Not the best carpet vacuum (although no slouch either)
- Short 8 metre cable
The Shark NZ801UKT isn’t just one of the best Shark vacuums – it’s one of our favourite upright vacuum cleaners from any brand. This model includes nearly all of Shark’s innovative features, while providing excellent performance on almost any type of floor.
Let’s start with the advanced features. It’s a powered lift-away model, so you can remove the canister without losing cleaning performance. This makes it a versatile vacuum that’s great for cars, stairs, and other awkward locations. The NZ801UKT also comes with the DuoClean floorhead and True Pet tool for pet hair.
The latest Shark feature is “anti hair wrap technology.” This automatically untangles and removes hair from the brush bar, which can save time and frustration. It’s not 100% effective – it works better on certain types of hair than others – but is a useful addition if your brush bar is regularly tangled.
In terms of performance, the Shark NZ801UKT is excellent at cleaning pet hair. It also does a great job on hard floors and a decent job on carpets, although it’s not the best carpet vacuum on the market.
The biggest downsides are the small dust capacity and relatively short 8 metre cable. It’s also a pricey vacuum – although Shark packs a lot of features in for the price.
Overall, the Shark NZ801UKT is one of the best upright vacuums on the market. It’s effective, versatile, and brilliant for pet owners. Click here to read our full review.
Note: If you’re looking for an upright vacuum, the Shark AZ910UKT is another excellent option with great features.
6. Shark HandVac CH950UKT Handheld Vacuum
Type: Handheld | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £ | Dust Capacity: 0.45 litres | Weight: 1.39kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: No
- Decent suction power for a handheld vac
- Comes with a motorised pet tool
- Easy to use
- Not the most convenient handheld
- Messy emptying system
If you need a small vacuum cleaner for quick clean-ups and tackling dry spills, then the Shark HandVac CH950UKT is one of our top recommendations.
It’s a lightweight model that we found generates excellent suction power, although this comes at the expense of run-time. There’s also a motorised pet tool which our testing showed made a big difference to hair pickup, making the CH950UKT one of the best handheld vacuums for pet hair.
There are some downsides though. It’s not the most convenient handheld to use, as the bulky design makes it difficult to fit into tight spaces. We also found that the bin emptying system was ineffective and often pushed a cloud of dust into the air.
Despite these drawbacks, the HandVac is a powerful handheld vacuum that’s useful for removing pet hair between cleaning with your full-size vacuum. We also think it provides great value for money. Click here to read our Shark HandVac CH950UKT review.
Summary
Shark vacuums are definitely worth considering as an alternative to vacuum brands like Dyson and Vax. Their models tend to be reasonably priced and provide strong suction power. Many also have innovative features such as the company’s Lift-Away design and Swivel Steering.
Listed above are our top four Shark vacuum cleaner reviews. While each model provides great value, it’s important to buy the model that most closely matches your requirements. If we had to pick our top model though, it would be the Shark Powered Lift-Away NZ801UKT.
Our Shark Vacuum Reviews
| Name | Overall Rating | Type | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shark HandVac CH950UKT | Handheld | £ | |
| Shark IZ251UKT | Cordless | ££££ | |
| Shark NZ801UKT | Upright | £££ | |
| Shark WV200UK | Handheld | £ |
Page Update History
12th July 2023
Moved to updated design.
7th March 2023
Updated to include two new Shark vacuum cleaners, specifically the Stratos HZ3000UKT (replacing the discontinued Shark NV681UK) and cordless IZ300UKT (replacing the discontinued Shark NV681UKT).