16 Best Shark Vacuum – A Complete Guide and Comparison 2024

The Shark brand is popular, and many homeowners willing to buy the best Shark vacuums on the market. Reason? Their vacuums offer what modern human needs: a powerful and easy-to-use cleaning device. They’re also durable products that you could own for years, without experiencing any breakdown issues.

Originally called Euro-Pro, also known as SharkClean, the company focused at the beginning of their existence on the affordability of its products. At the moment, Shark is a top vacuum producer, but things weren’t sailing that smooth a while ago, with the statistics of 2008 showing that the manufacturer, controlled a meager 1% of the US market. Mark Rosenzweig, the CEO and family heir, is credited for shaping the company’s goals in the years that followed, making it one of the most loved for the quality of the vacuums. Instead of focusing on affordability, the company turned eyes to innovation. This was meant to produce vacuums that customers would love for performance and durability. This was also followed up by heavy advertising, with the company spending millions on TV commercials every single year. Quickly, the brand gained ground, almost replacing some of the popular companies. Within no time, revenues grew from millions to billions. The number of employees also increased as the customer base improved. Factories, too, were expanded to take care of the higher demand for their vacuums. The company was renamed SharkNinja in 2015 with statistics showing control of more the 20% of the US market for vacuums.

Enough history – for those in a hurry, here’s a scrollable shark vacuum reviews list of my favorite best Shark vacuums (last updated in January, 2024):

Today’s best Shark vacuum features innovative technologies and excellent design for a cleaner that’s not only efficient but aesthetically appealing. One of them is what the company has dubbed DuoClean. In simple terms, DuoClean is the design that features two different brushes at the cleaning head. One of them is hard bristled and serves to remove the dirt stuck in carpets. The other one is a soft brush roll that cleans hard floors without damaging them. The technology allows you to use the same vacuum for carpets and hard floors to achieve impressive results without the worry of damaging the delicate surfaces. There’s also the Zero M technology that prevents hair tangles and makes the vacuums suitable for homes with pets. The design features a comb that prevents and removes hairs that wrap around the brush roll, so you don’t have to do it manually every time.

There are other great features in most of the vacuums that come from the company. They include the powerful suction resulting from the high power motors, the excellent design for the suction path, and more. Shark vacuums have always scored high in suction power tests, and users who have used the various models confirm that. One thing I like about these vacuums is the usability they offer. Easy to operate, they also convert to units you can lift away and use anywhere in your home. The headlights, too, which make cleaning the dark areas of your room easier and efficient. Shark vacuums exist in different types from uprights, sticks, cordless, handhelds to robots. I picked the best Shark vacuum cleaners in each category, and you can select the model that you find suitable for your cleaning requirements. To help you choose the right one, I’ve made a comparison of the different models and how they suit specific situations. Let’s get started straight away.

Shark Uprights

Shark uprights offer powerful suction that allows them to clean all carpet pile sizes. Most feature an efficient bristled brush roll and are designed to prevent hair from wrapping around the brush. To clean hard floors, they come with a second soft brush that doesn’t scratch sensitive surfaces. There are several other features, but most of them depend on the model. Here are my recommendations for the best shark vacuum in the uprights category.

Best Overall: Shark Apex Duo Clean Zero-M

This vacuum offers one of the highest suction you can get on a Shark vacuum. Rated 1350 watts the model is suitable if you have a lot of stubborn dirt to pick up, especially if the dirt is embedded in the carpet. To complement the suction power, it comes with a sizeable dust compartment that can hold up to 1.5 dry quarts. This means fewer trips to empty the dirt, which makes the vacuum a good choice if your home is large. One of the attributes of Shark vacuums is an excellent filtration, and this model offers that. The exhaust filter is HEPA. Besides that, the unit is fully sealed, assuring you of clean air with no allergens during vacuuming activities.

When it comes to usability, the Apex DuoClean scores high. It features active glide wheels enabling for maneuverability despite its weight. The reach this model achieves is impressive with its 30-foot cord and 5.5-foot hose. To allow you to clean higher places or the car, the canister detaches easily to produce a handheld. LED lights on the handle and floor nozzle illuminate the floor so you can spot the dirt in dark areas and make your cleaning thorough. The cleaning nozzle also has what the company calls Zero M design, which is essentially a guard and comb that removes hair tangles from the brush roll. To make your cleaning more accessible and effective, the vacuum comes with a 12″ crevice nozzle and a pet tool. The unit weighs 16 lbs, which is somewhat heavy compared to the other models in the category. However, you will find it easy to move around due to powered wheels. It measures 11×12×46 inches and comes with a manufacturer’s 5-year warranty.

Shark Navigator Zero-M Pet Pro

The Navigator is Shark’s upright that’s meant for high traffic areas but where the dirt is easier to clean. It features an 1150 watt and 9.5 amp motor, which makes it equally powerful when compared to the other uprights. The 12″ cleaning path it offers is the broadest in the category. This means less time to finish tasks and makes it suitable if your home is large. It also features a big dust cup, with a capacity to hold 2.8 quarts. The vacuum is safe to use if you have allergy issues, featuring a HEPA post-motor filter. In addition to that, the unit is fully sealed to prevent the escape of allergens.

If your home is large and not high traffic or heavily carpeted, I would recommend this vacuum. Besides having a wide cleaning nozzle and a large dust cup, it’s lightweight enough to allow you to use it for long periods. It weighs 16 lbs, which is among the lowest of the units in this category. However, the cord it comes with is shorter, measuring 25 feet. The hose is very long though, at 12 feet, but which increases the total reach. The vacuum lacks headlights and may not be ideal for use in poor lighting. To improve versatility, the Shark Navigator comes with a total of three accessories: a duster crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and a dusting brush. It measures 9.84 x 11.97 x 45.28 and is relatively compact. This model is backed by a 5-year warranty, one of the longest you can get for a vacuum cleaner.

Best for Pet Hair: Shark Rotator Pro

The suction of the Rotator Pro model is given by a 1200 watt (10 amps) engine which is powerful enough for the cleaning of both carpets and hard surfaces. The nozzle achieves a 12” cleaning path, wide enough to allow you to finish vacuuming tasks on time. The dust compartment is somewhat smaller at 1.3 dry quarts, but which is adequate for uninterrupted cleaning sessions. Just like the other Shark vacuums, this one offers HEPA filtration for the post-motor filter, and even allergy sufferers can use it.

The cleaning radius this vacuum offers is impressive. Its power cable measures 30 feet and the hose 6 feet. That brings the total reach achievable to a decent 36 feet, which is long enough for the typical home. It allows you comfortable and quick cleaning where you don’t waste time switching power outlets. In addition to the reach, the vacuum comes with several accessories; an anti-allergen brush, pet tool, an under-appliance cleaning wand, and a crevice nozzle. It weighs 17.7 lbs and measures 12.1 x 12.2 x 45.7 inches. The manufacturer backs the vacuum with a 5-year guarantee.

Best Budget: Shark Navigator DLX

Although this model is almost 10 years old, it’s still one of the best vacuums made by Shark. There are a few simple reasons why I would recommend it:

• It has a powerful suction (almost comparable to the APEX DuoClean). This is enough to handle most types of flooring.
• It has a large debris recipient. You can vacuum for hours without having to empty the container.
• You can turn the brushroll on or off as you please, depending on which type of floor you clean.
• At 15 lbs, it’s light enough to be used by most people.
• It comes with HEPA filtration.

The Shark Navigator DLX comes with a minimal set of attachments (a telescopic wand, a furniture brush, and a crevice tool). The vacuum has a 1-year guarantee.

Shark Navigator LiftAway Deluxe NV360

A slightly improved version of the classic DLX is the Shark NV360. Although it’s a bit more expensive, it is worth it IMO. This model features the LiftAway technology, meaning that you can remove the pod from the base and use the hose and attachments to vacuum things such as stairs, tight corners, furniture and so on. The nice thing about this is that the power cord is 25 ft long, enough to allow you to reach whatever you want to. Another encouraging feature is the weight, which has been reduced to only 13 lbs.

Shark Navigator Zero-M

As you see, the Navigator series is one of the main pillars in the foundation of this company. People buy these vacuums not because they are the best, but because of their cleaning capabilities and because they are priced reasonably. Shark wanted to maintain this state of things when it introduced the Navigator Zero-M, a vacuum cleaner that continues the tradition of the older models in terms of power and bin space, while also adding the Zero-M technology (anti-hair wrap). This new model also weighs 13 lbs but can accommodate almost twice as much debris then the NV360 or the DLX (2.2 vs 1.2 dry quarts).

Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away

This classic upright from Shark is so good it still rated among the best-made Shark vacuums. Although it was released several years ago, it has all the right ingredients: the LiftAway tech, it’s a sealed machine, HEPA filtration, LED lights, XL debris capacity, and swivel steering. Comming with a cord length of 25 ft. and weighing only 15.5 lbs, this vacuum cleaner can hold 0.325 gallons in its belly.

A Comparison of the Top Shark Uprights

Almost all upright vacuums from Shark come with slight variations in the features and capabilities. That means one model may not suit your requirements, while others may fit your situation precisely. If you’re looking for a powerful unit for your heavily carpeted home, I would recommend the Apex DuoClean with Zero-M. This model also works if you have pets. The vacuum offers incredible suction to remove dirt from even the high-pile carpets. It also features an adequate bin capacity and cleaning radius.

Pick the Rotator Pro if you have lots of challenging spots to clean in your home. It comes with headlights to illuminate the dark areas and delivers adequate suction to clean any surface. For the hard-to-clean places, it comes with the LiftAway technology and with several accessories that include a wand to clean the areas that are beneath the furniture.

The Navigator is suitable if you have large areas to clean. This can also work if you have a large home with many people living there. Its cleaning path is impressive, and its dirt cup can hold more debris than those of the other models. That means it cleans high traffic areas more quickly and doesn’t require you to empty the bin too frequently.

If you’re on the budget, choose the Navigator NV360 or the DLX. These models don’t come with the latest technologies (DuoClean or Zero-M), but they are cheap, powerful, and have large dust bins.

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Shark Cordless Vacuums

The company manufactures various cordless cleaners for users who find corded units limiting. In addition to offering decent runtimes, most Shark cordless vacuums come with removable batteries. This means you can buy a spare battery and extend the runtime. They also feature the company’s DuoClean technology that allows you to clean carpets and hard floors efficiently. The cordless vacuums transform into useful handhelds when required, too. Here are my top picks for the best Shark vacuum in this class.

Best Cordless: Shark ION F80 MultiFlex

This model is powered by a 300 watt, 11.9 amp motor. It’s among the most powerful of Shark cordless vacuums and can clean hard floors and carpets efficiently. That’s made possible by the strong suction and the dual brush roll technology. Its runtime is the highest at 80 minutes. The runtime is achieved when the vacuum operates in the ION Power mode and using the two batteries it comes with. With a capacity of 0.3 quarts, the vacuum doesn’t offer one of the largest dirt bin. However, the size would work if you don’t have large areas to clean or if your home is low-traffic.

The ION F80 is highly usable. Apart from easily converting into a handheld, it features a multi-flexing hose for convenient storage. The filters are washable, and so is the dust cup. On top of that, there are headlights on the cleaning head to light up the dark areas in your home when cleaning. It comes with these accessories: a crevice nozzle, upholstery tool, two 25.3V batteries, charging cable, and a charging station. The unit weighs 8.7 lbs which is not too heavy, and measures 13.4×10.2×45.9 inches. You get a manufacturer warranty of 5 years when you purchase the F80.

Shark ION P50

The P50 derives its suction power from a 260-watt engine and cleans both carpets and hard floors. Its 10” cleaning path is the widest of all Shark cordless vacuums and means quicker cleaning jobs for you. It works as an upright for your carpeted and bare floors, as a stick to let you clean under the furniture and as a handheld when you want to vacuum high areas. With this versatility, the vacuum is most suitable if your home has many different surfaces to clean. Besides the versatility, the filtration level is adequate and safe if you cannot stand the presence of allergens. The pre-motor filter is the conventional foam material, while the post-motor one is HEPA.

I would advise you to buy this model if your home is high traffic and there’s a lot of dirt to clean daily. That’s because, in addition to the powerful suction, it comes with the largest capacity four the dirt cup. It’s capable of holding up to 0.54 dry quarts allowing you to clean for more extended periods before needing to empty the bin. Its runtime is impressive for the suction power it offers. It operates for 50 minutes before the battery runs out and when using the ION Power cleaning mode. However, the battery is removable and allows you to invest in an extra one to extend the runtime. The vacuum comes with various tools to improve efficiency: a crevice nozzle, an upholstery tool, a dusting brush, a charging dock, a cable, and the battery pack. It weighs 12.3 lbs with the battery inserted and measures 10×12×44.8 inches. The manufacturer backs it up with a warranty that runs for five years.

Shark Rocket Pet Pro

This model, despite its low weight, comes with one of the highest levels of suction. A 180-watt motor runs it at 8.4 amps, allowing for the cleaning of a variety of floors, including carpets. You get a 40-minute runtime with this model when using it in Standard Mode, but less when vacuuming carpets. The battery is removable, which means you can use two of them and considerably increase the length of your cleaning sessions. The 10 inches cleaning path it offers is one of the widest I’ve seen. The dust cup is medium-sized when compared to those of the other models. It has a capacity for 0.34 of dry quarts. This can mean frequent trips to the trash can if your home is high-traffic. However, you need not worry about this if you only vacuum lightly and daily. Besides, the emptying mechanism is pretty straightforward and quick. The vacuum transforms into a handheld device to allow you to reach higher spots such as shelves or when you need to clean the car outside.

To allow you to clean dark areas with ease, powerful lights on the nozzle light up the vacuum’s path. The unit doesn’t present a challenge to use on different surfaces. It’s lightweight, weighing only 7.1 lbs. It also comes with a crevice tool for tight spots, and a pet multi-tool for pet hair. Other accessories include the charging cable and the battery. This vacuum is suitable for allergy sufferers. The main filter is a washable HEPA, and the whole machine is allergen-sealed. The dimensions of the unit are 10.2 x 7.1 x 46.1 inches. As with many Shark vacuums, it comes with a warranty that covers five years.

A Comparison of the Top Shark Cordless Models

If your home is large but low in traffic, I would advise you to choose the P50. It offers the largest capacity for dirt storage and a wide enough cleaning path. With its 10” cleaning head width, you will finish vacuuming your home faster than when using any other cordless from the company. The large dirt capacity means fewer trips to empty the bin and less likelihood of interrupted cleaning sessions.

Choose the F80 if you have carpeted areas in your home. The engine is powerful enough to create adequate suction for the job, plus the longer runtime ensures you don’t stop midway for a recharge. The two batteries it comes with are essential, especially when cleaning high traffic areas or carpets. That’s because, in such instances, you have to use the mode that produces the highest suction power and which results in reduced runtime.

The Rocket Pet Pro is suitable if you want a powerful device but don’t have large areas to clean or a lot of dirt to remove. That can be the case if you have a few carpets and area rugs in your home but looking for a portable unit. It offers one of the highest levels of suction power in the cordless category.

One thing worth noting is that the P50 and the Rocket come with HEPA filtration. The other has regular foam filters that won’t shield you from allergens. Consider that when selecting the cordless unit to buy.

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Shark Corded Sticks

Shark vacuums in this category are slim units but which offer adequate suction to clean different surfaces as well as challenging spots. They feature the various cleaning technologies unique to the company, such as the DuoClean, Zero-M, powerful headlamps, and others. The best Shark vacuums I would recommend for you are:

Best Stick: Shark Apex UpLight

It features a slim construction to allow you to vacuum narrow areas as well as under furniture. It also cleans in all directions with ease thanks to its excellent swivel.

On top of that, it features the dual brush roll that cleans both sensitive hard floors, such as hardwood and all types and sizes of carpet piles. The unit is run by a 700-watt engine, which makes it the most powerful in this category of Shark’s corded sticks. It also offers the largest capacity with its 0.68 dry quarts dirt compartment. The vacuum’s cleaning path is 9 inches. Although not the widest, it is broad enough to ensure the fast completion of tasks.

With a 30-foot cable, the Apex UpLight achieves an impressive reach to allow you clean without changing power outlets. Besides the reach, it comes with headlights on both the main cleaning head and the handheld unit. It helps you spot hidden dirt and debris when working in dimly-lit conditions or areas. Among the accessories that accompany this vacuum has, one can count a duster crevice tool, a pet multi-tool, and an accessory holder. The unit weighs 10.7 lbs and measures 10.44 x 11.38 x 46.9 inches. The manufacturer backs the model with a 5- year guarantee.

Shark Rocket Zero-M

This model is powered by a 500-watt motor and delivers enough suction power to pull dirt and debris embedded in carpets and on hard surfaces. It features what the company calls zero maintenance technology which removes hair tangles actively as you go about your vacuuming tasks. With this feature, you can clean hair efficiently, which makes the Rocket Zero-M the most suitable model if you have pets. As with the other Shark vacuums, this one also easily converts to become a handheld and offers you more usage options. It means you can clean every part of your home, from low surfaces such as floors to the higher ones such as shelves and ceilings. You can also use the handheld to vacuum your car outside instead of investing in a separate unit. The dust bin’s capacity is 0.4 quarts which is considerably much less than what the DuoClean model offers and only suitable if there isn’t a lot of dirt to be cleaned.

The unit features a swiveling body that allows you to clean the areas beneath furniture with ease. It also makes the unit highly maneuverable. This is useful when you have many obstacles to avoid when cleaning. The Rocket Zero-M is lightweight enough to allow you effortless use, weighing only 9 lbs. It also comes with a long enough power cable to allow you comfortable cleaning where you don’t keep switching power outlets. Among the accessories that accompany this vacuum, one may count a 5” crevice nozzle, a precision duster, and a pet tool. You also get an onboard clip for tool storage as well as a wall mount hook. It measures 47.2×10.2×13.4 inches and comes backed by a five-year warranty from the manufacturer.

Shark Apex UpLight vs. Shark Rocket Zero-M

If your home is a mixture of bare and carpeted surfaces, your best choice would be the Apex Uplight. With its double brush roll, you will clean the different floors to the highest level of efficiency while not scratching the hard floors. This model is also powerful and will pick up more dirt for cleaner floors. You need that when vacuuming carpets or area rugs.

Choose the Rocket Zero-M if there are shedding pets in your home. This vacuum prevents tangles, and you won’t need to fetch a pair of scissors every other time to remove hair wraps from the brush roll. The Zero-M technology does that for you. This feature is also useful if you have family members who have long hair that usually wraps around the brush roll.

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Shark Robotic Vacuums

The company hasn’t been left behind in the robot cleaners race. It makes a few models that feature the powerful suction that’s characteristic of their cleaning devices. Shark robots have also an excellent noise reduction and a decent battery runtime. I selected the best models in the robot section of the Shark vacuum, for your consideration. Let’s have a look at its capabilities and suitability for specific situations.

Best Robot: Shark IQ Robot

This robot cleans powerfully and efficiently. The battery offers 30 minutes of cleaning time when using the regular power mode, and takes about 3 hours to charge fully. The robot uses an excellent object detection technology that enables it to navigate your home and clean every area you need it to. Among the sensors on its body are the cliff detectors that prevent it from falling down the stairs. The brush roll self cleans, featuring Shark’s Zero-M technology that prevents and removes hair tangles. This makes this robot suitable if you have pets. The vacuum also utilizes efficient side brushes to ensure the dirt in corners is cleaned.

The IQ robot allows for control via an app that’s downloadable on from the app stores of both Android and iOS operating systems. For those who may want to use voice control, the IQ is compatible with the popular Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The dustbin can store up to 0.17 dry quarts, which is relatively low. The good thing is that if you get the model with the self-empty base, you’ll not see an issue here. The robot will empty itself automatically and resume work from where it left. For the accessories, you get 8 feet of boundary strip and a charging dock. The unit comes with a 1-year warranty.

Shark S87 Robot

The previous Shark robot version is also a good catch. The S87 comes with a charging dock which also accommodates the ION Wandvac handheld presented below. Unlike the IQ model, this robot has to keep all the debris stored until it’s emptied. That is why the dust bin is larger, measuring 0.7 dry quarts. The brushroll has the anti-tangle tech installed. This is the main plus, especially for households where long hair is a problem. Although it doesn’t have self-cleaning and auto-emptying, the S87 comes with an attractive price, a key selling point in today’s market.

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Shark Handhelds

The company doesn’t produce may handheld models. The reason could be that most of the other vacuum types it manufactures convert into portable units you can take anywhere. That means you may not require a separate handheld when you can get it from your regular Shark vacuum. Here is the versatile and powerful shark vacuum that’s exclusively a handheld.

Best Handheld: Shark ION W1 (WANDVAC)

Also called Wandvac, it weighs a mere 1.4 lbs and measures 4 × 8 × 15 inches. That provides for easy handling and maneuverability, making your cleaning activities less tiring. The handle is an ergonomic design that allows you to use the vacuum for extended periods and not numb your hand. Despite the lightweight nature, the W1 offers incredible suction produced by the powerful motor it comes with. It removes dirt and debris from a variety of surfaces without difficulty. To make cleaning with it both easy and highly efficient, it features a tapered nozzle. The W1 comes with only a few accessories which include, a crevice nozzle, a pet tool, charging dock, and onboard storage. The manufacturer backs it with a 2-year guarantee. The Shark ION W1 is ideal if looking for a handheld to supplement your main vacuum. It handles the lighter cleaning jobs with ease and a high level of efficiency.

Shark Cordless Pet Perfect 2

This little helper is perfect for people who want to quickly clean after their pets. It comes with a 6 inches wide brushroll that can dispose of hair fibers from any type of surface. A powerful 9-amp motor delivers all the suction power you may need. Weighing only 2.8 lbs, this handheld can hold a hefty 18 oz of debris.

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Final Thoughts

Here’s a simplified list:

Shark vacuums represent products that are built with the consumer interest in mind. The manufacturer avoids fancy features ensuring that only the useful functionalities are incorporated in the machines. That’s the reason Shark vacuums don’t present any challenge to use. It also explains the moderate pricing across all Shark cleaning devices, whether uprights, stick, handheld, or robot. One of the greatest attributes of these vacuums, and what many users love them for, is the extended lifespan. Investing in a cleaning machine from this company saves you a lot of troubles and costs in the long run. That’s because the best Shark vacuum will last for years and work almost as efficiently as it did when new. Besides that, the company offers generous 5-year warranties for most of their vacuums. When selecting the right model to buy, you must consider your situation and needs. Not all Shark vacuums offer HEPA filtration, for example, and you would need to consider that if you suffer from allergies. Some provide more suction power than others. Dust bin capacities also vary. Another major consideration would be which of the Shark vacuum technologies you need. The DuoClean design is excellent for carpets and bare floors, while the Zero-M technology suits a home with shedding pets.