Shark’s vacuum cleaners are among the most popular in the country. Their thoughtful designs, solid build quality and innovative features mean that Shark’s products are some of the few appliances out there to go toe-to-toe with the best Dyson vacuums. From flexible wands that enable you to clean under furniture without bending down, to hi-tech sensors that adjust suction based on dirt levels and floor type, Shark vacuums often go the extra mile – and often for hundreds of pounds less than Dyson, Miele, or Samsung.
One of the brand’s greatest strengths is that it offers a wide range of models available, with corded and cordless vacuums, robot vacuums, and even tiny handhelds for cleaning cars and bookshelves.
But with so much on offer – listed under similar names – it can be tricky to know which one will suit your needs. If your heart is set on a Shark, it’s worth weighing up the different options.
That’s why I've put a range of Shark vacuums to the test, bringing honest opinions to help you choose the best option for you and your home. Whether you’re tackling pet hair, deep-cleaning carpets, or managing everyday messes, keep scrolling to find out which models impressed me the most.
The best Shark vacuums for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Shark cordless clean and empty, BU3521UK: £350, Argos.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Shark anti-hair-wrap corded vacuum cleaner with flexology, HZ500UK: £179, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for tackling pet hair – Shark powerpro pet cordless stick vacuum, IZ380UKT: £189, Amazon.co.uk
- Best cordless option – Shark stratos anti-hair-wrap plus pet cordless vacuum cleaner, double-battery, IZ420UKT: £479.99, Currys.co.uk
- Best corded design – Shark anti-hair-wrap plus pet upright bagless vacuum cleaner, NZ780UKT: £170, Amazon.co.uk
How I tested
Over the course of six weeks, I put each Shark vacuum cleaner through a series of demanding tests in my busy household, complete with four kids aged three to nine. With a constant stream of crumbs, spills, dirt, and sand from the garden, I evaluated how well each model handled a variety of messes. You can read a detailed view of my testing criteria at the end of this guide.
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Shark cordless clean and empty, BU3521UK
Best: Shark vacuum cleaner overall
Weight: 2.7kg
Corded or cordless: Cordless
Colour: Platinum and royal blue
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 1.3l (0.42l in the vacuum itself)
Noise: 85dB
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- LED display is easy to read
- Strong suction
Take note
- Bulky docking point
Emptying dirt from a cordless vacuum cleaner can be pretty grim. However, this Shark model reduces the need for this messy task by depositing debris into a sealed base that holds up to 30 days’ worth of dirt. This is a major plus for allergy sufferers or those sensitive to dust.
Although it’s one of the lightest vacuums on test (2.65kg), it delivers powerful suction. In ‘power boost’ mode, it noticeably lifts dirt from carpets, though this cuts battery life to less than 40 minutes.
I liked how smoothly this vacuum transitioned between surfaces, as the brush-roll automatically adjusted when moving from carpet to hard floors, and the performance on both was consistently strong. Anti-hair-wrap tech kept the rollers clear, and the bright LED display made it easy to monitor battery life and suction level. It was noticeably easier to manoeuvre than the heavier powerpro pet cordless model (also included in this roundup), too – especially around furniture and stairs.
Buy now £350.00, Argos.co.uk
Shark anti-hair-wrap corded vacuum cleaner with flexology, HZ500UK
Best: Budget Shark vacuum cleaner
Weight: 3.9kg
Corded or cordless: Corded
Colour: Purple and black
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 0.3l
Noise: 80dB
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Flexible hose
- Long power cord
Take note
- Small dust capacity
This slim, lightweight corded stick vacuum punches well above its price tag, especially when it comes to cleaning beneath furniture. The flexible wand bends with the push of a button, making it easier to reach beneath beds and sofas without moving them. The foldable design also makes this model one of the easiest to store.
Performance on carpets and hard floors was strong, thanks to the dual brush-roll, which combines bristles for deep-pile rugs and a soft roller for lifting fine dust and larger debris from hard surfaces. The pet tool proved effective at removing embedded hair from upholstery, and the anti-hair-wrap tech meant less time untangling the rollers.
The 0.33l dust bin is the smallest on test, and needs emptying frequently, but that’s the trade-off for the relatively budget-friendly price. If you don’t mind having to go to the bin before you’ve finished cleaning, this vacuum offers solid cleaning without breaking the bank.
Buy now £179.00, Amazon.co.uk
Shark detect pro cordless vacuum cleaner, IW1511UK
Best: Shark vacuum for a deep clean
Weight: 2.76kg
Corded or cordless: Cordless
Colour: White and purple
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 0.42l
Noise: Unspecified
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Good looking
- Lightweight
- Smart cleaning
- Anti-allergen seal
Take note
- Small dust bin
- Battery drains fast
This ultra-lightweight cordless vacuum impressed us with its intelligent, targeted cleaning. Four ‘detect’ features work together to boost performance: ‘dirt detect’ increases suction over debris-heavy areas; ‘floor detect’ adjusts the brush-roll for different surfaces; ‘edge detect’ doubles suction along edges and corners; and ‘light detect’ activates a beam in darker spots. Together, they made deep cleans feel surprisingly effortless.
At just 2.76kg, this is one of the lightest Shark vacuums on test, and it was easy to use one-handed (ideal if you have a baby on your hip or need to Google something or send a message while cleaning). Households with children or allergy sufferers will appreciate that this has an anti-allergen seal certified to trap 99.9% of dust and fine particles, for better air quality in the home.
The biggest drawback is the small 0.42l bin, which fills up quickly. With 60 minutes of runtime in eco-mode, it’s not as long-lasting as the dual-battery IZ420UKT, but it is £100 cheaper and still perfectly respectable.
Buy now £299.99, Amazon.co.uk
Shark stratos anti-hair wrap plus pet cordless vacuum cleaner, double-battery, IZ420UKT
Best: Cordless Shark vacuum cleaner
Weight: 4.1kg
Corded or cordless: Cordless
Colour: Silver and charcoal grey
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 0.7l
Noise: 86dB
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Good size dust tank
- Excellent battery life
- Works on carpet and hard floors
Take note
- Expensive
This is Shark’s smartest cordless vacuum to date. It automatically adjusts suction based on different floor types and dust levels, so you can concentrate on steering while it handles the hard work. On mixed flooring, it cleverly ramped up power for deep-pile rugs and eased off on hard surfaces, making the clean more efficient and helping preserve battery life.
Throughout testing, I didn’t notice a single dip in suction, either. The dual battery system offers up to 120 minutes of runtime. In real-world use, that translated to about 90 minutes on standard mode and about 45 on the high-power setting, which was still longer than any other cordless Shark I tested. Another standout feature is the folding wand, which collapses neatly for compact, freestanding storage. The only drawback? It’s also the most expensive model in this lineup.
Buy now £479.99, Currys.oc.uk
Shark powerpro pet cordless stick vacuum, IZ380UKT
Best: Shark vacuum cleaner for pet hair
Weight: 5.68kg
Corded or cordless: Cordless
Colour: Metallic grey
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 0.7l
Noise: 85dB
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Great on long pet hairs
- Comes with an upholstery tool
Take note
- Heavy
This cordless stick vacuum is purpose-built for pet owners, with a motorised pet tool and anti-hair-wrap technology that lived up to its promises during testing. Long pet hairs that typically clog up rollers were lifted cleanly without needing manual detangling, even after repeated use on upholstery and carpeted stairs. It comes with a nifty upholstery tool to really get stuck into sofas, too.
It also comes with a FurFins attachment designed to pick up clingy pet fluff and dander from soft furnishings and rugs, which worked especially well on textured fabrics. Like other premium Shark models, the floor-detect feature adjusts suction automatically based on surface type and it handled hard floors especially well during testing – it proved to be ideal for an after-dinner dining room clear-up.
The flexible hose bends to reach under furniture without having to move beds or sofas and so on. At 5.68kg, it’s notably heavier than some other cordless models, and that weight can be tiring. However, it delivers serious cleaning power in return and has a decent 0.7l bin capacity.
Buy now £189.00, Amazon.co.uk
Shark stratos corded stick pet pro, HZ3000UKT
Best: Shark vacuum cleaner for speedy cleaning
Weight: 4.55kg
Corded or cordless: Corded
Colour: Black and chrome
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 0.3l
Noise: 80dB
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Fast multi-surface cleaning
- Odour control
- Long power cord
Take note
- Small dust capacity
What sets this corded Stratos model apart is how quickly it gets the job done. The powerful duoclean floorhead picks up fine dust and large debris in one go, while twin brush-rolls seamlessly handle hard floors and carpets. I never had to stop and adjust the settings, and I found this model ideal for quick after-dinner clean-ups or for zipping through rooms when time is tight for a ‘power clean’.
I especially appreciated the anti-odour cartridge in the floorhead, which subtly neutralised pet smells and dusty bin odours – something the cheaper corded vacuum cleaner with flexology lacked. This made the room smell fresher without the chemical effect of a room freshener spray.
At 4.55kg, this model is light and manoeuvrable, with a 10m cord that covered large areas without unplugging. It converts into a handheld, too, making it useful for ceilings and stairs.
If it wasn’t for the tiny 0.3l bin, which needs frequent emptying, I’d have given this vacuum a full five stars.
Buy now £250.00, Argos.co.uk
Shark anti-hair wrap plus pet upright bagless vacuum cleaner, NZ780UKT
Best: Corded Shark vacuum cleaner
Weight: 6.5kg
Corded or cordless: Corded
Colour: Burnt ash
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 2.5l
Noise: 80dB
HEPA filter: No
Why we love it
- Exceptional suction
- Large bin
- Odour control
- Pet tool included
Take note
- Bulky
- Heavy
This upright model offers serious suction power and a large 2.5l dust bin, making it a great choice for bigger homes. With 700W of constant suction, it lifted embedded pet hair and ground-in dirt from carpets like a powerhouse. For ground-in footprints or trodden-in crumbs, this is the Shark model I turn to first, to dislodge everything.
I also appreciated the anti-odour cartridge, which left a subtle but fresh scent lingering in my home. Only corded Shark vacuums tend to have these anti-odour cartridges, which do make the house smell better after vacuuming.
At 6.5kg, it’s the heaviest cleaner on this list, and not suited to lugging up stairs. But with its LED headlights, 8m cord, and large bin, it’s built for whole-home, heavy-duty cleans.
Buy now £170.00, Amazon.co.uk
Shark vacmop 2-in-1 cordless vacuum mop, VM200UK
Best: Shark model for hard floors
Weight: 1.5kg
Corded or cordless: Cordless
Colour: Grey and green
Filtration system: N/A
Dust capacity: N/A (dirt stays above the pad)
Noise: Silent
HEPA filter: No
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Mops and vacuums simultaneously
Take note
- Only suitable for hard floors
- Pads need replacing often
An effective two-in-one tool for hard floor maintenance, this model combines a cordless vacuum with a mop and targeted spray. It’s ideal for quick clean-ups in kitchens, hallways and bathrooms, with the vacuum picking up dry debris, while the disposable pad mops up sticky spills, all in one pass.
I liked how intuitive this model was to use, with lightweight handling and no fiddly settings. It weighs less than 2kg and is much easier to store than any of the larger Shark vacuums, making it a great grab-and-go tool.
It’s not designed for carpets or deep cleaning, so it’s not the first model to buy if you have a lot of carpeted rooms. But it cleaned my kitchen floor better than a traditional mop and bucket, with much less elbow grease needed. LED headlights on the floorhead helped highlight hidden messes for a more thorough clean, too. My only niggle was that the pads need replacing frequently.
Buy now £96.38, Amazon.co.uk
Your questions about Shark vacuum cleaners answered
What is the best Shark vacuum cleaner?
For exceptional cleaning on both hard floors and carpet, the Shark auto-detect clean and empty stands out as a truly useful household helper. After each clean, dirt is automatically deposited in its bin, keeping it clear from internal working parts – there’s no need to deal with it for 30 days, either. Pet-owners will appreciate the Shark powerpro cordless stick vacuum, which seeks out all hair and sucks it up effortlessly. I was also impressed by the performance of the Shark corded vacuum cleaner with flexology, given its relatively budget-friendly price.
How I selected the best Shark vacuums
I tested each Shark vacuum cleaner in my busy household over a period of six weeks to see how well each one could tackle a variety of messes. During testing, I considered the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
IndyBest is The Independent’s reviews section. All of the products in our guides have been tried and tested in the same real-life environments in which you’ll be using them. Zoe Griffin has reviewed vacuum cleaners for IndyBest for years, putting all types of designs to the test. She’s researched and tested different features to find the models that are worth your money, so you can trust her home-tech expertise. Beyond this, she is a busy parent to four children, so her home is the ideal testing zone for fast, effective, mess-busting vacuums.
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