13 Best Vacuums That Truly Impressed Our Testers With Allergies

As someone with two cats and two or more dogs (depending on how many I’m fostering at the time), I know pet hair. And when I heard this Kenmore model was made specifically to tackle that issue, my first thought was, Prove it. And prove it, this vacuum did. 

Despite my initial skepticism, this thing really manages to pull up pet hair from my couch, living room rug, and hardwood floors. I like the compact storage for attachments, which pop into compartments in the vacuum's body. I also like the clever foot pedals that allow you to release the attachments without bending over. The wand has a good reach, which is helpful for things like wall hangings and reaching the corners of my couch. You can also control the suction and switch between hard and carpeted surfaces by sliding a button up and down on the handle; this is especially effective for my extremely low-pile, washable rugs, which typically get eaten on more powerful suction settings.

What makes the Kenmore especially effective for people with allergies is its true HEPA filter, sealed system, and disposable dust bags. It’s easy to empty without creating dust clouds, and because it’s a corded model, it has the extra power you need to effectively remove hair and fine particles from the carpet. While it isn’t the most convenient option for quick pickups — the canister rolls behind you a bit awkwardly — its exceptional debris containment and deep-cleaning power make it a smart choice for allergy-prone households (especially ones with pets).

The maneuverability of a cordless vacuum can be tough to beat. However, a common complaint is that these typically aren’t powerful enough to tackle rugs and carpets. The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute stands out for its combination of powerful suction, fine-dust detection, and true HEPA filtration. The built-in laser helps expose debris that would otherwise go unnoticed, making it easier to clean more thoroughly.

Health and nutrition writer Sarah Glinski, RD, tested this model and says, “It automatically adjusts suction based on the amount of mess, so it picks up the debris thoroughly on the first pass.”

This vacuum did an excellent job of removing dust and pet hair from Glinski’s floors and upholstery. She notes that the V15 Detect Absolute’s sealed filtration system prevented debris from escaping during use. Her one complaint? “It's a little tricky to remove the debris, which sometimes gets stuck,” she says. “I find it takes a bit of vigorous shaking to remove the debris from the canister.”

While it needs to be emptied more often than a bagged vacuum does, its maneuverability and deep-cleaning abilities make it a solid cordless option for households with allergy-sensitive folks. Glinski concludes: “Yes, it's expensive, but it's extremely effective, versatile, and easy to use.”

Want a cordless vacuum but not quite ready to drop $500 on one? The Tineco Pure One S11 is a wallet-friendly alternative for allergy-conscious shoppers who want HEPA-level filtration without the premium price tag.

Writer Jill Di Donato found that it effectively handles daily dust, hair, and surface debris, especially on hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its lightweight body makes it easy to steer and carry, and its quieter motor is a perk for households that vacuum often. “For someone looking to vacuum carpeted stairs without lugging a corded vacuum, this is a good choice,” says Di Donato. “It's affordable, is easy to maneuver, and will suction dust and carpet lint easily.”

Although it couldn’t match Dyson’s deep-cleaning power or running time, and its canister is somewhat of a hassle to empty, its sealed HEPA design and everyday performance make it a budget-friendly choice for allergy maintenance.

“The Shark suction technology is powerful and does an amazing job at getting stuff out of carpet,” says health writer Raki Swanson. She also appreciated how easily she could switch between hardwood and carpeted surfaces with the press of a button. While its upright design is bulkier than a stick vacuum, the Shark does have a hose attachment that offers an additional 12 feet of reach. It also has handy accessories like a pet hair brush and a crevice tool.

One of the biggest points in the Shark’s favor is its odor-neutralizing technology, which is extra important when you’re vacuuming up a lot of pet hair. “I have owned expensive-model vacuum cleaners and cheap ones — they always seem to break or lose their suction after a few months. Or they start to smell because you don't get them clean,” Swanson says. “This one doesn’t stink. I’ve owned it for over a year, and it still sucks up particles as powerfully as it did on Day 1.”

The Kenmore Intuition offers allergy-friendly cleaning in an upright format, thanks to its HEPA filtration and disposable dust bags, which help limit your contact with allergens. Editor Nicole Bonaccorso tested this model and finds it especially effective on carpets, noting that its self-sealing bag design prevents dust from escaping during disposal.

“It feels powerful and effective,” Bonaccorso says. “I have two kids and a dog that sheds a lot, and I feel like this vacuum is strong enough to clean up our daily messes.”

She especially likes that the canister can detach from the body of the vacuum, effectively creating a smaller, handheld vacuum for added maneuverability. This helps offset some of the bulkiness that comes with an upright model. “Though it is a bit heavy, it swivels very easily and is easy to manage with one hand,” Bonaccorso says. “However, it does not fit under furniture or tight spaces very easily; you will need to use the hose for that.”

When you’re vacuuming and you have allergies, you want a vacuum that sucks up as many allergens as possible the first time around. There’s nothing worse than having to go over the same spot several times only to realize that you’ve kicked up a bunch of dust in the process. But this cordless, bagless Kenmore model’s suction power genuinely surprised editorial director Simone Scully during testing.

“This is a very powerful vacuum. From the minute you turn it on, you can feel the suction, especially when you use it on carpet,” she says. “It's got a stronger suction, in fact, than my Dyson vacuum. It did a phenomenal job vacuuming up dust, pet hair, crumbs, some plant dirt, fluff from a dog toy my puppy tore up, and more.”

Apart from that, Scully noticed how proficient it was at sucking stubborn pet hair out of rugs without getting tangled, as many other vacuums she’s tested tend to. The one downside is that at almost 13 pounds, it is somewhat heavy and bulky, so she didn’t feel like it was a good gift for her father, who’s older.

The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Vacuum Cleaner impressed us with its strong suction, truly effective hair removal, and whole-machine HEPA filtration — all in a petite (just under 6 lbs) package. The motorized brush head performs well on carpets and upholstery, efficiently lifting dust, dander, and embedded hair.

Writer Malissa Rodenburg appreciates how easily she can steer around furniture. “I like how lightweight it is and how I can use it everywhere — couches, hardwood, carpet, car upholstery,” she says.

One annoyance is the V10 Animal’s small dustbin. Rodenburg had to empty it three times for one room. Still, it was a fair price to pay for the V10 Animal's lightweight, maneuverable design. “Even though I do have to empty the canister a lot to account for the large amount of dog hair in my house, I don’t mind because this vacuum makes it easy to vacuum frequently, efficiently, and quickly stay on top of it all,” she says.

Editor Ashley Ziegler says, “It's super lightweight and really easy to use. I like that it senses what kind of floor it’s on, so I don’t have to change suction mode when I move from hard floors to carpet.”

Its HEPA filtration adds an extra layer of protection for users with allergies. Plus, it features a handy self-cleaning option, which can be activated when the device is attached to its docking station.

The Samsung is costlier than some cordless competitors, and Ziegler finds the self-emptying option a bit loud. However, its carpet-focused cleaning power makes it a strong pick for people with allergies, especially those who have wall-to-wall or high-pile flooring. It’s “really gentle on my high-pile carpet (without sacrificing cleanliness),” Ziegler says.

Any parent knows the struggle of constantly cleaning up after their kids. Whether it’s cereal on the carpet or a spilled glass of juice in the kitchen, keeping the floors clean can feel like a Sisyphean task. The Kenmore AquaLite simplifies the back-and-forth, wet-to-dry cleanup process. This versatile cleaning machine can vacuum and mop simultaneously, so you don’t have to keep switching between devices.

“You won't have to keep dirtying towels, going through paper towels, or getting on your hands and knees to clean,” says Bonaccorso, who tested this vacuum on the inevitable messes her kids make. “It's great to be able to do a quick mop without filling a bucket, getting the floor all soaking wet, and leaving it to dry for a while.”

The mopping brush requires a few passes to fully clean a stain, and the dry mode isn’t the first thing to come on when you turn on the device, so you’re sometimes left with a wet spot (not the best if you’re just looking to suck up debris). Still, it’s a multitasker that has generally made flood cleaning easier for her.

You might not think a robot vacuum could compete with a traditional vacuum’s allergen-trapping abilities, but this model from Roborock certainly does. It has stronger suction than other similar robot vacuums we tested and will mop simultaneously (most vacuum first, then come back and mop, or vice versa). I owned an early Roomba, so I was initially skeptical of a robot vacuum's abilities, but that perception quickly dissipated when I saw what this one could do.

The Qrevo Curv X is controlled via an intuitive app in which you can schedule cleanings and customize everything from cleaning power to no-go zones (I set my husband’s cord-strewn computer area as one). It also responds to voice commands such as “clean the living room” or “increase vacuum intensity.” I love that it adjusts to different floor types and can mop as it vacuums instead of doing one task first and then the other. And it rarely gets stuck on bumps and carpeting, a common frustration I’ve had while testing these devices.

But the tech is by no means perfect. It sometimes doesn’t see lower obstacles (like a pet food plate) and just runs over them. It also doesn’t automatically empty when its dust compartment is full — it just pushes dirt around when at capacity. The app suggests cleaning one room at a time to avoid this. It’s certainly a pricier item, but if you’d like a robot to do most of the floor cleaning for you, this one does a very good job.

The Tapo RV30 Max Plus LiDAR Robot Vacuum and Mop offers an affordable option for folks who’d like to have automated allergen maintenance, thanks to HEPA-class filtration and reliable pickup on hard floors. You can program the app for room-specific runs, helping keep dust and pollen under control in high-use areas. And the mopping feature can be a huge time- and space-saver. “I love not having to store a large and heavy vacuum, an awkward mop basin, and a long mop,” says tester Marisa Olsen.

The RV30 Max Plus does lag behind more-expensive robots on carpeted areas, but it can be helpful for someone who wants to keep their floors cleaner in between deeper vacuuming sessions. For people with allergies who are looking for a budget-friendly robot with good filtration, this could be a good option. “I would recommend this to a young adult, college student, or busy family looking for an easy cleaning solution,” Olsen says.

Handheld vacuums have notoriously weak suction because they’re typically cordless and have smaller motors. But Dyson’s a leader in vacuums for a reason, and it has cracked the code on a truly powerful handheld. Those with allergies will love that the Car+Boat handheld has a fully sealed filtration system that captures particulate down to 0.3 microns. Plus, you never have to touch dust when you empty the canister.

“I love how strong the suction is. It packs a surprising punch,” says Ziegler. She finds it super easy to use and clean (the two filters it comes with are washable), and it could handle “everyday messes or pet hair [with] one slow pass,” she says. However, it took a couple of passes to suck up larger debris like Goldfish crackers. We love that it comes with three attachment heads to reach all sorts of small spaces and has a running time of about 40 minutes before needing to be charged.

Ziegler finds it somewhat bulky and heavy after using for a little while. And it’s hard to ignore the price — over $200 is a lot for a handheld vacuum. That said, it’s one of the strongest handhelds you’ll find on the market, so we recommend it to folks who are looking for consummate performance in a small package.

The Kenmore Featherlite Lift-Up combines HEPA filtration with an easy-to-carry upright design. Health writer Holly Klamer finds it simple to steer and lift, especially on stairs and around furniture. “It's really easy to use, is lightweight, and swivels around items (like chairs) easily,” says Klamer. “It also goes from rugs to hardwood floors easily. I can clean my floors in like 10 minutes. It picks things up really well and usually only takes one time to go over.”

The detachable canister allows you to convert this bagless upright vacuum into a more-nimble handheld version, and the wand attachment provides a 9-foot cleaning reach. The crevice tool is especially handy for picking up debris from between couch cushions and along baseboards. The vacuum also has an LED light to illuminate debris. This can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how clearly you want to see all those dust bunnies.

While it isn’t as powerful on deep carpet as a larger upright, its maneuverability gives it an edge for smaller spaces or frequent clean-ups. “I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a budget-friendly vacuum that works really well — as well as or better than more-expensive models,” says Klamer. “I'd also recommend it for anyone with pets, who wants a vacuum with HEPA filtration, or who doesn't want to mess with vacuum bags.”

Scully appreciated this model’s lightweight feel and easy maneuverability; however, the canister requires frequent emptying, and the process isn’t as easy as others we tested. “It would also be better for people with smaller apartments or spaces,” she says.

This upright provided a strong deep-cleaning performance on carpets and upholstery. But “with all the dog hair that goes through it, the roller on the bottom can become overloaded and not pick up as much,” says wellness writer Jen Sinclair. It also lacks a retractable cord.