5 Best Shark Vacuums for All Your Cleaning Tasks

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we have tested hundreds of different vacuum cleaners, including self-emptying robot vacuums, cordless stick vacuums, car vacuums, and many more. We're constantly testing new products across categories.

As a member of ASTM International's F11 Vacuum Cleaner Committee, we also meet twice yearly with engineers and technical representatives from vacuum cleaner brands to help develop and shape the vacuum cleaner test standards we all use to assess performance, ease of use, durability, and more. All vacuums are tested exactly the same way, based on ASTM International industry standard test methods, for accurate performance.

Using a custom-built, automated machine (pictured) that makes the same number of passes over the same test carpeting, we objectively measure how well each vacuum removes dirt deeply embedded into medium-pile carpet. We even have a separate machine to clean the carpets between test runs.

✔️ Type: Shark doesn’t just make canister vacuums. Most of the brand's uprights convert to portable canisters for better reach and cleaning above the floor.

• Corded upright vacuums clean well on both hard floors and carpets, plus offer unlimited runtimes, but tend to be larger and heavier than other options.
• Cordless stick vacuums are slim and lightweight—good for smaller spaces—and can better reach under furniture. On the downside, they have shorter runtimes and smaller dustbins.
• Canister vacuums are sort of a happy medium, since they're easier to carry but generally have comparable power and capacity to uprights. They're also convenient for homes with stairs, as they're easier to carry and come with long hoses for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
• Handheld vacuums are useful for small messes and places like the car.
• Robots work autonomously, so they're a great option for those who don’t have time to take out the vacuum or broom every day.

✔️ Bag vs. bagless: The vast majority of Shark vacuums are bagless. With bagless vacuums, you don't have to worry about replacements, but the downside is you have to deal with emptying the dustbin, which can be messy. For this reason, bagged vacuums are better for allergy sufferers.

✔️ Attachments: For more cleaning prowess, we highly recommend vacuums with attachments like a crevice tool, a pet tool, and upholstery or dusting brushes. Crevice tools help vacuum dust in tight spots, high spaces, and behind heavy furniture. Motorized pet attachments are key if you have a pet that sheds a lot. Dusting brushes and upholstery attachments are also good for getting dust and hair off furniture without causing any damage.

Carolyn Forté has tested and reviewed hundreds of vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, mops and other large and small home appliances as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. She oversees all testing done in the Cleaning Lab, including recent tests of the vast majority of Shark models featured here. She is also an active member of the ASTM Committee on vacuum cleaners and chairman of the consumer information sub-committee. Forté selected all of the picks for this roundup.

Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer with 15 years of related experience, used Forté's testing notes and guidance to create this guide of the best Shark vacuums. Earley has also tested two of the models showcased above in her own home—the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe has long been a personal favorite.