7 Best Shark Vacuums for Carpet & Stairs 2025

The Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum dominates the self-emptying category with its revolutionary docking system that seals away 500x less dust exposure than traditional methods. Its 40-minute runtime and 30% lighter design versus the Vertex Pro make it a budget-friendly workhorse for multi-level homes, especially solving the pain point of hauling heavy vacuums up stairs. The auto-adjusting brushroll optimizes suction between carpets and hard floors, while LED headlights reveal pet hair lurking in stair crevices.

In real-world testing, this vacuum excels on low-pile carpets and bare floors, delivering consistent suction without hair-wrap issues. The 8” crevice tool tackles tight stair gaps, though high-pile rugs occasionally trigger the auto-empty dock prematurely. At 12.5 lbs, it’s manageable for stairs but lacks the raw power of heavier uprights like the POWERDETECT AZ4002 on deep-set debris.

Compared to the Shark NV752 Rotator, it sacrifices lift-away versatility for convenience, appealing to pet owners prioritizing hygiene over heavy upholstery work. While pricier than the NV352 Navigator, its hands-free emptying and HEPA filtration justify the investment for allergy sufferers.

Shark’s POWERDETECT AZ4002 shines as the ultimate sensor-driven powerhouse, boasting “Best Overall” suction in lab tests while adapting intelligently to carpets and stairs. Its four Intelli-Sense sensors—like Edge Detect boosting suction near walls—make it a game-changer for spotless edge cleaning, ideal for stairwells cluttered with pet hair. The Powered Lift-Away pod retains spinning power for stairs, and the no-hair-wrap brushroll eliminates frustration.

During deep-carpet testing, Dirt Detect sensors amplified suction to extract embedded pet dander, while Floor Detect seamlessly transitioned to hard floors without manual input. However, its 15.2 lbs weight and 8.5” cleaning path make stairs feel laborious versus lighter stick models. The odor-neutralizing tech is a win for pet households, though the $300+ price tag skips auto-emptying—a feature found in pricier competitors.

Against the NV752, it offers smarter automation but sacrifices portability. For families needing both carpet depth and stair agility, the POWERDETECT outperforms the NV352 Navigator in suction but falls short in maneuverability.

The Shark HydroVac WD161 redefines wet mess cleanup with a 3-in-1 mop-vac combo engineered for sealed floors and area rugs. Stain Boost mode dissolved dried spills on hardwood stairs, while the self-cleaning system prevented cross-contamination. At 11 lbs, it’s lighter than traditional wet-drys but lacks the suction depth needed for carpeted stairs.

In trials, the HydroVac excelled on tile and laminate, removing tracked-in grime from stair treads, but its water-based cleaning left moisture risks near carpet edges. The 12 oz. concentrate bottle freshened pet odor zones, though the $150 price buys less vacuum versatility than the NV352 Navigator.

For homes with mixed hard floors and occasional stair messes, it complements rather than replaces a dedicated carpet vac. Against the Rocket HV301, it wins for liquid spills but loses on dry debris. Prioritize this for kitchens or mudrooms with open stairs—not for wall-to-wall carpeting.

The Shark Rocket HV301 blurs the line between stick and handheld vacuums, tipping the scales at under 9 lbs for effortless stair climbing. Its corded design ensures unlimited runtime, while swivel steering pivots sharply to clean under banisters. The Ultra-Pet tool tackles embedded hair on stairs, and fingertip controls let users toggle between carpet and floor modes mid-task.

Despite lacking auto-emptying, its “never loses suction” promise held up in lab tests, outperforming battery-powered rivals like the Clean & Empty on thick carpets. However, the 25-foot cord felt restrictive versus cordless models, and the 0.4-liter dust cup overflowed quickly during pet hair marathons. Compared to the NV352, it’s more portable but less robust for heavy stair traffic.

Value-seekers will favor its $100 price over the NV752’s premium, though the trade-offs in dust capacity and tool variety matter. For renters or low-priority carpet users, the Rocket’s agility and affordability seal its spot as a top stair contender.

The Shark NV752 crushes versatility with its Powered Lift-Away pod that maintains brushroll power mid-task—ideal for vacuuming stairs without losing momentum. Its TruePet brushroll devours pet hair on carpets, while LED headlights expose debris missed on shadowy stair risers. At 14.7 lbs, it’s lighter than the POWERDETECT AZ4002, with a 0.88-quart dust cup reducing emptying stops during marathon cleaning sessions.

In head-to-head trials, the NV752’s swivel steering navigated tight stair landings better than the Rocket HV301, though its 12-amp motor lagged behind the AZ4002’s sensor-driven power. The included upholstery tool excels on fabric-covered stairs but struggles with narrow gaps—where the Clean & Empty’s crevice tool prevails. HEPA filtration traps 99.9% of allergens, but the lack of auto-adjusting suction means manual mode switches on multi-surface homes.

Compared to the NV352, it adds LED lights and a larger dust cup but doubles the price. For pet owners needing a single vacuum for carpets, stairs, and upholstery, the NV752’s combo of power and portability outclasses cheaper alternatives.

The Shark CH951 carves its niche as a handheld hero for spot-cleaning stairs, delivering 2.8 lbs of portable power with its XL dust cup. Cyclonic suction devours pet hair on stair carpets, while the detachable Pet Power Brush spins free of hair tangles. Lithium-ion batteries last 12 minutes—enough for quick touch-ups but insufficient for full-floor jobs.

In testing, its CleanTouch ejector minimized contact with debris—ideal for allergy sufferers—but struggled with embedded dirt versus uprights. The crevice tool accessed tight stair gaps, though lack of a shoulder strap made overhead work tiring. Compared to the Clean & Empty’s 40-minute runtime, the CH951’s shorter battery life limits it to supplemental use.

For pet owners needing a secondary vacuum, it outperforms rivals like the HydroVac WD161 on hair pickup while costing less than half the POWERDETECT AZ4002. However, its singular focus on handheld tasks leaves carpets and stairs needing a primary vacuum.

The Shark NV352 thrives as a no-frills stair specialist, with a lightweight design (13.5 lbs) and Lift-Away pod that transforms into a portable unit for vertical cleaning. Its Brushroll Shut-Off preserves bare floors, while the 12” crevice tool reaches stair treads with ease. Though lacking modern bells like sensors, its 5-year warranty and “Made in USA” tag assure durability for high-traffic homes.

In performance tests, the NV352’s consistent suction power outcleaned the Rocket HV301 on medium-pile carpets but faltered against the POWERDETECT AZ4002 on fine dust. The anti-allergen seal traps pet dander effectively, though the 0.66-quart dust cup demands frequent emptying during whole-house sessions. At half the price of the NV752, it sacrifices LED lights and a larger tool kit but retains core functionality.

Budget shoppers weighing it against the $150 HydroVac WD161 will prefer the NV352 for deep carpet work, though the latter wins for wet messes. For stair-focused cleaning without smart features, this model remains a trustworthy staple.