Shark vs Dyson 2023: which vacuum cleaner is best?

WINNER: SHARK

Shark vacuums are at a more mid-range of around $150 for a Shark Navigator to $650 for the Shark AI 2in1 Robot Vacuum and Mop. Cordless vacuums rise to $450 for its top-of-the-line Vertex Pro, which boasts a larger 1 qt. dust bin and increased power. 

Shark also frequently runs promotions of up to half off, while the largest discount you'll see on a Dyson is around $200, and usually only around Black Friday.

Dyson vacuums tend to cost around of $399 for their older models like the Dyson Ball Animal 2  to an eye-watering $949 for its top-of-the-line Dyson Outsize+ , which is the largest cordless on the market, and now includes the laser technology of the Dyson V15 Detect. 

WINNER: DYSON

When it comes to sheer air watts, Dyson offer the most powerful suction around. Dyson typically offers three modes: Eco, Medium, and Boost. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 mentioned above has only one power setting, and it's very powerful. Dyson's models tend operate with a trigger method to conserve battery when not in use, but some people find it uncomfortable to keep pressing down on the trigger.  

Shark also lets you select power modes according to surface type, or if an extra boost is required, however, you will manually have to switch between. Shark typically offers a hard floor, carpet, and MAX power option. Shark vacuums operate with a power switch for continuous power, which may be a better choice if you have mobility problems in your hands like arthritis. 

WINNER: SHARK

Shark and Dyson both offer a wide range of choice, but Shark has more models available, and they're in wider categories. Where Shark offers a range of corded, cordless, handheld, and robot vacuums, while Dyson emphasizes its cord-free range, and no longer sells robot vacuums in the United States.

You can scroll the below table to directly compare runtime, power, dust bin size, and any special features. 

WINNER: SHARK 

Both Shark and Dyson can get the job done. 

Shark wins, however, when it comes to larger pieces, vacuuming up larger pieces like cereal to rice in one pass, while these items can occassionally just be pushed forward with a Dyson. 

Dyson makes different floorheads for varying purposes. The fluffy floor heads are optimized for hard floors with their softer fibers to rid floors of dust, while the detangling motor bar floorhead digs deep into carpets, though still effective on hard floors if the fluffy floorhead is not included. Dyson vacuums either adjust setting power level or automatically adjust based on detected dirt amount. The upright models do feature an option to turn off the brushbar when vacuuming hard floors. 

Both Dyson and Shark offer comparable battery life. Both offer up to 60 minutes runtime for their best cordless vacuums, like the Dyson V15 Absolute and the Shark . Depending on the model, both Shark and Dyson offer designs with removable batteries, such as the Dyson Outsize or the Shark Vertex Pro lightweight. 

Dyson was actually the first to engineer bagless dust bins, using the clear dust bin design to be able to keep track of how much dirt has been collected and a system that will never lose suction because the bin is full. At this point, however, both Shark and Dyson use bagless dust bins.

Both dust bins use an easy, one-touch propeller system designed to be hassle-free and hygienic. Dyson's base opens and pushes the dirt forward, while the Shark releases the base, which actually has a wider mouth for dirt to dispense out of. 

We've personally found a better emptying experience from Shark as we're not having to reach in to take out stuck clumps of debris, as has been our experience with Dyson. The bins can also easily be rinsed with water. Dyson's dust bins can typically only be wiped with a damp cloth, as they are connected to electrical components. 

Within the dust bin, hair both wraps around the filters inside the dust bin on the Shark and Dyson. Hair is easier to pull out of the Shark, however, which neatly wraps around can easily be pulled out, while it's more difficult to place your hand up in the shaft of the bin. Dyson's dust bin utilizes a rubber stopper to sort of push the dirt down and to keep it going in one direction.

Traditional uprights tend to have larger dust bins by default, while cordless models are typically smaller, in an effort to keep them streamlined and lightweight. Dyson's Outsize is the outlier, with its full-size half-gallon dust bin. Beyond this specialty model, we find Dyson and Shark's dust bin offerings to be rather similar in size.

WINNER: DYSON

All of Dyson's products carry advanced whole-machine HEPA filtration, emphasizing its 5-layer filtration and cyclone technology that is the heart of Dyson's technology to keep dust and dirt trapped inside.

The dust bin is only the first stage to separating the particles visible to the naked eye. Dyson’s multi-cyclone technology, with up to 18 cyclones, depending on the model,   maintains the velocity required to remove fine dust from the airflow. Pre- and post-motor filters are responsible for filtering the smallest particles, capable of removing 99.97 percent of particles invisible to the human eye as small as 0.3 microns.

Dyson filters are easily washable and help prevent the build-up of allergens or dander.

Most Shark machines feature their Anti-Allergen Complete Seal, which traps dust, allergens, and irritants and seals them inside, keeping it out of the air you breathe. Particles filter through the washable foam and felt filters. Some more of the premium models will also feature HEPA, but it will drive up the price.

WINNER: SHARK

Shark is the clear winner here, offering five-year warranties where Dyson only offers two-year parts and labor warranties.