Shark vs. Dyson: Which Brand Is Better?

We compared Shark vs. Dyson to help you decide which brand to buy from.

Keeping your home clean is easier when you have the right equipment.

A home that is free from dust, dander, mold, and other particulates has a fresh, clean smell that makes it an inviting place to relax.

Keeping your home clean is especially important for those who suffer from allergies or other conditions that affect breathing.

When you think about vacuum cleaners, Shark and Dyson are two of the top brands that come to mind.

Let's explore both of them to see which one is right for helping you keep your home as clean as possible.

What Is Better, a Shark or a Dyson?

When it comes to whether you should choose Shark or Dyson, both brands have a lot to offer and are considered to be high quality.

Both vacuum cleaner brands work using the same principle.

Debris and other materials flow from one location to another due to a difference in pressure.

Read More: Shark vs. Bissell

History Of Shark and Dyson

Shark began producing vacuum cleaners in 1995. It is one of two brands owned by SharkNinja.

The roots of the company go back almost 100 years ago with its roots catering to the European sewing machine market.

The company stayed in the family, and three generations later, the Shark vacuum cleaner was invented by Mark Rosenzweig.

The line of Shark vacuum cleaners, as we know them today, began in 1994 and began marketing in 1995. It is based in the United States as of 2015.

Dyson began its life as a well-respected UK brand. The line of products was invented by James Dyson who began working on his line of products in 1979.

Dyson is still the sole owner of the company. He was inspired because the vacuum he was using at the time failed to work as promised.

Dyson sought to solve the familiar problem of dust and dirt blowing out the exhaust and back into the room. The result was the invention of the cyclonic separator that was inspired by systems used to remove dust from industrial sawmills.

The result was the Dyson vacuum cleaner we know today. After a failed marketing attempt with Amway, Dyson began marketing the Dyson vacuum cleaner line in 1991.

Both Shark and Dyson are reliable vacuum cleaner brands that use cyclonic suction.

This means they never lose suction because the technology separates the fine dirt from the air.

They do not use bags, but you must empty the canister and wash the filters occasionally.

They solve the problem of dust and dirt blowing from the exhaust of the vacuum and work much better than older bag-style vacuums.

When choosing a vacuum cleaner, there are many things to consider besides price. You need to decide what you think you will need it for the most.

Both Shark and Dyson offer models that are suitable for many needs. If you have large, carpeted rooms, both manufacturers make powerful uprights with beater systems that will loosen the dirt.

If you need to clean up a few spilled crackers beside the car seat, a hand-held model might be your best option.

Another factor to consider is weight and maneuverability.

Do you need to carry the vacuum upstairs?

Do you have furniture that is difficult to go around with a standard vacuum cleaner?

What types of attachments do you need the most?

These are all questions you need to ask yourself before making a selection.

Dyson and Shark are both well-established brands that compete with other top brands like Hoover, Bissell, and Miele. Dyson promotes itself on the power of its suction and advanced features.

Shark promotes itself as an equally capable, but lower-priced option. Now, let’s take a look at some of the features that set Shark apart from Dyson.

Read More: Dyson vs. Bissell

Range

Shark and Dyson make a wide range of vacuum models that are suitable for different circumstances you might encounter.

Both of them make versions that are specifically designed for pet owners, and both of them make hand-held versions that are suitable for cars and boats.

In terms of numbers, Shark makes a few more models than Dyson, but both offer a wide range of choices. Here are some of the more popular models of both companies.

Read More: Robot Vacuums vs. Regular Vacuums

Shark Vacuums

Shark makes a range of upright vacuums, handheld vacuums, and stick vacuums. Some of its more popular upright models include:

• Shark Rotator Professional Upright Corded Bagless Vacuum
  
• Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet (NV752) Upright Vacuum
  
• Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum (NV352).
  

The Shark WANDVAC Handheld Vacuum and the Shark Handheld Vacuum LV901 are two of its more popular handheld models.

Three of its most popular stick models include the Shark IONFlex 2X DuoClean Cordless Ultra-Light Stick Vacuum, Shark Rocket DeluxePro Ultra-Light Upright Corded Stick Vacuum, and the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Bagless Vacuum.

Shark also makes a range of cordless vacuums for maximum portability and convenience.

The Shark Rocket Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum, Shark Rocket Pet Pro with Self-Cleaning Brushroll, and Shark ION F80 Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum are some of its most versatile cordless vacuums.

Dyson Vacuums

Dyson also makes a wide range of vacuum models, but its lineup is not as extensive as that of Shark. Here are some of the more popular Dyson models.

• Dyson V11 Absolute
  
• Dyson V10 Cyclone
  
• Dyson V8 Animal cordless
  
• Dyson V6 Car & Boat
  
• Dyson Light Ball Multi
  
• Dyson DC58 Animal
  
• Dyson Cinetic Big Ball
  
• Dyson V6 Cordless
  

One of the design innovations that make Dyson stand out is its line of ball vacuums.

These vacuums have a ball that allows them to turn effortlessly for better maneuverability. This allows them to navigate more easily around like chair Legs and furniture.

When it comes to range, Shark has the widest selection of vacuums, and you have several different choices in each category.

Dyson has a vacuum for everything, but they generally only make one model for each specific use. In this respect, Shark gives you more choices and makes it easier to find one to suit your needs.

Price

When you compare models side-by-side, Shark usually tends to be the most budget-friendly option.

For instance, when you compare the Shark Vertex Duoclean and the Dyson V11, you will find them to be similar at first glance.

The Dyson is a little lighter weight and a little bigger in overall size.

They both have a run time of 50 minutes and have a few slight differences in the capacity of the dust bin. You can expect to pay around $375 for the Shark and over $750 for the Dyson.

When you compare the Shark Apex DuoClean and the Dyson Ball Animal 2, you will find similarities in capability, cord length, overall weight, and capacity.

You will also find a big price difference, with the Shark around $375 and the Dyson at around $500.

As you explore comparable models of both brands, you will find the same price differences and patterns. Dyson tends to be much more expensive than Shark.

The prices in this article are only examples, and the exact amount you can expect to pay differs by merchant and distributor.

Dyson is consistently more expensive than Shark, but the question is whether the price difference is justified in performance and features.

Battery Life

Cordless models are some of the favorites among both Dyson and Shark fans. Cordless vacuums offer flexibility and the ability to clean places that you could not reach with a corded model.

When choosing a cordless vacuum cleaner, you want it to be lightweight, have enough battery life to finish the job without having to recharge, and you want it to have adequate suction.

Battery-powered stick and handheld vacuums are excellent choices for portability.

One of the drawbacks is that they can be heavier due to the need to accommodate the battery.

Depending on the type of battery used, some of them will run at full power until the battery runs out. Others will lose suction as the battery begins to get low.

As a general rule, vacuums that have at least 18 volts tend to perform better and have more suction power.

Those that are powered by nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries are the least expensive, but the battery will need to be replaced more often.

Those that use lithium-ion (Li-ion) or nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) will hold a charge better. They will also last longer, but they are more expensive when they do need to be replaced.

On average, today's batteries lose the ability to fully charge and hold a charge after two or more years.

In some cases, it might be cheaper to buy an entire new cordless vacuum than to just replace the battery.

If your battery suddenly starts only running for a few minutes before it shuts off, or its runtime begins to deplete compared to when it was new, then it may be time to make the decision of whether to replace it or get a new battery.

Some cordless vacuums can be plugged directly into an outlet, and others have their own special docking station.

Some docking stations are wall-mounted for easy access.

Another thing to look at when you are purchasing either a Shark or Dyson is the charge time.

Some of them take up to 8 hours or more to achieve a full charge.

When it comes to runtime, most Shark and Dyson cordless models have a runtime of at least 30 to 40 minutes.

If it is a handheld vacuum, usually 15 or 20 minutes of runtime should be plenty to clean up most spills.

For larger vacuums, you might need to charge the vacuum several times to complete the job depending on the size of your area.

Most Shark cordless vacuums use NiMH batteries with an extended life of up to 1000 charge/discharge cycles before needing to be replaced.

They use different sizes and types of batteries depending on the model.

Keep in mind that most Sharks use NiMH batteries, but some use Li-ion batteries.

Most batteries for Sharks are 14V, but there are some exceptions.

Dyson tends to use Li-ion batteries. They tend to use more powerful batteries, with the most common at 21.6V.

When it comes to batteries, both Shark and Dyson have advantages.

The more powerful batteries used in the Dyson produce more power.

The cheaper batteries used in Shark vacuums are enough for most small jobs, but they will not have the suction power of the Dyson.

On average, replacement batteries for Dyson products were found to be about twice as expensive as those for a Shark.

Dust Bin

Several factors come into play when it comes to the dust bin. One of them is size, and the other is how easy they are to empty and replace.

In both cases, the size of the dust bin differs according to the model. For instance, uprights have larger capacity dust bins than hand-held models.

Dyson was the first to invent bagless technology that uses dust bins.

Dyson has a clear dust bin that allows you to see when it is getting time to empty it.

When it comes to dust bin size, Shark is generally larger than that of the Dyson models.

Both Shark and Dyson use a one-touch system that makes disengaging the bin from the unit easy. Shark has a base with a larger opening to allow the dirt to be released.

Occasionally, you will find stuck clumps of dirt and debris in the Dyson that require you to reach in your hand to remove them. In this respect, the experience with the Shark dust bin is better.

Pet owners will appreciate the self-cleaning brush roll of the Shark.

With the Dyson, long strands of hair tend to wrap around the roll and create a tangled mess that is difficult to remove.

With the Shark, the hair will wrap around the filter, but it is easier to remove.  

Another thing to consider is that Dyson's dustbins can only be wiped with a damp cloth because they are connected to electrical components.

You can remove the Shark dustbins and rinse them underwater. When it comes to emptying the dustbins, Shark is the winner in this category for ease of use.

Filtration

For allergy sufferers and those who must keep their house clean due to a chronic condition, filtration is one of the most important considerations when purchasing a vacuum cleaner.

In this respect, both companies understand the importance of trapping allergens and preventing them from being re-released into the room. Let's see how they do this.

Dyson uses a five-layer filtration system and cyclone technology to keep dust and dirt trapped inside of the machine.

It also uses a whole-machine HEPA filter that is capable of removing 99.97% of small particles that are invisible to us and as small as three microns.

Dyson uses a prefilter system where the prefilters can be easily washed to prevent the buildup of larger particulates, hair, and pet dander.

Shark uses what they call their Anti-Allergen Complete Seal. Some models contain washable foam and felt filters. Vacuums with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal claim to trap 99.9% of dust and dander.

Some Shark models also offer HEPA filtration, but not all of them do.

When purchasing a Shark vacuum, you will have to read the features of the particular model to make sure that it has the level of filtration you need.

You will find that Shark models that offer HEPA filtration are considerably more expensive than those that do not.

Warranty

It is normal for you to want to get as much use as possible from your vacuum, which means the warranty can be a deciding factor in which one you purchase.

Most Dyson models offer a 2-year part and labor warranty, but Shark offers a 5-year warranty on comparable models.

Features

Oftentimes, features are the deciding factor in which one you purchase. One of the features is how well the vacuum picks up different types of objects.

Dyson may be more powerful, but Shark has a double brush system that often picks up larger pieces of food that Dyson will only push forward on the floor.

When it comes to cleaning up spilled cereal, Shark is the one with the advantage.

One of the drawbacks of Dyson is that it has a tendency to drag dirt behind it on the backpass, but the double-brush system of the Shark will pick it up.

One thing that many users notice is that Dyson tends to be noisier than Shark models.

Shark is easy to use, but Dyson features advances like automatic suction adjustment and battery-powered displays.

Both Dyson and Shark have similar attachments and other features.

Dyson provides a bag to store tools but does not have a place for them on the unit.

This is because it was designed for maneuverability and having the tools on the unit would inhibit it.

Even though Dyson is designed to be more maneuverable, it also has a big ball and a wider cleaning head.

This means that it is easier to turn around corners, but it might not fit into tight spaces.

Shark is easier to get under items like furniture and into narrower spaces. Dyson models tend to be heavier than Shark when you compare similar models.

Dyson also offers features like an auto-wind cord.

Dyson offers a switch that allows you to turn the brush on or off, but this option is not available on Shark models.

Dyson has a few more advanced technology features than Shark.

When it comes to what is most important, which is the ability to clean the floor, Dyson is more powerful in terms of suction, but Shark’s double brush system allows it to be the better of the two when it comes to the ability to pick up dirt on your floor.

Final Verdict

As you can see, both Shark and Dyson are excellent choices.

When it comes down to which one to buy, it is all about which features are the most important to you, and what types of spills and situations in which you will use it.

You have a wide choice of models with both companies, but our job here is to pick an overall winner when it comes to the battle between these two brands.

To help make the job a little easier, here is a summary of the categories that we examined and which one we think comes out to be the clear winner.

• Range: Shark
  
• Price: Shark
  
• Battery Life: Shark
  
• Power: Dyson
  
• Dust Bin: Shark
  
• Filtration: Dyson
  
• Warranty: Shark
  
• Features: Dyson
  
• Noise: Shark
  
• Weight: Shark
  
• Picks Up Large Items: Shark
  

As you can see, Dyson is the winner in several categories, but when it comes to which one is the overall winner, Shark comes out on top.

Dyson is the choice if you want high-tech features, more raw suction power, and if you want advanced filtration systems. One of the key differences is that Dyson is much more expensive than Shark.

Just because it has more raw power than Shark does not mean that it necessarily does a better job of cleaning your floors.

Even though Shark does not have as much power, its double-brush system puts it ahead when it comes to its ability to do the job it was intended to do. Not having to go over the area several times to pick up the dirt and debris saves time and effort when cleaning.

The question is whether the features of Dyson can justify the price. In the end, both of these brands are a good choice, but in our opinion, you could easily go with the lower-priced Shark and have a machine that you are happy with for many years to come.