Simply putthe best robot vacuum will free up hours of arduous chore time from your weekly schedule and automate essential floorcare tasks with minimalif anyinput from you.

But not all of these clever appliances deliver the same performanceand with so many to choose fromit can feel overwhelming knowing where to begin. That's why we've spent 7,000 hours (and counting) rigorously testing 27 robot vacuums with the latest technology and useful featuresso you can effortlessly enjoy spotless floors beneath your feetdailywithout lifting a finger.

Hereyou'll find our top six robots with a helpful30-second quiz to find the right modela comprehensive guide on how to choose a robot vacuum, as well as our recommended selections at every price band, so you can automate floor cleaning with one of the best vacuums for your home.

One-Minute Verdict

The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller wins as the best robot vacuum we've tested. It's the only robot vacuum with a self-cleaning mop roller that actually lifts wet mess from the floorrather than wiping it around. Combined with 30,000 Pa suction that vacuums dust and large debris from carpetsnear-flawless navigationand retractable 'legs' that climb 3.15-inch obstaclesit's the full package that reduced our tester's manual vacuuming time by 70%. It costs $1000 to $1,600depending on promotions.

The eufy S1 Pro Omni is the best robot vacuum for pet haireffortlessly clearing all fur and long hairs – even from thick carpets – while cleaning debrisspillsand stains with ease. It uses a special brushroll that never wraps with hair and uses a specialized cleaning solution for streak-free floors. It costs around $700-$1,500depending on promotions.

As Yeedi has now released the S20 Infinitytheir previous flagshipthe Yeedi S14 Plus [at Amazon], is now the best-value robot vacuumas it originally cost $1,399.99 and can now be found for as low as $519.99. But if you're on a tighter budgetthe eufy X10 Pro Omni is the most affordable pick we recommend at $400-$700 (and it cleans almost as comprehensively as the eufy Omni S1 Pro).

Our favorite alternative options include the eufy 3-in-1 E20 [at Best Buy] with a detachable handheld and cordless vacuumand the Roborock Saros Z70 that has a mechanical arm that tidies up small objects for you.

Robot Vacuum Quiz

My 30-second quiz below will help you quickly find the right robot vacuum for your home and budgetbacked by our rigorous testing of 27 models.

The Top Six

How to Choose a Robot Vacuum for Your Home

Types of Robot Vacuum

Robot vacuums can range anywhere from as low as $150 to $1,500+ and within that range are plenty of different types to choose from.

Budget vs premium: Budget robot vacuums can save you $100sbut in realitythese low-cost robots don't have the hardware to deep clean your home. The suction is often weakthe brushroll tangles with hairand you'll spend so much time cleaning up after it that you'll wonder why you ever bought it.

If you live in a cleanquiet home with no pets and exclusively hard floorsa budget robot vacuum might be enough. But otherwiseit's better to opt for a premium robot vacuum from brands such as iRobotDreameeufy, and Roborock that are better suited to actual cleaning.

These models have stronger suction and advanced navigation to reduce how often you have to step in. Balance your maximum budget with a set of features that are a dealbreaker for you (more on these below).

Vacuuming and mopping: Some robot vacuums can also mop the floors for you. On testwe've found they work to varying successbut even the budget models will leave your floors looking and smelling fresher than usual. The more advanced models (such as the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller) will mop your floors almost as well as you would yourselfand dramatically reducing how often you're having to clean your floors manually.

If a mop is a dealbreakerI'd recommend aiming to spend at least $600-900+ on a robot with a secure and fast-acting mop cover to protect carpets and rugs.

Self-emptying: Most robot vacuums come with (or at least have the option for) a self-cleaning station. These docks chargeemptyrefill (if mopping)and self-clean the robot. They typically store dustdirty waterand clean water for up to 60-75 daysdepending on how often you use it. I'd always recommend a self-emptying stationbut you can save a little money if you don't mind emptying it after each run. Some robotssuch as the iRobot Roomba j9+ Comb,o have stations that double up as stylish side tables.

What You Can Get at Each Price Band

Robot vacuums have some of the highest prices of any home appliance you can buybut they're discounted quite often. Always wait for a promotionotherwise you'll be spending $100s more than you need to.

Here's what you can get at each price band:

• $100-200: Basic robot vacuum (often knock-off brands) with random or camera-based navigationoffering light cleans with mess left behind. The Roborock Q7 M5 [at Amazon] is the best we've tested at this price range.
• $250-450: Entry-level robot vacuums from trusted brandsoffering app compatibilitysimple featuresand noticeable cleaning. The iRobot Roomba 105 Combo is a rare model at this price that has a mop function. Our best multi-functional robotthe eufy 3-in-1 E20costs $599.99 at full pricebut is often discounted to around half that.
• $500-950: Mid-range robot vacuums with effective (but not perfect) cleaningmoppingself-emptyingand strong navigation. The eufy X10 Pro Omni and the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 are the best we've tested at this price. That being saidyou can regularly find flagship robots like the Yeedi S14 Plus and the eufy Omni S1 Pro on offer around this price.
• $1,000+: The best robot vacuumswith advanced navigationcomprehensive app controland the most thorough vacuuming and mopping. Expect to spend upwards of $1,400 for the best modelslike the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Rollerthe Roborock Saros Z70 and the Yeedi S20 Infinity. Oropt for slightly older models like the Yeedi S14 Pluseufy Omni S1 Proand iRobot Roomba j9+ Combo that are frequently discounted to below their MSRP of $1,000.

And don't forget – robot vacuums come with recurring costs in the form of filter replacementsroller replacementsand cleaning solutions. To avoid thislook for robots with lifetime filtersdurable rollers and mops that only use fresh waterbut reallymodels with recurring costs tend to come with better performance.

Key SpecificationsExplained

• Suction power: For robot vacuumssuction power is measured in Pa (Pascals) ranging from 2,000 to 30,000 Pa. Aim for at least 10,000 Paor 12,000 if your home has a lot of carpet.
• Navigation type: Robot vacuums use LiDARSLAMand RGB camera technologies to navigatebuild mapsand identify objects. The best robot vacuums use a combination.
• App control: The smartphone app is what you'll be using to control your robotand the best app will let you set schedulesroomsand no-go zonesupdate your softwareshow where it has been cleanedand provide maintenance information (eufy and iRobot apps are our favorites thus far).
• Pet hair performance: To clean up after shedding petsa robot vacuum will need a combination of high suction and an anti-tangle brushroll to pull stubborn fur out of carpets and rugs (so farthe eufy Omni S1 Pro is the best we've tested on hair).
• Noise levels: We've found that robots' noise levels can range anywhere from 50 to 75 decibelsbut the real noise maker is the self-emptying stationwhichgenuinelycan sound like a jet engine taking offsurpassing 80+ decibels.

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Image 1 of 6

Our seasoned robot vacuum testerVictoria Woollastonhas reviewed 20 robot vacuums over the past 10 yearsand the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller resulted in the most significant reduction in manual vacuuming – around 70%.

That's the true beauty of investing in such an expensive appliance. The best vacuums make cleaning easier and more thoroughbut a good-quality robot vacuum actually changes your lifefreeing up hours of time a week that you would otherwise spend cleaning your home.

The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller is that exact investmentwith the most powerful vacuuming and mopping power we've seen so far.

It has 30,000 Pa suctionwhich is incredibly high compared to the typical 8,000 to 18,000 Pa. In realityeverything from dust to large debris is vacuumed easily from hard floors and carpetsand as the Aqua10 Ultra Roller has such outstanding navigationit knows when to finish cleaning a particularly dirty area before moving on.

Its most exceptional performance is its mopping:

Unlike most robot vacuumsthe Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller actually lifts grime from the floor and deposits it into its dirty water tankrather than simply wiping it. Its roller constantly cleans itself while runningthen deep cleans itself when docked at the station.

This results in outstanding mopping performanceremoving spills and sticky residue from your floorswith minimal effort needed from yourselfthen leaving them so spotless that you can comfortably walk around barefoot.

The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller can also climb 3.15-inch thresholdsallowing it to pass from hard floors to rugs and carpets without getting stuckas many robots often do. We also found that its navigation was almost flawlessavoiding toyspet bowlsand obstacles rather than dragging them around.

Read more in our full Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller review.

The Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair

Image 1 of 4

The eufy S1 Pro Omni was once our favorite robot vacuumtoppled by the Yeedi S20 Infinity's advanced debris pick-up and edge-to-edge mopping. But it's still an incredible cleanerand still the most formidable we've tested on pet hair.

Punteha van Terheydentester and Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens, commented that it leaves 'nothing on hard floors when it comes to pet hair and dust and picks up much more than any canister vacuum I've owned when tested on carpet.'

Robot vacuums aren't typically the best vacuums for pet hair as their smaller motors aren't as able to pull fur from within the fibersso for the S1 Pro Omni to capture more than a canister vacuum is not to be ignored.

After using the Omni S1 Pro for over a yearPunteha still commends its performance on pet hair'It's just as strongnothing has changed. I've gone through several rounds of maintenance with it as welland it's so easy.'

Plusit still hasn't wrapped with hair. Manually removing hair and fur from a robot vacuum is a common problem and one that almost defeats the hands-free nature of an automated cleaner. Luckilythe Omni S1 Pro lives up to its anti-tangle claims.

The Yeedi S20 Infinity and S14 Plus may have stronger suction and an all-around more effective cleaning performancebut these two models aren't designed to be taken apart and maintained as easily as the eufywhich is important when dealing with fur.

The Omni S1 Pro also mops excellentlyusing a specialized cleaning solution to deep clean hard floorsand using targeted sensors to avoid wet mop pads touching any rugs or carpeting. 'It tackled stickysugary liquid spills with easeand much like the tests available to view on the manufacturer’s websiteblasted through coffeemilk and ketchup stains with zero issuesresidueor spread,' wrote Punteha.

With this modelhoweverit's important to make sure you're cleaning around the dockas while the auto-empty is mostly greatit can spread a little bit of those contents around and slowly build up. It also occasionally struggles with thresholds like passing from rug to carpetbut you can easily set no-go zones via the app and leave those spots to your best vacuum cleaner.

Read more in our full eufy Omni S1 Pro review.

The Best Value Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Image 1 of 4

Funnily enoughthe Yeedi S14 Plus used to be our number one pickbut it's since been usurped by the Yeedi S20 Infinity. And because of thatthe S14 Plus can now typically be found for around $550-$750when it used to cost $1,399.99.

Balancing price and high performancethis is the best choice if you want your money to go the furthest.

'The Yeedi S14 Plus does a stellar job sucking up any debrisfrom cut grass tracked in by dogs (or me) and hairto dust and fallen food particles,' wrote tester James Holland in our review. This is owed to the S14 Plus' massive 18,000Pa suctionone of the highest we've ever testedbut not as high as the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller's 30,000 Pa suction.

It also does a great job at getting to edges and corners thanks to its side brushand an extendable mop padwhich is a rare feature found in robot vacuums.

The mop is thorough and (mostly) painless. 'The Yeedi S14 Plus delivers an even layer of waterleaving no other spill behindthat dries quicklymaking it ideal if you have floors that are susceptible to water damage,' wrote tester James.

Its only struggles when mopping the floors were during our high-volume tests for mustard and ketchupwhere sauce became caught in the wheelsbut this shouldn't pose an issue unless you're tackling big spills (generallyyou should do this yourself before the robot gets to them).

The cleaning station emptieschargescleansand dries the robot between uses. It has clear tanks for clean and dirty waterso it's easy to see when they need emptying or refillingand it also dries the mop pads to avoid smells and bacteria from festering.

The app is super straightforwardand on there you can set no-go zonesname roomsand tell the robot to clean a specific area if needed. Its obstacle avoidance is exceptionalavoiding most objects in its path while emitting a subtle laser light to identify surrounding objects.

Considering it's almost always on offer for under $700the Yeedi S14 Plus shouldn't clean this well. It may struggle with large amounts of debrisbut almost every robot doesand in the day-to-day it faces no issues keeping floors spotless.

Read more in our full Yeedi S14 Plus review.

The Best Multi-Function Robot Vacuum

Image 1 of 5

The eufy 3-in-1 E20 resolves a common issue found across almost every robot vacuum: sometimesmess gets left behind. Robot vacuums are still nowhere near as powerful assaythe best upright vacuumsand it's to be expected that they occasionally won't pick up everything.

eufy's answer is to stick a small handheld vacuum in the robot's bodyso that you can quickly pull it out and vacuum manually. Like the best cordless vacuumsall you have to do is attach the wand and floorheadand you have a full-sized vacuum ready to go.

The existence of an additional vacuum might give the impression of a weak robotand in some instancesthe E20 isn't as powerful as others in this guidelike the S1 Pro Omnibut it means you can count on it for just about any mess.

'During testing this combo in my home for two monthsI found it tackled carpetshard floorssofasupholsteryand everything in between with ease,' wrote tester Punteha van Terheydenand the addition of the handheld vacuum meant that nothing was getting missed.

'The cordless and robot both moved easily between floor typesand the latter did not get bamboozled by oddly-shaped deep-pile rug,' Punteha wroteshowing off the E20's credentials as one of the best multi-surface vacuums. It's also more affordable than separately buying two vacuums to use together.

It sadly doesn't have a mopping functionbut instead it costs $100s less than most of the robots in this guide. And for that small priceyou're getting the full vacuuming packagewith the handheld/cordless vacuum picking up all the tasks the robot can't do.

Read more in our full eufy 3-in-1 E20 review.

The Best Budget Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Image 1 of 4

The X10 Pro Omni is the predecessor to the eufy S1 Pro Omniand retails for around half the price. Robot vacuum tester Punteha certainly noticed the difference between the two modelsespecially on carpetwhere the X10 Pro Omni only achieved a solid clean when in turbo mode.

'When I tested this robot vacuum on Turbo suction mode and Deep Clean with zero hair on the rubber brush rollthere was an enormous leap in performanceleaving no loose debris on the carpet,' she wrote in her review. In standard modethe cleaning 'left a lot to be desired' as plenty of small and large debris was left behind after a complete run of the floor.

'Where this robot vacuum excels in my view is hard floors. It picked up absolutely everything in its path,' she addedso this could be one of the best vacuums for hard floors if you're looking to take some effort off your hands.

Another noticeable difference between the X10 Pro Omni and the S1 Pro Omni is in the obstacle avoidance. 'Whilst the object collision technology was mostly greatavoiding peoplepetsdoorsand stairsit is a little bumpier by nature,' Punteha commented during testing. It also bumped into baseboards often and got so confused by the legs of a wooden table that it was unable to enter the bathroom next to it.

The mopping function works wellremoving all tested liquids from the floors without a sticky residue or visual trace. It doesn'thoweverutilize any cleaning solutionso while the floors can appear cleanyou'll still need to mop the floors or use anti-bacterial wipes to remove the last of any mess.

Read more in our full eufy X10 Pro Omni review.

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner That Tidies Small Objects

Image 1 of 5

The Roborock Saros Z70 introduces a world-first: A mechanical arm that can pick up objects. It doesn't just clean the floorsit actually tidies up for youas you can set locations such as the trashcanlaundry basketor shoe rack.

Using AI object recognitionit's able to identify 108 objectsand you can train it to recognize 50 additional custom objects. Sowhether it's tissueslaundryshoesor toysthe Saros Z70 solves one of the common pet peeves with robotswhich is having to continually clear the floor for it to work.

But it isn't just the futuristic arm that makes the Saros Z70 so expensive. It also has the highest suction of any robot we've tested22,00Pa to be exact. For comparisonthe Yeedi S14 Plus has 18,000Paand the eufy Omni S1 Pro has 8,000Pa – and they're our top two picks.

'The Z70 genuinely slashed my manual vacuuming by about 70%. I could leave the robot to run and come back to visibly cleaner floorsespecially in the kitchen and hallway,' wrote tester Victoria Woollaston.

It did fall victim to hair wraphoweverso perhaps look elsewhere if you're hunting for the best vacuum for pet hair.

Its mopping ability is strongtoo. 'In my kitchenit handled dried coffee splashes and dusty footprints in one pass. In my hallwayit left a uniform shine with no visible streaking. I absolutely recommend it for day-to-day cleaning and stain removal,' Victoria Woollaston shared.

The floor dries in about five minutesand it's also quieter than many others we've tested at around 50-60 decibels. And to help justify the high costRoborock introduced remote viewing featuresso you can control the Saros Z70's camera and arm manually to make it a more interactivefun experience.

Read more in our full Roborock Saros Z70 review.

Honorable Mentions

Our top six robot vacuums excel at cleaningand their apps and smart features are genuinely useful and user-friendlyand they reduce how often you have to clean yourself.

But if they're not quite what you're afterhere are a few more robots we love from our tests:

• The Yeedi S20 Infinity was once our best robot vacuumbefore being surpassed by the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller's superior cleaning performance. Howeverthe S20 Infinity is often discounted to around $900making it a more affordable alternative. Find it for $999.99 at Amazon.
• Another affordable alternative is the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1a strong all-rounderoffering decent vacuumingmopping and self-cleaningeven if it doesn't perform as well as the top three in this guide. You can sometimes find it discounted to as low as $399.99 at SharkNinja.
• If you only have hard floorsthe Roborock Q7 M5 is the most budget-friendly robot vacuum we've tested. Its suction isn't strong enough to clean carpetsbut is ample enough for smooth surfaces. It can be on offer for as low as $149.99 at Roborock.

Pros and Cons of Robot Vacuums

Robot vacuums might sound like a miraculous cure-all for floor cleaning at homebut there are certain pros and cons you should consider before making the investment.

How We Test Robot Vacuums

We put a lot of thought into how we test robot vacuums. The testing process is similar to how we test vacuumswith a few key differences.

We test robot vacuums in our own homes to assess their ability to clean real-world messesnavigate obstacles such as cablestoys and pet wasteand build maps of real homes. We test them in homes with shedding pets and multiple floor types (carpetlinoleumhardwood) to build a picture of what the robot is capable of.

We also run specific tests on substances to evaluate the robot's ability to clean fine debrislarge debrisstains and spills. These standardized tests have been refined over the yearspreviouslythey have included riceflourcoffee grounds and morebut these are the tests we've discovered work best:

• A quarter cup of sugaron hard floors and carpet
• A quarter cup of lentilson hard floors and carpet
• A quarter cup of cerealon hard floors and carpet
• A quarter cup of ketchup (if the robot can mop)
• A quarter cup of mustard (if the robot can mop)

These tests show the robot's ability to clean substances of varying sizes and properties. Alongside these testswe also assess the robot's general cleaning abilitiesnoticing what it picks up and what it doesn'thow the floor feels afterwardsand how often we have to clean up after it.

We also test the robot's navigation and obstacle avoidanceweigh up app features compared to othersand determine how easy it is to clean the robot vacuum itself by taking it apart.

Essentiallywe assess every aspect of a robot vacuum that someone might consider when buying. We do this over one to two weeks.

Brand Comparison: Roomba vs. Shark

• Shark: Stronger and more consistent cleaning performancenew UV technologybetter valuelower noise levels.
• iRobot Roomba: Smoother app and more stylish designs.

For yearssome of the highest performing robot vacuums we've tested were from iRobot Roomba. More recentlyShark robot vacuums have surpassed iRobot Roomba's offerings in quality and efficacyintroducing new technology and more consistent cleaning performance at a more accessible cost.

With the release of the Shark PowerDetect UV Revealan outstanding robot that vacuums and mops thoroughlyusing UV light to detect stains that others can'tShark has overtaken the technology that we once praised from the iRobot Roomba.

Moreoverthe iRobot Roomba MAX 705 Combothe latest flagship from the brandwas somewhat of a let-down compared to the strong performance we observed when testing the older iRobot Roomba j9+ Combo.

As Shark's robot vacuums can be discounted to as low as $400 during sale seasonswhile still offering strong cleaning performancetheir robot vacuum lineup is simultaneously more affordable and a more reliable choice.

HoweveriRobot Roombas are not without their merit. iRobot was one of the first brands to introduce robot vacuum cleaners to the mass marketmeaning they have tremendous research and development resources. Sowhile the MAX 705 Combo may have been surprisingly weakthere's a high chance that their newer releases will fix any issues and improve the designs.

Alsothe iRobot Roomba app is smoother to useand their robot vacuums are much more stylish. Their cleaning stations often double up as side tableswith sleek aesthetics and warm tones to blend into your interior. ContrastinglyShark's robot vacuums can somewhat stand out.

Howeverit's important to note that Dreameeufy and Yeedi [at Amazon] are the three winning brands from our rigorous robot vacuum testsoffering more advanced cleaning and (often) lower prices than both Shark and iRobot.

FAQs

How Long Do Robot Vacuums Last?

With proper care and regular maintenancethe average robot vacuum lasts around four to six years. The lifespan depends on how often you vacuumthe type of flooring in your homeand how often you keep up with cleaning the robot vacuum and its filtersbrushesand sensors.

Models that are neglected or overloaded tend to wear out fasterwhile those treated like a well-used appliancerather than a set-it-and-forget-it gadgetcan easily last longer.

Do Robot Vacuums Work on Thick Carpet?

Generallynounless you're willing to part with upwards of $1,000. Budget and mid-range robot vacuums simply aren't powerful enough to suck debris and hair from within carpet fibers.

This is what the premium price tags reflect. More powerful motors and high-efficacy brushrolls are expensive to producebut provide real-world resultssuch as being able to vacuum thick carpets. So farthe Yeedi S20 Infinity [at Amazon] and the eufy Omni S1 Pro is the best we've tested for carpet cleaning.

Are Robot Vacuums Worth It for Pet Hair?

Robot vacuums excel in their ability to clean little and often. They're not as powerful as the cordless and upright models in our best vacuums for pet hair guide. Insteadthey offer frequent maintenance of your floorspicking up pet hair that's likely to accumulate throughout the day.

This cleaning makes robot vacuums a big help for anybody with pet allergies. I've spoken to dozens of consumers who have praised robot vacuums as the single most effective solution to managing pet hair and avoiding buildupto keep your home clean when you have pets.

Removing pet hair daily will limit exposure to the allergens found in pet dandersignificantly reducing symptoms compared to those who clean once a week. And with the rise of combination robot vacuums and mopsyou can clean up after your pets more hygienically.

Do Robot Vacuums Map Your House?

Yesbut not always. Robot vacuums build detailed maps of your home to give you greater control over where you're cleaningwhich rooms to focus onand which areas to avoid. It also means that the robot will ensure every spot is covered.

Some robot vacuums use random navigationmeaning they don't build maps but simply move around until they reach a wall or obstaclethen continue in a new direction. If you don't want a robot to map your homeopt for one of these modelsbut be prepared for it to frequently miss areas.

Do Robot Vacuums Need Wi-Fi?

Most robot vacuums need Wi-Fi to make use of all the available features. Without Wi-Fithe robot vacuum won't be able to map your homeupdate its softwareor utilize any of the features on the appsuch as schedulesno-go zonesand cleaning status updates.

To discover more from our vacuum testsbe sure to look over our guide of the best Dyson vacuumsbest Miele vacuumsor the best Dyson alternatives to save money on excellent floorcare.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.