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The best robot vacuums automate the mundane chore of cleaning floors You set a cleaning schedule, and the robot vacuum collects dust, pet hair, and other debris. Robot vacuums have come a long way in recent years, though the more features you want, the more you’ll pay. Still, you can find reliable options at all price points, including options with a self-emptying base to robovacs that can also mop.
The Business Insider Reviews team has tested over 40 units and consulted with engineers and health experts to find the best robot vacuums. The iRobot Roomba j9+ does an outstanding job cleaning hardwood and low-pile carpeted floors, features impressive obstacle avoidance, and automatically empties the vac’s dustbin. Our budget pick, the Shark AV753 Ion, costs less than $250 and has powerful suction and a long-lasting battery; though, it lacks many popular features, like no-go zones, smart home mapping, or adjustable suction between floor types.
Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.
Our picks of the top-rated robot vacuums
Best overall: iRobot Roomba j9+ Robot Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best budget: Shark AV753 Ion Robot Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best for pet hair: Shark Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best self-emptying: Roborock Q5 Max+ Robot Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best with mop: Roborock Q Revo Robot Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best splurge: Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum - See at Amazon
Best overall
The J9+ is a powerful robot vacuum that deftly navigates around household obstacles, leaves hardwood floors spotless, and tackles low-pile carpets with ease.
- Excellent cleaning abilities
- Easy to set up and intuitive app
- Multiple suction settings
- Longer battery life than earlier models
- Loud
- Some connectivity issues
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a Roomba, the brand synonymous with “robot vacuum,” tops our guide. The iRobot Roomba j9+ is one of the most powerful, well-rounded models available. The impressive suction handles messes of all sizes, and its superior navigation helps it avoid obstacles, even in the dark. For its navigation, the J series Roombas rely on a front-facing camera that not only avoids obstacles but also takes photos for you to review, so you can denote temporary obstacles or keep-out zones.
Business Insider Reviews’ Steph Coelho tested the j9+. She was particularly impressed with how well it did on hardwood flooring, picking up dog kibble, nuts, fine dust, pet hair, flour, and seeds with ease. However, larger pieces of debris got stuck between the rubber brushes.
The Roomba j9+ boosts its suction on carpeting, and it picks up all the flour after two passes on low-pile carpeting. Yet, the strong suction seemed to work against it on higher pile carpeting as it got stuck, suggesting you may want to consider one of our other options below if you have medium-to-high-pile carpeting.
Otherwise, the j9+ didn’t get stuck and easily traverses thresholds. Coelho noted its mapping capabilities made it easy to set no-go zones and clean targeted areas in the iRobot app (iOS and Android). The front-facing camera helped it avoid obstacles. iRobot is so confident in its obstacle avoidance that it offers a “Pet Owner Official Promise” (POOP) that provides a replacement unit if yours plows through pet waste.
Powerful suction tends to correlate with increased noise, which was the case with the j9+. Coelho measured it at 61.9 decibels on low, 67.7 on high, and 93.4 when emptying the dustbin into the dock. Even on low, it drowned out her TV. Fortunately, it pairs with Alexa and Google Home for voice control, so you can tell it to pause.
In addition to outstanding vacuuming performance and top-tier obstacle recognition, iRobot's most advanced Roomba has a retractable mop mechanism that ensures the wet parts will not come into contact with carpet when mopping. It also automatically fills with water, though you will still have to clean the mop pad directly after each clean, and self-empties debris into the clean base.
As combos robot vacuums skyrocket in popularity, for about $300 more, you can upgrade to the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, which incorporates mopping. The robot itself includes a neat feature that we haven’t seen from any other brands, with an automatic retractable mop that retracts, as opposed to lifting a few millimeters. This fully keeps the mop from coming into contact with carpet. The self-emptying base also has a clean water tank that automatically fills the robot with water, effectively skipping a step, but it stops short of cleaning the mop pad following a cycle, like some other brands in the price range have been able to achieve.
Jaclyn Turner tested the Combo j9+ and found it offered a reliable vacuum and mopping performance, even identifying a BBQ spill as potential poop, but it still fell short of being an overall top pick. She repeatedly struggled with some tech issues and glitches to get the mopping feature to register and had to reset the device a few times. The mopping functionality also is more or less of a dragging mechanism with light pressure as opposed to actual scrubbing. It was also louder and more disruptive than comparable models. Since testing, iRobot has released the j10 Combo Max, which is iRobot’s first fully automatic mop and vacuum robot with self-cleaning and heated drying for a truly hands-off experience.
Read our full iRobot Roomba j9+ review.
Best budget
The Shark Ion is the best vacuum under $300 we've tested. While it doesn't feature mapping and no-go zones, its cleaning performance rivals high-end models, and the battery life is impressive.
- Cleaned really well on carpeting and hardwood
- Long battery life and quick charging
- Quiet operation
- No zoned cleaning or no-go zones
- Poor corner cleaning
We’ve tested several robot vacuums under $300 over the years, and by far, the best budget robot vacuum for cleaning performance is the Shark AV753 Ion. Even better: It’s often marked down to just $150.
As a basic bump-and-roll vac, it lacks high-end bells and whistles like avoiding obstacles or setting no-go zones. Yet, it stuck in our messy test area. It is wifi-equipped so you can schedule cleanings and remotely control the vac using the SharkClean app (available for iOS and Android). It also pairs with Alexa and Google Home for voice control.
On carpeting, it picked up virtually all the pet hair and coffee grounds we laid out and only left behind traces of kitty litter and flour. The hardwood performance was just as impressive, but after two cleaning cycles, there was a smidge more flour left. However, in corners, it struggled. The AV753 Ion could reach deep into corners, but it just kind of spreads the flour around rather than sucking it up.
The battery life was outstanding. On high suction, it ran for over two hours, and on low, it lasted three. Recharging the unit only takes two and a half hours.
Whether on high suction or low, the AV753 ran at about 65 decibels, a little louder than normal conversation and quieter than most models we’ve tested.
Best for pet hair
The Shark Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot vacuum has an auto-empty dust bin that holds up to 60 days of debris. It expertly adjusts suction according to floor type and the amount of dirt present and navigates around obstacles.
- Runs itself and doesn't get stuck
- Air quality options
- Control with an app
- Great on pet hair
- High price
- Needs replacement filters for tower
Priced at $599, the Shark Detect Pro is the brand’s mid-range robot vacuum. It’s the best robot vacuum for pet hair because it has a self-emptying dock, dirt detection, automatic floor type adjustment, and lidar navigation. These advanced features offer a more automated and effective cleaning experience than previous Shark models.
Business Insider Reviews’ Bethaney Phillips tested the Shark Detect Pro. She thought setup was a breeze. The SharkClean app provides useful functionality, like scheduling cleanings and setting no-go zones. In tests, the unit showed impressive obstacle avoidance and navigation abilities, maneuvering around toys and furniture without getting stuck. This is helpful if you have a pet that occasionally has accidents. As with any obstacle, the vacuum’s lidar navigation recognizes the mess and avoids spreading it around.
The cleaning performance was also impressive. It effectively picked up dirt, pet hair, and dust on carpeted and hardwood surfaces without getting clogged. The “Dirt Detect” mode helped it to focus on giving extra attention to cleaning dirtier areas. The odor-neutralizing filter minimizes unpleasant odors, and the roomy self-emptying dustbin holds up to 60 days’ worth of debris.
Phillips noted that the Shark Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot Vacuum gets quite loud when emptying the dustbin, which is typical of auto-empty vacuums. Another downside is that the unit's higher profile makes it difficult to clean under some furniture.
Overall, the Shark Detect Pro is an excellent choice for pet owners with its obstacle avoidance, powerful suction, dirt detection, and relatively autonomous cleaning.
Read our full Shark Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot Vacuum review.
Best self-emptying
Thanks to its powerful suction, the Roborock Q5 Max+ Robot Vacuum did a great job picking up debris on carpeting and hard surfaces in our tests. We were also impressed with its ability to create 3D maps of the test area.
- Self-emptying base
- Impressive cleaning performance on hardwood, carpeting, and corners
- Didn't get stuck
- Poor obstacle avoidance
- Somewhat loud operation, especially when emptying dustbin
Self-emptying robot vacuums are great because the dock can hold several cleaning cycles' worth of debris, requiring no intervention on your part for weeks at a time. With non-self-emptying robot vacuums, you must empty the dustbin after each cleaning.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ is our best self-emptying robot vacuum because of its superb cleaning performance, budget-friendly price, and high-debris-capacity self-empty dock with a narrow design that fits tight spots. It retails for $600 but is often half off, a steal for such a high-quality unit.
Self-emptying robot vacuums cost more than those you manually empty after each cleaning, but they offer a more hassle-free solution since you only have to interact with the dustbin every 30 days or so. The disposable dust bag of the Q5 Max+ holds 2.5 liters of debris, which the brand says can hold up to 50 days of debris before replacing it. The bagged design keeps dust and allergens sealed in and out of the air you breathe, making it ideal for allergy sufferers. Plus, it comes with an extra bag. Replacement bags are widely available and cost about $5 apiece.
The Roborock vacuum was among the best on every surface. On hardwood, it picked up all the coffee and hair, leaving only traces of litter and flour behind. On carpeting, it only left a little flour. It was especially impressive in corners, coming within an inch of the corner and picking up virtually all the flour it could reach.
While the Q5 Max+ relies on lidar navigation and didn’t get stuck, I found its obstacle avoidance could use improvement. It ran right into the fake poop. However, you can easily set no-go zones and clean specific areas using the Roborock app (available for iOS and Android). It also pairs with Alexa and Google Home for voice control.
The noise level of the Roborock is average. On high, it’s about 70 decibels, or as loud as your neighbor mowing their lawn. It’s just as loud when it empties the dustbin. On low, it’s as loud as normal conversation.
The battery life and charge time are also average. On both high and low suction, the vac ran for two hours, which was plenty long enough to clean our 500-square-foot testing area. If the battery gets low while cleaning, the vacuum returns to the dock to charge and then finishes the job. It took four hours to fully charge from empty.
Best with mop
The Roborock Q Revo mops and vacuums at the same time in a gridded pattern so nary a spot is missed and has a hands-off self-cleaning system that auto empties plus washes and dries mop pads.
- Spot cleaning and zone cleaning capabilities A hands-off self-cleaning system with air-drying
- Ability to lift mop pads and climb over high thresholds
- Quick 3D and 2D mapping
- Long battery life
- A hands-off self-cleaning system with air-drying
- Doesn’t connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks
- Washes mop pads with cold water
Based on my testing, the Dreame L40 Ultra, our best splurge robot vacuum, is the best robot vacuum with mopping. However, it’s pricey. For something more attainable, If you want to save $500+ while only minimally sacrificing performance, get the Roborock Q Revo.
With its sub-$900 price, the Q Revo features many state-of-the-art features, including lidar navigation, which gives it precise obstacle avoidance and mapping. It can handle multiple floor levels and creates two- and three-dimensional maps. What makes it particularly great for mopping is the self-cleaning. After mopping, the docking station automatically cleans the mop heads and dries them off to avoid odors. It also senses carpeting and lifts the mop heads to avoid contact.
Business Insider Reviews’ Alex Temblador tested the Roborock Q Revo and was impressed with its ability to climb over steep thresholds to get to spots other robot vacuums struggled with. The spinning mop heads and strong suction power offer a deep clean. During testing, it successfully handled coffee grounds, Cheerios, and other substances, though flour required multiple passes.
The Roborock app (available for iOS and Android) provides several customization options, including water flow, cleaning modes (mop-only, vacuum-only, or both), no-go zones, zoned cleaning, cleaning routes, and suction power. When paired with Alexa or Google Home, you can use voice commands to send it to specific areas to vacuum or mop.
Temblador experienced WiFi connectivity problems, especially with 5GHz networks, and struggled to make room dividers on the app's map. The self-cleaning station is excellent at drying and washing the mop pads, but she said it tends to collect visible dirt and requires regular cleaning.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the Roborock Q Revo is the best robot vacuum for hardwood floors for those looking for one of the best robot wet-dry vacuums.
Read our full Roborock Q Revo review.
Best splurge
The Dreame L40 Ultra is the best splurge robot vacuum we've tested. It's packed full of features, including home surveillance and obstacle detection and avoidance. It was among the best at vacuuming and mopping in our tests.
- Obstacle detection and avoidance
- Outstanding smart mapping
- Unparalleled mopping capabilities
- Excellent vacuuming on carpeting and hardwood
- Video surveillance feature
- Long battery life and fast charging
- Operates loudly
- Expensive
- Didn't clean carpeted corners well
The $1,300 Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum is as fancy as it gets. The navigation is so sophisticated it not only avoids obstacles, but it correctly categorizes them. For example, its smart mapping correctly identified the fake poop with a little poop emoji, and the L40 Ultra avoided it. The app shows where the vacuum is in real time, including where it’s already cleaned.
Pet owners will love the next-level video surveillance. For privacy reasons, you must opt-in to use this function, which captures stills and GIFs of pets. It worked well in testing, catching a photo of my cat, Doctor Cigarettes, looking at the vac disapprovingly. The Dreamehome app (available for iOS and Android) is user-friendly and features scheduling, multi-floor mapping, zoned cleaning, and more. The vac has voice control, or you can pair it with Alexa and Google Home.
The Dreame vacuums and mops well. On carpeting, it picked up virtually everything except a trace of kitty litter and flour. On hardwood, it was the same; only a little bit more flour was left. It struggled in the carpeted corner, but the L40 Ultra got deep into the hardwood corner and removed almost all the flour.
When mopping, the spinning mop heads extend out to get into corners and along edges. They did outstanding cleaning up the dried soda from linoleum, getting virtually all of it. Plus, the floor wasn’t sticky afterward, a rarity for robot mops.
In addition to emptying the dustbin, the Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum’s dock features clean and dirty water containers for mopping. It automatically fills the vacuum with clean water and cleaning solution and empties the dirty grime after mopping. One problem with mopping vacuums is the mop heads become stinky. The L40 Ultra avoids this by cleaning the mop and washboard with 149-degree Fahrenheit water and then drying them off.
On maximum power, the L40 Ultra ran for three and a half hours on a single battery charge. Though, it was louder than any vacuum I’ve tested at 77 decibels, nearly as loud as a blender. On low power, it’s better on both accounts, running for five and a half hours and only hitting 60 decibels, similar to a dishwasher. The battery charges in three hours, which is pretty fast.
What else we tested
We’ve tested more than 40 robot vacuums. Here are some of the ones that didn’t quite make our top picks, but have some notable qualities .
Under $300
Eufy L60: Eufy specializes in affordable robot vacuums, and the L60 was a serious contender for our best budget pick. It has an impressive suite of features for its price, including lidar navigation and smart mapping that allows you to set no-go zones, and an optional self-emptying upgrade. While we recommend the L60, we think the Shark AV753 Ion has more powerful suction and better cleaning capabilities, though it lacks many of the L60’s features. Read our full Eufy L60 review.
Roborock Q5 Pro: The Q5 Pro is a solid budget option. It did a great job vacuuming all materials except flour, leaving about 20% behind after two cleaning cycles. The vac has a long battery life, and you can set no-go zones in the app. The Q5 Pro is very similar to the Q5 Max+. However, the Q5 Max+ comes with a self-emptying base (the Q5 Pro has this as an option) and did a slightly better job cleaning. The Q5 Pro has a mop attachment that the Q5 Max+ doesn’t have. Yet, the mop attachment was unimpressive. It’s basically like dragging a wet cloth across your floor, which wasn’t very effective.
Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S: At one time, the RoboVac 11S was our budget pick, but other affordable options have surpassed it. The 11S doesn't have WiFi connectivity, which has become standard at every price point in the industry. The vac performed well on carpeting but left a lot of debris behind on hardwood and corners. You'd be much better off with the Shark AV753 Ion. Read our full Eufy RoboVac 11S review.
Eufy RoboVac 11S Max: The 11S Max updated the 11S, but we feel the original 11S is better. The 11S Max performed poorly on carpeting, hardwood, and corners. It also relies on a remote controller rather than app connectivity.
Under $1,000
iRobot Roomba j7+: The j7+ is one of the best midrange robot vacuums we’ve tested and was seriously considered as a pick in our guide. However, it’s been deprioritized by iRobot in favor of its newer models, so availability can be spotty. Still, it’s worth considering, especially when it’s on sale for $400 or less It has powerful suction and superb mapping, operates quietly, and avoids obstacles without getting stuck. Read our full Roomba j7+ review.
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO: Once our top pick, the i3+ EVO has been surpassed by more recent iRobot releases, and is typically only available through third-party sellers. We loved its automatic dirt disposal base and outstanding cleaning performance. However, it’s loud, struggles in corners, and you can’t set no-go zones. Read our full iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO review.
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni: Of all the vacuums in this “what else we tested” section, the X2 Omni was the closest to earning a spot in our guide. We strongly recommend it for people with pets and hardwood floors, since it has excellent obstacle avoidance and features automated mopping. If our picks for best for pet hair or best with mop aren’t available or don’t appeal to you, get this instead. Read our full Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni review.
Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni: Ecovacs’ latest release, the Deebot N30 Omni feels like it still has some kinks to work out. The mopheads kept falling off when cleaning, and the vacuum frequently got stuck. Otherwise, it did an OK job cleaning, but it’s not at the level of the picks in our guide.
Shark AV911S EZ: Many self-emptying robot vacuums have a dirtbag in the dock that you dispose of every month or so. Shark’s vacs with auto-empty bins are bagless, which means you don’t have to keep buying new bags. You just dump the bin in the trash every so often. Our reviewer found the Shark AV911S EZ could hold impressive quantities of debris and had a durable construction. However, it operates loudly and doesn’t clean close to walls or corners. Read our full Shark AV911S EZ review.
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1: For its price, the Shark Matrix Plus is an impressive, versatile machine that vacuums and mops. It features a bagless self-empty base, and the mop head scrubs for a deep clean while vacuuming at the same time. Our reviewer liked it overall as an affordable self-emptying vacuum/mop combo. However, she found the app was buggy and didn’t like how the dustbin doesn’t empty when in mop mode. Read our full Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review.
Bissell SpinWave Pet: This was once our best robot vacuum for pet hair. We love how well the spinning mop heads scrub. It vacuumed especially well in corners and on hardwood. Plus, it operates quietly. Yet, it gets stuck easily, and you can’t set no-go zones. Still, if you find it on sale for under $200, as it often is, we suggest buying it.
Over $1,000
Narwal Freo X Ultra: This is another feature-packed, high-end robot vacuum with mopping and self-cleaning for a fully hands-off approach. Its sensors locate dirtier areas and give them extra attention, and maps quickly for custom cleaning. The rotating mopping pads could scrub out stuck on dirt and lifts for carpets. The Narwal is especially noteworthy for how quietly it cleans; it also forgoes the noisy self-emptying feature and instead has an extra-large onboard dustbin that condenses collected debris so you rarely have to empty the bin. It includes disposable bags and includes a bagless dustbin attachment. However, the app was a little confusing to navigate and struggled along wall edges. Read our full Narwal Freo X Ultra review.
Dreame X40 Ultra: Retailing for $1,900 (but often marked down to $1,400), the X40 Ultra is the most expensive robot vacuum we’ve tested. It has many of the same high-end features as the L40 Ultra, our best splurge pick, but it didn’t clean nearly as well. Save hundreds of dollars and get the L40 Ultra instead.
What to look for in a robot vacuum
While using a robot vacuum is easy, shopping for one can be overwhelming. Here’s what you should consider when choosing which unit to buy.
Price: Start with your budget. This is the most important factor in determining what features you can afford. With that in mind, remember robot vacuums often go on sale, especially during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Days. Typically, we see discounts as deep as 50% off our top picks, so it pays to wait until those sale days.
Features: Robot vacuum manufacturers are always devising new ways to automate every aspect of floor cleaning. Yet the fancier and newer the features, the higher the price. Obstacle detection is helpful if you have kids who leave toys out or pets that have accidents. Mapping and no-go zones are also helpful for targeted cleaning.
Auto-empty dust bins: If you don’t want to empty the dustbin after every cleaning, look for a self-emptying model, which truly automates cleaning. Self-emptying bins add $100 to $150 to the purchase, and many brands offer various editions, so you can choose between getting a model with the auto-empty feature or not. If you go this route, consider whether you want bagged or bagless. Bagless models are great because you don’t have to keep buying bags, but the bagged ones tend to keep dust and allergens sealed up so you don’t come in contact with them.
Mopping: Mopping can be such an important feature that it warrants its own section. The high-end robot vacuums with mops can sense carpeting and rugs so that they only mop hard floors. Other models may allow you to set no-go zones to avoid getting the carpeting all wet. If you want a deeper clean, look for units with mopheads that spin or scrub.
Extras: As the vacuum’s brushes and filters wear down, you must replace them. However, you can save a few bucks and some hassle on models with extras.
How we test robot vacuums
I’ve reviewed robot vacuums for six years and written several reviews and buying guides. I also consulted with Dr. Luis Javier Peña-Hernández, a lung and sleep health specialist at the Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Disorders Institute of South Florida; Andrea Ferro, Ph.D., a professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Clarkson University; and Jill Notini, the Vice President of Communication and Marketing for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
In addition to using the robot vacuums daily for several weeks, we put each unit through a series of objective tests to evaluate suction on hardwood and carpeting, obstacle avoidance, noise, and special features. I or members of the Business Insider Reviews team have tested all of our best robot vacuums.
Here’s a breakdown of the percentages of each material the top picks cleaned up on each surface in our tests:
| Surface - Material | Roomba j9+ | Shark AV753 Ion | Shark Detect Pro | Roborock Q5 Max+ | Roborock Q Revo | Dreame L40 Ultra | Roomba s9+ |
| Carpet - Flour | 100% | 95% | n/a | 90% | 90% | 95% | 90% |
| Carpet - Coffee | 100% | 100% | n/a | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Carpet - Litter | 100% | 95% | n/a | 100% | 100% | 95% | 95% |
| Carpet - Hair | 100% | 100% | n/a | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Carpet corner - Flour | 10% | 30% | n/a | 50% | n/a | 0% | 30% |
| Carpet corner - Proximity | 1 inch | 1 inch | n/a | 1 inch | n/a | 4 inches | 1 inch |
| Hardwood - Flour | 100% | 90% | n/a | 95% | 90% | 90% | 98% |
| Hardwood - Coffee | 100% | 100% | n/a | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Hardwood - Litter | 100% | 95% | n/a | 95% | 100% | 95% | 100% |
| Hardwood - Hair | 100% | 100% | n/a | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Hardwood corner - Flour | 10% | 5% | n/a | 85% | n/a | 80% | 85% |
| Hardwood corner - Proximity | 1 inch | 1 inch | n/a | 1 inch | n/a | <1 inch | 1.5 inches |
Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:
Carpet cleaning: We poured a tablespoon each of flour, coffee grounds, and kitty litter on 18-inch-square sections of carpeting. We also collected pet hair to place on the carpeting. We ran the vacuums on their most powerful mode for two cleaning cycles and compared before-and-after photos to estimate the percentage of each material picked up.
Hardwood floor cleaning: This is the same as the carpet cleaning test on hardwood flooring.
Corner cleaning: We poured a teaspoon of flour in a 4-inch radius in hardwood and carpeted corners. We photographed the messes before and after running the robot vacuums for two cleaning cycles to compare how much flour was left and how close to the corner each unit got.
Mopping: When testing robots with mopping capabilities, we poured two ounces of sugary soda on linoleum and allowed it to dry overnight. Then, we compared photos before and after running the vacuums through two mopping cycles to determine how much soda they picked up. We also noted if the floor was sticky afterward.
Obstacle avoidance: A stuck robot vacuum is annoying because you need to intervene to get it unstuck, meanwhile it makes error sounds and sends you notifications. Not to mention, running over a charging cable or sock can ruin both the robot and your items. Our test areas feature several obstacles, including stairs, a table with chairs, a 1-inch threshold, and even fake poop to simulate a pet mess.
Noise: We used a sound meter to measure the decibel output of the vacuums from 12 inches away as they ran on the lowest and highest settings.
Battery life: We ran each fully charged unit on its highest setting and lowest setting timing how long it can clean before the battery dies. Then, we timed how long it took to reach a full charge again.
Special features: Scheduling and automatically returning to the charging dock are must-have features. We also looked for common higher-end options, including home surveillance, no-go zone programming, zoned cleaning, multi-floor mapping, and self-emptying docks, self-cleaning designs
Robot vacuum FAQs
Are robot vacuums worth it?
A robot vacuum is a lifesaver if you have pets and struggle to clean up after them. They are also worth it if you can't clean your floors as often as you'd like. However, if you like to vacuum and are on a tight budget, skip the robot vacuum and use an affordable upright.
Do you still need another vacuum if you have a robot vacuum?
Today's robot vacuums cannot clean up as much dirt and debris as traditional upright vacuums or the best cordless vacuums. Instead, they function better as maintenance cleaners. Running them twice weekly will make your floors less gunky.
How do you clean a robot vacuum?
Manufacturers provide clear instructions for cleaning and maintaining your robot vacuum in the user manual or app. Typical maintenance tasks include emptying the dustbin and cleaning the filter, front wheel, brushes, sensors, and charging contacts.
Can you fix a robot vacuum?
This depends entirely on the problem. But any attempt to fix a robot vacuum should start with contacting customer service. Tangled wheels and brushes are the most common problem and are easy to fix. Brands often offer replacement parts, like dustbins, brushrolls, and filters, when the old part is the source of your problem.
Are Shark robot vacuums better than iRobot?
In the debate of Shark vs Roomba, iRobot and Shark make outstanding robot vacuums, as evidenced by including two models from each brand in our guide. Both have powerful suction and impressive tech. I'd say the difference is that iRobot is more focused on innovation and perfecting high-end features, while Shark looks to balance performance and value.
What is the downside to robot vacuums?
The downsides of Roombas and robot vacuums are their price and cleaning abilities. The best upright vacuums are around $200 and have more powerful suction for a deeper clean than even the best $1,000+ robot vacuum. Robot vacuums are more for automated daily maintenance. We recommend having a more powerful traditional vacuum on hand for regular deep cleaning. For other vacuum types, check out our guide to the best vacuums.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected].
