The Best Robot Vacuums to Keep Your Home Clean
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The best robot vacuums have seen dramatic improvement from those bumbling devices of yore that fell off steps, dragged poop around your house, and got stuck on rugs. Today, robot vacuums can pick up socks and warn your dishwasher that a robber is in your house—alongside the now-standard array of features that include self-emptying bins, mop washing, and more.
Cleaning a dynamic environment like an ever-changing house is a complex task. However, I have a two-story family home with elementary-school-aged kids and two active dogs, and as a working parent, I find robot vacuums indispensable. Whether you’re choking on cat hair or just want to spend more time with your family, we have a robot vacuum that will help.
Check out our other cleaning guides, like Best Dyson Vacuums, Best Carpet Cleaners, Best Cordless Vacuums, and Best Air Purifiers. We also have guides on How to Set Up Your Smart Home and How to Get the Most Out of (and Into) Your Robot Vacuum.
Updated February 2025: We added the Roborock Saros 10R, the Eufy E20, and the Tapo RV30 Max.
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What Navigation System Do I Use?
Robot vacuum manufacturers will try to tell you that the most important spec is the level of suction. That is wrong—it's the navigation system. It doesn't matter how good a vacuum is at cleaning if it gets stuck every time it starts. A more complicated or expensive navigation system doesn't guarantee that it won't get stuck, but it is a good starting point. Many vacuums also combine systems.
Sensor mapping: The most inexpensive vacuums use a combination of sensors along the exterior of the vacuum, like cliff detectors on the bottom and wall detectors on the bumper, to ping-pong around your home avoiding obstacles.
Gyroscope: This is an affordable but surprisingly effective method of mapping that has been used in ships for centuries. A spinning wheel or light helps the vacuum determine its position relative to other objects in your home.
Lidar: Lidar stands for “light detection and ranging.” The vacuum uses pulsed lasers to determine how far away each object is.
Camera navigation: There's a camera on it. Basically, the vacuum has little eyes that look around. While I've found this system to be extremely accurate and/or unintentionally hilarious, you must look for additional security protocols to make sure that said hilarious images of your home don't end up on the internet.
SLAM: With SLAM navigation, or “simultaneous localization and mapping,” the vacuum uses algorithms to process a bunch of data—for example, how many times the wheels have rotated, along with camera or sensor data—to calculate where and how far it should move. It's usually used in combination with a few, or all, of these other navigation technologies.
IMU: An inertial measurement unit is a system that combines multiple sensors like gyroscopes and accelerometers to navigate by dead reckoning.
Machine learning: Many robot vacuum manufacturers now tout their own proprietary mapping system. For example, iRobot uses a system called Imprint Smart Mapping that learns as it cleans, as does Roborock's SmartPlan. These also usually come in combination with a camera or lasers.
Robot Vacuum Tips
Robot vacuums have a complicated task. Your home is ever-changing, and no robot vacuum will be perfect. We have a few starting points here, but if you're still having trouble, you should check out our guide to getting the most into your robot vacuum.
- Stay home for your robot vacuum's first few runs. Many homes have hot spots—a weird door jamb, a lumpy rug—where you will need to rescue your vac. Do a quick run-through beforehand for robot booby traps, like ribbons, charging cables, and pieces of string.
- Check your Wi-Fi. If you have a Wi-Fi-enabled robot vacuum, most of them can only connect to the 2.4-GHz wireless band. If you're having problems connecting, make sure you're linking to the right band. Check out our guide to setting up your smart home for more tips.
- Vacs need maintenance. Like every robot—especially one that comes in contact with the grimiest parts of your house—you need to care for it regularly. Error messages may prompt you to empty the bin mid-run, cut the hair off the rollers, or wipe off the cliff sensors. Instruction manuals and YouTube can help.
- Vacuum during the day. If you have the choice, it's usually better to schedule a run at 2 pm than at midnight, since many vacuums also use optical sensors to navigate.
- Don't throw out your hand vacuum. I hate to be a downer, but you're probably still going to need a full-size manual vacuum once in a while. I keep a Dyson around for quick spot cleaning and vacuuming bedroom corners.
- Be wary about disposable bags: Some vacuums pull dust into a disposable bag. Instead of dumping out the bin and getting dust everywhere, you just toss the bag out neatly and replace it. Unfortunately, some companies stop selling these bags altogether (looking at you, TP-Link), leaving you with a functioning robot vacuum that can't suck up dust anywhere. Try and find information on how long parts like this will be available.
How We Test
Each WIRED gear tester sets up the vacuum in their own home, according to the manufacturer instructions, and in a spot with clear Wi-Fi signal. Over the course of at least two weeks, we run the vacuum every day, examining a number of factors: battery life; how well the app works; whether the map is accurate; if it consistently cleans around the edges of your home; and how well it picks up dirt of various sizes, which includes sand, lint, dog hair, Cheerios, wood chips, and flour.
We also look for mitigating factors, such as whether it's incredibly loud or ugly, or if it fits into your kitchen at all. For a vacuum to be useful, you have to want to use it and have it around. We also noted a vacuum's power via the manufacturer's stated Pa, or pascals—the higher the number, the greater the suction.
Next Up
I'm constantly testing robot vacuums. I'm particularly excited to try the Dreame X50 Ultra and the Yeedi S14 Plus. I'll update this guide after testing.
- Photograph: Amazon
Best Overall
Roborock Qrevo SRoborock makes a bewildering array of vacuums at various prices. Happily, they all work and age well. The Qrevo S is 2024's update to the midrange Qrevo line. It's smaller than its predecessor, with slightly less suction at 7,000 Pa versus the 10,000 or even 18,000 Pa Roborock offers in its higher-end vacs. However, I have found that to a certain extent, more suction doesn't matter if you're cleaning regularly (it may even bald your carpets!). What's important is that the Qrevo S has everything you need—multifunctional vacuuming and mopping, automatic bin emptying, and mop washing—for a not-insane price.
The Qrevo S uses lidar, or pulsed laser, navigation to build maps and navigate around obstacles, instead of using a camera—which I appreciate, as I prefer to keep pictures of my house and possessions from floating around the internet, if possible. It also has the AI-enabled feature called SmartPlan, where, instead of selecting which cleaning mode you want on which part of your house, the robot vacuum will select it for you. I was extremely skeptical, but SmartPlan does, in fact, work, vacuuming the carpeted rooms before vacuuming and then mopping the hardwood and tiled bathroom and kitchen. It can also save up to four maps in the app, so you can carry it around to clean your whole house. Overall, I found the Qrevo S a reliable and not too expensive cleaning partner.
Specs Navigation type: Lidar (no cameras) Suction: 8,000 Pa Multifloor mapping: Yes Dual-function mop and vac: Yes - Photograph: Adrienne So
Best High-End Robot Vacuum Mop
Roborock Saros 10RI know I'm a sucker for Roborock vacuums, but every time I install one, I thank heavens and enjoy two weeks of pure cleanliness. The Saros 10R launched at CES 2025. While it didn't get nearly the amount of press given to the Saros Z70 with the robot arm, it's slim, attractive and reliable, and it does everything I need it to do well. I used it to clean the floors after my daughter's first sleepover birthday party, and the updated navigation system steered adroitly around the little mochi squishy toys I hadn't seen on the floor. The AI-enabled system is learning how to identify up to 108 obstacles, which is important as, er, my elderly dog has started to become incontinent. It's better at avoiding random poops than I am, sadly.
The 20,000 Pa is slightly more suction than last year's Qrevo Curv ($1,300), although to be honest, there's no real measurable difference in the amount of dog hair that it picks up. The dock supports fast charging as well as intelligent recharging, so if you have a large house, you only need to wait until it has just enough battery. Battery life is not an issue, though—Roborock's SmartPlan assigned the Saros 10R to double-mop my filthy kitchen after multiple parties in one weekend, and even after 116 minutes of cleaning 730 square feet, there was still 30 percent battery left. Like last year's Qrevo Curv, there's hot-water washing for the mop, a flexible arm to edge-clean, and a main brush that splits in two to make it easier to clean. You can use voice commands via Alexa, Apple Siri Shortcuts, and Google Home; there are even reports of an Apple Watch app to come. Soon, a Roborock really will be able to put your socks away and clean up your dirty tissues.
Specs Navigation type: StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 (Lidar, ToF sensors, RBG cameras), AI Suction: 20,000 Pa Multifloor mapping: Yes Dual-function mop and vac: Yes
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- Photograph: Adrienne So
Best Cheap Robot Vacuum
Tapo RV30 MaxWith few exceptions, most robot vacuum manufacturers have concentrated on making ever more elaborate and expensive models, which makes last year's Tapo RV30 Max a refreshing change. Overall, this vacuum is cheap and reliable. The app is clear and easy to use and the vacuum connected easily. It made a fast and accurate map of my upper story, and 5,300 Pa of suction was adequate to clean my children's bedrooms, which have a lot less traffic than the downstairs playroom and living room. It also has an onboard dustbin that you empty, so you don't have to worry about replacing the self-emptying bags in the docking station (a complaint that reviews editor Julian Chokkattu had about the otherwise great Tapo RV10 Plus).
I have two complaints. One is that Lidar and IMU are a little less accurate than other navigation systems, and the vacuum did get tripped up on the occasional piece of string or big Lego chunk. The other is that the dock doesn't have a roll-on platform, so the vacuum can't ensure accurate placement on the charging ports. Sometimes the vacuum returned to the dock after cleaning, but would sit slightly askew on the port and fail to charge. When I returned to the vacuum to clean the next day, it was completely dead and I would have to wait for it to charge.
Specs Navigation type: Lidar and IMU Suction: 5,300 Pa Multifloor mapping: Yes Dual-function mop and vac: Yes - Photograph: Adrienne So
A 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum
Eufy Robot Vacuum 3-In-1 E20The Eufy E20 was one of the most exciting things that I saw at CES 2025. It’s three vacuums ingeniously and conveniently housed in one—a robot vacuum whose innards can be clicked out to make a light and maneuverable stick vacuum, as well as a hand vacuum. It all clicks back onto a tiny dock with a self-emptying bin and comes at a frankly astonishing price, given that robot vacuums with half this functionality retail for almost twice as much.
However, the compact size and convenience have some costs. The dustbin is tiny, about half the size of what you might find in other robot vacuums, which necessitates almost constant emptying for my 1,000-square-foot first floor. When it's a stick vacuum, emptying it by hand by rotating the cup is a little gross, and emptying it by sticking it back into the dock is irritating. Also, it only auto-empties as a stick vacuum when it's been running for more than 10 minutes at a time, and in my house, I can fill that tiny dustbin in 5 minutes. However, if you have a small house or apartment where you need to save space—or if you don't have multiple dogs and kids flithying your house almost every second of every day—then I highly recommend this. It's adorable, cheap, convenient, and compact.
Specs Navigation type: Lidar Suction: 8,000 Pa Multifloor mapping: Yes Dual-function mop and vac: No
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- Photograph: Wired
A Moderately Priced Vacuum Mop
Yeedi M12 Pro+Yeedi is the more affordable sub-brand of Ecovacs, which makes other robot vacuums we like. Like Ecovacs, it also has a broad line-up of robot vacuums at different prices. When I first tried Yeedi's vacuums, the navigational software was abysmal, but the company has won my most-improved award since then. WIRED reviewer Ryan Waniata found that the cheaper Yeedi C12 Pro+ ($370) got lost or stuck about 20 percent of the time, but I didn't have problems when I tested this higher-end model.
The M12 Pro+ has a few standout qualities. At 4- and 3.5-liter capacities, the clean/dirty water tanks are just ginormous—you won't have to switch them out too often. It has an extendable arm for cleaning out nooks and crannies and a decent 11,000 Pa of suction. It has significantly dropped in price than the Eufy X10 Pro Omni (9/10, WIRED Recommends), which was our original pick here.
Specs Navigation type: Laser Suction: 11,000 Pa Multifloor mapping: No Dual-function mop and vac: Yes - Photograph: Dreame Tech
Another Good Vacuum Mop
Dreame X30 UltraThe only problem with most vacuum-mop hybrids is that you can't remove the mop pads to clean carpets or rugs. Most of them raise their pads, but that’s not always effective. The Dreame X30 Ultra (7/10, WIRED Review) detaches the pads if it senses it's in a room with carpets. You have to change the default setting (it just raises the mop pads if you don't), but this is an important feature if you're a little grossed out by having your robot drag wet, dirty pads on the carpet where your kids play.
It has fairly long battery life and mapped and cleaned my home well, although mirrored and glass doors confused it a bit. WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell tried it on Cheerios, cat food, and cat litter, but it never got 100 percent of the dirt, which is disappointing at this price. Still, if you have a larger home with various surfaces to clean, it's worth considering.
Specs Navigation type: Lidar and 3D cameras Suction: 8,300 Pa Multifloor mapping: Yes Dual-function mop and vac: Yes
- Photograph: iRobot
The Best-Looking Robot Vacuum
iRobot Roomba j7+Even as dozens of competitors have hit the market, iRobot's vacuums are still beautiful. The robots never have trouble settling on the auto-empty station and it even offers bin sensors in the midrange Roomba i3+ line so the robot automatically empties itself when it's full. The Roomba j7+ has powerful suction and some of the best navigational tools on the market. iRobot now has a feature called Genius that lets you teach your Roomba about your personal preferences and cleaning schedules, instead of painstakingly programming them manually. Earlier this year, Amazon and iRobot mutually agreed to terminate their pending acquisition, so there’s no worry that Amazon can use the data acquired from inside your home.
Specs Navigation type: Camera Suction: N/A Multifloor mapping: Yes Dual-function mop and vac: Yes ★ Alternative: I've now tested both the j7+ and the Combo j7+ (5/10, WIRED Review), which is the j7+ with a robot arm that can lift and lower a mop to the ground. The robot arm was super cool and solved a real pain point, but otherwise, the Combo j7+ had trouble finding its way around—I had multiple frustrating navigation errors other robot vacuums didn't have. iRobot's other tools are useful enough that I still include them in our recommendations.
- Photograph: Chris Haslam
The Obligatory Dyson
Dyson 360 Vis NavWe're including Dyson’s robot vacuum because, given Dyson’s other stellar vacuums, many of you will be considering it. WIRED reviewer Chris Haslam notes that when compared to the original Dyson 360 Heurist, the new robot vacuum is wider, flatter, and considerably more powerful, with a spin speed of 110,000 RPM (up from 78,000). There’s a flashy digital display and a much-improved dustbin removal and emptying system, and the filter is easy to remove and clean. Dyson claims its vacuum has up to six times more suction than the competition.
Haslam liked the new “triple-action” brush bar (soft nylon for large debris on hard floors, antistatic carbon-fiber filaments for fine dust, and stiff nylon bristles for carpet), which sweeps right up to the edge of the room. However, its navigation capabilities left something to be desired. On hard floors and in rooms with no obstacles, it managed perfectly, but chair legs and rugs defeated it. A whole host of other brands, including Roomba, Eufy, and Ecovacs, have had no problem in Haslam’s home. If you have a house with an open floor plan and very little furniture, the 360 Vis Nav’s eye-watering price might be worth it. Otherwise, it’s simply not good enough.
Specs Navigation type: Camera Suction: 110,000 rpm (Dyson does not measure in Pa) Multifloor mapping: Yes Dual-function mop and vac: No
Other Robot Vacuums to Consider
We are approaching the great robot vacuum convergence. At whatever price you want to pay, you can find a robot vacuum that will look very similar and have similar features. Here are a few that also worked well for us.
Roborock Qrevo Curv for $1,300: This was Roborock's 2024 flagship vacuum and it's still great (reviewer Ryan Waniata calls it the best robot vacuum he's ever used). It has slightly less suction power than this year's Saros 10R, but I did use it to clean an entire carpet full of baking powder.
Eufy Mach S1 Pro for $1,200: This astoundingly beautiful robot vacuum will be the centerpiece of your kitchen. The water chamber is see-through and lights up, and an ozone generator purportedly removes up to 99.99 percent of bacteria. It also has ultra-precise navigation and a self-cleaning roller mop that washes itself as it cleans. However, it only has 8,000 Pa suction, which is less than some of our other picks, and at 26.4 inches high, the dock is very tall and makes storage a little difficult.
iRobot Roomba 694 for $275: The word Roomba is synonymous with robot vacuum, and while later versions are of dubious value, the older ones are great and dirt-cheap. Even the cheapest ones have features like Dirt Detect, which spot-cleans specific areas. The app is also simple and easy to use, and the vacuum is quiet and powerful.
Eufy X10 Pro Omni for $700: Believe it or not, this is not a bad price for a hybrid robot vacuum mop (9/10, WIRED Recommends) with such fantastic navigational capabilities! (Sales have brought it even lower.) However, the Yeedi above is cheaper and offers much of the same functionality.
Dreame L40 Ultra for $1,500: Dreame’s robot vacuum-mop combo debuted at IFA 2024. It’s a little cheaper than the Dreame X30 Ultra (7/10, WIRED Review), but can’t do its coolest trick of removing the mop pads. WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell found that while it is cheaper, it is still not cheap, and it did bump into things a little more often than the X30. However, it is pretty and has plenty of battery life left after both mopping and vacuuming.
Avoid These Robot Vacuums
Not every vacuum earns a spot on our list. These are the ones I repacked straightaway.
TP-Link Tapo RV30C for $229: I like the simplicity of this robot vacuum, but you can't find replacement bags for it anymore.
Eureka J20 and Eureka J15 Pro Ultra for $850: Eureka is a highly respected name in the vacuum field, and these robot vacuums are gorgeous and come with many bells and whistles. However, Eureka vacuums found the tiny lip between the hardwood floor of my kitchen to the carpet of the living room to be completely insurmountable and the app also forgot the map every time it hit a minor obstacle. It was so annoying.
Proscenic M9 for £439: Reviewer Simon Hill reported that this robot vacuum is terrible. It misses a lot of spots, the chute becomes instantly clogged with hair, and it makes constant noises. Whenever it gets stuck, it tells you to call customer service. The only plus side is that it seems to be out of stock.
Narwal Freo X Ultra for $1,400: This is a beautiful vacuum with lots of features, including baseboard dusting. However, despite moving it from room to room to find better Wi-Fi, and switching from phone to phone to try different versions of the app, I was unable to connect it to the app and so could not use it. (I reached out to Narwal multiple times but could not fix it; we will update if I do find a fix in the future.)
Switchbot K10+ for $600: WIRED reviewer Simon Hill also tried this robot vacuum, which is adorable (half the size of a regular vacuum) but suicidal. The roller gets clogged easily, it can't find its way back to the dock, and it often hurls itself down the stairs.
Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 for $1,000: This vacuum cleaned surprisingly well (5/10, WIRED Review). However, it doesn't auto-empty, DirtDetect doesn't work, and the app is completely bonkers (maps aren't accurate, can't add multiple floors, and cleaning times are off).
