The 6 best robot vacuum cleaners – take hours off your chore time with these smart, powerful cleaners

A robot vacuum is a saving grace for keeping our floors consistently clean, doing the regular work for us between our bigger, weekly cleans.

But the best robot vacuums excel in different ways. Some are excellent at picking up pet hair, some can build detailed maps of your home, and some have mopping functionality for an even deeper clean.

As Homes & Gardens' home tech editor, my team of product testers and I have tested 71 of the world's best vacuums, and 18 of the best robot vacuum cleaners. These are the six that are worth your money, for all homes and budgets.

One-minute verdict

It's costly, but in every other way, the eufy S1 Pro Omni is the best robot vacuum cleaner you can buy. It effortlessly clears all debris, spills and stains, and even has a special brushroll that never wraps with hair. It's one of the only robot vacuums we've tested that can actually pull dirt from deep within carpets. It's expensive, but given all the superior functionality and performance, worth the spend.

The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is the runner-up, costing around $500 less than the eufy S1 Pro Omni while still boasting excellent cleaning performance and user-friendly features.

And if you're on more of a budget, the eufy 3-in-1 E20 is surprisingly affordable, considering it comes with a detachable handheld vacuum (that can be turned into a full-sized cordless stick) to clean up any messes that the robot leaves behind. Or, the eufy X10 Pro Omni sits comfortably at the mid-range price, and it cleans almost as comprehensively as the S1 Pro Omni.

The quick list

If you've already got your eye on a particular robot vacuum, you can skip straight to that section using the jump menu. If you'd rather slow down and take stock of your options, browse the best robot vacuums below.

The best robot vacuum cleaners

The best robot vacuum cleaner

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The eufy S1 Pro Omni has the most comprehensive floor cleaning of all 15 of the robot vacuums we've tested. It also happens to be the most expensive, but if you're in the market for a robot vacuum and you want the absolute best, this is the one to go for.

Punteha van Teherheyden, tester 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 carpets as their smaller motors aren't as able to pull dirt from the fibers, so for the S1 Pro Omni to capture more than a canister vacuum is not to be ignored.

It also mops excellently, using a specialized cleaning solution to deep clean hard floors, and using targeted sensors to avoid wet mop pads touching any rugs or carpeting. 'It tackled sticky, sugary liquid spills with ease, and much like the tests available to view on the manufacturer’s website, blasted through coffee, milk and ketchup stains with zero issues, residue, or spread,' wrote van Terheyden.

And after months of use, no hair has been trapped in the robot's rubber rollers. 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. Luckily, the S1 Pro Omni lives up to its anti-tangle claims.

Read more in our full eufy S1 Pro Omni review.

The runner-up best robot vacuum cleaner

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Any robot vacuum worth the investment can dig up dust. It takes a special sort of machine to tackle bigger bits of dirt and debris. For a deep clean across carpet, linoleum, or hardwood floors, you need something like the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+.

Our reviewer Alex noted that the Combo j9+ is 'one of the best I've ever tested for hair wrap,' which is rare praise for a robot vacuum. 'It always pulls hair out of the carpet and does a much, much better job than even some of the best vacuums for pet hair.' And, as the mop does such an effective job of deep cleaning the floors, the Combo j9+ can clean up after more than your pets' hair.

A lot of robot vacuums claim to be automatic but aren't, really: you still have to manually switch between vacuum and mop settings, and get your hands dirty as you empty the base. The iRobot Roomba j9+ Combo allows for hands-free cleaning. Once you've filled up the water tank for the mop to function, you don't need to touch it for months. Our tester Alex has been using it since last year and hasn't needed to refill the water once.

When you download the iRobot app, you can schedule cleanings, monitor progress, map your home, and empty the bin, all through remote access. It's a user-friendly interface with cleaning prompts written in plain language that anyone can understand: you don't need to be a tech whiz to use it.

There's not much we don't like about the iRobot Roomba j9+ Combo, apart from these two considerations: cost and noise. Retailing for more than $1,000 outside of sales season, this little robot is seriously expensive. Although it cleans quickly and quietly, the iRobot Roomba j9+ Combo reaches 80dB as it self-empties. You can't hear yourself talk over it. Granted, that's common for any self-emptying robot vacuum.

Read more in our full iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ review.

The best multi-function robot vacuum

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The eufy 3-in-1 E20 resolves a common issue found across almost every robot vacuum: sometimes, mess gets left behind. Robot vacuums are still nowhere near as powerful as, say, the best upright vacuums, and 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 body, so that you can quickly pull it out and vacuum manually. Like the best cordless vacuums, all you have to do is attach the wand and floorhead and you have a full-sized vacuum ready to go.

The existence of an additional vacuum might give the impression of a weak robot, and in some instances, the E20 isn't as powerful as others in this guide, like the S1 Pro Omni, but it means you can count on it for just about any mess.

'During testing this combo in my home for two months, I found it tackled carpets, hard floors, sofas, upholstery and everything in between with ease,' wrote tester Punteha van Terheyden, and the addition of the handheld vacuum meant that nothing was getting missed.

'The cordless and robot both moved easily between floor types, and the latter did not get bamboozled by oddly-shaped deep-pile rug,' Punteha wrote, showing off the E20's credentials as one of the best multi-surface vacuums.

It sadly doesn't have a mopping function, but instead it costs $100s less than most of the robots in this guide. And for that small price, you're getting the full vacuuming package, with 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 mid-range robot vacuum cleaner

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The X10 Pro Omni is the predecessor to our favorite robot vacuum, the eufy S1 Pro Omni, and retails for around half the price. Robot vacuum tester Punteha certainly noticed the difference between the two models, especially on carpet where 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 roll, there was an enormous leap in performance, leaving no loose debris on the carpet,' she wrote in her review. In standard mode, the 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 added, so this could be one of the best vacuums for hardwood 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 great, avoiding people, pets, doors, and stairs, it is a little bumpier by nature,' Punteha commented. It also bumped into baseboards often and got so confused by the legs of a wooden table that it was unable to enter a bathroom.

The mopping function works well, removing all tested liquids from the floors without a sticky residue or visual trace. It doesn't however utilize any cleaning solution, so while the floors can appear clean, you'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.

A great all-rounder robot vacuum cleaner

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The best Shark vacuums always have strong value for money. Shark's latest robot vacuum is in line with what we've learned to expect from previous Shark robots we've tested. It doesn't quite match the cleaning power of your Roomba or eufy, but it has useful features and decent cleaning for a more reasonable price.

The PowerDetect 2-in-1 is an intelligent cleaner that can detect the messes on your floors, most evident when mopping: 'I was impressed by the robot’s stain-detection abilities – as soon as it drove over one of the stains, it would immediately stop and go back over the area, rotating in circles to ensure every inch was scrubbed thoroughly,' pro tester Camryn wrote in her review.

When vacuuming, it was able to pick up almost all of the rice, coffee grounds, pet hair and fiberfill, but not quite all of it. A noticeable amount of coffee was left on the carpet after cleaning, and although it performed better on hard floors, there was still some debris left behind.

It also didn't perform as well as promised when cleaning floor edges. A unique feature of the PowerDetect 2-in-1 is its ability to blast air at floor edges to loosen debris, making it easier to vacuum. In practice, this didn't quite live up to the claim and a disappointing amount of mess wasn't cleaned up.

Still, this is a much more affordable robot vacuum than others in this guide and will make a great companion for light maintenance at home, between your more thorough vacuuming sessions. It also has a great docking station that cleans, empties and dries the robot without you having to do anything.

Read more in our full Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 review.

A great robot vacuum cleaner for pet owners

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The iRobot Roomba j7+ was once the reigning champion of our 'best robot vacuums' buying guide: that is until the newer Combo j9+ and the eufy's landmark S1 Pro Omni came out. But still, now that the Roomba j7+ is a few years old, it's much more affordable while still boasting great cleaning performance.

The iRobot Roomba j7+ incorporates something called PrecisionVision navigation. This robot vacuum uses a combination of cameras and sensors to chart the quickest, neatest cleaning route around a room. There's a wall follow sensor to protect your kickboard, as well as several floor tracking sensors to keep your robot vacuum from falling down the stairs.

It uses soft-bristle rubber brushes to dig up dust and dirt from carpet, hardwood, and linoleum floors. There's a special edge-sweeping brush to coax out dirt from awkward corners and the gaps between floorboards. The iRobot Roomba j7+ should clean all the same dirt you'd pick up with a standard vacuum, though it might take a little longer to get around to each spill and stain.

You can enjoy a P.O.O.P. guarantee (Pet Owners Official Promise) with the Roomba j7+ that promises the robot will avoid any pet accidents, and will replace your machine if it does. And as it works so well on hair, this is one of the best robot vacuums for pet hair if you're on a budget.

With its limited runtime of 75 minutes, I wouldn't recommend you rely on your Roomba to clean the whole house in a single session. The iRobot Roomba j7+ doesn't have a mop function, but you can opt for the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ which does, for an extra

Read more in our full iRobot Roomba j7+ review.

More of the best robot vacuums

These robots are our top six for a reason: they excel at cleaning, their apps and smart features are genuinely useful and user-friendly, and they limit how often you have to clean yourself. But if they're not quite what you're after, here are a few more robots we love from our tests.

• The Eureka J15 Pro Ultra is a solid, hands-off robot with excellent mapping and obstacle avoidance, and it's great at general, day-to-day cleaning. It costs $999.99 at full price at Eureka and Amazon.
• The Dyson 360 Vis Nav has impressive suction utilizing one of the most powerful motors in the robot vacuum market, but it falls short on its poor obstacle avoidance and lack of self-cleaning. Find it at Dyson for $999.99.
• The eufy X8 Pro has now been discontinued, but if you're able to find it second-hand, you'll be able to enjoy a super-low price on a robot that's still a strong cleaner years after its release.

How to choose the best robot vacuum

I'll run through the main considerations when making your decision, but you can find the complete guide on how to choose a robot vacuum cleaner.

Budget. I'd say this is the most important factor. Once you know the maximum amount you're willing to spend, you can start figuring out exactly what features and cleaning power you can get for that price. If you don't have a max budget, then you can choose the best model available, which is currently the eufy S1 Pro Omni.

Floor type. Some robots perform better on carpets while others are better-suited to hard floors. This is often down to the type of rollers they use: bristled rollers are best on carpets, and rubber or soft rollers are best on hard floors.

Pets. If you're a pet owner, you'll need a robot vacuum with anti-tangle brushrolls, and preferably a mop if your pets are often bringing muddy paw prints through the house. Many robot vacuums will claim anti-tangle vacuuming without living up to those claims; in our experience, eufy and Roomba are the best for this.

Mapping and navigation. If your home has a fairly straightforward layout, you could save some money by choosing a robot that doesn't have the latest navigational tech. But if you'd like to be able to create maps of your home, select no-go zones and areas that require special attention, and see exactly where the robot is cleaning wherever you are, look for a comprehensive app.

Mopping. Robot mopping isn't essential, but it can keep your home in a much cleaner and fresher-feeling state in your day-to-day. In my experience, I'd recommend a robot mop that uses a cleaning solution. Those that use clean water are great for removing liquid messes, but aren't sanitizing the floor.

Cleaning station. The station plays an important part in how truly automated your robot cleaner is. If you choose a robot with a comprehensive cleaning station, like the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 with NeverTouch Pro Base, then the moments where you have to do anything yourself are infrequent. But if the cleaning station is more basic, it might not clean the robot itself or dry the mop pads, both of which can lead to nasty smells and bacteria buildup if left unattended.

How we test robot vacuums

We put a lot of thought into how we test robot vacuums. The testing process looks pretty similar to how we test vacuums, with a few key differences.

We test all of our robot vacuums across the three major floor types: carpet, linoleum, and hardwood. Carpet can be difficult to clean, as the long fibers tend to cling to dirt. Linoleum is easier to clean, but that sleek, shiny surface is unforgiving with spills and stains. Of all the floor types, wood might be the trickiest to clean, as dust and dirt can slip between the cracks in the floorboards.

We test various substances like flour, sugar, cereal, and rice to test each robot's vacuuming. If there's a mop function, we'll use sauces like ketchup, mustard, and wet coffee grounds to see how well they fare. A good robot vacuum should be able to suck up dirt, rather than pushing it around the floor or crushing it beneath its wheels. Only the best robot vacuums boast decent hair pick-up, so this is a good way to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Many of the best robot vacuums incorporate smart technology to map your home and visualize the most effective cleaning route. A few come with apps, so that you can schedule cleaning sessions and monitor particle pick-up. Where relevant, we put all of these special features to the test and include our findings in the review.

Meet the team

Dan Fauzi

I am the home tech editor, covering vacuums on a near-daily basis. I've spent over 200 testing 19 vacuum cleaners and other devices for Homes & Gardens, and I've been writing about and reviewing products since 2021.

Punteha van Terheyden

Punteha is head of the Solved section at H&G, and has tested a few robot vacuum cleaners over the past few months including the three eufy robots in this guide.

Alex David

Alex is our former head of eCommerce, and in his lifetime as a product tester has spent more than 1,000 hours testing 30 vacuum cleaners, including the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ in this guide.

Camryn Rabideau

Camryn is a seasoned writer and product reviewer, and has tested more than 50 vacuums since 2019 including the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 in this guide.

FAQs

Are robot vacuums really worth it?

We've written an entire article answering the question: are robot vacuums really worth it? If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here are the headlines.

Robot vacuums are undeniably expensive. We're talking thousand-dollar price tags for the top models, and even the more basic cleaners will set you back a few hundred dollars. If you use your robot vacuum a couple times a week, and it saves you time and effort dusting, then you might think it's worth the price.

I've also spoken with dozens of pet owners on the best way to stay on top of pet hair at home, and the most common solution was investing in a robot vacuum cleaner.

If you're looking to clean up larger piles of dirt and debris, your money might be better spent on one of the best vacuum cleaners.

Are robot vacuums good 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. Instead, they offer frequent maintenance of your floors, picking up pet hair that's likely to accumulate throughout the day.

This cleaning style makes robot vacuums a big help for anybody with pet allergies. Removing pet hair daily will limit exposure to the allergens found in pet dander, significantly reducing symptoms compared to those who clean once a week. And with the rise of combination robot vacuums and mops, you can clean up after your pets more hygienically.

Read more in our dedicated guide on the best robot vacuums for pet hair.

What are the disadvantages of robot vacuums?

While robot vacuums do the regular, day-to-day cleaning for us, they rarely match the cleaning power of a full-sized vacuum. We're not at the point yet where we still don't have do our own weekly cleans.

Plus, robot vacuums are limited to floor cleaning, so you still need your regular vacuum for cleaning upholstery, stairs and anything above ground. We're also yet to see a robot vacuum that can climb stairs, so you still need to carry it to different floors of your home.

To discover more from our vacuum tests, be sure to look over our guide of the best cordless vacuums and the best upright vacuums. Robot vacuums are expensive, so perhaps one of these alternatives could be a better option for your home.