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UPDATE: Dec. 10, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST This guide has been updated to reflect the latest pricing and availability.
There's definitely something to be said for the crisp handheld control of a powerful cordless Dyson. But if you're not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, why not outsource that tedious task? The best robot vacuums patrol your home to clear away dust, debris, and sometimes even stains on hard floors — no elbow grease required.
Are Roombas the best robot vacuums?
Though Roombasare really good robot vacuums, they aren't the only good robot vacuums.
iRobot dominated the robot vacuum realm from the early 2000s up until a few years ago, so it's no surprise that much of the general public forgets that "Roomba" isn't simply a generic term for any robotic vacuum.
But Roombas officially aren't in a league of their own anymore: You can't even Google "Roomba" without a question involving Shark robot vacuums popping up, and other brands like Roborock and Eufy have entered the chat with a fury. And I'm here to put some respect on their names.
I'm regularly testing the top robot vacuums at multiple price points and comparing them to top performers from previous years, with all my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. During the testing of each robot vacuum, I keep notes on their overall suction power and scrubbing efficiency (if it's a hybrid that also mops), self-maintenance features like self-emptying or self-washing mopping pads, smart mapping to specific rooms and navigation around obstacles, and the overall user experience.
After all that testing, I've narrowed down your shopping list to five options, all of which I've put to the test personally. Here are the best robot vacuums for every home and budget in 2024:
(While each vacuum's retail price is listed by default, I've also noted the most common sale price in "The Good" sections. And yes, robot vacuum deals can be found throughout the year — not just during a shopping holiday like Black Friday.)
The Roborock Qrevo Master is a worthwhile investment for people who are picky about their cleaning — picky enough that they'd rather pay close to a grand than walk into a freshly swept room just to see that there's still a tuft of pet hair hanging out in the corner.
With self-washing and self-drying mopping pads, very strong suction power, and two extending side arms (one for vacuuming, one for mopping) that reach out several inches to dig into corners, Roborock's second-most expensive option is a full-fledged floor care suite that does the most in terms of cleaning and maintenance.
Why we picked this:
Though the Qrevo Master isn't Roborock's absolute most expensive vacuum (that's the $1,799.99 S8 MaxV Ultra), it still packs almost every single fancy feature that the S8 MaxV Ultra does — just for way less money, especially when you can find it on sale for under $1,000.
These standout features include two FlexiArms. The vacuuming one extends out from underneath the vac several inches further than the average crappy robot vacuum side brush, sweeping directly in corners and along wall edges. The mopping one is a spinning dual pad that reaches out underneath to mop outside of the robot vacuum's circumference, allowing it to mop scrub areas that the full height of the robot vacuum may or may not fit, like under the lip of kitchen counters. It's still not the same level of detailed edge cleaning that I can achieve with my Dyson, but it's lightyears ahead of bots that just skim the edges and hope for the best.
The Qrevo Master dishes out the same 10,000 Pa suction power (which automatically increases when the vacuum is going over carpet) as the S8 MaxV Ultra and, wait for it, has the same pet camera that gives you the POV of the vacuum as it's cleaning. Pet parents in the market for a robot vacuum to keep up with shedding could also be getting a livestream pet camera out of their purchase, which is actually a really comforting tool for checking on pets when you're not home.
The Good
Often on sale for under $1,000
Dual spinning mopping pads plus an extending side mop
10,000 Pa suction power is tough on pet hair
Same livestream pet camera as the pricier Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
Washes mopping pads mid-job to prevent smearing
Dock is compact and chic for all that it does
The Bad
Might get small rugs and bath mats wet
Room editing in app is a little nit-picky
Cleaning solution isn't automatically dispensed into the tank
The Eufy X10 Pro Omni would be a stellar find for shoppers who are willing to spend more than a few hundred bucks to bring home a more hands off experience, but who still draw the line at $1,000. With small obstacle avoidance and a self-washing and drying mopping system, this Eufy offers more bang for your buck than the similarly-priced Roomba Combo j7+ or Roborock Q8 Max+. This particular Eufy robovac also has some of the best battery life on the market (even on its highest suction setting), making it an even easier choice for homes with lots of square footage or multiple stories.
Of all the X10 Pro Omni's advanced features, the small obstacle avoidance can't be understated, especially in homes that are, well, lived in. If you could bet money that there's a rogue sock, kid or pet toy, or phone charger on the ground at any given moment (it's the mountain of crap shoved under my bed for me), you'll appreciate the AI-powered small obstacle avoidance, which lets you confidently run the robot vac when you're not home to tidy up first.
Why we picked this:
Eufy's most elaborate robot vacuum (it's the brand's first self-emptying hybrid that self-refills the water tank and self-washes and dries the mopping pads) was also somehow the most affordable robot vacuum that debuted at CES 2024. That plus small obstacle avoidance are features we usually see in only the priciest vacs in the competition, so the fact that the X10 Pro Omni's resumé has both is seriously impressive.
Props to Eufy for not skimping on wet or dry floor cleaning here. Its official suction power ranking of 8,000 Pa is beastly on paper and proved proficient IRL on messes like spilled dry rice on both medium and flat piles. For wet or sticky messes, it's a rare sub-$800 model with dual spinning mopping pads to actually scrub more than gloss.
The desire to buy a robot vacuum ultimately stems from wanting to be off the hook from cleaning. But if you also want to ensure that you're off the hook from tidying up the floor before sending out your robot vacuum, the Roomba j7 is the most affordable way to do that. It has been rocking a jaw-dropping 50% discount at Amazon for most of spring 2024, dropping it from its usual $599.99 to $299. (You can also opt for the self-emptying and mopping Combo j7+.)
If you live in a space that just needs light daily cleaning (not hardcore shedding cleanup that would fill a dust bin quickly), then losing out on mopping and automatic emptying won't be a huge deal. Rather, small yet cluttered spaces will benefit much more from the j7's ability to dodge the phone charger or laundry accidentally left on the ground.
Why we picked this:
I'd argue that a robot vacuum's ability to get to the place it needs to clean without any blips is just as important as the cleaning performance itself. The j7 ensures a smooth trip in two ways: super accurate room-to-room smart mapping and a front-facing camera that helps it steer clear of items that a less-advanced robot vacuum would surely try to eat, like cords, socks, or pet waste.
The mastery of this capability, which first wowed me when testing the Combo j7+, is still a rarity in the current robot vacuum market. It's particularly hard to find for under $500, as most vacs that come with this tech require you to pay for all of the other bells and whistles. So even by skipping mopping and self-emptying to stay affordable, the Roomba j7 is still one of the best robot vacuums for most people.
The standalone Shark Matrix obviously forgoes the optional self-emptying dock to keep the price point low. The ideal buyer would be someone who cares more about spot cleaning and mapping than manually emptying the dust bin.
Why we picked this:
Shark made serious moves with its 2023 lineup of vacuums. The most affordable of those is the standalone Shark Matrix, which defies the outdated stereotype that cheap robot vacuums' navigation abilities are limited to blindly bumping around and hoping for the best.
This $299.99 vacuum (or as low as $179.99 on sale) packs essentials like LiDAR-powered home mapping and virtual boundaries, plus Shark's newest claim to fame: its Matrix spot cleaning technique that vacuums in a crosshatch pattern to grab any debris missed during the first pass.
The Good
Frequently on sale for under $200
Super affordable and accurate LiDAR
Matrix Cleaning goes over extra soiled spots from multiple angles
Too many robot vacuums make impromptu spot cleaning much harder than it needs to be. If that's a pain point on your radar, you'll appreciate the straightforward approach of Shark's Matrix line. In particular, the model that mops is one of the best for quick tackling of spills or daily upkeep of a certain high-traffic spot, like near a door, with no clicking around in the app required past simply dragging a box to the desired area. Groundbreaking.
While the Shark Matrix 2-in-1 would be fine in fully carpeted rooms, it's probably best for homes without a heavy rug situation, as the bot requires you to manually point out rugs or carpets in the app and can't vacuum while the water tank is attached.
Why we picked this:
No tea, no shade: Shark wasn't a huge threat in the robot vacuum market until it overhauled its 2-in-1 line in the winter of 2022. Now, if you come across a robot vacuum with "Matrix" in the title, you know you're in good hands.
You can think of the Matrix Clean system as the robot vacuum embodiment of the "and one for good measure" approach when it comes to cleaning. This applies to both the versions of the Matrix line that mop and the ones that don't. In Matrix mode during regular vacuuming, these Shark models dish out 30% better carpet cleaning than the older RV Shark models by vacuuming in a crosshatch pattern to loosen and grab debris from multiple angles. In Matrix mode during mopping, the mopping pad vibrates 100 times per minute to scrub at stains that hybrid models with stationary cloths would gloss over.
December 2024 Update: I recently updated my list of the three best Shark robot vacuums with the newest, fanciest Shark model, the PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro. This model is in the running to be added to this guide as well, but I'm still in the process of fully testing it.
As a senior shopping reporter, I have been testing popular robot vacuums for Mashable in the various apartments I've lived in since 2019. My hands-on analyses span from budget models under $200 that just cover the basics to $1,500 (or more) premium models that are the market’s most advanced in the way they clean, navigate my home, and take care of their own recurring maintenance.
So far in 2024, I’ve had hands-on experience with the Roborock Qrevo Master, Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Eufy X10 Pro Omni, Shark Matrix RV2300, Shark Detect Pro, Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1, Roomba Combo j9+, Roomba Combo j5+, Narwal Freo X Ultra, Dyson 360 Vis Nav and Yeedi M12 Pro+. I am also currently working with the Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock and Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 with neverTouch Pro Base.
My own personal three-bedroom apartment — not a lab — makes up the testing grounds for every robot vacuum, where a combination of hardwood floors, tile floors, and rugs of various piles are tackled. Over the course of at least four weeks, each robot vacuum is put through a series of standardized tests that flow into a scoring rubric that I’ve created to exemplify all factors of owning a robot vacuum and trusting it on a daily basis. That rubric is made up of four pillars:
Cleaning thoroughness: I’m pickier than average about what it takes for a floor to feel “clean,” and I’m trusting these robot vacuums in my own home — and pitting them against my trusty Dyson. To encapsulate the full spectrum of debris a robot vacuum might encounter, each robot vacuum and its suction power settings complete an obstacle course of standardized tests for multiple types of debris on both hard floors and rugs, an efficiency score being given to each. The robot vacuum and mop combos also complete three additional scrubbing tests on hardwood and tile.
As for the actual “dirty” status of those floors being tackled, each robot vac is sent over both fresh messes (like crumbs, drinks, and sauces I spill purposefully) and more lived-in messes that build up over time (like dried or sticky splatters, shoe prints near the door, dust bunnies in corners, and matted-down cat hair on the rug).
Navigation: I consider a robot vacuum’s ability to maneuver to the right spot in the first place as a litmus test ahead of getting into any nitty gritty cleaning capabilities. In my testing, each vac’s navigational brainpower is analyzed by its smart mapping accuracy and ability to find specific rooms and zones for spot cleaning, as well as its ability to swerve safely around walls or between chair or table legs. Robot vacuums that can successfully detect phone chargers, pet waste, and laundry with small obstacle avoidance technology are given an extra star.
User-friendliness and politeness as a house guest: The ideal robot vacuum will be a relatively seamless addition to your household, and blend in nearly as easily as any other appliance used daily would. If a robot vacuum is loud, clunky, or generally a pain to use, you're not going to want it in your house at all — so things like noise level, battery life, size, aesthetic design, and the intuitiveness of using the app can make or break the experience.
Maintenance: Some robot vacuums are more automated than others when it comes to how they take care of themselves past the actual cleaning. If someone is already considering the robot vacuum route because of the hands-off cleaning experience, they might want that convenience to extend to dustbin emptying or mopping pad cleaning, too, which would get them off the hook from maintenance for days or weeks at a time.
Finally, I can't not consider the overall bang for your buck for each robot vacuum. Are its features on paper and actual cleaning competence worth the price tag, and how practical is that cost for the average household?
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can't be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robot vacuum that acts drunk — scattering crumbs rather than sucking them up, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — is completely missing that convenience factor that draws people to automated cleaning in the first place. Considering the following nitty gritty criteria specific to your home can help narrow your options:
Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), averaging between 5,000 to 8,000 Pa for a decent contender that's been released in the past year or so. The ante is being upped, though: A few 2024 flagship models are clocking between 10,000 Pa and 12,000 Pa. Stronger suction will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris like pellet cat litter or popcorn (be sure to set a barrier around Lego pieces) and to yank patted-down pet hair from carpet or rug fibers.
Floor type: Expanding on the point above, carpeting and rugs require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robovac with large wheels and floor type sensors that can hoist itself over door mats, rugs of varying piles, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.
Automatic emptying: Because robot vacuums are typically under four inches tall, their onboard dust bins are also small — which means they frequently require emptying. (Dust bins fill up particularly quickly in homes with pets.) A self-emptying vacuum takes that job out of your hands, emptying itself into a larger dust bin in its charging dock. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out.
Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you'll have far fewer navigation issues with a model that uses LiDAR laser technology or vSLAM camera technology to map exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of furniture and twists and turns, and the ability to follow zones set by you in the app. In 2024, smart mapping is so common and so affordable that you'd actually be more hard pressed to find a robot vacuum that doesn't have this capability — and if you happen to stumble across one, there's definitely a better option for your money.
App control: Any robot vacuum that we'll recommend at this point is WiFi-enabled, which means it will be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling and remote start, map and virtual boundary editing, and suction or mopping levels, as well as occasional more advanced features. WiFi compatibility also typically brings voice control via Alexa or Google integration.
Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces or homes with multiple stories obviously require more time to clean, and how much you prioritize battery life depends on how annoyed you'll be if your robot vac has to take a time out during its queue to charge. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 150 minutes, which translates to about 500 and 2,600 square feet covered on one charge. Some ultra-efficient models can clock between 200 and 250 minutes on one charge, which would only really be necessary in homes exceeding 3,000 square feet.
Height and low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what's accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds. Robot vacuums with mopping gear and a water tank on board are slightly bulkier, but many manage to stay below 3.5 inches.
No, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav doesn't live up to the hype. Dyson claims that its first robot vacuum in almost a decade has twice the suction power of any robot vacuum on the market. While the 360 Vis Nav performed decently well in testing done at senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart's home, she wasn't as blown away by the results as she expected. She was also full-on disappointed by the 360 Vis Nav's edge cleaning, despite Dyson promising that its new robovac uses a special side duct to reach into corners and along walls better than competitors.
And without a self-emptying dock, mopping capabilities, or small obstacle sensors that detect cords or pet waste (an absolute must in this price range), the Dyson 360 Vis Nav isn't worth $1,199.99. There are more reliable options that have a much more robust list of features, whether you're down to spend over a grand or not.
Leah Stodart
Senior Shopping Reporter
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
The robot vacuum beat in particular has cemented itself as Leah's main ~thing~ across the past few years. Since 2019, her expertise has been perpetually bolstered by the meticulous eye she keeps on robot vacuum deals and new releases, but more importantly, her hands-on experience with more than 25 robot vacuums tested in her own home. (This number has probably gone up by the time you're reading this.) That at-home testing is standardized through Mashable's robot testing guide — a granular scoring rubric for assessing all aspects of owning and using a robot vacuum on the daily — that Leah created herself.
Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she's not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she's almost definitely watching a horror movie, "RuPaul's Drag Race," or "The Office." You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected].
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