I have recently started A few friends with the power of a large vacuum robot. One friend of mine calls it a marriage savior, while another was delighted and horrified by how many vacuum AI stains were found on her floor. Personally, my robot vacuum prevents me from wanting to set litter box it’s on fire, as my cat is on a mission to create his own dirt navigation route through my house.
The best robot vacuums these days don’t just clean your floors, they don’t mess with your house like they used to. These devices clean, scrub stains, lift off obstacles, and even remind you to clean dirty areas in your home more often. A good robot vacuum can cost a pretty penny, but it doesn’t have to, depending on what you’re looking for. What? would you like to know which style is best for you? I’ve been testing out every new robot vacuum I can in my three-story house filled with three adults, a preschooler, and a cat who’s on a mission to throw trash around the house.
Here are the best robot vacuum cleaners I’ve tried this year, and all our favorites from recent years. Looking for more vacuum ideas? Don’t miss our guides to Dyson’s Best Vacuum, Best Cordless Vacuum, Best Vacuum for Pet Hair, Best Carpet Cleanersand The Best Vacuum.
Updated June 2026: I have added test details on Mova P10 Pro Ultra Gen2 and Eufy S2 in a new section, Other Robot Vacuums We’ve Tried. Next, I will be testing the Dreame L60 Pro Ultra. Also, my top vacuum picks for both robots are pre-sold Amazon’s big day.
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What is a Robot Vacuum?
A robot vacuum is an automatic vacuum, usually in the shape of a circular disc, that moves around your home to vacuum (and vacuum, as most models these days include mopping) for you. You may have heard others call these devices “Roomba,” which is the brand that popularized the concept, but today almost every cleaning brand—from the high-end Dyson to the affordable Bissell—makes some kind of robotic vacuum. They come with a charging station or a large docking station that can be removed.
Can You Use a Robot Vacuum on All Types of Floors?
You can, especially since there are many models of mopping now to properly clean hard floors. You can use these devices on anything from hardwood to LVP and tile, although I wouldn’t recommend leaving small carpets for these self-propelled devices to get stuck. Large rugs are fine, but bathroom and kitchen rugs or any thin rugs that move easily should be moved out of the way and placed in the washer instead of being cleaned by your robot.
What? What Will Your Robot Vacuum Need?
There are a few things most robotic vacuums will need to work properly:
- Space near the base station. Most robot vacuum manuals recommend at least one foot of clearance on three of the four sides of the vacuum station to ensure it has room to return home.
- Good Wi-Fi signal. If your robot vacuum is going to connect to Wi-Fi, as many do these days for software control and software updates, it will need a stable connection wherever it’s placed. Most of them can only connect to the 2.4 GHz wireless band, so make sure you have one (and only select that band during setup if your Wi-Fi shows those bands separately). Confused? Check out our guide to set up your beautiful home.
- Regular maintenance. It may be a robot, but it cannot take care of itself. See below for my tips for basic robot vacuum maintenance, and be sure to read your vacuum’s manual to find out what your particular model needs.
How Often to Maintain Your Robot Vacuum
Taking good care of your robot vacuum will help it last longer. Here’s the cleaning process you should follow for every model of robot vacuum.
- If it only has a charger base: This means that dirt is kept inside the vacuum. You will probably want to wipe it after each use. If your vacuum has a fill line you can see, you can wipe it when it reaches that line, but after each use it’s best practice.
- If it has an opt-out facility: Each manufacturer will have different advice on when the withdrawal center needs to be left on, but it is usually between 30 and 60 days, depending on the design and use. If you run your vacuum daily and have a lot of dirt, like pet hair, you may need to aim for 30 days or less.
- If it has water tanks: Wastewater tanks should be cleaned after each emptying of your vacuum. Fresh water can stay in the station.
Be sure to check your robot vacuum’s manual for any other steps the manufacturer recommends you take regularly to keep the vacuum going as long as possible. Many brands also have replacement parts, so you can replace individual parts like brushes without needing a whole new vacuum.
The Best Robot Vacuums of 2026
I’ve been testing the latest designs from our favorite cleaning brands. Here are the top three that I would buy right now.
I was surprised how much I liked AI-powered Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal. Its UV light revealed spots on my floor where I know I previously had a spill, and its built-in AI returned the vacuum to clean those spots in a way I never had before. The UV exposure also did a great job on my hard floors (both LVP and tile) as a mop-and-vacuum combination, as well as on my builder grade carpet and rug in the living room. I was impressed that the carpet felt soft and well cleaned, as if I had torn my pet. Dyson stick vacuum instead of sending a robot vacuum to do the job for me.
