If you want to take the stress and hassle out of cleaning your floors, a robot vacuum just might be the answer you've been waiting for. I'd definitely classify these disc-shaped automatic vacuums as genius: they operate completely on their own, doing all the hard work for you.
Essentially, robot vacuums can work on carpet and hard floors, and have a powerful suction to slurp up any dirt, dust and grime, which linger in those hard to reach areas. They manouevre around obstacles, so rest assured your furniture will not be damaged.
The best part is some designs can be programmed to follow a certain schedule, so you don’t have to worry you’ve missed cleaning day, and some even will faithfully return to their charging dock automatically after use.
- The Roomba: iRobot Roomba 694
- The stylish buy: Dyson360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum Cleaner
- The Shark: Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty Robot Vacuum Cleaner
- The 10-in-1 station: eufy Omni S1 Pro, Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop
- The under £100 choice: Lefant M210 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
- Under £500: Kärcher Vacuuming Robot RCV 5 with Mop Function
- Best for pets: Saros 10 Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop
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Shopping for a robot vaccum: Expert advice
I asked cleaning expert Laura Mountford, author of Live, Laugh, Laundry: A Calming Guide to Keeping Your Clothes Clean – and You Happy, the pros and cons of a robot vacuum as opposed to a traditional one.
“A robot vacuum is a fantastic way to both vacuum, mop and dry hard floors helping you to keep on top of cleaning your home, not just for spring cleaning but everyday,” says Laura. “The latest robot vacuums have technology to map out your home and effectively navigate around furniture. They also clean not only hard floors, but carpets and rugs. A robot vacuum really does help to keep on top of cleaning the floors, especially if you have an open plan space with lots of traffic from busy families and pets.”
And the down sides? “Robot vacuums are still quite expensive and they do take a long time to make their way around your home - not ideal if you have unexpected guests arriving in ten minutes and you need a speed clean! For a robot vacuum to be most effective you do need to clear as much clutter from the floor as possible. I find the best way to use them is to set them up to do their job while you are out so you can come home to sparkling clean floors. They also can’t make their way upstairs (yet!) so can only clean one level at a time.”
As far as what you should look for in a robot vacuum, Laura - who has her own iRobot Roomba Combo J7+ - has a checklist for choosing the right one for you. Does your choice tick all the boxes?
- Select a robot vacuum that has a dock to empty itself during the cleaning cycle
- A robot vacuum that can vacuum, mop and dry at the same time is a must to leave floors sparkling
- Ensure that the robot is able to navigate from hard floor to carpets and rugs effectively so that it doesn’t get stuck
- The robot vacuum should have an app to link to so that you can control and personalise the cleaning cycle from your phone
The specs of your robot vacuum - what to consider
In our edit of our favourite robot vacuums, we've included key specifications for each model. Here's how to decipher that information...
- Type: You’ll need to figure out, based on your needs – would you prefer a standard robot vacuum or a “2-in-1” style vacuum with a mopping function as well?
- Navigation: Lower-priced models usually feature random navigation, where the robot essentially wanders your home. You can also find more complex robot vacuums that have smart technology to optimise efficient cleaning routines for your home using special mapping technology – cameras and/or sensors – and program the “no-go” areas of your home to avoid. And the most effortless robot vacuum will automatically return to its charging dock on its own.
- Battery and Suction Power: In your robot vacuum’s specs, you’ll see the suction power measured in Pa or AW - the higher the number the better the suction. You’ll also want to consider how long the vacuum can run on a single charge, and how long it takes to full charge the battery as well.
- Size of your home: The size of your home will determine what bin capacity you’ll need the larger your home, the larger the bin - and if you're in a studio flat, for example, you could probably opt for a more simple, lower-priced model without a complex mapping function.
- Control: How do you want to control your vacuum? Most these days come with apps, or if you like Amazon Alexa, Siri or other virtual assistants, you’ll want to look for a robot vacuum that’s compatible with your preferred AI helper.
How I chose the best robot vacuums
- Price: Robot vacuums can range from cheaper ones, costing hundreds, to luxury versions worth thousands, so we've included a range of prices for every budget.
- Trustworthy brands: These robot vacuums are from brands we know and love, including Shark, Dyson and iRobot, maker of the Roomba.
- Ratings & Reviews: The models selected have sold ratings and reviews from verified shoppers.
- Popularity: You'll find some of the most-Googled robot vacuum brands and models on this list, as well as the ones that have proven most popular with HELLO! shoppers.
Best robot vacuum cleaners
From Dyson to Eufy and other designs, we have found the best robot vacuums to buy online now.
1/7
iRobot Roomba 694
© AmazonThe details
- Good for pet hair and ideal for smaller spaces
- Focuses on the dirtier areas with Dirt Detect Technology
- Auto-adjust cleaning head automatically adapts to clean both carpets and hard floors.
- Powered by iRobot Genius: learns from your cleaning habits to offer personalized schedules
- Google Assistant and Alexa compatible
What reviewers are saying:
"Pros: Our floors are 90% wooden with some small carpeted areas and a little lino and the Roomba has no problems with any of them. It handles changes in levels between the older and newer sections of the house and deals with obstacles like chair legs and kids' shoes very well. We've had no problems with it picking up any objects or cables yet, though it is advisable to clear the floor of anything small, like LEGO.
"Cons: It is a lot noisier than I expected. The Roomba is designed to work when you're not in the house. It also takes a long time to return home if instructed - like 10+ minutes, but that might be a learning issue."
- Verified shopper, Amazon
2/7
Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum
The details
- Supreme suction: 22,000Pa; the Dyson Hyperdymium motor spins at up to 110,000rpm
- Engineered for homes with pets
- Root cyclone technology
- Four modes: Quick, Quiet, Boost, and Auto mode, which increases suction power when higher dust volumes are identified
- Innovative design: clean corners more easily; captures dust and debris right up to the wall; 360° navigation system with 26 external sensors
- Learns as it cleans, with intelligent analysis to map your home for customised cleaning
- Fully-sealed five stage HEPA filtration system
- Automatic recharge
What reviewers are saying:
"Fantastic product! Great for day to day cleans - actually picks up more than I can with the hoover. Really gets into the corners too. The mapping can be a bit hit and miss at first but persevere and do it again if you're not happy at first so that you get the best results."
- Verified shopper, John Lewis
3/7
Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty Robot Vacuum Cleaner
The details
- 3 deep cleaning technologies: Dirt Detect, Edge Detect and Floor Detect
- 3D & laser navigation for precision home mapping; detects and avoids objects
- SharkClean app and Smart Control, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Automatic self-emptying
- Anti-Allergen Complete Seal and Anti-Odour Technology
What reviewers are saying:
“The setup was not very clear but I managed to get the map set up. After the initial setup, the robot is indeed a game changer. It works really well. It cleans a lot better than another robot that I bought few years ago.”
-Verified shopper, Amazon
4/7
eufy Omni S1 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop
The details
- For hard floor, tile and carpet
- App Control; also compatible with Alexa and Google assistant
- HydroJet System with 'Always Clean' mop, which refreshes itself real-time 170 RPM, and dual water reservoir loaded with ozonated water.
- 10-in-1 automated cleaning station: no-fuss emptying, washing, drying, refilling, waste water collection, and detergent dispensing.
- 8,000 Pa suction for deep cleaning on carpets and hard floors
- 3D MatrixEye equipped with binocular infrared imaging technology and an RGB camera to mimic human vision
What reviewers are saying:
“The S1 is an amazing vacuum and mop. Setup is simple, with initial mapping completed in just a few minutes for our entire downstairs. After that add water and it is ready to go. The single pass vacuum and mop cleans our floors quickly. Obstacle avoidance is accurate and the robot has never got stuck. Serving is simple and supported by the app. Our house has never been so clean. One thing to note - emptying the dust bin from the robot into the base station is loud. We decided to run the robot at 9am every day so not an issue for us but it would be annoying at night.”
- Verified shopper, Amazon
5/7
Lefant M210 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
The details
- Four cleaning modes: automatic, planning, fixed point, and edge
- 2200 Pa brushless nozzle and two side brushes
- Large capacity (500ml) dust collection bucket
- Slim design
- 120 minutes running time
What reviewers are saying:
"I've had my eye on this for a little while thinking are they really worth it and let me tell you they are!! For the price as well you can not complain! I found it easy to set up on my phone. I've have vinyl floors and a carpet in the lounge and mats for wet feet. I have a long haired collie and I'm sick of hoovering everyday because of his hair but this little beauty takes this annoyance away! You just put it on , let it do its thing and it picks it all up(and the rest) Everywhere looks great and when it's done it will put itself back on charge! Now by all means it doesn't get deep into your carpets but it does the runners in the hall etc but it really is great for keeping on top of the hoovering! And its so simple to empty."
- Verified shopper, Amazon
6/7
Kärcher Vacuuming Robot RCV 5 with Mop Function
The details
- Vacuum and mop function
- 5000 Pa suction power
- Remote control via app: Save different floor maps – up to 10 floors – and no-go zones, set up cleaning specifications & schedules
- LiDAR laser censors, a Dual Laser system, camera and artificial intelligence to recognise obstacles as well as carpet areas to optimise cleaning
What reviewers are saying:
"Life changing. It's amazing. It's very easy to use and set up. I just plugged it in used the QR code in the quick start guide, took less than 10 minutes...You can control anything on the App, how much suction, how wet or intensive of a mop, which rooms you do and any combination of. Mine lives in a very small space in front of my tumble dryer and seems perfectly happy. It's so nice being able to walk through the house from the garden, having the doors open then just running the machine and all the mess is gone...The only thing that could make this better for me personally is if it was 2cm shorter so it could fit under my furniture."
- Verified shopper, Amazon
7/7
roborock Saros 10 Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop
© AmazonThe details
- New for 2025
- Most quiet Roborock model to date
- Ultra-slim (7.98cm) to navigate under furniture
- 22,000Pa powerful suction
- Reactive AI 3.0 Obstacle Recognition: front triple structured light, RGB camera, and VertiBeam lateral structured light for wider obstacle-avoidance view
- Ideal for pet owners: automatic pet recognition, snapshots, and pet search function
- App or voice control (no WiFi or phone required)
What reviewers are saying:
"Does what it promises. First time user of a robo vacuum. I can say I am amazed. The price may be a bit steep but it is worth it. Excellent cleaning, performs good on both floor and carpets. Wife is amazed and she is tough with cleanliness. Highly recommend."
- Verified shopper, Amazon
Meet the expert: Laura Mountford, cleaning content creator, podcaster & author
© Lee MaloneLaura Mountford, AKA @lauracleanaholic is a cleaning content creator, podcaster & author who has garnered a combined social media following of over 1 million by sharing her viral cleaning hacks, together with home and cooking tips. The cleaning expert, who is a brand ambassador for Amazon and Joy of Clean, has successfully released her debut book Live, Laugh, Laundry: A Calming Guide to Keeping Your Clothes Clean – and You Happy. More recently, Laura has launched The Homebirds Podcast which she co-hosts alongside a fellow cleaning influencer.
