Robot vacuums are in a performance revolution era. The cool tech upgrades we saw at CES 2025 are finally coming to the market. The upgrades include robotic arms that can move toys and debris, the ability to scoot up small obstacles and untangle themselves. But not everyone needs the bells and whistles. In this tariff environment we are in right now, home appliances are getting more expensive. That's why we curated a good budget pick too. We performed hands-on lab testing on 67 robot vacuums (with more currently being tested), evaluating each on its mopping and carpet performance, obstacle avoidance (including pet messes), docking stations, sensors, battery life, reliability and overall value. Here's our top eight favorites.
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- Best Robot Vacuums of 2025: These Machines Do the Work for You
- What is the best overall robot vacuum?
- Best 8 robot vacuums of 2025
- Best robot vacuum overall
- Best robot vacuum and mop combo and best for hardwood floors
- Best Shark robovac
- Best value robot vacuum
- Best Roomba
- Best mid-priced robot vacuum
- Best for obstacles and pets
- Best budget pick
- Recent updates
- Robot vacuums compared
- Factors to consider when choosing a robot vacuum
- How we test robot vacuums
- Other robot vacuum products we've tested
- Keeping your robot vacuum clean
- Robot vacuum FAQ

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What is the best overall robot vacuum?
The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo remains in our top spot on the best robot vacuums despite stiffening competition. Honorable mention also goes to the Yeedi M12 Pro Plus, one of the best robot vacuum and mop combos we've tested for hardwood floors and a great value -- on sale or not.
We loved the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo self-emptying dustbin, mop function, efficient navigation and cost-to-value ratio. You can choose between the all-in-one combo, which includes a stick vacuum that also self-empties, or just the robot vacuum. It does have a new competitor in the Eufy E20 3-in-1, which offers a robot vacuum, stick vacuum and handheld vacuum in one unit. Still, it lacks mopping capability and doesn't have the same level of cleaning performance.
Best 8 robot vacuums of 2025
Pros
- Self-emptying robot vac and stick vac in one
- Excellent performance on hardwood (85% sand pickup)
- Pet hair doesn't get tangled on the brush
- Supports mopping
Cons
- Pricey at $1,200
- Not the strongest carpet performance we've seen at 65% average pickup.
Best for:
Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo may look like a gimmick, adding a cordless stick vac to the Omni Station. Our lab testing shows that this is not the case. Instead, the Deebot T30S is so good as a robot vacuum and stick vacuum that it has become our top recommendation. It's a great option for people who want a robot vacuum and stick vacuum in one unit without compromising performance. It offers strong performance on both hardwood and carpet, supports mopping and has a self-emptying base station.
Why we recommend it:
During testing in our lab, the T30S Combo picked up more than 65% of the sand on the carpet (64.44% from low-pile and 66.67% from midpile). Hardwood was even better, with 85% of sand pickup on the hardwood. It does a fantastic job getting debris off the floor; it’s also great for pet hair with the ZeroTangle brush system, which uses a V-shaped roller and Dual Comb Teeth to physically scrape hair from the brush and direct it to the dust bin. In our testing, it did a great job of tackling pet hair.
The stick vac accessory has many attachments you need to help clean any mess. It’s great to have a stick vac with your robot vacuum and what helps the system stand out is that the Omni Station empties and cleans the robot vacuum and the stick vac.
The Deebot T30S Combo offers a dual-spinning mop brush system to help keep your hard floors clean. When the vacuum detects the carpet, the mop rises to avoid touching the fibers. When mopping, the brush can swing out to reach the edge of the wall.
Who shouldn't get it:
If you're price sensitive, at $1,200 it's not the cheapest option, but it's less than newer releases from Dreame and Roborock. If you think about it, you're also getting a cordless stick vacuum and robot vacuum and mop in one device. As of this writing, it's on sale for $750, and at that price, I wouldn't hesitate.
Pros
- Excellent performance on hardwood (96.5%) and strong midpile carpet performance (64%)
- Very reasonable price
- Great for pet hair
- Good navigation around obstacles
- Includes self-emptying dock and mopping capability
Cons
- Low-pile carpet performance could be better at 54.6%
- Some user complaints about the app and setup
Best for:
The Yeedi M12 Pro Plus offers the best bang for the buck among the robot vacuums we've tested. It's specifically great for those who want vacuuming and mopping functionality and have a lot of hardwood floors. It's also really good at tackling pet hair. It also includes a docking station to charge, self-empty and supports mopping.
Why we recommend it:
Yeedi may not be a brand you've heard of, but it's actually a sister company of Ecovacs, which has earned a number of picks on our list over the years. The Yeedi M12 Pro Plus is a very capable robot vacuum and mop that comes with a docking station and very impressive performance on hardwood floors. It scored an impressive 96.5% sand removal from hardwood floors, even higher than Deebot T30S Combo (85%). In fact, this is the highest score on hardwood of any robot vacuum we've tested. It also managed 54.6% from low-pile carpet and 64% from mid-pile carpet.
According to our light path test, navigation was also particularly impressive. The robot kept a very tight path around our complicated table setup, hit the corners well, and missed very few spots. Notably, it also supports multi-level mopping, which is a nice feature you don't always get on non-flagship vacuums. Pet hair also proved not to be a problem, with the M12 Pro Plus picking up nearly all the pet hair from hardwood and carpet.
The base station and robot vacuum are both loaded with features. The dock self-empties and includes a water tank to refill during mopping. It also has built-in hot air drying to sanitize the mopping pad between cleanings. And speaking of the mop, like many new robot vacuums, the M12 Pro Plus will lift up its mopping pad if it encounters carpet. The mopping pad is even pressurized, giving you a bit more elbow grease when cleaning.
The Yeedi M12 Pro Plus costs $900 at full price, which puts it on par with the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro, but it's currently priced at $450 on Yeedi and Amazon, making it quite the steal for the performance.
Who shouldn't get it:
The M12 Pro Plus doesn't have many shortfalls, but low-pile carpet performance is on the lower side compared to some top-tier competitors like the T30S Combo. If you need stronger carpet performance, we're partial to the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni, which is still being tested in the lab, but delivered impressive carpet pickup of more than 70% on both types of carpet. Some people have also complained about the confusing app, though that tends to be a pretty common problem in robot vacuums.
Pros
- Excellent performance on hardwood floors with 96% sand pickup
- Good carpet cleaning performance at above 50% pickup
- Comes with self-emptying dock
- Can cross obstacles up to 1.5 inches
Cons
- Somewhat pricey without sales
- Takes 21 minutes for a single room
Best for:
Together with Roomba and Dyson, Shark is one of the best-known vacuum brands. In recent years, they've faced stiff competition from Dreame, Eufy, Eureka, Roborock and others, which are incorporating innovative features like threshold crossing, self-emptying docks and detangling brush rollers. The PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro is Shark's answer to this. It gives you good vacuuming and mopping with great navigation and the ability to cross thresholds up to 1.5 inches without having to spend as much as the Dreame X50 Ultra. If you love Shark as a brand, the PowerDetect Never Touch Pro is the robot you want.
Why we recommend it:
It comes with all the key features we've come to expect from a modern robot vacuum, including vacuuming and mopping functionality, a self-emptying dock, improved navigation with 3D mapping, 360-degree lidar and dirt detection sensors. In lab testing, it did great picking up sand from hardwood floors, removing nearly 96%, which is one of our highest scores on a robot vacuum. With carpet, we consider anything above 50% to be good; the Shark managed 54.5% from low-pile and 53% from mid-pile. Pet hair also proved not to be a challenge, with the PowerDetect removing most of it from hardwood and carpet.
Navigation was also quite good, with the robot moving around our test room in 21 minutes. The cleaning time is a little higher than some other models, but it was comprehensive, hitting most of the edges and navigating under a multi-legged table. It missed only a few spots in its passes. Notably, similar to the Dreame X50 Ultra, the PowerDetect is able to lift itself up over thresholds and obstacles up to 1.5 inches, although it can't go as high as the 2.36 inches of the X50 Ultra. The mopping pads also lift up so they won't drag across the carpet, and they self-clean and dry.
Who shouldn't get it:
At $999 at full price, it's one of the pricier robot vacuums on our list, but it's frequently on sale and is currently available for $770 from most retailers, making it a much more attractive option. If you can't find it on sale, we generally like the Yeedi M12 Pro Plus for offering better bang for the buck with the same capabilities.
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Flexible and customizable for your cleaning needs with multiple attachments
- Strong vacuum performance on hardwood with 72% pickup
- Great value at $549 full price and often on sale
Cons
- No mopping functionality
- Could be better on carpet, scores under 50% on low-pile and mid-pile
Best for:
The Eufy E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum is one of the most distinct robovacs we've tested. It's similar to our best overall pick, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo, which comes with a detachable and very capable stick vacuum in addition to its vacuuming and mopping robovac. The E20 doesn't have mopping capabilities, but it's still a very capable and easy-to-use robot vacuum and cordless vacuum. We like it for the total flexibility it offers by giving you a robovac, handheld and stick vac in one unit with a solid performance on different floor types.
Why we recommend it:
"This is my favorite robot vacuum," said our lab tech, Schylar Breitenstein, who spent hours testing the Eufy E20 both in the lab and at home. She praised its ease of use and how the portable vacuum fits into the robot vacuum's body for space savings. She also pointed to the numerous attachments included to customize the E20 for different cleaning needs.
In terms of performance, the E20 did quite well in our sand pickup test on a hardwood floor, removing 72% of sand. It struggled a bit more with carpet, falling shy of the 50% we consider a good score at 41% for low-pile and mid-pile carpet. Navigation was a mixed bag. Our light path test shows that it cleaned the test room in a methodical fashion, especially focusing on getting the corners first. However, it notably missed spots when navigating around the multi-legged table and would have benefited from a tighter turn. It handled pet hair well on hardwood floors but missed some clumps on the carpet.
However, what earns the E20 a place on our list is the sheer value it offers. It's $549 at full price, but as of this writing, it has a $100 coupon on Amazon. For the price, you get a robot vacuum with a self-emptying dock, a stick vacuum, and a handheld vacuum all in one, where normally you'd need to buy them separately. Its closest competitor with the same features, the Deebot T30S Combo, will cost you more than double this price, giving the E20 tremendous value.
Who shouldn't get it:
If you have a lot of carpeting at home, the E20 didn't do the best, scoring 41% for low-pile and mid-pile carpet. For a robot vacuum that can tackle carpet and hardwood equally well, we still like our best overall, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo for its stronger scores on both hardwood and carpet, as well as the ability to serve as both a cordless vacuum and robot vacuum.
Pros
- Picked up 100% of sand from hardwood during pickup test
- Strong carpet pickup at 61.9% low-pile and 60% from mid-pile
- Motorized mopping
- Good at identifying carpeted versus hardwood areas
Cons
- No water tank for mopping
- Somewhat outdated navigation compared with lidar on newer robot vacuums
Best for:
The Roomba J7 Plus is a very capable and reasonably price robot vacuum, but it lacks mopping functionality. Enter the Roomba Combo J7 Plus, which adds mopping to its skillset. Rather than just slapping a mopping pad onto the bottom, iRobot designed a motorized mopping pad with arms that lift it out from the bottom of the cleaner and relocate it to the top whenever it detects it's traveling over carpets. It offers strong hardwood scores, with an impressive 100% pickup, good carpet scores at 61.9% on low-pile and nearly 60% on mid-pile.
Why we recommend it:
It's a capable vacuum, and it did great at tackling all three flooring types (hardwood, low-pile carpet and mid-pile carpet) we tested. However, it faces stiffer competition these days with new combo robot vacuums that incorporate water tanks into their base stations and come with features like self-detangling rollers and hot air drying. Navigation also leaves something to be desired compared with lidar-based cleaners from names like Dreame, Neato and Roborock.
Our lab tech took the Roomba Combo J7 Plus home, where they have a mix of carpets and hardwood floors. It did a great job of identifying carpeted areas during its initial mapping run. We never caught it vacuuming those carpeted areas without lifting the mop up and out of the way first. It's just a better, more high-end approach to automated mopping and one you won't need to think about quite as much.
Despite some downsides, the Combo J7 Plus is typically priced at $599 these days and offers strong overall cleaning performance. As a result, it's our pick for the best Roomba robovac you can get.
Who shouldn't get it:
Despite strong performance scores, the Combo J7 Plus is showing its age in the navigation tech. It lacks lidar and more advanced sensors, so you're likely to get better, more comprehensive coverage with some of the newer models we recommend, like the Dreame X50 Ultra.
Pros
- Good price at $479 MSRP and $270 on sale
- Solid sand removal on hardwood and carpet (60% average score)
- Can mop and vacuum
Cons
- Took more than one pass to remove pet hair
- No auto-refill water tank
- Bagless dust canister
Best for:
Another Yeedi earns a spot on the list. The Yeedi C12 Plus is a solid midrange robot vacuum and mop that offers strong, across-the-board performance for a reasonable price. It picked up 78.65% of sand from a hardwood floor and managed 45% from low-pile and 57% from mid-pile carpet. Pet hair was removed easily from hardwood floors, but it took more than one pass to get it off the carpet. On the plus side, the brushes didn't tangle.
Why we recommend it:
Navigation was generally quite good in our light path test, with the C12 Plus keeping tight corners around a complicated table setup and generally not missing any spots. It's also no slouch on features with support for multi-level mapping and the ability to climb thresholds up to 0.8 inches, similar to the Dreame X50 Ultra and Shark NeverTouch. It comes with an all-in-one docking station that supports a self-emptying dustbin that can last for seven weeks. It lacks an auto-refill water tank, though, so you'll need to refill the 220ml water tank on the robot directly.
At $479, it offers similar functionality to more expensive robot vacuums like the T30S Combo and SharkPowerDetect at less than half the price. Currently, it's on sale for $270, making it one of the best bangs for the buck robot vacuums.
Who shouldn't get it:
While the C12 Plus can do mopping, it doesn't have an auto-refill water tank in its base station, so you'll need to do that manually. The dust canister is also bagless, which we typically don't like since dust gets everywhere when you empty it. For these features, we like Yeedi's higher-end model, the M12 Pro Plus.
Pros
- Can cross thresholds and obstacles up to 2.36 inches
- Good hardwood floor cleaning (62%)
- Good obstacle recognition and avoidance
Cons
- Struggles for sand pickup from low-pile and midpile carpet scoring under 50% for both
- Very expensive at $1,600
Best for:
One of the biggest problems I face using a robot vacuum in my apartment is the different height thresholds between rooms, which make it impossible for most robot vacuums to handle. The Dreame X50 Ultra is a robot vacuum designed to solve this problem. It can cross thresholds and obstacles up to 2.36 inches by deploying a pair of small legs to lever itself over obstacles. It offers solid vacuum performance on hardwood and can mop your floors too.
Why we recommend it:
In our lab testing, it successfully climbed a stack of plywood up to 2.36 inches, although it faced some issues coming down from anything more than 1.5 inches. Dreame advises that it works best when there's a transition between the two vertical obstacles, such as a 1.65-inch threshold followed by a 0.7-inch threshold. It's still more capable of climbing obstacles than any other robot vacuum we've tested, earning it a place on our list.
In cleaning capabilities, it's no slouch either. In lab testing, it vacuumed a room in 23.6 minutes and removed 62% of sand from a hardwood floor. For reference, we consider anything above 50% to be good. Carpets proved more of a challenge, with 35% off low-pile and 44% off mid-pile.
Mopping functionality is also quite good. Our lab engineer took it to his home and tested the mopping and vacuuming on his 1,200-square-foot main floor. It mapped the main level in 11 minutes and cleaned everything in a little more than 2 hours. The base station also comes with two tanks, one for clean water and one for dirty water, along with another receiver for the cleaning solution.
In real-world testing, it worked great with pet hair, removing most, if not all, of the pet hair from hardwood and carpet. The tangle-free roller brush never got tangled in a household with a Great Pyrenees. Navigation was also quite good, with the X50 Ultra able to identify objects like shoes, socks, tennis balls, electrical cords and other items it might get stuck on. It also recognized and worked around pets.
Who shouldn't get it:
The strong navigation abilities and good suction of pet hair earn it our recommendation. However, at $1,699 at full price, it is one of the most expensive robot vacuums you can buy, so we only recommend it if you truly have numerous thresholds and challenging transition strips in your home. For a robot vacuum that offers this capability at a lower price, the Shark PowerDetect Never Touch Pro can manage thresholds up to 1.5 inches.
Pros
- Impressive hardwood performance at 78.9% sand pickup
- Managed to score higher than 50% on both types of carpet
- Budget-friendly at $115
Cons
- No real navigation system
- Very slow at cleaning, took 91 minutes for one room
Best for:
For those on a very tight budget, the Eufy RoboVac 25C is one of the only robot vacuums available for around $100. Despite the cut-rate price, you get surprisingly good performance on hardwood floors and solid carpet pickup performance.
Why we recommend it:
You might not expect sufficient cleaning power from a budget-priced robot vacuum, but that's precisely what the Anker Eufy RoboVac 25C delivers. For instance, its ability to scour sand from hardwood floors (78.9%) wasn't too far below that of our top midrange pick. It's a decent performer on low-pile and mid-pile carpets as well, sucking up averages of 54% and 52% of sand from them, respectively.
The current asking price is just $115 ($149 full price) at Walmart, although stock is dwindling at other retailers.
Who shouldn't get it:
How did Anker cut down on costs here, anyway? The answer is navigation. Instead of relying on cameras or lasers to map out its environment, the machine bumps around the floor like a slow-motion ping-pong ball, changing direction when it encounters an object or obstacle. As a result, it took an excessive 91 minutes to finish its cleaning cycle in our test room, so don't expect it to cover your house in anything close to an efficient fashion. If you don't like this trade-off.
- April 2025: We added new tested robot vacuum and mop recommendations to the list: the Yeedi C12 Plus, Dreame X50 Ultra, Eufy 3-in-1 E20, Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro and Yeedi M12 Pro Plus. We also updated our testing procedures with our latest guidelines. Specifically, we eliminated our test for black rice because every robot vacuum was hitting nearly 100%. Instead, we've re-weighted our scoring using just sand on three different test surfaces. Finally, we updated the list of other robot vacuums we've tested and are currently testing.
- June 2025: We reworked the product entries of all the robot vacuums we recommend to provide additional guidance on why we recommend them and who shouldn't buy them. We also added other robot vacuums we tested and some new infographics that compare robot vacuums.