The 5 Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair, Vetted by a Home Editor
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You don’t hate many things, but you absolutely loathe vacuuming. But because you own a pet that sheds, you don’t really have a choice. If only there were some way to do this demanding yet necessary chore without actually doing it yourself (or having to pay someone else to do it for you). A-ha! There is: the robo vacuum, an automated version that magically cleans up and you don't even have to lift a finger—provided it doesn’t get tangled and shut down the second it sucks up Fido’s hair.
When it comes to robot vacuums that are powerful enough to tackle the job (and do so well), they often come with a steep price—some run upwards of $1,000. So, in order to make sure you’re getting the absolute best bang for your buck, we had our home editor test and vet the absolute best robot vacuums for pet hair. From the best-selling iRobot Roomba J7 to the newly released Dyson 360 Vis Nav, here are five that are worth it.
How We Chose The Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair
Our home editor tested of the top-rated robotic vacuums for pets, including the iRobot Roomba J7, Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Robot and Roborock Q5 Pro+. And, to provide a few more options, she culled through the top-recommended vacuums, vetting each based on the following criteria:
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The Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair, Tested
1. iRobot Roomba J7
TOTAL: 95/100
Aside from this model’s three-stage cleaning system—which features 10 times the suction compared to previous models and multi-surface brushes that are safe on hardwood floors—it has smart mapping technology that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions in advance. But what really set this one apart was its uncanny ability to collect hair and dust from every corner. While I don’t have pets, I imagine this thing would be a beast when it comes to picking up loose hair. This was evident when it swept up all of my and my roommate’s hair (I live with four long-haired brunettes) with an ultra-grippy rubber brush that remained untangled for the entire clean. In fact, after the first run, I removed the brush head to see how much hair was accumulated and I needed to go in with scissors to remove months of loose strands (something I now do every 30 days for maintenance). Another plus is that the smart map lets you label and customize which rooms to clean—and it even has keep-out zones and clean zones, so you can target exactly where you want the robot to go (or cable-filled corners it should avoid). You can also see the edge-sweeping brush working away at wall moldings and corners while the multi-surface rubber brushes adjust to different floor types.
Add to that the fact that it has impressive obstacle avoidance; I rarely find it bumping into walls and doorways. The robot strategically plans its clean to hit hard-to-reach places—like under the fridge or next to the trash can—and it manages to get unstuck if it encounters an out-of-place item (or somehow makes its way underneath the couch). My only con? There have been a few times when my roommates yelled “SYDNEY!” after the Roomba somehow made its way through the door. My suggestion is to keep the doors closed for rooms you don’t want to be cleaned—especially if they’re in back-to-back Zoom calls.
2. The Eufy Boost IQ Robovac
TOTAL: 89/100
With more than 8,400 glowing five-star reviews—and a price tag you can actually stomach—I had to see why people were raving over this model. First and foremost, it’s only 2.85 inches tall, so the Robovac is one of the thinnest out there. That means that it can fit under super-tight areas—as in, those spots that Petunia the cat thought were her little secret. It also runs for up to 100 minutes before automatically recharging itself—and it even uses infrared and drop sensors to avoid running into and scratching your new teak dining table or falling down the stairs and damaging itself. And, most importantly, it has 1300Pa of suction power. (Good luck finding a stray hair.) Take it from my Aunt, who says the vac has been a game-changer when trying to keep the house clean with a Cavalier King Charles: “I seriously don’t know how I had company over before adding this vac into my cleaning routine. My dog seems to shed with every step he takes, and it’s been a nightmare trying to pick up after him. Now, however, I run the Eufy once in the morning and it (literally) takes the leg work out of following him around with a Dustbuster. The suction makes a noticeable difference—even in crevices and dark corners that I’d usually overlook.”
Plus, another feature she appreciated was how it’s ultra-quiet: “My dog has a skittish personality and it’s been hard to find a robot vacuum that won’t scare the daylights out of him. I think what I loved most about this one, aside from the suction power, is how quiet it runs. My dog actually sleeps through cleaning sessions now, and thanks to the obstacle avoidance, it doesn’t interrupt him (or cause him to bark for an hour while it’s cleaning the bathroom).” To that end, her only stipulation was that it has trouble in the kitchen: “I’m not sure why, but it can’t seem to navigate around my kitchen counter stools. It has no trouble working around other four-legged chairs in the house, but for some reason, it always gets caught in the kitchen. This isn’t a deal breaker, though—I just move the stools to the side of the room when it’s cleaning and move them back when I’m done.”
3. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Robot
TOTAL: 95/100
Thanks to the team at Ecovacs, I was able to send this number to my parents in New Jersey (who bunk with a Sheepadoodle named George). While George is hypoallergenic—so hair shedding isn’t a huge concern—he’s drawn to messy mud puddles and flower beds that always seem to make their way back into the house. This has led my mother to live in a constant state of fear of him ruining her custom white cowhide rug. Enter: This vac-mop combo. What we loved most about this option was that it has a pet-friendly AI mode that identifies pets at home and can recommend the best cleaning solution—and it’s equipped with an intelligent mop-lifting function, which automatically lifts when a carpet is detected. This not only rid my mother of the aforementioned worry of ruining her white rug (which is spot-clean only) but it also boasted impressive obstacle avoidance. This is because it’s the first integrated robot to have a LiDAR sensor embedded inside the body (aka the same tech found in many self-driving vehicles). The dual-laser can detect objects 10 meters away with a 210-degree angle of view, making it great at navigating and path-mapping around the house.
As for the suction? We were blown away by how this thing was able to detect and scrub dirt on our hardwood floods. Not only does it boast a whopping 8,000Pa of lift power, but it also has an outstretched mopping pad that gets 30 millimeters closer to corners (per the brand). Additionally, it uses 3D mapping, which lets you identify and clean specific areas, like under the dining room table, via a ‘target’ area on the app. The real kicker, however, was that it comes with an all-in-one cleaning station, including a unique hot water mopping feature that ensures the mop pad is always clean. And speaking of the mop pad, it’s engineered with a special chenille fabric that can easily tackle stubborn stains.
4. Roborock Q5 Pro+
TOTAL: 92/100
While my parents loved the added suction of the option above, they were also big fans of this vac + mop (which is half the price). The best part about this guy is that it’s powered by a high-capacity 5200 Li-ion battery with up to 180 minutes of runtime. Not only does that mean it can vac and scrub your entire first and second level on a single charge, but it also uses a max suction power of 2,700Pa that makes dirt disappear like black magic. The floating main brush also adjusts to different floor types, so it effectively captures pet hair—and if you have messy kids or love cooking intricate meals, you'll appreciate the ability to mop and vac at the same time. To that end, you can create a routine for frequent but ad-hoc uses—like mopping under the bathroom sink or suctioning near the front door—which is great if you’re someone who likes to create custom one-off cleanups. You simply pick a time, cleaning mode, and the room(s) you need, and it will repeat automatically (made easy with voice command compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple Siri Shortcuts).
Still, what really set this thing apart was the auto-emptying feature supported by the dock. With options for auto-emptying, button-based manual emptying or app-controlled manual emptying, you have full control over how you manage the dustbin and mop-washing station. The best part? It has an Automatic Carpet Boost function to automatically ramp suction power to maximum when a carpet is detected, and it’s equipped with a Sensient® Sensor Array, which prevents it from rolling off steps, getting trapped or slamming into walls.
Plus, an honorable mention
5. Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum
Finally, while I haven’t had the pleasure of testing Dyson’s *first-ever* robot vacuum out for myself, its technology is in a league of its own compared to other models. First and foremost: It’s specifically engineered to tackle pet hair with twice the suction power of any other robot vacuum (per the brand). It has a unique triple-action brush bar, making it versatile enough to remove pet hair from all floor types, while reducing tangling for hassle-free cleaning. Yet, the main draw is its D-shaped body—coupled with an intelligent 360-degree vision system—which allows it to reach into every crevice without getting stuck. It’s not only equipped with 26 sensors that analyze up to 10,000 data points per second, but it also maps your entire home, remembering where it's been, and intelligently navigates around obstacles for thorough coverage on every clean. And as if that weren’t enough, it has four cleaning modes, including Boost mode for tackling ground-in dirt and pet hair, and a piezo sensor that monitors dust levels (with Dyson’s signature HEPA filter that traps 99.99 percent of particles).
Take it from one pet owner’s rave review, who says it’s been a lifesaver for her house in Austin, TX: “The vacuum meticulously scanned our rooms and furniture, allowing us to assign names to various zones on the graphical map provided—kitchen, dining, hall, etc. The app keeps you updated in real time, and the handy map shows where the dust has settled. What's particularly ingenious is the VisNav's discreet approach, however, making it a considerate companion around our rescue dog (who harbors a fear of vacuums but remains undisturbed by the Dyson). We've adapted to scheduling cleanings and the onboard light thoughtfully illuminates the path ahead and under furnishing—the noticeable lack of collisions, even before room mapping, is fantastic.” They also add: “It has seamlessly adapted to the diverse terrain of our home, from the smooth glide across tile floors to the efficient navigation over Berber carpet, Persian and various area rugs, including lightweight and high pile. Its versatility ensures that every corner and crevice of our living space receives thorough attention.”
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