These robot vacuums are the ones to trust on carpet and rugs

These robot vacuums are the ones to trust on carpet and rugs

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Nearly any robot vacuum can sufficiently clear a hard floor of long hairs, pet fur, crumbs, and other debris. Some are more meticulous than others, obviously, but investing in a robot vac is generally a no-brainer in homes that are all hardwood, tile, or laminate.

But if your home is mostly carpeted or covered in rugs, fewer robot vacuums can do the job (almost) as acceptably as a human wielding a Dyson. Buying the cheapest one you can find will likely create more of a hassle every time it eats a frilly rug corner or leaves you with a home still covered in pet hair because it couldn’t muster the strength to pry fur from the carpet.

Lucky for you, the Mashable team has tested dozens of robot vacuums, and we’re here to help you pick the perfect bot for your carpets and rugs. So, read on to find the best robot vacuum for carpet in 2023.

Our Pick

Read our full review of the Roomba s9+.

Why we picked this:

In 2021, the Roomba j7+ overthrew the s9+ as the latest and greatest from iRobot. But the s9+ still does one thing better: clean thick carpets. iRobot’s D-shaped botvac reaches deep into carpets with 40 times the suction of 600 Series Roombas (the j7+ offers 10 times the suction).

After skirting the walls and corners with its flat edge, the s9+ makes a lot of passes across a room to ensure thorough cleaning. Once it takes a trip around your home and internalizes the layout, you can send it to specific rooms or specific carpeted areas that need extra attention. It also learns the more you use it, offering customized cleaning plans through the app.

Who it’s for:

The Roomba s9+ is the robot vac to trust on fully- or almost-fully carpeted floors, especially those that one or more pets shed all over. Its powerful suction and dual roller brushes dig deeper into fluffy high-pile carpet fibers where many other robot vacuums can only provide a surface-level clean. After our in-depth hands-on review, we’re confident this is the best robot vacuum for thick carpets.

Why we picked this:

Shark has been a player in the robot vacuum game forever, but didn’t have a model that particularly stood out — until winter of 2022, that is. The latest Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 rocks improvements galore over several predecessors, adding a mop to its smartest model (plus automatic emptying, if you choose to grab the dock) without straying too far from the $300 to $600 range.

The new Matrix Clean system prompts the vac to takes several passes to ensure that no spots are missed. During regular dry vacuuming, it delivers 30% better carpet cleaning (compared to the older RV Shark models) by digging deeper into carpet and cleaning in a crosshatch pattern to loosen and grab debris from multiple angles. When a corner is detected by “Matrix” also applies to the AI Ultra’s mopping, which vibrates 100 times per minute to scrub stains.

Who it’s for:

If you typically take the “and one for good measure” approach when it comes to cleaning, you’ll appreciate the extra effort the newest Shark vacuum puts in on dirty spots, even if it has already gone over them once.

Why we picked this:

Until recently, we recommended the Roborock S7+ as one of the best robot vacuums for carpets, but after testing the newer model S8+, we’re updating our top picks. Between strong suction, LiDAR, and mopping that doesn’t soak carpets, the Roborock S8+ is the perfect choice for homes with multiple types of flooring. With its self-empty dock (a wise bundle for people with shedding pets), the S8+ is a triple threat with just one catch — the $1,000 price tag. Roborock often offers a $200 off coupon, but even at this discounted price, it’s definitely an investment.

Because the S8+ detects floor types, you won’t have to worry about getting your carpet or rugs wet. This bot will automatically lift the mop as it rolls onto carpets. Not only that, but the S8+ will increase suction as soon as it senses carpeting.

To test this vacuum’s carpet-cleaning capabilities, we used a lint roller on carpets after a cleaning was completed. While the S8+ didn’t remove 100% of hair and debris, it was more effective than other robot vacuums we’ve tested (and slightly less effective than high-end stick vacuums).

We should note that Roborock’s obstacle recognition can’t detect cords or pet poop. However, you shouldn’t have to babysit it otherwise.

Who it’s for:

We recommend the Roborock S8+ for people who’d prefer the water stains and footprints on their tile to be treated to a deeper clean than just the light wiping of a cloth. This hybrid robot vacuum actually does a good job of mopping your floors thanks to a vibrating mop pad.

While it’s easily one of the best robot vacuums for carpet, it’s our top pick for homes with a combination of floor types. So, whether your home has thick carpet, tile and carpet, carpet and hardwood, or all of the above, we can definitely recommend this versatile vacuum.

Why we picked this:

We would say that the newest Roomba goes where no Roomba has gone before, but it’s more about where it doesn’t go. The j7+ uses a new PrecisionVision Navigation camera that helps it to avoid small obstacles that are typically blind spots, like cords and pet waste.

The j7+ isn’t the vacuum for high-pile carpets though. But its performance on low-pile (and hard floors) is reliable, especially with Dirt Detection that triggers multiple passes across serious messes. Long hair doesn’t tangle as easily in its long rubber brush rolls. It empties into a more compact auto-empty dock without sacrificing the 60-day capacity. 

Who it’s for:

The Roomba Combo j7+ is the splurge for folks who don’t mind paying a little extra for a robot vacuum that doesn’t require babysitting. That could mean skipping the pre-cleaning scan for phone chargers on the floor, feeling confident that your vac won’t smear your pet’s accident across the living room, or trusting that the mop won’t dampen floors that shouldn’t be wet.

Why we picked this:

The Wyze Robot Vacuum and its raised LiDAR scanner have a similar vibe to one of our pricier faves, the Roborock S7. The mere presence of that smart mapping tower is more than most Roombas can say. This is what unlocks the ability to send the robot vacuum to specific rooms and draw virtual boundaries — one of the most coveted features in the market as of late.

This Wyze vac doesn’t automatically crank suction on carpet, but its high power mode in general proves to be quite successful on light debris like hair and heavy debris like cereal on low and medium pile.

Who it’s for:

The lone Wyze robot vacuum will make life easier for those on a budget who prioritize the cleaning of specific rooms over suction-specific bells and whistles. If you’ve been burned by the crappy navigation tactics of a cheap robot vacuum in the past, the Wyze robot vacuum is a rare LiDAR-assisted model that doesn’t cost a lot.

Why we picked this:

Autonomous wet and dry cleaning plus auto-emptying plus room mapping is typically a pricey checklist, running you at least $600 if you’re Roborock or Shark — or more if you’re iRobot. Yeedi, a smaller brand that specializes in affordable robot vacuums, offers that iconic trio of robotic cleaning features in its Yeedi Vac Station for as low as $300 on sale.

3,000 Pa of suction is a bold claim that’d rival the most powerful Roomba, but this Yeedi really does put in more work than you’d expect at this price point. Its performance on flat to medium pile is satisfactory, including with long hairs — we just wouldn’t trust it to make it over a fluffy rug alive.

Who it’s for:

This packed budget model is a stellar find for folks who would like to stretch no more than $300 or $400 to cover the triple threat that is room mapping, mopping, and automatic emptying. With patience for the shaky navigation and the acceptance of clearing obstacles off the floor before starting a cleaning, the Yeedi Vac Station could be a game changer.

The Mashable shopping team has tested dozens of robot vacuums from brands such as iRobot, Roborock, Shark, eufy, Yeedi, and other popular smart home brands. In addition, we’ve also tested popular stick vacuums and cordless Dyson vacs. And because new flagship robot vacuums are released every year, we try to try out the latest models whenever possible.

For this guide, Mashable shopping reporters and contributors tested the Roomba s9+, Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1, Roborock S8+, Roborock S7+, Roomba j7+, and the Yeedi Vac Station. After careful research, the Wyze Robot Vacuum was included as a budget option, even though it hasn’t been hands-on tested like the others. Previously, we featured the Wyze robot vacuum in our guide to the best robot vacuums, and it’s one of the few cheap robot vacuums with LiDAR capabilities.

When conducting hands-on tests of robot vacuums, we consider how the product performs on multiple types of flooring, which can include hardwood laminate, area rugs, carpets, and tile. In searching for the best robot vacuum for carpets, we prioritized models that performed particularly well on carpets and rugs (obviously). We also considered how effectively these vacuums removed pet hair from those carpeted areas, as this is a common drawback with many robot vacuums.

In addition to analyzing a robot’s performance on carpet, we also thoroughly test its overall cleaning abilities as well as special features such as LiDAR mapping, mopping, self-emptying, or self-cleaning. With all of these factors in mind, we selected the six best all-around robot vacuums for carpet at a variety of price points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Any robot vacuum is unlikely to ruin your carpet. However, loose carpet strings and rugs with fringed ends are something to look out for. Bumbling bots with less accurate object sensors may gobble these right up and get stuck on them, potentially damaging your floor coverings. Folks who love a good frilly rug should consider a robot vacuum that follows virtual boundaries through smart mapping (rather than hit-or-miss physical no-go strips).

Folks in homes with combination flooring may be considering a hybrid model. Note that many budget robot vacuums do offer mopping now — but they could accidentally mop your carpets as well. To ensure that your carpets don’t get soggy, opt for a hybrid that cuts the water flow or lifts the mopping pad when soft floors are sensed.

Carpets and rugs are where pet hair, crumbs, and dust go to die, so beefy (yet methodical) suction is key for homes with a lot of stubborn floor coverings.

As a general note, upright vacuum cleaners typically have more suction power than compact robot vacs. But if you’d still prefer to outsource the job, look for a robot vacuum with at least 2,000 Pa in suction to ensure that the carpet fibers are being efficiently combed. (iRobot doesn’t rate its vacuums’ suction power, but Mashable has tested high-end Roombas like the s9+ and j7+ on carpets and rugs.) Most modern vacuums have a boost mode that automatically kicks in when the vacuum senses carpet. The same sensors should be smart enough to facilitate a smooth transition to dark hardwood floors and *not* mistake them for a cliff.

Automatic emptying is huge for dealing with all of the gunk that should build up quickly if your robot vacuum is doing its job on your carpet. It’s especially clutch for large homes or those with pets that inherently need more cleanup, requiring more frequent dust bin emptying. Rather than you having to manually dump the bin into the garbage and wrestle wrapped hairs with your bare fingers, a self-emptying robot vacuum empties itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock after each cleaning session. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be emptied themselves.

Some rooms need to be tended to more often than others. A robot vacuum with LiDAR creates an internal map of your home’s layout and can be sent to specific rooms or zones in the house, like the carpeted living room where the pets hang out or to the entryway doormat that’s covered in dirt.

If you prefer the TL;DR version: The best robot vacuum for carpet will have powerful suction and additional perks such as carpet detection, LiDAR mapping, and self-emptying.

Both are good, but much like the Instant Pot vs. Ninja Foodi debate, a general comparison between the two brands doesn’t work so well.

Shark’s whole lineup is generally more budget-friendly than its most direct counterpart from Roomba, offering a more affordable path to coveted features like mopping and smart room mapping. However, in between iRobot’s low-end and high-end robovacs lies a much wider range of models to choose from and features that can be tailored to your needs. Shark’s cheapest self-emptier can frequently be found on sale for less than $250, while Roomba’s cheapest self-emptier typically sits near the $300 mark on sale. Shark’s most expensive is $649.99 compared to the most expensive Roomba at $1,099.99, with a few hundred dollars’ worth of wiggle room if either is on sale.

But iRobot and Shark are hardly the only players in this group chat — Roborock, Eufy, and Yeedi pose serious competition with similarly-impressive performance and diverse pricing.

Leah Stodart is a Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable. She covers shopping trends, gift ideas, and products that make life easier, specializing in vacuums, TVs, and sustainable swaps. She graduated from Penn State University in 2016 and is watching horror movies or “The Office” when she’s not shopping online herself. You can follow her on Twitter at @notleah.

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