We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. The 5 Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair, Tested and Reviewed We tested more than 50 By Daniela Araya Daniela Araya Daniela Araya is a writer with over a decade of industry experience. As a proud dog mom to Lady the Basset Hound, she brings her expertise as a designer to finding stylish, functional solutions for both pets and their humans. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process and Anna Mejorada Anna Mejorada Anna Mejorada is an editor for The Spruce Pets and best friends with a Pomeranian named Gidget. She has tested hundreds of products, many with the help of Gidget, whose refined taste and cheerful nature continuously inspire Anna's work. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 03/11/26 In This Article View All In This Article Top Picks Reviews How We Picked What to Look For FAQ Why Trust The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that as pet owners, our love for our animals is as strong as the battle with constant shedding. Robot vacuums are a popular choice for this exact reason, but the decision-making process can feel overwhelming with so many different models on the market. We’ve tested over 50 robot vacuums, including mop and combo models. Vacuums were initially tested in our New York lab, where they were monitored by performing various cleaning scenarios, followed by long-term testing in the homes of real-world testers with real pets to find the vacuums that have proven themselves to be a worthwhile investment. After all of our combined testing, our favorite robot vacuum cleaner for most pet owners is the Roborock Q5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner. Top Picks Best Overall: SALE Roborock Robot Vacuum at Amazon $430 $300 Jump to Review Best Upgrade: roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ Robot Vacuum at Amazon $500 Jump to Review Best for Hardwood and Carpet: Shark Auto Charging Robotic Vacuum at Home Depot $270 Jump to Review Best Self-Emptying: iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ at Amazon $1,352 Jump to Review Best Vaccum and Mop Combo: bObsweep Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop at Home Depot $179 Jump to Review Best Overall Roborock Robot Vacuum Credit: Amazon $430 $300 at Amazon What We Like Convenient setup with the Roborock app Easy to connect to Wi-Fi Real-time room mapping allows you to program cleaning zones and avoid obstacles Powerful suction while maintaining a quiet volume What We Don’t Like While the vacuum itself is very quiet The self-emptying function is much louder Anyone who finds it difficult to maintain regular cleaning at home due to a hectic schedule should consider the Roborock Q5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner. Tested in a home with two small dogs, its use and convenience make it a favorite. To properly set the vacuum up, you must have a smartphone that can download the companion app. From there, connect to your Wi-Fi to complete the setup and create a 3D map of your home (it’s as detailed as you can imagine) to future-proof the vacuum from running into any obstacles around the house. With the help of this feature, you can designate certain areas as "no-go" zones, which serve as barriers that keep the robot vacuum from going near them. Apart from its impressive 3D room mapping features, the Roborock Q5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner truly shines due to its unexpectedly strong performance. It can handle any mess, big or small, with its 2700Pa suction, from smaller debris like standard dust and pet hair to larger items like dog kibble. Whether the robot vacuum is cleaning hard floors or carpets, it will adjust its suction to make sure that proper cleaning is getting done. And for having such a powerful suction, the vacuum generally keeps to a low noise level compared to a standard vacuum, making it an excellent choice for someone who works from home or needs to multitask while the Roborock Q5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner is doing its thing. This vacuum has 180 minutes of run time, covering up to 3,230 square feet of cleaning on a single charge, so there’s no need to worry about constantly recharging a good day’s cleaning. The dust bin can also fit a lot during one thorough clean, but you can rely on the Auto-Empty mode if it gets too full when you’re unavailable to empty the bin. When it does come time to need an energy boost, the Roborock Q5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner will maneuver its way to its home base (the docking station) to fuel up for its next endeavor. Weight: 7 pounds | Power Source: Lithium Ion Battery | Bin Volume: 470 ml | Model Number: Q5 | Maximum Runtime: 180 minutes Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Best Upgrade roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ Robot Vacuum Credit: Amazon $500 at Amazon View on Com.au What We Like Easy install Strong suction and large dust bags Spot cleaning capability What We Don’t Like Gets very loud as suction power increases At 16 pounds, the Roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ Robot Vacuum is double our top choice's weight but is jam-packed with high-quality perks to complement it. The vacuum comes assembled and ready for use — just plug it into its docking station to charge, connect to Wi-Fi, and customize all your settings. Thanks to its spacious size and large dust bags, you can enjoy up to seven weeks of stress-free cleaning, covering up to 3,767 square feet of ground. The Roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ Robot Vacuum is particularly well-loved among households with animals and children because of its powerful suction. The spot-cleaning functionality hones in on harder-to-clean areas, which can be very helpful when dealing with messy pets. The one downside to all that horsepower is the noise level that comes with it. Our testers noticed that the noise increased during higher suction settings, which is to be expected. However, some might consider that a small price to pay because of how good of a job this robot vacuum does while maneuvering around everyday items and picking up pesky dog hair debris without a problem. Weight: 16 pounds | Power Source: Lithium Ion Battery | Bin Volume: 770 ml and 2x 2.5L dust bags | Model Number: Q5 Duo Roller Plus | Maximum Runtime: 240 minutes Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Best for Hardwood and Carpet Shark Auto Charging Robotic Vacuum Credit: Shark $270 at Home Depot $270 at Wayfair $270 at Lowe's What We Like Simple setup Ability to set cleaning schedule User-friendly app What We Don’t Like No 3D mapping or self-emptying function The Shark Auto-Charging Robotic Vacuum is a great option for households looking for a powerful cleaning solution at a fraction of the cost. With its Tri-Brush system, this vacuum is effective at picking up pet hair and other debris while moving between surfaces with ease. The setup, both psychically and technologically, is simple. Once you’ve unpacked your vacuum, all you need to do is attach the side brushes, connect it to the docking station, and begin programming the vacuum through the SharkClean app. For those who don’t want to use the app, the vacuum has three buttons to control without a smartphone. While the Shark Auto-Charging Robotic Vacuum has a reputation for powerful suction, it lacks the capabilities of its competitors, such as 3D mapping and a self-emptying function for the bin. There is an option to purchase boundary strips indicating a “no-go zone” for your robot vacuum, but it comes with an added cost. Depending on your lifestyle and the size of your home, emptying the bin manually can also be inconvenient. Weight: 9.92 pounds | Power Source: Lithium Ion Battery | Bin Volume: 0.45 oz | Model Number: RV763 | Maximum Runtime: 120 minutes Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Best Self-Emptying iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ Credit: Amazon $1,352 at Amazon $1,400 at Target View on Wayfair What We Like Easy setup with Wi-Fi compatibility 3D mapping and sensors to detect objects Ability to send photos when running into obstacles What We Don’t Like Louder than other models on our list The docking station has a large footprint Cleaning a home with multiple types of surfaces can be time-consuming, but with the Robot Roomba Combo j9+, it’s a breeze. This robot vacuum can manage to switch between low-pile rugs, hardwood floors, and tile effectively. Through the iRobot Home App and Precision Vision Navigation, this vacuum can create a complete 3D model of your home, allowing it to move through rooms intuitively. The setup is simple, but you must be connected to Wi-Fi for full functionality. The vacuum includes nice-to-have features like mopping, seasonal deep cleans, daily routines, and other smart home integrations that give you a completely hands-free cleaning experience. One of the most beloved features is the vacuum’s sensors, which not only detect when there’s an unknown object in front of them but also send you a photo to determine whether the object is temporary or not. The best part? The Robot Roomba Combo j9+ has a scout’s honor, the Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P — clever!), that it will steer clear of your pet’s accidents. With 120 minutes of runtime and three levels of suction, this vacuum is powerful but comes at the cost of being a bit noisier than we’d like. And while the long-lasting battery ensures it holds a charge, some testers wished the docking station was more discrete, considering it’s a visible home base for the robot vacuum. Weight: 8.98 pounds | Power Source: Lithium Ion Battery | Bin Volume: Not available | Model Number: C975020 | Maximum Runtime: 120 minutes Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Best Vaccum and Mop Combo bObsweep Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop Credit: The Home Depot $179 at Home Depot $356 at Wayfair View on Jcpenney.com What We Like User-friendly setup Low noise level What We Don’t Like Small dust compartment No self-empty function For those looking for a no-frills vacuum cleaner, the bObsweep Pet Hair SLAM Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop might just do the trick. This vacuum cleaner does best on hardwood floors over carpet, making it a great solution for homes with lighter debris that can easily be cleaned up. The machine washable mop is a nice perk, as is the bObsweep app, which wastes no time getting up to speed on your home by handling room mapping all on its own. If you plan to use this most of the time for vacuuming rather than moping, remember that it lacks a self-emptying bin function. Weight: 6.4 pounds | Power Source: Lithium Ion Battery | Bin Volume: 600 mL dustbin and 350 mL water reservoir | Model Number: SLP231122 | Maximum Runtime: 120 minutes Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets How We Picked Hundreds of hours of first-hand testing informed our picks. To start, we tested a variety of robot vacuums in The Lab where we replicated common household flooring surfaces and sprinkled specific amounts of pet kibble or cereal and tufts of pet hair on each to challenge claims made by manufacturers. Each robot vacuum was set up and taken through several testing trials to rate and compare features and functionality. We evaluated our findings across multiple categories, including effectiveness, ability to avoid objects, ease of emptying, noise level, ease of setup, and overall value. We then narrowed down our top performers and sent each robot vacuum to at least one real home with real pets. For up to six months with regular check-ins, each tester was required to document and capture the performance of the robot vacuum in their home. They took note of how often they needed to maintain the docking station, how easy it was to keep the robot vacuum, running efficiently, whether the performance declined as time passed, and if they found the robot vacuum to be beneficial. Equipped with this information, we ranked and categorized our top picks to simplify your search for the right robot vacuum for cleaning up pet hair in your home. What to Look For Advanced Technology: 3D Mapping & Object Avoidance While not all robot vacuum cleaners come with advanced technology like 3D mapping, it has proven to be a useful functionality. By creating a virtual rendering of your home, you are programming your vacuum to become more familiar with your home with each use. Additional features like object avoidance will ensure that your vacuum recognizes any obstacles and finds a solution for how to deal with them. Some vacuums, like the Robot Roomba Combo j9+, will even send you a photo of the obstacle to determine what it should do next. If you’re worried about your pet coming into a close encounter with your robot vacuum, there are steps you can take to make the process less scary. Thomas Norway, a professional dog sitter, recommends giving treats to your pet while the vacuum is running to keep them comfortable around them. He adds, “They’ll either love it, hate it, or ignore it — but more often than not, they seem intrigued, so it’s best to get them used to it.” Self-Emptying Bins A vacuum with a self-emptying bin will add more convenience to the cleaning process, without you having to worry about when the bin is reaching its limit. Thomas agrees, sharing, “Self-emptying is a necessity. Dog fur is high volume, and the vacuum needs the ability to change the bin frequently.” This functionality is well-loved for a reason — you can start your robot vacuum and let it do its thing self-sustainably. Set it and forget it, as they say. FAQ Are robot vacuums safe to use around pets? Yes, but you should always supervise your pet when introducing a new vacuum to your space. Most dogs tend to avoid vacuums, but some might try to play with the vacuum, which could lead to damage. All of our selections are designed to avoid objects, including humans and pets, but to be on the safe side we recommend running the vacuum while you and your pet are in another room or outside. If you have a cat, they can always seek higher ground in a cat tree. How frequently should a robot vacuum be used? For maintenance of pet hair and dander, we generally recommend vacuuming flooring and upholstery once a week, but the advantage of having a robot vacuum is that it does most of the floor cleaning without you. You can let the robot vacuum clean up your flooring surfaces every day as long as you leave time for it to charge.Jessica Willis, a cleaning professional, recommends being mindful of the order in which you tackle your cleaning. She suggests, “Change beds and launder sheets before vacuuming the floor. Fluff up the sofa or take the duvet off the bed so more of your fluffy friend's hair ends up on the floor” for the robot vacuum to handle. Why Trust The Spruce Pets Daniela Araya, a writer for The Spruce Pets, updated this roundup with the latest testing insights from 2024. She is a proud owner of a Basset Hound named Lady, who luckily feels completely indifferent toward vacuums. When Daniela isn’t writing, she’s running her interior design business, creating beautiful and functional spaces while taking pride in advising others on products she can vouch for. For this story, Daniela spoke with Jessica Willis, a cleaning professional, and Thomas Norway, a professional dog sitter. A previous version was written by Anna Mejorada, an editor for The Spruce Pets, who shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget who politely leaves the room when a vacuum enters the space. Explore more: What to Buy Pet Cleaning Products