UPDATE: Jan. 6, 2022, 4:05 p.m. EST This story has been updated to reflect current sale prices and availability.
We’ve compiled the best deals on robot vacuums from brands like iRobot, Shark, and Ecovacs. Here are the ones to grab as of Jan. 6:
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BUDGET PICK: The maps your home in the app, which is rare for a vac under $150 — $149
$349.99(save $200)
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BEST BUDGET ROOMBA: The entry-level has better suction than the 600 series and is compatible with a self-empty dock — $499.99
$649.99(save $150) -
BEST ROBOT VACUUM/MOP DEAL: The uses LiDAR to vacuum and mop, then empties the mess on its own — $529.99
$799.99(save $270)
Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don’t have time. Whether you detest the chore or get a little bummed when you can’t have that satisfying dance with your Dyson, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver. Shop models on sale below.
Robot vacuums under $200:
Why we like it
Well, it happened. The months-long run of the Roomba 692 at $177 has come to an end. If you’re robot vacuum shopping on a budget, consider the Eufy G30 Verge instead. It tackles your home with basic home mapping that’s less clumsy than most vacs at this range, which rely solely on obstacle sensors.
More robot vacuums under $200
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— $139.99
$175.99(save $36) -
— $149.99
$349.99(save $200) -
— $177
$329.99(save $152.99) -
— $189.99
$279.99(save $90) -
— $189.99
$279.99(save $90) -
— $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)
Robot vacuums under $500
Why we like it
With the Roomba 692 and 694 back to full price, your best bet for the next-cheapest Roomba is the i1. (Less than $300 is still a steal coming from iRobot.) The i1 has 10 times the suction power of the 600 series Roombas, and is compatible with iRobot’s auto-empty dock.
More robot vacuums under $500
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— $209.99 $
249.99(save $40) -
— $214.99
$299.99(save $85) -
— $224.99
$349.99(save $125) -
— $349
$399.99(save $50.99) -
— $419.99
$599.99(save $180) -
— $349.99
$599.99(save $250)
Robot vacuums under $800
Why we like it
Give your corners some extra love with Neato’s newest flagship vac, the D10. Neato is known for taking on the flat edge like Roomba’s s9, but for about half the price. The LiDAR-powered D10 details along the walls and under kitchen appliances where side brushes can’t always reach well. It also has a HEPA filter.
Robot vacuums under $1,000
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— $899
$1,299.99(save $400.99)
Robot vacuum and mop hybrids and dedicated robot mops
Why we like it:
The Deebot N8 Pro+ includes fundamental smart upgrades like LiDAR mapping and virtual boundaries for customizing its cleaning path down to specific rooms or areas. It also has sensors that avoid carpets while mopping and uses 3D obstacle detection to avoid small objects that cheaper vacs usually trip over.
More hybrids and robot mops on sale
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— $239.99
$379.99(save $140) -
— $389
$449.99(save $60.99) -
— $374.99
$599.99(save $175) -
— $499.99
$599.99(save $100) -
— $498.98
$598.98(save $100) -
— $524.99
$749.99(save $225) -
— $944.98
$1049.98(save $105)
Are robot vacuums worth it?
The control of an upright vacuum comes with its own type of satisfaction. But if you’re not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task from of your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having “first day clean” floors all the time?)
But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can’t be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robovac that doesn’t do the job right — scattering dust, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — might actually create more work for you.
What to consider when buying a robot vacuum
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Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), ranging between 600 Pa to 2,500 Pa. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set up a barrier around Legos) and to pull matted-down pet hair from rugs.
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Floor type: will probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robot vacuum that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.
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Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you’ll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.
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Low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what’s accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.
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Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you’ll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 150 minutes, which translate to about 500 and 2,600 square feet covered on one charge.
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App control: WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you’re not home. Low-end models that don’t connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you’re used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.
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