Best Robot Vacuum of 2026: Shark, Eufy

Nena Farrell GearJul 31, 2026 11:53 AMThe Best Robot VacuumsTired of vacuuming? Hand the reins to a robot vacuum.Courtesy of EufyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyI've recently introduced a few friends to the power of a great robot vacuum. One of my friends calls hers a marriage saver, while the other was both thrilled and horrified by how many stains the vacuum’s AI found on her floors. Personally, my robot vacuums keep me from wanting to set the litter box on fire, since my cat is on a mission to create his own navigational trail of litter through my home.The best robot vacuums these days aren’t just vacuuming your floors, nor are they blindly bumping around your house like they used to. These gadgets are mopping, scrubbing away stains, lifting themselves off obstacles, and even reminding you to clean the dirtier areas in your home more frequently. A good robot vacuum can cost a pretty penny, but it doesn’t have to, depending on what you’re looking for. Curious about what’s the best model for you? I’ve been testing every new robot vacuum I can in my three-story home filled with three adults, a preschooler, and a cat who’s on a mission to get litter all over the house.Here are the best robot vacuum cleaners I’ve tried this year, and everything we really liked from recent years. Looking for more vacuum ideas? Don't miss our guides to the Best Dyson Vacuums, Best Cordless Vacuums, Best Vacuums for Pet Hair, Best Carpet Cleaners, and Best Vacuums.Updated July 2026: I’ve added details about the new FCC ban that will affect future robot vacuums.The Best Robot VacuumsThe Best Robot VacuumShark PowerDetect UV RevealJump to review$1,300 $850 (35% off) AmazonThe Best Robot Vacuum on a BudgetEufy Omni C28Jump to review$800 $520 (35% off) AmazonTable of ContentsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWhat’s a Robot Vacuum?Can You Use Robot Vacuums on All Kinds of Floors?What Will Your Robot Vacuum Need?How Often to Maintain Your Robot VacuumDid Robot Vacuums Just Get Banned?The Best Robot Vacuums of 2026Honorable MentionsOther Robot Vacuums We’ve TestedHow I Test Robot VacuumsFrequently Asked QuestionsDo You Still Need a Regular Vacuum if You Have a Robot Vacuum?Do You Need a Self-Emptying Dock?What’s a Robot Vacuum?A robot vacuum is an automated vacuum, usually shaped like a round disc, that moves around your house to vacuum (and mop, as many models these days include mopping) on your behalf. You might’ve heard some refer to these devices as “Roombas,” which is the brand that made the concept popular, but today just about every cleaning brand—from high-end Dyson to affordable Bissell—makes some kind of robot vacuum. They come with either a charging station or a larger docking station that can self-empty.Can You Use Robot Vacuums on All Kinds of Floors?You can, especially since there are so many mopping models now to better clean hard flooring. You can use these devices on anything from hardwood to LVP and tile, though I wouldn't recommend leaving smaller rugs out for these autonomous gadgets to get stuck on. Large, set rugs are fine, but bathroom and kitchen mats or any thin, easily moved rugs should be cleared out of the way and put in the wash instead of vacuumed by your robot vac.What Will Your Robot Vacuum Need?There are a few things most robot vacuums will need to work properly:Space around the base station. Many robot vacuum manuals recommend at least a foot of clearance on three of the four sides of the vacuum’s base station to ensure it has room to return home.A good Wi-Fi signal. If your robot vacuum connects to Wi-Fi, as many do these days for app control and software updates, it’ll need a strong connection wherever it’s placed. Most of them can only connect to the 2.4 GHz wireless band, so make sure you have that (and choose only that band when you’re setting up if your Wi-Fi shows those bands separately). Confused? Check out our guide to setting up your smart home.Regular maintenanc