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The best robot vacuums for pet hair: Expert tested
Let's face it, one of the worst parts about owning pets is the constant shedding. Between my German Shepherd, German Shorthaired Pointer, and cat, the fur dust bunnies in my house are terrifying. The only thing that keeps my floors clean without manually vacuuming every single day is my robot vacuum. Truly, it is one of my favorite items in my home.
Also: The best robot vacuum mops you can buy
What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair right now?
Since there are so many robot vacuums to choose from, you may be wondering which is best for your home. I've tested dozens of robot vacuums at home and through everyday life, and my top robot vacuum choice to tackle pet hair is the Roomba j7+ due to its self-emptying dust bin and iRobot's Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P. guarantee). However, depending on your floor type and how much your pet sheds, there are several other robot vacuum options worth considering.
The best robot vacuums for pet hair of 2024
- Self-emptying
- Intelligent
- Smart Mapping technology
- User-friendly app
- Loud when it self-empties
Roomba j7+ features: P.O.O.P. -- pet waste avoidance | PrecisionVision Navigation | 3-stage cleaning system | Clean Base automatic dirt disposal | Price: $525
My favorite robot vacuum on the market right now is the Roomba j7+. Many robot vacuums come in and out of my home for testing, but this one vacuum has a permanent spot in my kitchen.
Part of why it's so loved within my household is because it can handle all of the pet hair on my floor, whether it's been just a day or several days since it last ran. How? Because the robot self-empties as soon as the dust bin is full instead of waiting until the end of the job, like other robot vacuums. If it is peak shedding season, it's common for the j7+ to empty four or five times during a single job, never leaving any pet hair behind.
On top of that, it's simply an intelligent robot. The j7+ comes with the P.O.O.P guarantee, an innovative promise from the manufacturer that the robot vacuum will avoid pet waste instead of creating accidental smearing, or iRobot will replace your robot at no additional cost. This means the robot vacuum is also good at avoiding pet toys, shoes, cords, and other household objects.
Customers agree, touting the vacuum's ability to navigate obstacles and deliver clean floors. One reviewer commented, "The AI never ceases to amaze me. This thing makes decisions about which room to vacuum next (unless you tell it to vacuum a specific room), goes around wires and I hear even pet poop (I don't have that problem in my house). It's very good at suction and goes slow enough to do a bang of a job cleaning the carpet."
- Dual 4000Pa suction
- Self-emptying
- No obstacle avoidance
Eufy X8 Pro features: Dual TurboCyclone Suction | iPath Laser Navigation | BoostIQ | Price: $400
The Eufy X8 Pro is a midrange two-in-one machine that keeps my carpets and rugs clean. The Dual TurboCyclone Suction has four different settings and paired with the BoostIQ, the robot intelligently ramps up the suction when it encounters soft flooring. Dog and cat hair was easily lifted away, leaving behind beautiful carpet lines in its path.
The X8 Pro is equipped with iPath Laser Navigation, so it will map your home and clean it in efficient rows, but it isn't equipped with object detection. You'll be impressed with its cleaning capabilities if you can live with picking up your floors before the X8 Pro runs.
Even without object detection, pet owners rave about the X8 Pro's cleaning ability. One customer said, "I'm thrilled with this purchase. I can walk around in socks or bare feet comfortably, and when my fam stops by unannounced I don't have to rush to clean up or be embarrassed that I can't keep up with all the things."
- Cordless vacuum, robot vacuum, and mop in one
- 8,700Pa suction
- Dual oscillating mop heads
- Object avoidance could be better
- Pricey
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Complete features: 15mm Auto Mop Lifting | Dual laser LiDAR navigation | OZMO Turbo 2.0 Spinning Mopping system | 210 minute runtime | Cordless vacuum | Price: $1500
If you're looking for a powerhouse robot vacuum and mop, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Complete is the machine for you. This 3-in-1 machine has 8,700Pa of suction power, dual rotating mop heads, a cordless vacuum for quick cleanups, and an Omni Station that does your dirty work. You can use the cordless vacuum to pick up pet hair from your area rugs or clean up crumbs from your couch, then set it to charge on the Omni station and watch as the contents of its dustbin automatically empty into the dust bag within.
The AI-powered Robot intelligently navigates your home and recognizes your soft floors, carpet, and rugs versus tile, hardwood, or laminate. The mop heads can lift 0.60 inches, easily keeping your rugs dry during cleaning.
The Deebot X2 Combo Complete has easily kept up with my three (messy) kids and my mutt mixed with some of the hairiest breeds -- Husky, Golden Retriever, Coonhound, and German Shepherd. I think that should speak for itself. Being a robot vacuum and mop, you can rest assured that your pet's hair will be vacuumed while the dirty paw prints are washed away.
Customer reviews agree with my assessment: "The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo engineers, designers and programmers did their homework and then went out and built an incredible, not just vacuum but a solidly built system that shines in its accomplishment."
Review: This robot vacuum and mop combo is the most convenient one I've ever used
- Dual oscillating mop heads
- 5,000Pa suction
- Mop head self-cleaning as often as every 6 minutes
- Giant docking station
- Mop heads have to be manually removed
Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni features: OZMO Turbo 2.0 dual mop rotating system | 5000Pa Suction | Multi-floor Mapping | Price: $600
Another Ecovacs lands itself on the list, and for good reason. The Deebot T10 Omni is another fantastic option to keep your floors free and clear of pet hair. With 5,000Pa suction, it has more than enough power to suck up everything in its path. You'll notice the massive docking station when you first look at the machine. That's because this two-in-one machine is self-cleaning, self-drying, and self-emptying. The only manual intervention needed is taking the mop heads on and off as you transition from just vacuuming to vacuuming and mopping.
I love the Deebot T10 Omni because of how efficiently it can clean up after my dogs in a single run. My dogs run in and out of my back door more times than I can count; I would send the T10 Omni to clean that back room,m and it was always completely free of dog hair and paw prints in a single go. You will love this robot vacuum for pet hair if your home is primarily hardwood, tile, or laminate instead of numerous rugs and carpets.
Buyers love the T10 Omni's ease of use, suction power, and mapping capabilities. One said, "It's definitely smart. I've had 2 other vacs and hesitated on this one because of past experiences. This one is WAY smarter. The mapping is crazy... it's scary accurate and you can manually add furniture in the app to the 3D map."
Review: This robot vacuum mop combo has a brilliant self-cleaning feature I didn't know I needed
- Simple
- Small charging dock
- Strong suction
- No mapping capability
- Can't self empty
Shark ION AV751 features: Tri-Brush System | Cliff detection | 120 minute run time | Price: $240
If you're looking for a simple, straightforward robot vacuum that can tackle your home without the fancy bells and whistles, the Shark ION AV751 is for you. This is one of the easier robot vacuums to use -- you hit the clean button on the machine, and it goes to work. But don't let the simplicity fool you; this machine could suction up everything in its path. It doesn't automatically empty, and it doesn't map your home, so it just bumps around cleaning, but it simply gets the job done.
You may have to pick the Shark ION up and place it in the room you want it to clean, but I exclusively used this robot vacuum for several weeks, and it kept up with all of my pet hair and dirt.
This is a pretty popular Shark robot vacuum, and it maintains a high rating despite its popularity, which speaks volumes of its performance. One buyer commented, "With a Basset hound, it does an amazing job of keeping the house livable in between my own vacuum/mop jobs. I'm a firm believer in doing a deep clean with a larger vacuum, but with this running in between, my house is HUGELY improved."
Review: Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV751 review: Great suction for a cheap vac
- 6,000 Pa suction
- Reactive 3D Obstacle Avoidance
- Self-cleaning mop head
- Expensive
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra features: Dual rubber brushes | VibraRise 2.0 scrubbing technology | Hands-free docking station | Price: $1000
If you're like me and completely fed up with the mess your pet's fur makes in your home, and you're ready to buy the very best robot vacuum money can buy, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is your machine. This is a hands-free experience -- it's self-emptying, self-drying, self-washing, self-refilling, and self-cleaning. It also has dual rubber brushes and VibraRise 2.0 scrubbing technology to clean your floors.
Pet hair doesn't stand a chance against the 6,000Pa suction power, and thanks to those dual rubber brushes I mentioned, hair doesn't get tangled up and clogged. I love the straightforward simplicity of two-in-one machines, and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is no different. The per hair dust bunnies haven't stood a chance in my home against it.
Reviewers love how reliable the S8 Pro Ultra is and how well it cleans. One said, "This robot has been excellent. It vacuums and scrubs the floors better than my previous separate robots! It maps everything well, rarely gets stuck, doesn't miss anything, and leaves the house feeling clean! I run it automatically 3 days a week and use the Roborock liquid cleaning solution added to the water tank. I couldn't be happier!"
Review: Roborock S8 Pro Ultra: This 2-in-1 vacuum can do just about everything
What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair?
With thousands of hours of testing, I feel confident that the Roomba j7+ is the best robot vacuum to handle pet hair. Its ability to navigate my home easily, to self-empty as needed throughout a job, and its promise to avoid pet waste make this my top pick.
See how it compares to other models I enjoy using to keep up with my pets.
Best robot vacuum for pet hair | Cost | Battery life | Mopping capability |
Roomba j7+ | $699 | 80 mins | No |
Eufy X8 Pro | $400 | 180 mins | Yes |
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Complete | $1000 | 200 mins | Yes |
Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni | $600 | 150 mins | Yes |
Shark ION AV751 | $240 | 120 mins | No |
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra | $1000 | 180 mins | Yes |
*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.
Which robot vacuum is best for you?
There are hundreds of robot vacuums, so how do you know which is best for you? Here's a quick breakdown:
Choose this robot vacuum if… | If you… |
Roomba j7+ | Want the best robot vacuum to handle all of your pet hair. It's intelligent, has strong suction power, and will avoid pet accidents. |
Eufy X8 Pro | Need a robot vacuum that can successfully tackle a lot of carpets and/or rugs. |
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Complete | Have multiple flooring surfaces throughout your house that must be vacuumed and mopped. |
Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni | Have primarily hard floors throughout your house and very limited carpet/rugs. |
Shark ION AV751 | Want a simple, straightforward robot vacuum without all the bells and whistles. |
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra | Want a premium robot vacuum and mop machine that can keep up with all the pet hair and paw prints scattered throughout your house. |
How did I choose these robot vacuums?
I've tested dozens of robot vacuums, bringing them into my home and going up against real-life dirt, debris, and pet hair. You can rest assured knowing that whatever dirt and debris you have in your home, I most likely have it in mine. Each robot is evaluated on factors such as:
- Effectiveness: The most important factor is whether the robot vacuum successfully did its job and did it well.
- Battery: A robot vacuum is of little use when it is constantly dead, so we look for those with longer battery life, which means they spend more time cleaning and less time charging.
- Mapping: Robot vacuums can create a floor blueprint with a special mapping feature. It helps to avoid unnecessary collisions with furniture and other objects that can serve as obstructions.
- Connectivity: Many of the best robot vacuums offer voice control, some even with Alexa. Others may feature an app that allows you to control your robot from afar, setting schedules, tracking progress, and controlling the machine's efforts.
- Cost: Budget is always a concern, so we look for models that fit various budgets, offering something for everyone.
How often do you have to empty robot vacuums?
Four of the five vacuums on this list are self-emptying, so you don't have to worry about manually dumping the dust bin after every use. However, there are many on the market that you need to manually empty. How often you empty your robot vacuum dustbin depends on how much dirt, debris, and pet hair you have in your home. It's good to be realistic about your home's needs and proactive about emptying so your vacuum can continue suctioning up as much dirt as possible during its job.
The self-emptying robot vacuums are typically emptied into a dust bag stored in the base station. The dust bags vary from one brand to another, but you can typically get around 60 days' worth of dirt and debris before needing to change the bag out.
Are there reccurring expenses for robot vacuums?
Most robot vacuums encourage you to replace the filter, rollers, and side sweeping brushes periodically to keep it performing optimally. Additionally, if your robot empties into a dust bag, it must be replaced every couple of months. Finally, some robot vacuum mops require a mop-cleaning solution that must be repurchased throughout the robot's lifetime.
Can robot vacuums avoid pet accidents?
Robot vacuums are becoming increasingly intelligent with each new device, and they can now avoid various objects in your home, including pet waste. iRobot and Roborock are two robot vacuum companies claiming their devices can identify and avoid running over pet waste.
Can robot vacuums handle multiple flooring surfaces?
Each robot vacuum brand specifies what flooring surface their machine is optimized for, so it's important to research that before you swipe your credit card. Our favorite robot vacuums for pet hair are optimized for these flooring surfaces:
Robot vacuum | Flooring surface |
Roomba j7+ | Carpet, hardwood, hard surfaces |
Eufy X8 Pro | Hard floor, carpet, wood, tile |
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Complete | Hardwood floor, carpet, tile |
Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni | Carpet, wood floor |
Shark ION AV751 | Hard floor, hardwood, carpet |
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra | Carpet, marble, wood, tile, upholstery |
Are there alternative robot vacuums for pet hair worth considering?
There are a lot of great robot vacuums on the market, so I obviously couldn't include every single one. Here are a few other worthy contenders: