The 12 Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair

Updated Oct 8, 2024 8:06 am ET


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Pet hair gets everywhere, and nothing is more annoying than having to constantly sweep or vacuum it up. That’s doubly true if you have more than one pet, like a few dogs or cats (or both).

But you can make life easier with a robot vacuum. As you research, look for the following features:

  • The ability to work on hard floors and pile carpet alike
  • Good pick-up capabilities for pet hair, dandruff, and dander
  • Good battery run time. This means pet owners won’t have to constantly recharge their vacuum in the middle of picking up dirt their pet tracked in, or wads of dog hair.
  • Cordless functionality. You can enjoy maximum cleaning performance without worrying about your dog hair vacuum running over its own cord.
  • Good filtration systems for the dirt and debris the vacuum does pick up.
  • Smart features. Using your vacuum with a smart speaker or mobile app makes starting and ending cleaning sessions a breeze.

Here are 12 of the top picks for the best robot vacuums for pet hair. You can find many of these top picks at Walmart, Best Buy, and other retailers.

Best for Customized Cleaning: eufy Anker RoboVac X8 – Robot Vacuum Pet Hair

Key specs: 2000Pa suction, 180-minute battery

This is one of the best robot vacuums overall thanks to its customization options, suction power, and lengthy battery life. This eufy RoboVac X8 will be an excellent addition to your household, particularly if you have to fight debris and pet hair frequently.

Pros

There’s plenty to like about this robot vacuum for pet hair:

  • Allows you to customize cleaning areas and specific rooms or no-go zones with a proprietary app
  • Uses artificial intelligence for floor scanning and obstacle avoidance
  • Tightly packs dust into the dust box to improve volume utilization and reduce the number of emptying trips
  • Cleans up to 57.6% more pet hair compared to other vacuum robots with twin turbines
  • iPath laser navigation easily detects obstacles and guides the robot vacuum underneath couches and other furniture

Cons

However, there are also some downsides you should think about before buying this option:

  • Not the quietest vacuum cleaner on the market
  • Works primarily on carpets, but does not do as good of a job on hardwood floors because of its turbines and bristles (though it still does a decent job)

Best for Self-Emptying Functionality: iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO (3550) Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum

Key specs: 3550Pa suction, 75-minute battery

The Roomba i3+ EVO is an excellent robot vacuum for pet hair, general debris cleaning, and everything in between. Powerful suction, a self-emptying base, and other impressive features make this a go-to choice for fans of automated household assistants.

Pros

If you’re considering this household robot vacuum, check out these benefits:

  • Automatically disposes of dirt into an enclosed bag that captures 99% of particles down to 0.7 microns
  • Base holds 60 days’ worth of cleanings before needing to be emptied
  • Uses patented dirt detect technology to find and clean the dirtier areas of your home through integrated sensors and smart technology
  • Creates an imprint smart map, enabling you to direct the robot vacuum wherever you want with object recognition to avoid bumps
  • Two rubber brushes that adapt to different floor types

Cons

At the same time, don’t forget to consider the possible downsides you may encounter:

  • Battery life could be a bit better, as it’s only functional for a little over an hour before it needs to recharge
  • Requires extra accessories and replacement kits to get maximum value for money

Best for General Pet Hair Cleaning: roborock Q5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Key specs: 2700Pa suction, 180-minutes battery

This robot vacuum cleaner is a top choice for pet hair cleaning overall thanks to navigation, a unique suction power setup and meet turbines, and the ability to work with voice control software. All of these elements make it a fantastic overall robot vacuum, not just for pet hair by itself.

Pros

Should you give this robot vacuum a try, you’ll see several major advantages right off the bat:

  • The ideal robot vacuum for pet hair overall on carpets or hardwood floors thanks to its suction power
  • Compatible with auto-empty dock (sold separately) to automatically collect dust and hold up to seven weeks’ worth of debris
  • Creates accurate maps using LiDAR navigation and saves up to four maps
  • Large onboard battery allows the robot vacuum to clean up to 3,230 square feet on a single charge
  • Convenient app allows control and customization
  • Works through voice control with smart speakers like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Siri

Cons

This vacuum may have a few potential downsides — take a look:

  • Can be fairly loud, thanks to the powerful suction
  • Some of the cleaning bristles can be caught in carpet or around furniture pieces from time to time

Best for Quick Cleaning: ILIFE V5s Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo with Wi-Fi/App/Alexa, Automatic Self-Charging Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

Key specs: 1700Pa suction, 110-minute battery

This robot vacuum for pet hair is notable for its quick cleaning functionality. It’s a great choice if you want a robot vacuum to quickly and easily pick up pet hair and debris on hardwood or carpet floors. On top of that, it comes with a built-in mopping pad for added ease of use and overall convenience.

Pros

Many who own this robot vacuum find it to be a great choice for a variety of reasons:

  • Easy to set up, enabling you to quickly place it on the ground and facilitate a quick clean in a matter of minutes
  • Vacuums and mops thanks to the 300-milliliter water tank, so it can clean up dust and debris from carpet and hardwood floors
  • Intelligent water control tank has three levels for water outlet depending on the floor type
  • Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Several high-efficiency cleaning modes you can choose from
  • Automatic charging functionality means it’s totally hands-free
  • Low-profile design allows this robot vacuum to navigate under small furniture pieces without trouble

Cons

That said, there are some notable disadvantages you might encounter if you give it a try:

  • Not the most durable robot vacuum for pet hair
  • Water tank can sometimes leak, which may lead to messes you then have to clean up

Best for Self-Cleaning: Shark IQ Robot Vacuum AV970 Self-Cleaning Brushroll

Key specs: 2500Pa suction, 90-minute battery

With a reasonably good battery and self-cleaning functionality, the Shark IQ Robot Vacuum is among the best vacuums for pet hair and other debris. The extra-large dustbin pairs with a special high-efficiency filter, which could reduce the amount of allergens and allergic reactions throughout your household.

Pros

Check out the major advantages of this robot vacuum before you buy it:

  • Totally self-cleaning, featuring a unique brush roll that doesn’t require you to clean up pet hair or other debris periodically
  • You can schedule cleanings of your entire home using the proprietary app or a voice control smart home system
  • Automatically recharges and continues cleaning where it left off
  • Has an extra large capacity dustbin and high-efficiency filter to get rid of pet allergens
  • Uses dual spinning side brushes to get debris from corners and edges

Cons

At the same time, don’t forget to think about the cons you could find should you go through with the purchase:

  • Not appropriate for hardwood floors compared to carpet floors (although it can still get the job done)
  • Battery life isn’t the best in the industry, though this is somewhat overcome by the fact that the robot automatically recharges itself

Best for Premium Cleaning: ECOVACS DEEBOT N10 PLUS Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo with Auto-Empty Station

Key specs: 3800Pa suction, 330-minute battery

This powerful robot vacuum is a premium, high-priced cleaning solution. While you’ll need to fork over plenty of cash to afford the DEEBOT N10 PLUS, it might still be worthwhile if you want a set-it-and-forget-it robot vacuum that will do a phenomenal job of cleaning your carpets and hardwood floors without any input from you.

Pros

In truth, there are plenty of advantages associated with this robot vacuum:

  • This premium, pricey robot vacuum for pet hair guarantees hands-free cleaning for 60 days thanks to the long-lasting battery and high-powered suction
  • Precisely maps your home with LiDAR and dToF sensors, enabling maximum pet hair and other debris suction across the board
  • Multiple floor mapping makes this a great choice for homes with more than one level
  • Holds two months’ worth of vacuum debris before it needs to be emptied
  • Has an automatic seal in the dust bag, so the mess is totally contained when you go to throw it away
  • Can mop and clean up carpet and is smart enough to avoid the carpet during mopping to ensure that every surface gets the exact cleaning it needs

Cons

As noted above, there’s only one big downside you should keep in mind before finalizing this purchase — this option is pretty expensive compared to other robot vacuums, so it may only be appropriate for some users.

Best for Vacuuming and Mopping: ZCWA Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo, 2 in 1 Mopping Robotic Vacuum with WiFi/App/Alexa

Key specs: 1400Pa suction, 100-minute battery

Maybe you’re in the market for something that can vacuum and mop your house’s floors equally well. In that case, this robot vacuum could be just the ticket. Not only can clean up pet hair capably, but it can also get rid of other dirt, debris, and hardwood floor smudges when you set it up and choose the cleaning mode you wish to use.

Pros

You’ll find that this robot vacuum comes packed with major advantages when you give it a try:

  • A fantastic dual vacuuming and mopping robot device, featuring somewhat mediocre suction but good mopping functionality
  • Controlled with voice commands through Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Small and slim design, with a height of just 2.87 inches
  • Mop function automatically kicks in when the vacuum goes on a hardwood floor, making it a solid choice for pet hair cleanup on hardwood floors and kitchens
  • Four different cleaning modes available, including automatic cleaning, spot cleaning, edge cleaning, and zig-zag cleaning

Cons

Even so, you’ll also notice a couple of downsides once you power it up for the first time:

  • A little noisy at 65 decibels
  • Suction power is mediocre at best, so it’s not the overall best robot vacuum for cleaning up pet hair on carpets

Best for Affordability: AIRROBO Robot Vacuum Cleaner with 2800Pa Suction Power

Key specs: 2800Pa suction, 120-minute battery

A long-term battery, good suction, and overall affordability make this robot vacuum cleaner the best budget choice for consumers looking to save. You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the convenience of a robot vac, so if you’ve always dreamed about not having to pick up pet hair yourself, consider getting this robot vacuum a try.

Pros

Affordability isn’t the only thing this robot vacuum brings to the table (or the floor):

  • Uses proprietary floating scraper strip designs to help the suction inlet fit a variety of different floor types and clean pet hair and fine dust within gaps in tiles
  • Picks up pet hair and debris on all surfaces
  • Easy to set up app gives you extra customization and control options
  • Comes with a separate remote control so you can use it without a Wi-Fi network
  • Good battery life
  • Reasonably quiet when you choose the quiet mode with the proprietary app
  • Comes with a 12-month warranty

Cons

That said, remember that you get what you pay for, and you might find a few downsides when you try using this robot vacuum:

  • Not the best for hardwood floors
  • Vacuum durability is questionable, so you may need to replace it in a year or so
  • Dustbin capacity is not large, so you’ll need to empty it frequently

Best for Multi-Floor Mopping: HONITURE Robot Vacuum Cleaner, G20 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo 3 in 1

Key specs: 4000Pa suction, 120-minute battery

Many of the best robot vacuums for pet hair can mop as well as clean up carpets. This robot vacuum does both quite well and has high-powered suction. That’s a good thing for pet owners, as it means that it will be able to suck up pet hair that tangles in carpets pretty easily without getting stuck or delayed.

Pros

In addition to the above, check out these major benefits of using this robot vacuum:

  • Self-charging functionality so you never need to worry about it running out of battery
  • Intelligent gyroscope navigation automatically scans indoor conditions and maps during cleaning to ensure it never repeats the same area
  • Four different cleaning modes to choose
  • Mopping mode kicks in automatically when the vacuum goes over a hardwood floor surface
  • Electric control water tank has three different levels of water volume and a 250-milliliter capacity
  • Two-year warranty is available

Cons

Before you buy, you should think about these downsides so you get the best robot mop or vacuum for your needs:

  • Not very durable, and the water tank can leak over the floor if it isn’t fitted precisely
  • While adjustable suction is nice, it means that this can also be a somewhat loud vacuum

Best for Cleaning Modes: Lefant Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Key specs: 1800Pa suction, 100-minute battery

You need a versatile robot vacuum if you want to clean not just pet hair but other debris. The Lefant Robot Vacuum cleaner has several cleaning modes that you can engage based on your preferences or what you see needs to be cleaned. Thanks to this customization, it’s a good choice for attentive homeowners who want their vacuum to be tailored to their day-to-day requirements.

Pros

There’s a lot to like about this robot vacuum cleaner — take a look:

  • This robot vacuum cleaner has a variety of cleaning modes, including automatic cleaning, edge cleaning, spot cleaning, and zigzag cleaning, which you can switch between using the proprietary app
  • Several power levels
  • Uses anti-collision infrared sensors so it doesn’t bump into furniture and other debris
  • Also comes with anti-dropping sensors to stop the robot vacuum from falling off the stairs
  • Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa
  • Has a 500-milliliter dustbin, plus two HEPA filters and four side brushes, so there’s a lot of value for money here

Cons

Simultaneously, there are some things to dislike when you power this robot vac up for the first time:

  • Can be a little loud, even though the suction power isn’t the most impressive on the market
  • Doesn’t mop by default without a separate purchase
  • Battery life could be a bit better

Best for Smart Mapping: Laresar Robot Vacuum and Mop with Auto Dirt Disposal

Key specs: 3500Pa suction, 250-minute battery

Robots are becoming smarter every year, and nowhere is that more apparent than with this robot vacuum. Not only can it vacuum your carpets capably, but it can also clean up pet hair and other debris from hardwood floors. Automatic dirt disposal and smart mapping make it a top choice for complex households or homes with many rooms.

Pros

There are so many advantages to this robot that there are almost too many to count:

  • Smart mapping creates active, highly precise maps of your home as it works, facilitating quick and efficient cleaning
  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant apps
  • Swaps between sweeping, mopping, and both automatically depending on the type of floor
  • Easy to start up for the first time
  • Has a two-year warranty service
  • Dustbin is reasonably sized and doesn’t need to be emptied frequently

Cons

That said, this vacuum is a little expensive compared to other robot vacuums on the market, so it may not be the best choice for every case.

Best for Clean Scanning: Proscenic M8 Robot Vacuum, Lidar Navigation, 3-in-1 Robotic Vacuum and Mop with 3000Pa Strong Suction

Key specs: 3000Pa suction, 120-minute battery

The best robot vacuums for pet hair can scan their surroundings and won’t repeat the same areas more than once. The M8 Robot Vacuum does that and more, offering a variety of advanced features that make it a truly premium cleaning solution.

Pros

You might like this robot vacuum for a wide range of reasons:

  • Uses a laser distance sensor to scan 360 degrees all day and night and maximize cleaning efficiency
  • Has an upgraded laser navigation system to remember the layout of your home
  • Works with smart voice control
  • Has three levels of adjustable suction power depending on your needs and your pet hair levels
  • Has a two-in-one dust box and water tank to ensure that dust doesn’t get free once it’s picked up
  • Comes with a variety of accessories like a remote control and cloth mop holder
  • Has mopping functionality

Cons

You may, however, find this robot vacuum isn’t right for you, given its disadvantages:

  • A little loud when at full power
  • Water tank is not large, so it doesn’t mop for very long

The Bottom Line

Any of these robot vacuums could be just what you’re looking for to clean up after your furry friends. For instance, the ECOVACS DEEBOT N10 PLUS Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo with Auto-Empty Station is the best choice if you want to set and forget your robot vacuum while guaranteeing excellent results. Meanwhile, the roborock Q5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner is arguably the best pet hair robot vacuum overall, thanks to its consistency and depth of cleaning. Consider each model’s specifications and price, then purchase a new robot vacuum for your own home!

Sources:

Chase Clements

Chase Clements

Author McClatchy Commerce

Based in Kansas City, Chase Clements is the Commerce Content Operations Manager. He has many years of experience as a Commerce Writer and Editor for McClatchy.