The Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair

One of the biggest downsides of more basic robot vacuums is their inability to detect objects in their path. That means they can become tangled in electronic cords or make an even bigger mess out of pet messes. The iRobot Roomba j7 avoids these pitfalls by automatically detecting obstacles using PrecisionVision navigation. It will even send users a photo of the object so they can decide whether it should clean up the mess or avoid it entirely.

The j7’s three-stage cleaning system uses an edge-sweeping brush to clean along walls and corners and patented dual multisurface rubber brushes, which adjust to different floor types and don’t get tangled with pet hair. Imprint Smart Mapping allows users to schedule and customize their cleanings using an app that stores maps of the home for more efficient navigation.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 75 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: Yes
• Smart mapping: Yes

Pros

• PrecisionVision navigation allows the j7 to avoid pet messes and other obstacles
• Rubber brushes adjust to different floor types and don’t get tangled with pet hair
• Smart mapping allows the vacuum to clean more quickly and efficiently

Cons

• The j7 features a shorter battery life than some other recommended models

Get the iRobot Roomba j7 robot vacuum at Amazon, The Home Depot, Target, Best Buy, or iRobot.

This sleek and affordable robot vacuum model is ideal for hardwood, laminate, tile, and stone floors. It boasts a tangle-free design that prevents pet hair and debris from clogging its intake system, allowing it to achieve continuous cleaning. Its low-height design navigates awkward spaces where clumps of pet hair can accumulate, like under beds and furniture.

The vacuum operates via a handy remote control or a one-touch auto-clean button. Three built-in infrared sensors underneath the unit intelligently detect stairs and other pitfalls to avoid. It has a runtime of up to 100 minutes, and if the onboard system senses the battery is running low, it automatically returns to the docking station to recharge.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 100 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: No
• Smart mapping: No

Pros

• The low-profile design allows this vacuum to clean under low-lying furniture
• Automatically returns to the docking station to charge as needed
• The brush is tangle-free and won’t be impacted by pet hair

Cons

• This model doesn’t feature smart mapping or obstacle avoidance

Get the ILife robot vacuum at Amazon or ILife.

The Roomba i3+ robot vacuum is the ultimate in “set-it-and-forget-it” convenience. After each cleaning, this savvy helper empties itself into an allergen-sealed bag that traps 99 percent of mold, pet dander, and pollen. The bag can take up to 60 days to fill—so it might be months of use before users have to think about the vacuum again.

This powerful suction machine uses dual multisurface rubber brushes that don’t get tangled with pet hair. While cleaning, a high-efficiency filter traps 99 percent of dog and cat allergens. For even more operating convenience, users can interface with the machine through Alexa, Google Assistant, or the iRobot home app. A patented dirt detector senses the high-traffic areas of the floors and gives them a more thorough cleaning. Smart navigation, self-emptying technology, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence make this robot vacuum an easy choice for upgrading a cleaning routine.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 75 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: No
• Smart mapping: Yes

Pros

• This model is ideal for allergy sufferers due to its innovative vacuum bag
• Self-emptying function prevents users from getting their hands dirty
• Smart connectivity offers added convenience and allows for voice control

Cons

• Some users have reported issues with this model’s mapping system

Get the iRobot Roomba i3+ robot vacuum at Amazon, The Home Depot, Best Buy, Target, or iRobot.

Loud vacuum cleaners can cause anxiety for some furry friends. An effective way to help mitigate this may be the Eufy RoboVac, which runs at 55 decibels—just over the noise level of a standard conversation. Though quiet, this robot vacuum works hard, with multiple cleaning settings and programmable vacuuming times to ensure an effortless, thorough home cleaning.

At only 2.85 inches tall, it easily gets under beds and furniture to do its job. An onboard drop-sensing technology helps it avoid damage from falling off ledges or down stairs. The extra-large 0.6-liter dustbin lets the unit pick up ample amounts of dust, dirt, and hair, allowing it to take full advantage of up to 100 minutes of continuous cleaning.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 100 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: Yes
• Smart mapping: No

Pros

• At a noise level of just 55 decibels, this vacuum will be less disturbing for pets
• The vacuum’s slim profile allows it to clean under low-lying furniture
• Automatically adjusts suction power as needed for tougher messes

Cons

• Some users report suction issues when used on hard floors

Get the Eufy RoboVac 11S robot vacuum at Amazon or Eufy.

The ReactiveAI technology in the Roborock vacuum is powered by a camera, allowing it to recognize and bypass everyday objects. These objects include items like power strips, pedestals, and perhaps most importantly for animal lovers, pet waste. After all, accidents happen, and buyers wouldn’t want an appliance running over them and making matters worse.

With a powerful suction strength of 5,100 pascals (Pa), this vacuum provides a deeper clean than many other machines. It also features a Sonic mopping system that intelligently transitions between mopping hard floors and vacuuming carpet. A LiDAR (laser-based radar) advanced algorithmic system enables accurate automatic room recognition and navigation. Multilevel mapping systems can be programmed for up to four floors, with No-Mop zones, No-Go zones, and invisible barriers on each floor. Choose between a phone app or voice commands to operate this unit via Siri, Alexa, or a Google assistant. Set schedules, allocate water flow, clean specific rooms, and more with simple voice instructions.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 180 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: Yes
• Smart mapping: Yes

Pros

• 5,100 Pa suction provides extremely powerful performance
• The LiDAR navigation system enables the device to map out an entire home for efficient cleaning
• Obstacle avoidance ensures that the vacuum doesn’t spread pet messes

Cons

• Some users report that setting up this device was difficult

Get the Roborock robot vacuum at Amazon or Roborock.

Those who suffer from allergies (even to their own pets) might be best with a vacuum that can suck up, not stir up, what they’re sensitive to. The iRobot Roomba i6+ has a high-efficiency filter that separates almost all the microscopic allergens hiding in carpets and on hard floors from the air that it expels back into the room. The Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal allows the vacuum to empty itself for up to 60 days without user intervention.

The iRobot Roomba i6+ features a sophisticated mapping system called Imprint Smart Mapping, which learns the dimensions of a home and allows users to control which rooms are cleaned at what time.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 75 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: No
• Smart mapping: Yes

Pros

• An efficient filtration system traps up to 99.99 percent of allergens
• The Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal allows the vacuum to empty itself
• The Smart Mapping system creates maps of a user’s home

Cons

• Since this model doesn’t have obstacle avoidance, it’s not ideal for dealing with pet accidents

Get the iRobot Roomba i6+ robot vacuum at Amazon or Target.

At 4,000 Pa of powerful suction, Tesvor‘s innovative Supclean technology provides deep cleaning to penetrate carpet pile and crevices in floors to eliminate pet hair, dander, and other dirt and debris. The energy-rich 5200-milliamp-hour (mAh) battery provides up to 150 minutes of continuous cleaning power.

There are four adjustable cleaning modes, including a quiet mode to use near sleeping babies or easily spooked pets. Built-in sensors boast ultrasensitive anti-drop and anti-collision detectors to protect furniture and stop the unit from falling off ledges or down stairs. Users can interact with the onboard system via the downloadable app or Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 150 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: Yes
• Smart mapping: Yes

Pros

• 4,000 Pa suction delivers a powerful performance for a deeper clean
• A quiet function is perfect for use around anxious pets
• Anti-collision detectors to protect furniture and stop the unit from falling off ledges or down stairs

Cons

• Some users have complained about the battery’s longevity over time

Get the Tesvor robot vacuum at The Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Tesvor.

Those with pets need to vacuum and mop their floors regularly, so a robot device that can do both is a wise investment. The Bissell SpinWave wet and dry robotic vacuum collects pet hair, dirt, and other debris on carpets, area rugs, and hard floors in dry-vacuuming mode. Switch to wet-mopping mode to scrub floors clean with the Bissell cleaning solution. The device automatically avoids area rugs and carpeting when in wet-mopping mode due to its Soft Surface Avoidance Sensor. The microfiber mop pads are machine washable so that they can be reused.

This option pairs with the Bissell Connect App, which allows users to start, stop, and change cleaning schedules.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 100 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: Soft surface avoidance in wet mopping mode
• Smart mapping: No

Pros

• Suitable for hard floors as well as area rugs and carpeted spaces
• By connecting with the brand’s app, users can control the vacuum via a mobile device
• The machine comes with reusable, machine-washable mop pads

Cons

• This model does not feature smart mapping or comprehensive obstacle avoidance

Get the Bissell robot vacuum at Amazon, Lowe’s, Target, or Wayfair.

The Eufy RoboVac G30 can tackle a variety of floor types due to its powerful suction and BoostIQ technology, which allows users to switch to a higher suction power level quickly when navigating carpets and rugs. This makes the G30 a great choice for those with mixed flooring types.

While this model isn’t capable of creating smart-home maps, it does feature Smart Dynamic Navigation, which uses a logical route rather than creating random paths. It also offers smart connectivity, allowing users to program the device from their smartphone or tablet.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Not listed
• Obstacle avoidance: No
• Smart mapping: No

Pros

• BoostIQ technology switches to a higher suction level for carpets
• Smart connectivity allows users to control the device from their phone or tablet
• Smart Dynamic Navigation creates logical routes rather than random paths

Cons

• This model lacks obstacle avoidance and smart-mapping features

Get the Eufy RoboVac G30 robot vacuum at Amazon or Eufy.

The Shark RV2502AE AI Ultra self-emptying robot vacuum is an excellent option for users who don’t like regularly emptying the dirt from their robot vacuum. HEPA filtration captures and traps 99.97 percent of dust and allergens and deposits the debris into the self-emptying base, which only needs to be cleaned every 60 days. It has a 120-minute runtime but will also return to the docking station to charge and resume cleaning as needed.

LiDAR technology maps out the user’s home and memorizes maps for more efficient cleaning. By connecting this model with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, users can set a cleaning schedule or initiate on-demand cleaning with voice commands.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 120 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: No
• Smart mapping: Yes

Pros

• Users can enable voice commands by connecting the device to a smart-home assistant
• This model returns to the docking station to charge and then resumes cleaning if needed
• The vacuum creates smart maps of the user’s home using ​​LiDAR technology

Cons

• Since this model doesn’t feature obstacle avoidance, it isn’t ideal for avoiding pet accidents

Get the Shark robot vacuum at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, or Shark.

This two-in-one robot vacuum/mop is an all-around solid choice for pet owners who want clean floors. It can vacuum and mop hard surfaces in a single session and, sensing a change to carpet, automatically stops mopping and doubles its suction power to suck up hair. An onboard Smart Navi 3.0 laser mapping feature creates a precise schematic of a home’s layout and plots a systematic and efficient cleaning route.

Programming features include brush and brushless intake options, with the brushless feature being optimal for hard floors and the tangle-free cleaning of pet hair. This powerful machine boasts an optimized energy-consumption system and an industry-leading 5200mAh battery, enabling up to 3 hours of vacuuming and mopping on a single charge. A high-efficiency filtration system effectively captures 99 percent of all allergens, including pet dander.

Product Specs

• Battery life: Up to 180 minutes
• Obstacle avoidance: Yes
• Smart mapping: Yes

Pros

• A high-efficiency filtration system effectively captures 99 percent of all allergens
• The 5200mAh battery provides up to 3 hours of runtime
• The Navi 3.0 Laser mapping feature creates a precise map of a space

Cons

• Some users report issues with this model’s suction power

Get the EcoVacs robot vacuum at Amazon.