Pet hair is one of my biggest pet peeves, so evaluating how a robot vacuum performs against it is one of my main goals when testing the best pet hair robot vacuum. However, selecting the best robot vacuum for pet hair requires considering several key features.
For example, the 3i G10+ is great if you're on a budget, while the Ecovacs Deebot X11 reduces hair tangling in the brush to nearly 0%. A robot vacuum with strong suction is key, but you should also consider which extra features you want, such as obstacle avoidance or mopping.
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After testing dozens of robot vacuums in controlled settings and everyday life, my top choice for tackling pet hair is the Mova P50 Pro Ultra. It boasts outstanding suction power, a truly anti-tangle brush roller, a self-emptying dust bin, a self-washing mop pad, and excellent obstacle avoidance. However, several other robot vacuum options are worth considering, depending on your floor type and the amount of pet hair your furry friend sheds.
Also: The best robot vacuum mops you can buy
In our April update, we added the 3i G10+ as the top affordable option.
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Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Why we like it: The Mova P50 Pro Ultra is impressive because it rivals models that cost upwards of $1,400, boasting 19,000Pa of suction and hands-free maintenance. Yet one of this robot vacuum and mop's best features is the anti-tangle roller brush that cuts pet hair as it rolls. This means you never have to manually detangle or cut rolled pet hair off your vacuum's brush.
Review: Mova P50 Pro Ultra
This robot vacuum also has a self-emptying dustbin and can wash and dry its mop pads. It only requires attention every few weeks when you need to empty the dirty water, refill the clean water, or replace the dust bag.
Who it's for: The Mova P50 Pro Ultra is designed with pet owners in mind. Furthermore, it's also a seamless choice for busy households looking for hands-free cleaning and shoppers looking for the best value. As someone who struggles with allergies, the P50 Pro Ultra has been great at keeping dander, hair, and dust at bay in my dog's favorite room in the house -- my home office.
Who should look elsewhere: The truth is that the P50 Pro Ultra may be overkill for smaller apartments or homes that aren't too messy. I've also found that this robot can get caught on loose cords that lie flat on the floor, but this doesn't happen often.
Mova P50 Pro Ultra specs: Price: $799 | Battery life: 210 mins | Base station dimensions: 18 x 16.5 x 18.5 inches | Suction power: 19,000Pa | Dustbin volume: 300 ml | Water tank capacity: 300 ml
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Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Why we like it: The 3i G10+ is one of the most underrated robot vacuums I've ever tested. It's typically priced at only $200, but it features a debris compression system that lets you go up to 60 days without emptying its dustbin, without a huge charging station. This is built to handle large amounts of debris, like pet hair, while keeping maintenance down. Its dock is under five inches tall, so you can stash the robot out of sight.
Who it's for: Since the robot has a manual mopping feature that requires washing before use, I'd recommend the 3i G10+ for homes with mostly carpet and hard floors that only need a little refreshing between deeper cleanings. This robot is also perfect for those on a budget, making it a great fit for those looking to get the most bang for their buck.
Review: 3i G10+
Who should look elsewhere: The only thing I didn't like about the 3i G10+ is the odd mechanical whirring sound it makes while cleaning. I originally thought it was an issue with my unit, but our lab techs used a different unit and had the same experience. The sound doesn't affect the robot's performance, but it may be a problem for those sensitive to noise.
3i G10+ features: Price: $250 | Suction power: 18,000Pa | Mopping: Yes, mop pad, 10mm auto-lift | Battery life: 180 minutes | Self-emptying: No, debris compression | Self-washing: No | Extra features: Up to 60 days without emptying
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Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Why we like it: The Eureka E20 Plus robot vacuum and mop doesn't use dust bags. Instead, it automatically empties its contents into a reusable canister at the base station, making it a more sustainable option. It excelled at picking up pet hair and debris in my dog's room, which sees a lot of fur. To top it all off, it's also more affordable than flagship models, with a midrange price of $450.
Who it's for: The E20 Plus is perfect for pet owners and anyone on a budget. If you're constantly battling pet hair around the house, you'd do well to enlist this robot vacuum to take over the task for you. As far as a budget, the robot's midrange startup cost is great, but I also appreciate the bag-less design. The robot also mops lightly, so it's best for those looking for a robot that only keeps floors fresh between deeper cleanings.
Review: Should you cheap out on a robot vacuum? This model proves it might even be a smart idea
Who should look elsewhere: This Eureka robot vacuum isn't ideal for those who want smart obstacle avoidance. If your floors are often littered with small toys, socks, or cords, you'll have to pick them all up before running the E20 Plus. With only basic mopping that requires manual pad cleaning, this robot is also less than ideal for those looking for a hands-off mopping experience.
Eureka E20 Plus features: Price: $309 | Battery life: 180 mins | Base station dimensions: 13.78 x 23.7 x 17.4 inches | Suction power: 8,000Pa | Dustbin volume: 220 ml | Water tank capacity: Basic mopping feature
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Why we like it: The Deebot X11 OmniCyclone has become my go-to whole-house robot vacuum and mop. It's kept up with the challenges that my three young kids and very hairy dog throw at it in a single pass.
It's also one of the most intelligent, future-proof robot vacuums available, capable of expertly navigating obstacles and featuring an AI-powered voice assistant for control. You can just say, "Ok Yiko, clean my house" and the robot starts your preferred task. This may include vacuuming and mopping with the self-washing roller mop or doing one after the other.
Who it's for: The Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone is a powerhouse robot vacuum and mop for anyone looking for hands-free, low-maintenance cleaning. It's excellent for homes with touch cleaning needs, like houses with pets, and handles high-traffic areas smoothly, leaving nothing but clean floors behind. This robot vacuum is self-emptying, but you never have to buy a dust bag for it as the dock has a dust canister that you just empty every few weeks.
Who should look elsewhere: There are almost no downsides to the Deebot X11 OmniCyclone, but the price is a potential deterrent. Typically retailing at $1,500, this robot vacuum and mop is far from widely affordable. If you buy it, rest assured that you get what you pay for -- this machine is one of the best you can find.
Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone features: Price: $899 (limited-time deal) | Battery life: 200 mins (GaN charger boosts time) | Base station dimensions: 13.8 x 21 x 15.9 inches | Suction power: 19,500Pa | Dustbin volume: 220 ml | Water tank capacity: 110 ml
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ZDNET/Jack Wallen
Why we like it: The Narwal Freo X Ultra is a $900 robot vacuum and mop that excels at picking up pet hair from hard floors. Its innovative technology makes it outstanding at cleaning without getting its brush roller tangled up in random objects. The Freo X Ultra has a self-emptying dustbin that allows up to seven weeks of debris storage before emptying.
Review: Narwal Freo X Ultra
Who it's for: This robot vacuum is perfect if you have mostly hard floors, and it can navigate around obstacles easily. ZDNET's Jack Wallen has been a Narwal user for some time and recently upgraded to the Narwal Freo X Ultra and loved the experience.
"I can leave the house while the robot is doing its thing without worrying it's going to wrap up a cord and take something down (or stop the job because it doesn't quite understand that the corner of a rug isn't something it should suck up," Wallen wrote in his review.
Who should look elsewhere: Overall, the Freo X Ultra performs exceptionally well compared to other high-end units, often matching the capabilities of more expensive models. If you have more carpet than hard floors and are looking for a robot that can really get them clean, you'd likely do better with the Roomba Combo 10 Max.
Narwal Freo X Plus features: Price: $1,300 | Battery life: 254 mins | Base station dimensions: 13.7 x 14 x 4.2 inches | Suction power: 7,800Pa | Dustbin volume: 800 ml | Water tank capacity: 280 ml
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Former ZDNET editor Elizabeth Mauder contributed to this story.
Although the Mova P50 Pro Ultra is the best robot vacuum for handling pet hair, other options may be better suited for different situations. A typical robot vacuum designed for cleaning pet hair can cost between $150 and $1,900, depending on its additional features and autonomy.
Compare the best pet hair robot vacuums to other models we use to keep up with our pets.
| Robot vacuum for pet hair | ZDNET's take | Price | Suction power | Functionality | Self-emptying dustbin | Battery life |
| Mova P50 Pro Ultra | Best overall | $799 | 19,000Pa | Vacuum and mop | Yes | 210 mins |
| 3i G10+ | Best for a budget | $250 | 18,000Pa | Vacuum | No | 180 mins |
| Eureka E20 Plus | Best midrange | $309 | 8,000Pa | Vacuum and mop | Yes | 180 mins |
| Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCycle | Best for various floor types | $899 | 19,500Pa | Vacuum and mop | Yes, no dustbag | 200 mins |
| Narwal Freo X Ultra | Best for hard floors | $1,300 | 8,200Pa | Vacuum and mop | Yes | 210 mins |
*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary depending on the retailer and any available promotions, sales, or discounts.
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With hundreds of robot vacuums available, how do you determine which one is best for you? Here's a quick breakdown:
| Choose this robot vacuum for pet hair... | If you want... |
| Mova P50 Pro Ultra | The best robot vacuum against pet hair. It's intelligent, has strong suction power, and no-tangle brush. |
| 3i G10+ | A simple, affordable, and straightforward robot vacuum and don't need extra the bells and whistles. |
| Eureka E20 Plus | Up to seven weeks of dust storage and want a quick and efficient robot without buying dustbags. |
| Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCycle | Are willing to pay top dollar for the best combo robot to clean multiple flooring surfaces. |
| Narwal Freo X Ultra | A premium robot vacuum and mop machine that can keep up with all the pet hair and paw prints. |
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If you're trying to decide whether a stick or a robot vacuum is the best option for tackling pet hair, the truth is that there isn't a black-and-white answer. Here's how they stack up:
I rotate both a stick vacuum and a robot vacuum in my home, while my old upright vacuum is relegated to monthly cleaning jobs for a deeper clean. I've found that combining a robot vacuum for daily automated cleanings and a stick vacuum for quick cleanups is the best way to keep my floors clean without a big hassle.
Also: Forget Dyson: I tested Roborock's wet-dry hand vacuum and it left my floors spotless
Some robot and stick vacuum combinations, like the Ecovacs T30S Combo and Deebot X2 Combo, are available on the market, which greatly helps. This is especially true as the stick vacuum's canister on these devices self-empties into the same bag as the robot vacuum, making the entire experience easier.
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While trying to determine the best robot vacuum, I kept several factors at the forefront of my testing and research, which can also aid your search:
Also: I changed these 10 things to maximize my robot vacuum's battery life
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ZDNET has several robot vacuum reviewers that have tested over 50 units thus far. We conduct tests in real homes with real challenges and in a controlled lab environment for comparison.
Also: How we test robot vacuums at ZDNET
Here's what we consider when testing robot vacuums and mops at ZDNET:
To top it all off, we gauge the device's longevity and long-term performance by using it over the course of a few months. Our review timelines vary, but we typically test robot vacuums for about a month before reviewing and keep our reviews updated while the device is available.
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Shark and Roomba robot vacuums have pros and cons when handling pet hair. We've tested different models from both brands at ZDNET and found that Shark robots tend to excel in suction while Roombas generally have better navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities.
Some Roomba robot vacuums also have dual brush rollers to help prevent hair tangles and advanced smart features like P.O.O.P. But Shark tends to offer more affordable alternatives than Roomba, including in recurring expenses. Shark robot vacuums also notoriously handle pet hair well with self-cleaning brush rollers.
In the end, choosing between Shark and Roomba will come down to the individual model and depend on the buyer's needs.
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As a robot vacuum reviewer, I've gotten a lot of experience setting up robot vacuums. Here are some steps I follow when I get a new robot vacuum:
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Most of the 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 by brand, but you can normally get around 60 days' worth of dirt and debris before needing to change the bag.
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Robot vacuums are often good at getting pet hair out of short-pile carpets but don't always perform as well on medium and high-pile carpets, as they can get stuck in them. However, robot vacuums are not as great at removing stubborn hair from carpet and rugs as some upright and stick vacuums.
While many robot vacuums have very powerful suction, their brush rollers often to reach deep enough in the carpet to loosen up stubborn hair. Robot vacuums are perfect for keeping floors clean, but your rugs and carpets will still require a more thorough cleaning every few weeks to remove all the pet hair.
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Most robot vacuums encourage you to replace the filter, rollers, and side sweeping brushes periodically to keep the devices performing optimally. Additionally, if your robot empties into a dust bag, it must be replaced every few months. Finally, some robot vacuum mops require a mop-cleaning solution that must be repurchased throughout the robot's lifetime.
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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.
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Beth Mauder/ZDNET
You really can't go wrong with any device from Roborock, including the Q5+.
With its auto dust emptying base and 2700Pa suction, you can get many of the higher-end robot vacuum features for a cheaper price.
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Maria Diaz/ZDNET
The Dreame X40 Ultra is ZDNET's pick for the best robot vacuum and mop combination with 12,000Pa of suction power and reliable object avoidance capabilities.
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Robot Vacuums Reviewed & Compared
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