The Best Robot Vacuum For Pet Hair on Hardwood Floors

A high-quality robot vacuum can make a huge difference in keeping allergens like dust and pet hair under control. However, not all models are identical.

If you're looking for a vacuum with pet-specific features or just a great robot to enhance your existing cleaner, there are many choices.

1. Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge

The G30 Edge is the newest model in Eufy's budget line robot vacuum cleaners. It's a glossy black model with blue and rose-gold accents that resemble an iPhone. It's easier to use than past models and comes with features such as BoostIQ that automatically increases suction power to ensure better cleaning of all surfaces. Smart navigation is used to prevent the repetition of the same area which is an issue that is common with bounce-navigation.

It does a good job cleaning pet hair, crumbs and dust from hard floors, but falls behind the best models in terms of cleaning up carpets of flour. In our tests, the G30 Edge missed 74% of the dust on hard floors and best robot vacuum for pet hair on hardwood floors 26% on carpet, which is disappointing.

A feature that makes the G30 Edge stand out is the ability to map your home's layout using a digital map within the app. This lets it keep track of the rooms it has already cleaned and prevents it from returning to those areas, a major frustration with other robots that rely on the use of magnetic tape to delineate zones that aren't allowed.

The G30 Edge also has other conveniences. It comes with a "Find My Robot" mode that emits loud music until it is found and a directional keypad that lets you manually move the robot. It also comes with an auto return function that can send it back to its charging base if the battery is empty which is a crucial security feature.

2. Neato Botvac D-Shape

The Neato Botvac D shape robot is a powerful machine with a long list of intelligent features. It is able to clean floors well, and it can climb on high-pile carpet fairly easily. The app also has advanced features, such as boundary lines remote control access while the robot is operating and a variety of other options.

This model is the most recent in a long-running series of robots by Neato. It features a unique "D shape when viewed above. The design offers a number of advantages, including better corner cleaning and a larger container of dust than other models. The D-shape design allows the robot to get under furniture better than those that have a circular design.

When the first cleaning cycle when cleaning, the D-Shape will pause briefly to use spinning infrared lasers to scan and evaluate the area. Then it will work in a grid and gradually moving from one area to the next until the entire floor is covered. This method of cleaning is much more effective and thorough than the random approach employed by some competitors.

The D-Shape's design permits it to have a massive 700ml dust container compared to 400-600ml for robots with similar prices. This increased capacity will help you save time and effort by decreasing the frequency of emptying the dust bin. The D-Shape also has flat front side that can help it get around obstacles such as chairs and tables. In our tests, we observed that the D-Shape sat under a four legged stool and also under an exposed electrical cord. However, it was able get out of the way each time.

3. Roomba I3+ EV

The Roomba i3+ EVO is a fantastic option for pet owners. It does well on hard flooring and does an excellent job of clearing up particles like cereal, rice and hair of pets. It has some issues on carpets, but it's better than most robots in this price range. The Roomba i3+ EVO also does very well at transferring between floor kinds and doesn't get caught on transitions like older generations can. The dual multi-surface brushes are flexible and adapt to various flooring types. They also have a tendency to not tangle pet hair.

The i3+ EVO has a weaker obstacle avoidance than some of the other robots we tested. It repeatedly hit objects such as handbags, pet toys and shoes before continuing its path. It also had issues dealing with salt from kosher, coarse that it blew over and around instead of picking up.

The i3+ EVO is packed with features that make it worth the cost over other Roomba models. This includes a self-emptying bin and advanced control through an app. It is possible to schedule cleaning and set up custom routines. You can also set up no-go zones to prevent the robot from entering certain areas. The smart scheduling system can suggest additional cleanings during peak allergy times in accordance with your routine. Its navigation system isn't reliable and can cause vacuums to be erratic patterns such as diagonals or zigzags rather than parallel to walls.

4. Shark AI Self-Empty XL

This smart robot is able to visualize your home's interior and more accurately than you. It also has two brushes that can adjust to various flooring types and prevent tangling, making it the ideal option for households with pets. The app allows you to control the robot, or use it with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The dock, called Omni automates tasks like filling and cleaning the robot's water tanks, emptying debris bins, charging and drier the mop pads.

It's an excellent value. The Shark AI Self-Empty XL offers many advanced features, such as mapping and a self-emptying bin that can store a lot of trash. It cleaned and maneuvered exceptionally well in a space that had a mixture of low-pile carpeting or floors that were unfinished, and a combination of both. The OKP 3800Pa Robotic Vacuum Cleaner with Laser Navigation also does a decent job of picking up pet hair from carpets but it's not equipped with the same level of power as some of our top choices.

The Roborock S4 Max, however is more durable, recharges much faster than the Shark and has a greater variety of automation features and scheduling options as well as support for "no-go zones". We'd still recommend the Shark if you're looking for something less expensive, or in the event that you prefer using your mobile phone for control and monitoring rather than an actual remote.

5. Bissell SpinWave Dry and Wet

This robot does both vacuuming and mopping. Its two-tank system powerfully vacuums or mop with the push of the button. It easily transitioned between surfaces during our tests and was successful in getting pet hair off of carpets and hardwood floors. It also includes an edge-sweeping tool for removing cat hair from walls and baseboards.

This Lefant M210P Robot Vacuum Cleaner - Ultimate Alexa Control is another solid pick if you want an affordable model with some extra features. It was able to navigate obstacles with ease in our tests and can be controlled via an app or your voice. It has a huge dust bin for the collection of messes before they're filled. The only downside is that it can take up to 166 minutes to finish its job however, it's still faster than other robots we've examined.

The main feature of this robot is the front-facing camera that lets you check your home's cleanliness on a live map in the app. This is especially helpful in the event that you need to locate a particular object or if your children have spilled glitter from your decorations all over your floor. You can avoid lots of frustration by locating the item you lost immediately. Furthermore the battery is not fade-proof and can run for up to 130 minutes on one charge.

6. Roomba 694

The Roomba 694 is a stylish robot that delivers good cleaning. It's extremely adept at maneuvering and can get under low-level furniture without stumbling. It's also a good option for carpets and rugs with low pile. However, it can be caught in rug tassels and has trouble finding its way through tight spaces such as corners. It also has difficulty collecting pet hair from all surfaces.

Despite the limited features of the 694 however, it still performs better than most of the competition. It scored a perfect 10 in our test of cereal carpet, and passed our test for cat litter with just a few fragments. It's not as effective on hardwood floors though. The side brush can scatter large, clinging pieces of cereal instead of sweeping them away. It also had trouble collecting table salt on a floor that was not paved, as a lot of grains were slid across the floor.

It allows voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant using an external device (sold separately). It learns about your habits of cleaning and creates customized schedules. Cliff Detect and a edge-sweeping tool will ensure that it can get into difficult-to-reach areas, while Dirt Detect sensors alert the robot to areas that are soiled heavily. Its battery can last for around 60 minutes, and it comes with an automatic emptying of the dust bin. The more expensive iRobot J7 is more advanced and is better on all surfaces. It is also more durable, has a larger dustbin, is faster to charge, and can navigate obstacles such as electrical cords better.