Welcome to Vacuum Wars’ definitive guide to the best robot vacuums for pet hair of 2024! At Vacuum Wars, we purchase every robot vacuum that we review, ensuring that our insights are unbiased and based solely on hands-on testing. These selections focus on effective hair management, powerful suction, and specialized features like pet monitoring and scheduled cleaning for homes with pets. Our recommendations are updated regularly to reflect the latest testing results and industry insights so you can easily find the perfect pet-friendly automated cleaner for your home.
We also consider customer satisfaction scores to ensure you choose a robotic vacuum that meets your specific needs and provides high value for your investment.
Products that have been discontinued, or are frequently out of stock, are removed from the rankings.
How we Choose the Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair – 2024
If you’re a pet owner, you know that managing pet hair can be a relentless battle. One of the most common questions we’ve received over the years at Vacuum Wars is: Which robot vacuum is best for homes with pets? With advancements in robot vacuum technology and new pet-related features, it’s time to revisit this question. In this article, we’ll share the results of our updated tests and reveal the best robot vacuums for pet hair in 2024.
Common Challenges for Pet Owners
Pet owners typically face significant challenges when it comes to robot vacuums, and one major issue is hair tangles on brush rollers. Pet hair can easily get wrapped around the brush rollers, reducing the vacuum’s effectiveness and necessitating frequent maintenance.
Another challenge is the effective pickup of pet hair, especially on carpets. While most robot vacuums perform well on hard floors, picking up pet hair from carpets can be a different story.
Tips for Pet Owners
Before diving into our top picks, here are two essential tips to help homes with pets get the most out of any robot vacuum:
- First: Consider running the robot vacuum more often. Utilize the scheduling feature that comes with your robot vacuum to operate it as frequently as needed. If you have multiple pets that shed a lot, running your robot vacuum daily can help keep pet hair under control and at a much more manageable level.
- Second: Regular maintenance is key. Hair tangles on the brush roll are inevitable, at least with current technology. Set aside time once a week to clean the brush thoroughly, including removing hair from around the axles. Regular maintenance ensures your robot vacuum operates at peak performance and prolongs its lifespan.
Our New Testing Methodology
To provide more accurate and quantifiable results, we’ve updated our testing methodology to reflect real-world conditions. Our new methods are taking a deeper look at three metrics:
- Pet hair on carpets,
- Hybrid robot vacuum builds, and
- Hair tangles.
And while our findings were unexpected, we found that there are some interesting factors that affect how well a robot vacuum will manage pet hair.
Pet Hair Pickup on Carpets
We found that on hard floors, nearly all robot vacuums perform exceptionally well at picking up pet hair. However, carpets present a different challenge. In our tests, we spread two grams of 2.5-inch pet hair evenly across a carpet and pressed it down to simulate conditions where hair is walked on and embedded into the fibers.
Surprising Results
Out of over 30 robot vacuums tested, the average pet hair pickup on carpets was 77% after two runs. Some high-ranking models, like the Roborock Qrevo MaxV, picked up only 50% of the hair. Similarly, the Eufy S1 Pro Omni, previously ranked number two on our top 20 list, averaged about 65% in carpet pet hair pickup.
Interestingly, we started to notice older models such as the Roborock Q8 Max+ were performing better with this test. The Eufy L60, our current top budget pick for the last few months, picked up 100% of the hair consistently on carpets
Hybrid Robot Vacuums and Performance
We observed that hybrid robot vacuums—those with integrated mopping features—generally performed worse on carpets. This is likely because their design requires the main brush roller to be higher off the ground to prevent mop pads from dragging on carpets. As a result, they may not make sufficient contact with carpet fibers to effectively pick up pet hair.
However, it wasn’t as simple as saying that all hybrid robot vacuums with lifting mop pads were bad at picking up pet hair on carpets. In fact, several models defied this trend. For example, among the top five scores in our pet hair pickup tests, the robots either didn’t have a mop at all or required the mop to be completely removed before vacuuming. This was the case with the Roborock Q8 Max+, where the mop must be detached for vacuuming, and the Roomba Combo 10 Max, which has a mop pad that lifts entirely off the robot and rests on the top. This design means the main brush level relative to the floor is essentially the same as if it didn’t have a mop pad.
Moreover, there were plenty of combo robots that achieved above-average scores in pet hair pickup on carpets. This indicates that while the presence of a mop pad can influence performance, it’s not the sole determining factor. Design variations and technological innovations in some hybrid models allow them to perform comparably to non-mopping robots in pet hair pickup on carpets.
Hair Tangle Tests
To assess how well robot vacuums handle hair tangles, we conducted specific tests. We used one gram of seven-inch hair, ran the vacuums twice over a 4×8-foot surface, and allowed them to return to their docks and empty their bins before weighing the hair caught in the brushes.
Findings
Our findings revealed that older models were significantly worse in managing hair tangles. Some, like the Roomba 600 series, collected nearly 100% of the hair in their brushes, which defeats the purpose of automated cleaning. Newer models performed much better, with four of the top five achieving perfect scores in preventing hair tangles.
Best Performers So Far
Considering both pet hair pickup on carpets and resistance to hair tangles, certain models stood out. The Dyson 360 Vis Nav and the Eufy L60 tied for first place, demonstrating excellent performance in both categories. The Roborock Q8 Max+ and the Roomba Combo 10 Max also ranked in the top five. Notably, the Roborock Qrevo Curv, with its unique DuoDivide brush design, showed significant improvements and is likely a design we’ll see more of in the future.
User Reviews Matter
To gain additional insights, we analyzed online user reviews that mentioned “hair.” By averaging the star ratings from these reviews, we could identify models that may have issues with pet hair not apparent in our controlled tests. This approach helps highlight real-world performance and user satisfaction, ensuring that our recommendations are aligned with the experiences of actual users.
Important Features for Pet Owners
Certain features can make a significant difference for pet owners when choosing a robot vacuum.
1. Adjustable Bin Emptying Frequency
For pet owners with large or multiple pets, having the option to adjust how often the robot vacuum returns to its dock to empty its bin is crucial. This feature ensures the vacuum doesn’t get overloaded with hair during a cleaning cycle, regardless of its internal dustbin size.
2. Obstacle Avoidance
Pets often leave toys, bowls, and sometimes unwanted surprises on the floor. Robot vacuums with advanced obstacle avoidance can navigate around these obstacles, preventing mishaps and potential damage. Including obstacle avoidance in our evaluation is essential to determine the best robot vacuum for pet owners.
3. Additional Pet-Related Features
Some robot vacuums offer extra features like the ability to check on your pets via built-in cameras or even initiate video calls. While not essential for cleaning, these features can enhance the overall experience for pet owners, providing peace of mind when you’re away from home.
Top Picks
After comprehensive testing and analysis, here are our top three robot vacuums for pet hair in 2024.
Roborock Q Revo Curv
The Roborock Q Revo Curv stood out significantly in our tests. Its unique dual-brush design effectively picks up pet hair on carpets and resists hair tangles. It also features adjustable bin emptying frequency and advanced obstacle avoidance, making it an excellent choice for pet owners. This model was significantly above the rest in terms of total points in our evaluations.
Dreame L40
The Dreame L40 Ultra performed exceptionally well in both pet hair pickup and preventing hair tangles. It offers robust cleaning capabilities and features beneficial for pet owners, such as obstacle avoidance and user-friendly maintenance. Its strong performance secures it as our second top pick.
Eufy X10 Pro Omni
The Eufy X10 Pro Omni impressed us with its solid performance across all tests. It provides a good balance of pet hair pickup efficiency and resistance to hair tangles, along with additional features like adjustable cleaning schedules and easy maintenance. This model completes our top three recommendations for 2024.
Conclusion
Our updated testing methodology has significantly impacted the rankings on our top 20 robot vacuums list. For a detailed breakdown of how each model performed, be sure to check out the updated list on our website. Choosing the right robot vacuum can make managing pet hair much more manageable. By considering factors like pet hair pickup efficiency, resistance to hair tangles, obstacle avoidance, and user reviews, you can find the perfect robot vacuum to keep your home clean and your pets happy.
