Best Robot Vacuum For Pet Hair: iRobot Roomba vs Shark vs Neato vs Eufy

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WinnerRunner UpThird Place
iRobot Roomba i7+Shark IQ Robot R101AE Self-Empty Neato Botvac D7
iRobot Roomba i7+Shark IQ Robot RV1001AENeato Botvac D7
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Does it feel like you need to vacuum 24/7 to keep up with your dog’s shedding? A robot vacuum can help keep your floors spotless and knock one chore off your to-do list. We review the best robot vacuum for pet hair to help you pick the best Roomba for pet hair and other debris.

Best Robot Vacuums For Pet Hair

We chose the best robot vacuum based on the following factors:

  • Price
  • Runtime
  • Dustbin size and auto-empty features
  • Ability to vacuum every area and not miss a spot
  • Auto recharge and resume
  • Recharge time

All of the vacuums we review here work on carpet and hard floors. If you have rugs in your home, you may need to pick them up or use carpet tape to help keep them in place. (Please read the instructions carefully and make sure it won’t damage your flooring.)

In general, you’ll want to remember to declutter your floors before running the vacuum. That means picking up and securing any loose cords, blankets, etc.

Winner: iRobot Roomba i7+ Review

iRobot Roomba i7+

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Our top pick for the best robot vacuum for dog hair is the Roomba i7+. If you don’t want to think about vacuuming for months, this is an excellent choice. This vacuum performs well with even heavy shedding dogs like Beagles and German Shepherds, which is why we consider it the top dog in robot vacuums.

This Roomba for pet hair includes a high-efficiency filter that’s ideal for pets and can vacuum an entire level of your home with innovative mapping technology. What makes it the best for those of you with heavy shedders is that it has automatic dirt disposal, so it can return to the home station, empty its bin and continue vacuuming without your help.

You can also create “Keep Out Zones,” which are lines you can draw in the app on the virtual map to keep Roomba away from sensitive areas like your pet’s food dishes. The vacuum connects to an app, so you can schedule it to clean an entire level of your home or specific rooms. Daily runs of this vac can help reduce the amount of dog hair on your floors and keep your home more allergen-free.

ProsCons
Recharges and resumes vacuuming
Self-emptying dustbin
App available to schedule a cleaning or turn the vacuum on
Maps out your floor plan and leaves nice carpet lines
Vacuums for about 75 minutes
Fully recharges in 75 minutes
1-year warranty and 60-day money-back guarantee
Keep Out Zones
Nearly double the cost of other bot vacs in this article
Requires bags for the base dustbin*

*This may not be a con for those of you who suffer from allergies. The fact that Roomba i7+ uses an AllergenLock bag means that it traps 99% of pollen, mold, and dust mites, something that bagless robot vacuums cannot claim.

Price

Runner Up: Shark IQ Robot RV1001AE Self-Empty Review

Shark IQ Robot R101AE Self-Empty

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If the Roomba i7+ is too expensive, consider this Shark IQ Robot, which also has self-emptying capabilities. The Shark IQ can run for up to 60 minutes, recharges and resumes vacuuming, and has an app to control the vacuum.

It has many similar features to the Roomba i7+. However, it takes much longer to recharge (up to six hours, whereas the i7+ only takes 75 minutes). It also has a much smaller dustbin, so it will need to return to the base station to empty more often than the Roomba i7+.

If the long charge time doesn’t bother you, you may prefer this one since it is often less expensive, and it doesn’t require any bags in the base dustbin ass the i7+ does.

ProsCons
Recharges and resumes vacuuming
Self-emptying dustbin
App available to schedule a cleaning or turn the vacuum on
Maps out your floor plan and leaves nice carpet lines
The base dustbin is bagless
1-year warranty and 90-day money-back guarantee
High price point
It takes 4-6 hours to recharge
Runs for 60 minutes (most competitors have longer runtimes)
Smallest dustbin in this article (only 0.16 liters)

Price

Third Place: Neato Botvac D7 Review

Neato Botvac D7

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The Neato Botvac D7 is excellent for multi-level homes since it can store up to three-floor plans. You can also create “no-go lines,” which are lines you can draw in the app on the virtual map to help keep the robot vacuum away from sensitive areas like your dog’s food and water bowls. (Other bot vacuums (besides Roomba i7+) have sensors or tape you can place as boundaries to keep the vacuum out of areas.)

This vacuum uses lasers to map out the floor plan, which means it can operate even in the dark, so you can run the vacuum while you’re asleep if you want. Unfortunately, you can’t tell Neato which rooms you want to clean. If you want a specific room cleaned, you’ll need to place the vacuum in the room and close the door so it remains in that room. Another option is to put “no-go lines” in the app to keep Neato in certain rooms.

ProsCons
Recharges and resumes vacuuming
App available to schedule a cleaning or turn the vacuum on
Maps out your floor plan and leaves nice carpet lines
Can store up to three floor plans
Vacuums for 120 minutes (the longest in this article)
Recharges in 2-3 hours
1-year warranty
No-go lines
High price point
It does not self-empty, but its bin is 0.7 liters
Cannot set it to clean a specific room

Price

Comparison Table

iRobot Roomba i7+Shark IQ Robot R101AE Self-EmptyNeato Botvac D7Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim)iRobot Roomba 675iRobot Roomba 960
Price $680.99 $371.90 $449.99 $139.79 $224.99 $199.99
Dust Bin Capacity0.42 Liters0.16 Liters0.7 Liters0.6 Liters0.6 Liters0.82 Liters
Self EmptiesCheckmarkCheckmark
Base Dust Bin Holds60 Days30 Days
BaglessRequires bags for the base dustbinCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmark
Runtime75 Minutes60 Minutes120 Minutes100 Minutes90 Minutes75 Minutes
Recharges & Resumes VacuumingCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkRecharges OnlyRecharges OnlyCheckmark
Schedule VacuumingCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmark
Vacuum Specific RoomsCheckmarkCheckmark
Warranty1 Year1 Year1 Year90 Days1 Year1 Year
Money-Back Guarantee60 Days90 DaysN/A30 Days60 Days60 Days
Charge Time75 Minutes4-6 Hours2-3 Hours5-6 Hours1-2 Hours75 Minutes
Virtual Barrier WallsCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmark
AppCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmark
Remote ControlCheckmark
Compatible With Alexa & Google HomeCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmarkCheckmark
Mapping Technology*vSLAMLasersLasersCollision, Wheel, Brush & Cliff SensorsCollision, Wheel, Brush & Cliff SensorsvSLAM

*Mapping Technology = Robot vacuums use various forms of technology to clean a space.

Collision, Wheel, Brush & Cliff Sensors

The basic and least accurate technology is collision, wheel, brush, and cliff sensors. This isn’t technically a form of mapping since the bot vac doesn’t map out your floor plan. Instead, the robot operates in a random pattern, bumping into things and maneuvering around the room.

The sensors tell the robot when they are getting close to an object, and then the vacuum can slow down or change its path. Vacuums with this type of technology typically cost less than those with more advanced mapping technology. These types of vacuums may not get every inch of floor coverage, but if you run the vacuum regularly, it will most likely hit any missed space another time.

vSLAM

vSLAM stands for visual simultaneous location and mapping. It is an optical system that can identify furniture and room layouts to navigate a room efficiently. It won’t waste time vacuuming the same spot unless heavy dirt is detected.

Vacuums with vSLAM technology can typically vacuum an area faster and more thoroughly than those with collision, wheel, brush, and cliff sensors. The downside is that these vacuums generally are more expensive, and they need some lighting to help them find their way. So if you want to run your vacuum at night while you’re sleeping, you’ll need to leave some lights on so the vacuum can see.

Lasers

Vacuums with laser navigation can detect an object’s size and shape to help them maneuver a room. These vacuums are typically good at covering a space with high efficiency.

These types of vacuums can typically operate well in the dark, so if nighttime vacuuming is your goal, a laser mapping vacuum is a good option. The downside is that these vacuums can cost more.

What About Eufy & Other Roomba Models?

The vacuums below didn’t make our top 3, but they are still worth your consideration because they may fall more in line with your budget or have features that are more important to you.

Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim) Review

Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S

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If your dog hates loud noises, this may be the best robot vacuum for you. Designed to run no louder than a microwave, the Eufy 11S makes an excellent choice for those with young children at home. However, this vacuum is missing many features that most higher-end robot vacs include.

ProsCons
Recharges automatically
Vacuums for up to 100 minutes
Quiet (only 55dB)
No app, remote control only
Not suitable for high-pile carpet
It doesn’t self-empty, but its bin is 0.6 liters
No smart mapping technology
Not compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant
Only a 90-day warranty
It takes 5-6 hours to recharge
Doesn’t resume vacuuming after recharging
Cannot set it to clean a specific room

Price

iRobot Roomba 675 Review

iRobot Roomba 675

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If you want something that’s slightly more budget-friendly but doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of our top 3 picks, the Roomba 675 is a dependable robot vacuum. It’s suitable for those interested in a robot vacuum but doesn’t want to invest a ton of money.

This vacuum works best in homes with lower-maintenance dogs who have short hair. The bristle-style brush roll can tangle longer pet hairs, so we don’t recommend this for households with heavy-shedding, long-haired dogs.

This is an excellent starter model if you’re interested in a robot vacuum but aren’t ready to invest $500+ in one,

ProsCons
Recharges automatically
App available to schedule a cleaning or turn the vacuum on
Vacuums for about 90 minutes
Recharges in 1-2 hours
1-year warranty and 60-day money-back guarantee
Not suitable for homes with long-haired, heavy-shedding dogs
It doesn’t self-empty, but its bin is 0.6 liters
Doesn’t resume vacuuming after recharging
Cannot set it to clean a specific room

Price

iRobot Roomba 960 Review

iRobot Roomba 960

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This is the first robot vacuum I purchased for my home, and I love it. I have a hound mix, and she sheds close to what a Labrador Retriever does. I also have two young kids who love to drop crumbs everywhere. So this vacuum has been a tremendous help.

I have it set to vacuum the entire main level of my home several times a week. I also take it to other stories in my house (with the base station) to vacuum them. It’s so convenient and takes a chore off my to-do list. It has a 0.82-liter dust bin, so it can typically clean a whole level of my home without emptying. Maintenance is easy for this vacuum, and it’s nice to play on the floor with my kids without getting covered in dog hair and crumbs.

My home has a mix of hardwood, rugs, high-pile carpet, low-pile carpet, luxury vinyl, and linoleum flooring. I noticed the Roomba struggling and dragging more flimsy rugs. I installed some carpet tape to hold them in place; now, the Roomba has none of these issues.

I wish I could set it to clean a specific room, but I knew I wouldn’t have that capability before purchasing it. It wasn’t until after I bought this vacuum that I realized how convenient that feature could be. My next robot vacuum will include this feature. I wasn’t confident I’d be a fan of robot vacuums, so I didn’t want to spend the extra money on that feature, but looking back, I wish I had invested in those higher-end features.

ProsCons
Recharges and resumes vacuuming
App available to schedule a cleaning or turn the vacuum on
Maps out your floor plan and leaves nice carpet lines
Vacuums for about 75 minutes
Recharges in 75 minutes
1-year warranty and 60-day money-back guarantee
High price point
It doesn’t self-empty, but its bin is 0.82 liters
Cannot set it to clean a specific room

Price

Watch A Robot Vacuum In Action (Video)

Check out the video below of my Roomba 960 in action. As you can see, it does a great job adjusting to furniture and toys, and my dog, Sally, doesn’t mind it too much, either.

Unsure About Robot Vacuums?

If a robot vacuum isn’t suitable for your household, you can still go the traditional route and purchase a regular vacuum. We’ve reviewed the best vacuums for pet hair and have selected various models depending on your needs.

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The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

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