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Buying a robot vacuum? Ignore the big numbers first

Robot vacuum listings lead with suction in Pa and with "days of hands-free cleaning". Two other things decide whether you will like the robot. One is how it finds its way around your home. The other is how often you have to touch it: empty it, cut hair off the brush, refill the mop water, rescue it from under the sofa.

A dock bag sold as "up to 70 days" works out to about 68 days in a small home with hard floors and no pets, by our estimate. In a 1,500 sq ft home with two shedding pets and carpet, the same bag lasts about 10 days. That is still far better than a robot with no dock. It is just not 70.

See the 5 robot vacuums we'd shortlist

Want your own number? Use the emptying calculator.

Guides

• The 5 best robot vacuums in 2026

  Five robot vacuums for 2026, compared by navigation type, who empties the bin, and what the mop really does. With what owners like and complain about.

• How often will you really empty it?

  What '70 days hands-free' means for your home. A calculator for how often the dustbin or self-empty bag fills, by home size, pets and floor type.

• Pa numbers are loud. Navigation matters more

  Pa numbers are maker claims with no shared test. Why lidar, camera or no map at all changes your daily life more than suction does.

• Three things to check before you order

  Most robot mops are a wet pad. Most robots need 2.4 GHz WiFi. Low furniture and door sills stop many. What to measure before you order.