The 4 Best Robot Vacuums For Hardwood Floors - Spring 2024 Reviews

The Roborock S8+ is the best robot vacuum for hardwood floors we've tested. This high-end robot vacuum does a fantastic job clearing debris on hard, flat surfaces like hardwood or tile flooring. One of its headlining features is its ultrasonic mopping system, which uses vibrating mop pads to scrub away dried-on dirt and debris. Its other defining trait is its dual-sensor navigation system, which combines a LIDAR sensor to map out its coverage area with a pair of front-facing cameras to identify and react to things like slippers, power cords, pet waste, or any other obstacle that would fall beneath the view of its LIDAR sensor. It can also identify the type of room it's cleaning based on the furniture within and automatically suggest different mopping or suction modes. The + variant comes with a self-emptying dock that reduces hands-on maintenance requirements. Compared to its predecessor, the Roborock S7 MaxV, it has a redesigned twin-roller cleaning head that helps clear more debris on most surfaces.

If you want a robot vacuum with a more advanced dock than the S8+ but at a similar price, the Roborock Q Revo is another very good option. Its multifunction dock not only empties the vacuum's dustbin but also refills its internal water tank and washes its mopping pads. That said, it has a less sophisticated hazard recognition system than the S8.

If you intend to spend less, the Roborock Q5+ is among the best robot vacuums for hardwood floors that we've tested. Unlike the Roborock S8+/S8, it isn't capable of mopping floors and doesn't have a set of front-facing cameras that would allow it to avoid hazards in real-time. That said, it's often priced at a much lower price point than its pricier sibling and offers a pretty full suite of features, including an auto-empty docking station, which lowers hands-on maintenance requirements. It does a good job of maneuvering itself, and you can use the coverage map it generates to set up no-go zones the vacuum won't enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for individual areas.

Performance on bare floors is superb, and it does a passable job of cleaning any carpets you might have lying around. Unfortunately, while it feels well-built, there are some gaps in its plastic construction through which fine allergens can spew out, most notably through its LIDAR sensor.

The Wyze Robot Vacuum is a great choice if you don't mind missing out on the Roborock Q5+'s self-emptying feature. Its LIDAR mapping system offers a similar range of functionality to the more expensive vacuum, and it does a better job of maneuvering itself around furniture and other obstacles. You can use the map it generates of your home to set up virtual boundary lines or schedule cleaning sessions for specific rooms. The vacuum feels well-built and has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, producing good allergen-sealing performance.

Unfortunately, while it does a fantastic job of cleaning bare floors, it has a challenging time with debris on carpet. It also has a small dirt compartment that needs emptying often, even by the standards of other robot vacuums, which isn't ideal if you have more than one heavily shedding pet. If you're interested in a similarly-priced robot vacuum that can deal with stains on hardwood floors, consider the Shark IQ 2-in-1, which boasts a highly effective mopping system. That said, its companion app isn't as intuitive or reliable as the Wyze's, and this vacuum tends to get stuck around furniture more often.

The Eureka Groove is the best robot vacuum for hardwood floors at a budget-friendly price we've tested. Unlike the pricier Wyze Robot Vacuum, it doesn't have LIDAR mapping or camera sensors. Instead, it relies on bump navigation to move around; this system doesn't store a permanent map of your home and isn't especially time-efficient. Still, it'll cover most of your home if you let it run long enough. Unfortunately, its raw performance falls short of pricier models, with notably poor debris pickup on carpets. It has little trouble dealing with smaller debris on hard floors and does an excellent job clearing away pet hair.

You can pair this vacuum with your smartphone through its companion app. However, it also comes with a remote control that allows you to adjust its power mode, arrange a cleaning schedule time, and even input manual directional adjustments if it gets stuck. This makes it a good option if your home Wi-Fi coverage is spotty or unreliable.