How Much Does a Robot Vacuum Cost & Is It Worth It?

Sometimes it feels like it’s impossible to keep up with everything we need to do: work, cooking, doing the laundry and cleaning the house. But, thankfully, smart devices are making everything in our life easier!

With Zoom and a VPN we can work from home, air fryers can cook our dinner in a fraction of the time, smart washing machines can turn on and dispense detergent by themselves, and vacuum cleaners can zip around the house and clean up without you even needing to ask!

But how good a job do those disc-shaped robot vacuums do? And how much will one set you back?

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How much does a robot vacuum cleaner cost?

Robot vacuum cleaners are a rapidly growing industry. There are now several brands on the market, each offering models across a range of price points.

The cheapest models you’ll find cost around $300, while premium options can cost upwards of $2000. However, mid-range models from the most popular brands tend to start at around $700.

Are robot vacuum cleaners good?

Robot vacuum cleaners can be a great addition to a home. Depending on the model chosen, they can do a great job of zipping around the house picking up everything from crumbs, dust and dirt, to dog hair. There are models that are two-in-one vacuum cleaners and mops, as well as ones that have trash bins incorporated into their docking station, allowing them to empty themselves.

However, no matter the model chosen, it’s unlikely to be a full vacuum cleaner replacement.

A robot vacuum can be great for a quick daily clean-up, minimising visible dust and dirt, and reducing the frequency a deep clean is needed. But it can’t compete with the level of cleaning afforded by a classic hand-operated vacuum cleaner.

But if you’re a neat freak who pushes the hoover around on a daily basis, a robot vacuum could be the perfect way to maintain a spotless house without the hassle.

Before you decide whether a robot vacuum is right for you, consider the following:

1. Are you unable to vacuum your home? Robot vacuums can be ideal for those who find it difficult to use a regular vacuum cleaner, whether due to time constraints or physical impairments.
2. Does your home have wooden or tiled floors? Robot vacuums sometimes struggle on deep carpets and can get stuck. Hard flooring eliminates this problem.
3. Do you want continuous cleaning? For the neat freaks out there, a robot vac might be the perfect solution for everyday cleaning, as you can set it to vacuum on a daily basis.
4. Are you in a small (single story) place? Robot vacuums are ideal for people who live in small houses/apartments, or who just want to clean one or two rooms. Larger homes may require several charging stops, which can impact practicality. While homes with stairs require either multiple robot vacuums (one for each floor), or human help to move the unit up and down stairs.
5. Do you own a pet? If you’re a pet owner, you’ll know what it’s like to find your lovable companion’s hair everywhere. Robot vacuums might not be the best solution for sucking up pet hair, but they’re great at keeping on top of the task in between big cleans.

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What features should I look for?

Many robot vacuum cleaners come with advanced features that allow for hands-free cleaning. Some common features of robot vacuums to look for include:

• Stair detection: This feature is standard across most basic models. It helps your robot vac detect drops to prevent it from falling down stairs and steps
• Virtual boundary: This feature allows you to control the robotic vacuum cleaner’s operating area, choose only specific rooms that need cleaning, or restrict access to certain areas if privacy is needed (i.e. bathrooms)
• Floor mapping: Scan and store multiple maps of different floors in your home. The robot will customise its cleaning path once it knows the map it’s in. You can also customise which room(s) you’d like the robot to clean on each floor
• Scheduled cleaning: You can schedule your robot vacuum to clean while you’re away. This is one of the key appeals of purchasing this type of appliance
• Automatic charging: When the battery runs low, the robotic vacuum cleaner automatically returns to its docking station for charging. Once reenergised, it will continue cleaning where it left off. This can be extremely convenient when combined with scheduled cleaning
• Smart compatibility: Allows you to connect your robot vac to smart devices, so that you can calibrate your robot, schedule a cleaning time or check its cleaning status anytime via your smartphone or home voice assistant
• Automatic empty: Some models come with a larger docking station with an inbuilt dustbin that allows the robot vacuum to empty itself
• Vacuum power: The more powerful a vacuum cleaner is, the better it will be at sucking up dirt and debris. Interestingly, the difference in price between robot vacuum cleaners is usually due to the efficiency of their navigation – size and power tend not to vary much to preserve mobility and battery life. If power is your priority, you’re better off simply buying a cheaper model.

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About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Andrew Broadley. Andrew is an experienced writer with a wide range of industry experience. Starting out, he cut his teeth working as a writer for print and online magazines, and he has worked in both journalism and editorial roles. His content has covered lifestyle and culture, marketing and, more recently, finance for Canstar.