Seriously good robot vacuum deals are popping up during last-minute holiday sales

UPDATE: Dec. 16, 2022, 3:00 p.m. EST This story has been updated to include the best deals on robot vacuums from iRobot, eufy, and more. Here are the ones to grab as of Dec. 16:

• BEST BUDGET DEAL: The Eufy 25C(opens in a new tab) is the cheapest vac on this list, beating a different Eufy model’s Black Friday price by $2 — $96 $249.99 (save $153.99)

• BEST SELF-EMPTYING DEAL: The iRobot Roomba i1+(opens in a new tab) is your cheapest path to a self-emptying Roomba — $288 $529.99 (save $241.99)

• BEST ROBOT VACUUM/MOP DEAL: The Roborock S7+(opens in a new tab) is modestly priced for a vac that checks off the big three robot vac features: smart room mapping, self-emptying, and mopping — $679.98 $949.98 (save $270 with coupon)

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don’t have time. Whether you detest the chore or hope to make your home upkeep a bit breezier, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver. Shop models on sale below.

Robot vacuums under $200

Why we like it

A $96 robot vacuum? With actually-good reviews? We’re sold. This compact Eufy vac is an easy choice for small spaces and low-profile furniture. You won’t get smart mapping at this price point, of course, but current 25C owners are impressed with its navigation when it comes to furniture and walls.

• Only 2.85 inches tall

• 90-minute battery life

• Automatic suction increase on carpet

More robot vacuums under $200

• Eufy Clean G32 Pro(opens in a new tab) — $98 $299.99 (save $201.99)

• ILIFE V3s Pro(opens in a new tab) — $99.99 $159.99 (save $50)

• iRobot Roomba 676(opens in a new tab) — $169 $269.99 (save $100.99)

• iRobot Roomba 694(opens in a new tab) — $179 $274 (save $95)

• Ionvac SmartClean V4 with Self-Empty Dock(opens in a new tab) — $179 $299 (save $120)

• Neato Robotics D8(opens in a new tab) — $199 $399.99 (save $200.99)

Robot vacuums under $500

Why we like it

The most affordable self-emptying Roomba this season is the i1+, which has been chilling under $300 at Walmart since before Black Friday. Its sale price is over $60 cheaper than the sale price of the i3+, which is identical in all but color (the i1+ is simply the Walmart-exclusive version). It doesn’t map specific rooms, but you can schedule cleanings and get custom route suggestions in the iRobot app.

• 3 times the suction power of 600 Series Roombas

• 75-minute battery life

• Self-emptying dock holds 60 days’ worth of debris

More robot vacuums under $500

• Shark EZ RV915S (opens in a new tab)— $248 $449.99 (save $201.99)

• iRobot Roomba i3 Evo(opens in a new tab) — $279.99 $349.99 (save $70)

• Neato D9(opens in a new tab) — $277.49 $499.99 (save $225.50)

• Roborock Q5(opens in a new tab) — $299.99 $429.99 (save $130 with on-page coupon)

• iRobot Roomba i3+(opens in a new tab) — $394.99 $549.99 (save $155)

• iRobot Roomba i4+(opens in a new tab) — $399 $649.99 (save $250.99)

• iRobot Roomba j7(opens in a new tab) — $399 $599.99 (save $200.99)

• eufy RoboVac X8(opens in a new tab) — $259.99 $499.99 (save $340)

• Shark AI Ultra AV2501AE XL(opens in a new tab) — $398.99 $649.99 (save $251)

• Roborock Q5+(opens in a new tab) — $479.99 $699.99 (save $220)

Robot vacuums under $800

Why we like it

iRobot guarantees that the j7+, now $10 away from its all-time low price, will properly recognize and avoid pet waste on the floor — or they’ll send you a new one for free. The smartest Roomba will also empty its own dustbin for two months before it’s your problem.

• 10 times the suction of 600 series Roombas

• 85-minute battery life

• Self-emptying dock holds 60 days’ worth of debris

More robot vacuums under $800

• Samsung Jet Bot+(opens in a new tab) — $519.99 $799 (save $279.01)

• iRobot Roomba i7+(opens in a new tab) — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

• iRobot Roomba s9+(opens in a new tab) — $799 $999.99 (save $200.99)

Robot vacuum and mop hybrids and dedicated robot mops

Why we like it:

Don’t sleep on this rare discount on one of our favorite robot vacuum and mop hybrids. The Roborock S7 has reliable suction that performs well on both hardwood and carpet. Attaching the mopping pad gives your floor a scrub, too, but won’t soak your rugs. The S7+ also self-empties and can be sent to specific rooms on your command.

• Room mapping and zone cleaning

• 180-minute battery life

• Self-emptying dock holds up to four months’ worth of debris

More hybrids and robot mops on sale

• Yeedi Vac Max(opens in a new tab) — $198.99 $349.99 (save $151 with on-page coupon)

• Roborock E5(opens in a new tab) —$199.99 $359.99 (save $160)

• Dreametech L10 Pro(opens in a new tab) — $249.99 $489.99 (save $240)

• Yeedi Vac Station(opens in a new tab) — $349.98 $499 (save $149.02)

• eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid(opens in a new tab) — $279.99 $549.99 (save $270)

• Roborock S7(opens in a new tab) — $409.99 $649.99 (save $240 with on-page coupon)

• Ecovacs N8 Pro+(opens in a new tab) — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200)

• Roborock Q7+(opens in a new tab) — $549.99 $799.99 (save $250.99)

• Ecovacs T10+(opens in a new tab) — $599.99 $949.99 (save $350)

• iRobot Roomba Combo j7+(opens in a new tab) — $899 $1,099.99 (save $200.99)

• iRobot Roomba i3+ and Braava Jet m6 bundle(opens in a new tab) — $649.99 $899.99 (save $250)

• iRobot Roomba s9+ and Braava Jet m6 bundle(opens in a new tab) — $999 $1,449 (save $450)

Are robot vacuums worth it?

The control of an upright vacuum comes with its own type of satisfaction. But if you’re not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task from your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having “first day clean” floors all the time?)

But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can’t be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robot vac that doesn’t do the job right — scattering dust, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — might actually create more work for you.

What to consider when buying a robot vacuum

• Suction power:A vacuum is the one purchase that youhopesucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), with most current vacs ranging between 1,500 Pa and 3,000 Pa. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set a no-go zone around Legos) and to pull matted-down pet hair from rugs.

• Floor type:Carpeting and high pile rugswill probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robot vacuum that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.

• Automatic emptying: Because robot vacuums are typically under four inches tall, their onboard dust bins are also small — which means they frequently require emptying. (Dustbins fill up particularly quickly in homes with pets.) A self-emptying vacuum takes that job out of your hands, emptying itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out.

• Home layout:Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you’ll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.

• Low-profile furniture:No one should have to be scared about what’s accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.

• Battery life and square footage:One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you’ll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 200 minutes, which translates to about 500 and 2,800 square feet covered on one charge.

• App control:WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, and cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you’re not home. Low-end models that don’t connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you’re used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.