Carpet maintenance can be a very tedious process, but with the right robotic vacuum cleaner, it can be taken out of the boring equation.
We’ll look at The best robot vacuum cleaners for carpets in this guide that will eliminate the need for daily manual cleaning.
The latest options have an intelligent navigation system that makes them more efficient than ever and some of them can clean carpets rather deeply.
Having a carpet cleaner for you will go a long way in preventing dirt build-up, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Prices for such machines can vary, so we will consider different categories – better overallAnd The best under $250And The best value.
Table of Contents
What is the best robot vacuum cleaner for carpets?

Roomba S9 +
If price is not an issue, then
Not only is the S9 powerful, but it’s also one of the smartest robots available.
Static maps (or smart fingerprint maps) combined with a clean base dock Granting it expanded independence. You don’t have to babysit the bot for weeks if all goes well.
He. She Also contains “Forbidden Fonts“Where the no-go zones can be blocked – every home has those zones that will cause problems with a robot vacuum, so it’s a must in my opinion.
The best under $200

Shark ION R85
For consumers who don’t mind not having all the bells and whistles, a file
If your home has black carpets or rugs, I am happy to report that Shark ION R85 can bypass these surfaces without any problems.
I don’t know what kind of sensors Shark used to detect cliff points, but it seems like a black carpet wouldn’t be an issue.
The bumper sensor is also great for obstacle detection because this robot will slow down and won’t hit things hard.
Best value for money

Neato BotVac D3
consumers who They want a lot of value for their hard-earned money Have a look at
It has only one power setting and a smaller battery So it will last up to 60 minutes It is not a D7 length. But the efficient navigation as well as the recharge and resume feature make up for the short battery life.
Another thing to note is that the D3 does not have a side brush or a high-efficiency filter.
So it won’t clean edges as well as more expensive BotVac options with a side brush. You can buy a high-efficiency filter for later uses so it won’t be a problem in the long run.
table of contents
- summary
- How to choose?
-
Our selection:
Roomba S9 + - The best under $250:
Shark ION R85 - Best value for money:
Neato D3 - Cheaper Alternative to S9: Shark IQ IR101AE
- Roomba I7 +
Roborock E35 uve 11s - Questions and answers about robot vacuums
- judgment
A quick overview of the best robot vacuum cleaners for carpets
Deep cleaning results are from an independent test conducted where 100g of sand is rubbed onto the mat. The dust cup is weighed before and after the cleaning test and the difference is the amount captured.
Best robot vacuum cleaner for carpets

- deep cleaning: 94.5%
- air flow: Up to 22 feet per minute
- Mobility: Smart Mapping
- Battery life: 120 minutes
- dirt capacity: 550 ml
Best under $200

- deep cleaning: 76%
- air flow: Up to 20 feet per minute
- Mobility: Basic
- Battery life: 88 minutes
- dirt capacity: 470 ml
The best value

- deep cleaning: 76%
- air flow: Up to 19 feet per minute
- Mobility: Smart Mapping
- Battery life: 60 minutes
- dirt capacity: 590 ml
Cheapest alternative to S9+

- deep cleaning: 83%
- air flow: Up to 23 feet per minute
- Mobility: Smart Mapping
- Battery life: 75 minutes
- dirt capacity: 0.17 dry quart

- deep cleaning: 79%
- air flow: Up to 17 feet per minute
- Mobility: Smart Mapping
- Battery life: 75 minutes
- dirt capacity: 460 ml

- deep cleaning: 77%
- air flow: Up to 17 feet per minute
- Mobility: Smart Mapping
- Battery life: 150 minutes
- dirt capacity: 640 ml

- deep cleaning: 68%
- air flow: Up to 15 cubic feet per minute
- Mobility: Basic
- Battery life: 100 minutes
- dirt capacity: 600 ml
How to choose the best robot vacuum cleaner for carpets?
With so many options to choose from, how can we be sure that the robot we get is suitable for carpet cleaning?
To help you decide, here are some of the features that a good carpet cleaning robot should have:
- Excellent agitation: The brush roller design is an important feature to consider. Having a strong agitator is a must for any vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt stuck under the carpet threads. Some of the options you see here Like Roomba I7 and S9 Contains anti-roll straws that are proven in tests to work well in deep cleaning carpets.
- strong airflow: Airflow is a measurement of the amount of air flowing through the suction port in a vacuum. Unfortunately, manufacturers do not include these specifications in their products. It is essential for any vacuum cleaner to have the right amount of air flow to pick up dirt on the carpet.
- Mobility: Most cheap robot vacuums use a standard algorithm that only pins in a random direction. While it is thorough, it will not be able to clean a large area well. If you want the bot to be able to clean multiple rooms, get something with smart navigation that has a recharge and resume feature.
- Able to clean compact dirt: You’ll see in the list above that I’ve laid out how each option deeply cleans the rug. Keep in mind that even the best robot vacuums can’t clean carpets in depth as well as in vertical position, but choose something This is at least decent in this area (above 70%).
- Dust box capacity: The higher the dirt capacity, the less often you will empty it. This feature applies only to options without a self-emptying dock that automatically empties the robot’s container during recharging.
- Restricted areas: “Restricted Areas” is an application feature that creates virtual barriers that prevents the robot from going to restricted areas.
Our selection:
What makes this a good option?
-
strong suction: at 22 CFM,
Roomba S9 It has the highest airflow rates which translate into excellent debris capture regardless of the surface. - Effective Mobility: The VSLAM algorithm and Imprint Smart Mapping feature help you navigate different areas of your home efficiently. Gives it a new bumper sensor Ability to move around furniture better than i7.
- Flexible scheduling: Another benefit of the upgraded navigation is the robot’s ability to clean specific areas at a specific time after it creates a map of your home.
- Best in class for deep cleaning: In deep cleaning tests, the S9 . was used Scored an average of 94.5% on two exams (This is cleaning 100g of sand on a medium pile rug.) These tests were awarded on a small control area, but the results are still impressive.
Possible problems
- Insanely expensive: The S9 is by far the most expensive robot vacuum cleaner available right now. To put the price in perspective, it More expensive than three high-end Dyson vacuums combined.
When it comes to carpet cleaning performance, The king of robot vacuums is
She has one of The highest airflow rates of all options are here with 22 CFM. Not only are they strong, but the dual rubber straws also do an excellent job of picking up dirt on the carpet.
Excellent cleaning dynamics make

Thanks to the powerful suction and the double brush
It has one of the most feature-rich apps that gives users plenty of options when it comes to scheduling and cleaning certain areas of your home.
For example, you could schedule a cleaning of the living room on Tuesdays or the dining room on Wednesdays when no one is around.
This feature can only be accessed after the bot has saved a map of the home. You can then name the different regions or groups of regions and also define restricted regions in the restricted regions on the bot.
However, all this technology will come at a high cost. But for people who want to spend for convenience features, this is a good option.
iRobot Roomba S9 (9150) Robotic Vacuum Cleaner – Wi-Fi Connection, Smart Mapping, Powerful Suction, Works with Alexa, Perfect for Pet Hair, Clean Base
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The best under $250:
What makes this a good option?
- Outstanding Air Flow: ION R85 has as much airflow as the more expensive one Neato D7 With 20 cubic feet per minute.
- Excellent at picking up surface debris: This high airflow is demonstrated in cleaning tests where the R85 performed exceptionally well when it came to picking up surface dirt even on thick lint rugs.
- Good cleaning dynamics: All components that make up R85 enable it to clean carpets without unnecessarily spreading dirt. The side brush spins hard enough to pick up dirt and direct it toward the main brush, and the exhaust doesn’t blow hard so it doesn’t scatter delicate things like pet hair.
- A rug suitable for deep cleaning: It has enough suction and agitation to be at least suitable in cleaning compact dirt. Tests reveal that ION R85 will capture 76% of compacted sand o Medium pile rugs.
- Won’t Scuff Furniture: The bumper sensor does an excellent job of slowing the robot down when it detects obstacles so it doesn’t hit the furniture too hard.
- Works even on black carpets: It is one of the few robot vacuums that can get past the black carpet.
some issues
- Runtime is not good: This robot will only work for 88 minutes. Decent but not great considering other bots like the Roborock E25, it will run for up to 150 minutes.
- Random navigation: It uses a standard algorithm that bounces in a random direction. But almost all bots in this price range use a standard algorithm, so it’s not a big deal.
while the
If you are one of those consumers who don’t mind a lack of convenience features, then Shark ION R85 is an excellent alternative.
Shark is a relative newcomer to the robot vacuum niche, but their products have proven to be adept at cleaning carpets.
The ION R85 is the mid-level option from Shark, between the entry level R75 and the just released Shark IQ R101AE which I’ll talk about later.
She does not have The predictable navigation style of Roomba S9 or Neato D7 But it makes up for this by being one of the least expensive options available.

The
Although it’s under $200, it has plenty of airflow at 20m3/min On par with robots over hundreds of dollars Like Neato D7 and Roborock S5.
The high airflow allows the R85 to do a good job of cleaning carpets. It also works well in cleaning the sand on the carpet Scoring 76% on industry-standard testing.
Considering the low price and power, the ION R85 is One of the best options in the price range.
It’s also Alexa and Google Play compatible and has a smartphone app, so if you have any of these devices, it’s an option you should consider.
SHARK ION Robot Vacuum R85 WiFi Voice Control
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01/22/2022 04:00 AM GMT
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Best value for money:
What makes this a good option?
- Excellent on carpet: The D3 has great airflow and action that allows it to pick up dirt well on carpets. This combination also allows carpets to be cleaned deeply (score of 76% in deep cleaning tests).
- High Efficiency Mobility: Neato’s laser sensors are extremely accurate in their positioning and make the BotVac Series one of the most efficient and comprehensive when it comes to navigation. It is one of the least expensive robots that has an intelligent navigation system.
- Works even in dark environments: Another advantage of laser navigation is that it does not require any light source to function. It will work fine Even with the lights out.
Possible problems
- Without side brush: The D3’s lack of a side brush hampers how it cleans edges and corners. It will not work as well as a robot that has a side brush.
- Battery life is below average: This alternative It will only work for 60 minutes. However, it has a recharge and resume feature that makes up for the lack of uptime.
while the D3 is entry level when it comes to its pricing, there is nothing entry level about its ability to clean carpets.
The D3 has the same amount of airflow as Neato’s most expensive option, the D7 but lacks a side brush and a smaller Li-ion battery to cut costs.
It also doesn’t have a high-efficiency filter, so it doesn’t filter either.
These cuts do not limit how the D3 performs. It has the same LIDAR sensor that makes it extremely efficient for navigation and Above average for deep carpet cleaning 76%.
However, the smaller battery reduces the runtime to 60 minutes, so it is more suitable for small and medium-sized homes.
The lack of filtration can be addressed by purchasing a high-efficiency filter if the current filter is clogged.
There is no doubt that the Neato BotVac D3 is one of the most efficient mobility robots.
The brush’s wide roll allows it to capture more dirt in one stroke versus robots that have a narrower brush.
It can pick up fine and large pieces of dirt better than
However, the lack of a side brush gets in the way of how to clean edges and corners.
Neato Botvac D3 works with smartphones, Alexa, and smartwatches
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Cheaper Alternative to S9: Shark IQ IR101AE
What makes this a good option?
-
The least expensive option with an automatic unloading dock: IQ IR101AE is Currently the cheapest option with automatic discharge system That was only before
Roomba S9 The i7 possesses. - Intelligent navigation: This new Shark bot now has camera-based navigation that uses a more efficient back-and-forth pattern that works well in larger areas. When the battery power runs low, it will recharge and resume cleaning until it completes its task.
- Will Clean Built-in Dirt: It also scores high in 83% deep cleaning test.
- Resists tangles well: IR101AE also has an active anti-tangle feature Detangles hair from wrapping around the brush roll.
some issues
- Runtime: It will only run for 60 minutes which is below average. But smart navigation and the ability to recharge and resume make up for this limitation.
- small dust cup: Dust cup capacity is below average at only 0.19L dry. However, given that this form automatically contains an empty container, this should not be a problem.
- Complaints about map problems: There have been some complaints that this bot takes 10-30 times to generate an accurate map. But there are already subsequent software updates, so hopefully this will solve the problem.
The IQ IR101 is Shark’s newest robotic vacuum cleaner that comes with the upgraded navigation system and Previously only automatic emptying feature
It will probably change the rules of the game because It costs three times less than the S9 and half than the I7.
There is a big difference between IR101AE and
Which begs the question, does IR101AE work like the S9 and I7?
This variant is a big upgrade over the ION R85 with its camera-based navigation system and self-discharge dust cup.
It will go through obstacles with better efficiency and improve around furniture with the upgraded software.
Navigation tests show that this robot is actually better than the S9 when it comes to coverage, especially in areas near the pavement.
The dual-sided brush system gives you above average performance on edges and corners.
It also works well when it comes to cleaning built-in dirt Capture 83% of the sand on a medium pile carpet.
Shark IQ IR101AE with Self-Unloading Base and Wi-Fi
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Roomba I7 +
What makes this a good option?
- Less expensive than S9: The Roomba I7 is cheaper than the S9 and an option if you still want a Roomba with auto-discharge without spending a lot.
- Effective Mobility: This variant is a great upgrade on Roomba 980 and 960 Thanks to the smart navigation feature, a fingerprint that saves the map of your home via the cloud. This feature allows to clean specific areas at specific times like on the S9.
- Great at carpet cleaning: Dual straws work great at picking up dirt on carpets and also clean deeply.
some issues
- Side brush spins very fast: This is a problem with most Roomba products and the I7 is no exception as the side brush rotation is very strong and tends to scatter dirt.
- Not cleaning hair well: More hair will be wrapped around the dual brush of the i7 than the S9.
- Still Expensive: The S9 and I7 are among the most expensive robot vacuums.
before
It’s the first iRobot product to come with a self-emptying dock that automatically empties the robot’s enclosure.
This variant retains the circular shape of robots earlier than the 900 series, so it uses narrower rubber extractors that work well on carpets.

When it comes to cleaning surface dirt,
One of the advantages of owning a Roomba Is the availability of parts – Both OEM and aftermarket.
Also, if one of the parts fails, you can easily replace the parts yourself.
So people who want Roomba but don’t want to spend higher bucks on the S9 can settle for the less expensive i7.
It has less power, so it won’t do as well when it comes to cleaning built-in dirt on medium pile carpets.
But it has the same hands-free automatic emptying feature that makes it the most popular option at least on Amazon.
iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Automatic Dirt Disposal – Vacuums itself, Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair, Carpets, and Hard Floors, Black
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05/07/2021 03:57 AM GMT
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Roborock E35
What makes this a good option?
- Affordable Intelligent Navigational Robot: The E35 is one of the cheapest robots that has an intelligent navigation system. Unlike the Roborock S6 which uses a laser sensor, this variant uses a gyroscope and advanced algorithm.
- Excellent airflow: With 17 CFM on tap, the E35 will capture surface dirt and incorporate it onto carpet.
- long term time: The one thing Roborock does better than other brands is using large cell Li-ion batteries which give their products an excellent range. The E35 is no exception with its 150-minute runtime.
- Anti-tangle: The brush roller design of the E35 resists pet hair tangles well.
- Large dust cup: It can hold up to 600ml of dirt – more than the Roborock S5.
some issues
- Basic mop: The E35’s mopping feature will not replace a traditional mop. It’s good for light dusting but struggles with wiping dry spots.
- Does not contain advanced application features: This model does not contain the app features that Roborock S5 has such as block zones and zone cleanup.
Directly between Roborock S6 and E20 is the average price
It’s a slightly more expensive option than E25 with more power which translates to better cleaning performance on carpets.
E35 is One of the cheapest robots with an intelligent navigation system It has a recharge and resume feature.
One of the reasons it is inexpensive is that it uses a gyroscope system, an electric eye sensor, and an advanced algorithm that makes it very efficient. if you want Effective robot under $300It’s an excellent option.
While the E35 navigates the same way as the Roborock S5 and has excellent collision avoidance sensors, it doesn’t have the advanced app features.
You won’t be able to do area cleanup and it doesn’t have the exclusion zones feature that lets you set virtual barriers that prevent the bot from going to areas it shouldn’t go to.
If you don’t mind these restrictions, then
Just a heads up, Roborock has a new product in their E-Series, Roborock E4 Which has more airflow than higher options like S5 Max and S6 MaxV.
Roborock E35 Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop, App Control, Route Planning
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05/12/2021 11:45 AM GMT
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uve 11s
What makes this a good option?
-
above average strength: The
uve 11s It has suction power for its price – more than the Deebot N79S but less thanShark ION R85 That’s why I ranked it last. - Excellent at picking up surface dirt: The airflow and agitation are good enough to pick up almost all surface dirt (regardless of size) on carpets and hard floors.
- Decent in cleaning compact dirt: It also performed decently in deep-cleaning tests, capturing 68% of the sand on medium-pile carpets.
- Brilliant Edge Cleaning: Two side brushes will do just fine at cleaning the edges even though they scatter dirt because they spin at a fast pace.
- Even at high power: It only produces 65dB on the high setting.
Possible problems
- strong exhaust: It tends to blow out light and soft objects such as pet hair due to the air emitted by the exhaust.
-
Not great for brushing pet hair: a brush
uve 11s Not as resistant to pet hair tangles as high-end robots. - Limited scheduling feature: It will not allow you to choose days to clean or choose a time for specific days. Once the schedule is set, it cleans on its own at the same time each day.
Another budget option on this list is
The reason I rated the 11s below the ION R85 is because it doesn’t clean deeply either. This bot caught only average 68% of sand in two deep cleaning tests.
But when it comes to cleaning surface dirt, the 11S will do the job very well. This bot is pretty basic when it comes to features. It is not compatible with Alexa or Google Play and does not have an app so it lacks modern features.
The scheduling feature is also limited – there is no option to set it to clean on specific days. Once the timer is set, the bot will clean at the same time for all seven days.
Finally, the only thing holding it back is the price. The
The Roborock E25 which was optional for the best robot vacuum cleaner for wooden floors Not too far behind when it comes to pricing and this option is more efficient and cleans carpets better.
It is not that
Eufy 11S (Slim), Ultra-thin, Quiet, Self-Charging, Black
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05/12/2021 09:55 AM GMT
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Some Frequently Asked Questions About Robot Vacuums
The fact is that buying a robotic vacuum cleaner will entail spending a large amount. So it makes sense to educate yourself as much as possible about these products before embarking on it.
Here are some questions that a lot of people have asked and answers to help make an informed decision.
Why choose a robot vacuum?
The biggest advantage a robot vacuum has over something more traditional The ability to do the job independently.
There is no need to work and push the broom manually to just clean the house.
Since it is a machine, You won’t get tired or complain about having to clean And he does it on time every day.
Some high-end models have an extension Ability to clean a specific area at the planned date and time.
Navigation technology and cleaning performance have improved So much so, that robotic vacuums are no longer just new products.
These machines are able to keep floors clean regardless of whether it is a hard floor or a carpet.
One area where robots excel It is cleaning under the furniture. Imagine the amount of dust and allergens that accumulate underneath.
Deep cleaning won’t be a problem because some robots in the $300 range can clean built-in dirt pretty well (above 70%).
Another reason to choose a robot It is the ability to clean light area rugs Where you will struggle a full-size list.
Make sure to hide the tassels, if any.
There are cases The upright vacuum cleaner can damage the carpet fibres This is where the robot comes in.
Can a robot vacuum replace a regular broom?
The biggest difference between a regular vertical cleaner and a robot is the suction and airflow.
Robotic vacuum cleaners have to be compact and that puts a lid on power.
The robot won’t match the vertical position when it comes to deep cleaning large areas. but that Keeps dirt from accumulating because of its independence.
The beauty of these machines is that you can schedule them to clean the house while you work.
This will help keep the home environment clean.
I will not say to give up the straight posture because It is useful for deep cleaning sessions before using the carpet cleaner.
However, regular use of the robot, if all goes well, will reduce the need to take out a heavy corded vacuum cleaner.
What is the best performing robot vacuum for low and high pile carpets?
The term “pile” refers to the thickness of the carpet strands. It is clear that carpets with thicker piles are more difficult to clean because there is more depth.
To measure the robot’s effectiveness in cleaning embedded dirt, a deep cleaning test was conducted to measure how much sand (100 grams) it could pick up.
All of these tests were performed on a small patch of a medium pile carpet. The testing was conducted to give a baseline of what to expect from each robot vacuum.
This is the order of all the bots in the list.
-
Roomba S9 +: 94.5% - Share IQ IR101: 83%
- Roomba I7: 79%
-
Roborock E35 : 77% -
Neato D3 : 76% -
Shark ION R85 : 76% -
uve 11s : 68%
Based on the list, the Roomba S9 + and Shark IQ IR101AE They are two of the best options if you Assign it to the built-in dirt cleaning.
These two also have Take advantage of extended autonomy Because of the second void in the dock The robot dust cup automatically empties upon every recharge.
Shark is the cheapest option but not as powerful as Roomba and there are reports of software issues with the bot that require more than 10 runs to accurately map.
while the Shark ION R85 is the cheapest option that scored the highest score. However, it does not have the smart navigation feature and will only bounce.
Choosing between these options will result in what is more important to you if it is low cost or efficient mobility and independence.
Which option can run longer?
Runtime is an important characteristic to possess For robots that do not have an intelligent navigation system It has a recharge and resume feature.
Bots like this enable it to recharge and resume from where it left off, so the length of time it can run won’t be as important.
This is the order of the bots in the list with the longest running time.
-
Roborock E35 : 150 minutes -
Roomba S9 +: 120 minutes -
uve 11s : 100 minutes -
Shark ION R85 : 88 minutes. - Roomba I7: 75 minutes
- Share IQ R101AE: 75 minutes
-
Neato D3 : 60 minutes
All Roborock products are known for their extremely long battery life. The Roborock E25, E35, S5, and S6 will run for up to 150 minutes.
If you combine that with smart navigation, these products can cover a lot of ground efficiently.
judgment
The best robot vacuum cleaners for carpets should have the right combination of power, navigation and excellent cleaning dynamics to not only clean surface dirt, but also to pick up built-in debris.
Based on the tests, the Roomba S9+ is the best in terms of pure cleaning performance Because he was able to pick up the largest amount of sand on the carpet.
if it was
The Roomba I7 + It is also another decent option that is more popular than the S9+ due to its lower cost. It also won’t clean carpets but offers the same autonomy as the more expensive S9+.
The Shark ION R85 is the best value for money because it advances The highest price-performance ratio of the seven options.
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