Top 5 Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners for Carpet in 2021?
If you are looking for the best robot vacuum for carpets, we have lined up the best models in 2019-2020.
From the household names like Roomba to new brands like Roborock, and their cheap counterparts, the likes of EUFY.
We will also be sharing with you the best technologies we have seen so far in the robot vacuums industry. Without further ado, let’s get to business.
Which are the best robot vacuums for carpets?
Below are the best vacuums that should be on your wish list.
EUFY Robovac 11s Max – Best Affordable Robot Vacuum For Carpets
The Robovac 11s Max is an upgrade of the Robovac 11s, and this time around, it packs more power, and the price is very friendly.
If you are looking for the cheapest robot vacuum for carpets, this is your match.
To start, the 11s Max boasts the same design as the predecessor.
It is just 2.85-inches thin and maintains the tempered glass shell. When it comes to maneuverability, this vacuum has large wheels and can go over thresholds of up to 0.59-inches.
If you have the high pile carpets, area rugs, and flokati, among others, you have no worries. The transition from floors to carpets, and back is seamless.
Now, the most important thing is suction power, and this is where EUFY really excelled.
The 11s Max still boasts the BoostIQ technology, but this time, suction power has been boosted to 2000Pa, and this is impressive compared to the 1300Pa the previous model, Robovac 11s Max.
The runtime is also impressive. This vacuum can do 100 minutes when on bare floods and around 40 minutes when on carpets. It will also recharge automatically, but unfortunately, it doesn’t resume cleaning after that.
When it comes to convenience, the Robovac 11s Max, just like the base model, the EUFY 11s doesn’t have smart connectivity.
Instead, the unit comes with a remote controller. Considering what you are paying, this shouldn’t be a concern though the world is now moving to smart home technology.
EUFY Robovac 15c Max – Best EUFY Robot Vacuum For Carpets
The Robovac 15c Max is also an upgrade to an existing model, the EUFY 15c. The 11s Max is impressive, but it locks you out from the convenience of smart connectivity.
If you are a smart home enthusiast on a budget, this model will suit you best as it comes with 2.4GHz WiFi for app operation and Alexa compatibility.
Above all, it is an inexpensive model and is the best affordable model for carpets now that is is connected.
The Robovac 15c Max is very similar to the EUFY 15c. It uses the same 3 stage cleaning system and does an exceptional job on medium to high pile carpets, unlike the previous model.
This is courtesy of an enhanced motor, the same one in the 11s Max, that produces 2000Pa when BoostIQ is activated.
Unfortunately, the navigation system is still wanting, even though this is an advanced model. It moves randomly and may miss some spots, especially in large apartments or homes with high traffic rooms.
The runtime is impressive; 100 minutes when in normal mode and around 40 minutes when BoostIQ is activated. But the climbing threshold is ideal for carpets, both low pile and high pile carpets, as well as area rugs.
Roomba S9/S9+ (9150 and 9550) – Best All Round Vacuum For Carpets
The Roomba S9/S9+ is the latest vacuum from iRobot, and the best Roomba we have seen so far.
It was released this year and took over from the iRobot i7. But while the i7 sacrifices power and runtime, the S9 packs all the features you’d want from a carpet robot vacuum.
To start, this vacuum has a D-shape design that allows it to clean the wall edges efficiently.
It also boasts an impressive clearance to enable the robot to climb both the short pile and high pile carpets.
But the biggest feature this model brings on board is a new motor that steps up suction power to 2200Pa, which is just what’s required to flush out the stubborn dirt from both low pile and high pile carpets.
This is a great improvement from the i7 that delivers 1000Pa and the discontinued Roomba 980 that managed 1670Pa.
Another feature worth talking about is the iRobot CleanBase technology. This is a feature that we first saw in the i7 and has been replicated in the S9. For those with busy homes, and equally busy schedules, CleanBase makes life easier as it empties the bin automatically – no human intervention is required.
The brushroll is also specially designed for cleaning carpets. As is the norm with the latest Roombas, the 9150 and 9550 has a dual multisurface brushroll – one for agitating dirt and the other for picking up the dirt. This is in addition to the side sweeping brush.
Another unique feature that makes the S9 ideal for homes with carpets is the new Imprint Smart Mapping, which allows homeowners to select areas they want to be vacuumed.
That means you can choose to vacuum the carpet only, on skip vacuuming it depending on your immediate cleaning needs.
The Roomba S9 is an excellent choice for carpets, pet hair, and just any other kind of dirt.
The only shortcoming is the high price tag; it’s the most expensive robot vacuum we have reviewed so far.
Roborock S5 Max
The Roborock S5, also known as the S50/S51/S52, depending on the color is also a great deal for carpets, but with a new upgrade of it on the market, it’s no longer a worthy purchase.
Meet the new Roborock S5 Max that brings onboard improved suction power and runtime.
If you have a large apartment and maybe, an expansive high pile carpet, this is a great choice.
As usual, the most significant consideration when choosing the best robot vacuum for carpets is suction power.
The S5 Max delivers 2000Pa just like S5, and that makes it best for all carpet types, both low pile, and high pile carpets.
The anti-tangle brushroll is also designed for carpets and features intertwined bristles and rubber blades for the fragile carpet fabrics.
One thing that makes the S5 Max a better deal for homes with carpets is the addition of no-mop and no-go zones.
With the earlier model, S5, you’d be disappointed to find the robot mopping your carpet.
This is something the Chinese company has solved so you can select where the S5 Max can mop and where it shouldn’t.
Overall, the Roborock S5 Max is a great vacuum for carpets, but some things could be improved. First, the navigation system is still wanting. The latest vacuums have moved to VSLAM navigations. But that is not to say it won’t work in high traffic rooms and large apartments.
Roborock S6
The S6 is the latest model from Roborock and owes much of its design to the S5.
But as is the norm with big brothers, there is nothing the older S5 can do that the S6 can’t. If you are torn in between the two, check out our detailed Roborock S5 Max vs. S6 comparison review.
But for now, let’s find out why the S6 is a great vacuum for carpets.
One of the outstanding features of the S6 is the intelligent carpet ID.
It automatically detects carpet fabrics and switches to Turbo mode, increasing suction to the maximum.
But one thing about the S6 is the quiet operation, even when in high power mode. In addition to the quiet operation, the S6 brings on board a more powerful battery than can last for a cool 180 minutes in Eco mode.
The advantage of the bigger battery is longer runtime on carpets.
The S6 also brings on board several new features, including Smart LDS Navigation, with 14 types of sensors, as opposed to the 13 sensors in the S6.
The S6 also has selective cleaning, and with this feature, you can use the robot the same way as the i7 and S9 (Imprint Smart Mapping). With this function, the S6 can store up to 3 maps making it the best for homes with more than one level.
Buyer’s Guide
In this buying guide, we want to cover the most critical aspects homeowners need to be aware of when buying a robot vacuum cleaner.
We really emphasize on understanding this buying guide more than the reviews of the models because what’s hot today is not a guarantee that it will still be the best tomorrow.
To start this section, let’s first look at the essence of a robot vacuum.
The first reason you want to buy a robot vacuum cleaner is that they are highly specialized.
Some homeowners have complained that regular vacuums damage the fabric of their carpets. This is true because the primary asset of regular vacuums is super high suction power. White vacuum power is fundamental when it’s too high; some fabric gets damaged because of the high pressure.
However, for robot vacuums, several specialized features do the job, not just only the vacuum power. Another thing, robot vacuums have soft bristles that gently pick up dirt without damaging the fabric. But note that not all robot vacuums have gentle bristles. That’s why it’s important to be very selective.
But the most critical benefit of robot vacuums is their autonomous operation and convenience.
First, regular vacuums need to be pushed around, but robot vacuums work autonomously. That takes us to our next point about convenience. These little robot cleaners can be programmed to clean the house daily for the entire week.
Now that carpets require frequent vacuuming, a robot vacuum is the most convenient way of vacuuming.
Will a robot vacuum replace my regular vacuum?
A lot of people have been asking this question, and today, I want to address it in depth. Well, your regular vacuum may be doing quite a great job on your carpet. But now, you want something more convenient, and that’s what a robot vacuum offers.
Technically, a robot vacuum has lesser vacuum power compared to regular vacuums. As you are all aware, suction power is a critical fundamental in carpet cleaning.
That said, the regular vacuum still reigns, and to answer the question, a robot vacuum doesn’t completely replace your regular vacuum.
Even though vacuuming daily dramatically prevents your robot vacuum from getting too dirty, it will eventually require high power vacuuming. This is the same case when you want to clean an old carpet that has been in the store. To cut a long story short, robot vacuums are meant for light carpet vacuuming only.
But where there is a lot of dirt in the question, you need a regular vacuum. That said, a robot vacuum replaces the regular vacuum but not wholly. So, if you are thinking of trading your regular vacuum because you have a new robot vacuum, think twice!
What’s the best robot vacuum for low and high pile carpet?
Now that we have reviewed the top robot vacuums for carpets, it’s time we make a distinction between the different types of carpets available.
But why should you be worried about the kind of carpet pile you have?
Well, to put it into simple terms, robot vacuums offer varying performance of different carpet piles.
Low vs. medium vs. high pile carpets
Before we advance, it’s imperative to note the different types of carpet piles in most households.
So, what is carpet pile, and how does it come into play?
You will also find low or high pile carpet being referred to as light pile and dense pile.
Choosing the best robot vacuum for your carpet pile
When shopping for a robot vacuum cleaner, the most important thing to do is knowing your carpet pile. Once you have figured out what you have, you are now set to purchase the best robot vacuum for carpet.
From our review above, it is not clear what robot vacuum suits which carpet pile. That is what we now want to sort out in this section.
Now, let’s look at how each robot vacuum recommended above fits low, medium, and high pile carpets.
We have shared the cleaning results we got after testing several robot vacuums on the low pile, medium pile, and lastly, high pile carpets.
We tested these robot vacuum cleaner with different kinds of household dirt, and here are the results.
Low pile carpet cleaning results
If you have a low pile carpet, then you shouldn’t worry too much when choosing a robot vacuum cleaner. This is because low pile has very few places where dirt can hide, and even with above-average suction, say anything above 500 Pa, you are good to go.
All the robot vacuums we tested vacuumed the dirt pretty thoroughly.
Medium pile carpet cleaning results
Here, we didn’t see much changes, but you are supposed to be keen on the few observations we made.
First, the pile starts having more spaces where small dirt particles hide. That makes it hard for the average robot to vacuum, and that’s why you should be very keen on a powerful robot vacuum here.
High pile carpet cleaning results
Here, things get a little bit tricky, and it is an area I really want to emphasize.
Well, most of the robot vacuum cleaner brands advertise their vacuums as “best for carpet,” but they don’t specify the type of pile. In most cases, they refer to the low pile carpets, but on a high pile, they get overwhelmed.
From the above tests, you can see that not just any robot vacuum cleaner for carpet will suit all types of carpets.
You have to be very keen on the carpet pile and, consequently, the vacuum power of your preferred robot vacuum.
verdictFor light/low pile, we recommend any of the above five robot vacuums. When it comes to the medium pile, we recommend any of them as well, while for the high pile, settle for nothing less than the Roomba S9+.
Robot Vacuums Runtime on Carpets
A lot of people have been complaining that their robot vacuums have shorter runtime when it is vacuuming carpets.
This is a common observation that we also tested. So, if your vacuum has been misbehaving on carpets, then this is a segment you want to follow to the end.
Well, to start, there is nothing wrong with your robot vacuum if it runs for a shorter time on carpets. But then, there is one thing you need to note; the higher the pile, the shorter the runtime.
So, what’s the explanation for this?
Robot vacuums require more power to work their way on the carpet fabric. Another thing, most robot vacuums for carpets come with a high power mode that is activated when it is on carpets. In this mode, the robot vacuum uses more power to make the motor run faster to boost vacuum power. Also, this dramatically reduces the runtime.
A good example is Roborock S6. While it has been rated 180 minutes, it does an average of 105 minutes on medium to high pile carpet. On the other hand, on the low pile, it can do 125 minutes comfortably.
That said, you shouldn’t get worried when your robot vacuum starts giving you lesser runtime. But then, if it behaves the same on bare floors, maybe it’s time to replace it.
Choosing a robot vacuum for carpets
Many people assume that just any other robot vacuum will do the job. This is not true at all because there are specific models designed for carpets, the same way we have robot vacuums for hardwood floors or robot vacuums for pet hair.
In this section, we want to look at the critical factors that you need to consider when shopping for a robot vacuum for pet hair.
1. Design
Though it may not directly be related to the cleaning performance on carpets, make sure to buy a low-profile robot vacuum.
A good vacuum should be able to creep under furniture to vacuum those hard to reach spots where most dirt hides. But then, it all depends on the kind of furniture you have.
If you are sure they have enough ground clearance, this should not matter to you so much.
But for the record, I know several guys who have had their Roomba stuck under furniture.
2. Priority
What other surface does that robot vacuum clean? It doesn’t just end at choosing the right vacuum for your carpet. You also need to consider the cleaning performance on other surfaces.
In other words, get a versatile robot vacuum cleaner. This is because your entire house is not covered by carpet, there are areas where there is the bare floor.
Make sure your preferred robot can handle all the floor types. Fortunately, any average robot vacuum cleaner will handle all hard floors pretty well.
3. Vacuum power
This is the most important consideration and perhaps what makes Roomba S9+ the best. Carpets require high vacuum power, so anything with less than 1000 Pa is not good for carpets.
Also, it should preferably have two power modes; low and high power.
4. Brush
This is another critical cleaning feature that should worry you. Carpets are very delicate and may not endure the rough action hard floors endure.
Make sure you go for the gentle bristle brushes, especially rubber extractors. Rough bristles will damage the fabric and make the carpet look old.
Another thing to look out for is tangling, a major concern for pet owners as well as carpet owners.
You find that some carpet fabrics like polypropylene have thin nylon threads that get tangled on the brush, and this poses the same headache as the fur of long-haired dog breeds.
Here, I still recommend the Roomba S9 or anything with a proper mechanism to handle tangling.
5. Battery runtime
One thing you need to note is that on carpets, robot vacuums require more torque, and at the end of the day, it ends up draining the battery faster. For that reason, you need to get a robot vacuum with a longer runtime, at least to compensate for the drag on carpets.
Apart from the battery capacity and runtime, also consider getting robot vacuums that will resume cleaning after recharging.
Most of the vacuum cleaners will go to the charging base, but forget about cleaning so many are times you find the house halfway cleaned. But lay more emphasis on longer runtime because recharge times are usually longer 2-3 hours; your guests might arrive in a dirty house!
6. Navigation
This is not related to the cleaning performance of a vacuum, but it is essential to buy a robot vacuum with the best navigation technology.
- The first reason you want such a robot is to ensure it navigates seamlessly without hitting obstacles or falling off the stairs.
- Second, a good navigation system is essential to ensure fast and efficient cleaning.
7. Wheels
Though not a primary consideration when buying robot vacuums, the wheels are a crucial aspect when purchasing robot vacuums for carpets. This is especially if you have high pile carpets that are often hard to climb.
Go for a robot that has large wheels so that it won’t have trouble transitioning from bare floors to carpets as also area rugs. The good thing is that most robot vacuums prefer large off-road wheels, so this is not a significant issue as well. What matters most is the navigation technology and how intelligent it is.
8. Smart features
The convenience of robot vacuum cleaners is mind-blowing.
The first thing you want to look for is scheduling. This is a feature that allows you to program your vacuum for daily cleaning throughout the week.
Also, get a robot vacuum with Wi-Fi to support Smartphone App operation. You can always control the robot vacuum even when you are miles away.
Also, having a Smart home ready robot vacuum cleaner in this age of Smart technology is irresistible. Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility is also a top consideration.
What’s the best robot vacuum for carpets?
The Roomba S9+ is the best overall robot vacuum cleaner for carpets. But what makes it better than the rest, including the Roomba 980?
Well, the dedicated mode for carpet cleaning called Carpet Boost makes the difference as it can deliver a whopping 2200 Pa when activated. This is enough suction to handle even the heaviest of carpets.
Besides, the Roomba S9 has an excellent navigation system; iAdapt 3.0. This is the industry-leading technology because it uses cameras and sensors, whereas most robot vacuums use sensors only. It also has a self-emptying bin technology that can hold dirt for an entire month.
Unfortunately, the Roomba S9+ is too expensive if you are on a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Roomba be used on carpet?
Richard King
I bought roomba 980 a few month ago and I think it’s the best robot vacuum for thick carpet, because it have mode carpet boost. It cleans my carpets perfect!!!
Before, I have ilife but I didn’t like it, this robot vacuum only for hardwood floor, not for carpet.
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