After going through an intensive research process to narrow down our short list of top products in this space, we tested most of our top five to be sure that these products are worth your time. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter and test to verify manufacturer claims.
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Vacuuming usually tops most homeowners’ list of least favorite chores, so a Roomba — something that has become synonymous with automating a dreaded chore — has steadily been gaining in popularity. iRobot, the company behind the Roomba brand and long considered a pioneer in the robot vacuum field, filed for bankruptcy in December 2025, but its customer support, app functionality and warranties are all still active while it undergoes restructuring.
We evaluated nearly two dozen of iRobot’s popular robot vacuums to identify the best Roombas. We graded each model on its ease of use, performance on carpet and hardwood, transition between flooring types and navigation capabilities. We also completed hands-on testing of 17 models and analyzed how well the products delivered on its manufacturer’s claims, such as long battery life and ease of maintenance.
Our top pick is the easy-to-use iRobot Roomba Max 705, which self-empties for up to 75 days so you don't have to think about it.
Editors’ Favorite
Battery life: 210 min | Dimensions: 14” L x 13.8” W x 4.1” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.07 gal | Water tank capacity: N/A | Weight: 16.2 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant | Scheduling: Yes
With plenty of convenient features and advanced navigation technology, the iRobot Roomba Max 705 makes keeping your carpets and hard floors as hassle-free as possible. It uses Clearview Pro Lidar navigation to precisely map your home, allowing the robot to expertly navigate even in low-light situations. It also features AI technology that enables it to recognize obstacles, including cords, cables, clothing and even pet waste, so it can easily move around them for more efficient cleaning.
But the most significant features that enable the Roomba Max 705 to clean so effectively are its powerful suction and dual brushes. The suction is strong enough to loosen and lift dirt, even from carpet fibers, while the flexible rubber brushes adjust easily to maintain constant contact with the floor for deeper cleaning. You don’t have to worry about missing dirt in corners or along the edges of rooms, either, because the robot also has an edge-sweeping brush to target those hard-to-reach areas.
The Roomba Max 705 is a self-emptying model, too, so you won’t have to empty its dustbin after each cleaning session. Its AutoEmpty dock can hold up to 75 days’ worth of dirt and debris, and the bag is sealed, so it contains all particles as small as 0.7 microns to keep them out of your home’s air.
Great Value
Battery life: 100 min | Dimensions: 13.2” L x 13.2” W x 4.1” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.5 L | Water tank capacity: 200 mL | Weight: 6.35 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: No | Voice commands: Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant | Scheduling: Yes
As its name implies, the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo Robot Vacuum & Mop shares many of the same features as the iRobot Roomba 105. It also provides 70 times the suction power of the Roomba 600 series robots. However, it doesn’t just feature a three-stage cleaning system — it has a four-stage system with a mopping pad to get hard floors as clean as possible. You don’t have to worry about it getting your carpets wet, though. It automatically detects and avoids carpeting to keep it dry.
The Roomba 105 Combo’s built-in mop has a micro-pump that controls the water flow, ensuring the mopping pad stays moist throughout the cleaning process. It also offers a SmartScrub setting that provides two times the scrubbing power to clean sticky and stubborn messes. Best of all, you can send the robot to vacuum, mop or vacuum and mop the floors in your home.
Similar to the Roomba 105, the Roomba 105 Combo is compatible with smart home assistants, like Alexa and Google Assistant. That allows you to use voice commands to send it out to mop or vacuum a specific room. The Roomba Home app also enables you to schedule cleaning times, so you can set a schedule for the robot to mop your kitchen floor after dinner each night.
Epic Discount
Battery life: 200 min | Dimensions: 13.2” L x 13.2” W x 4.1” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.1 gal| Water tank capacity: NA | Weight: 6.24 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant | Scheduling: Yes
The iRobot Roomba 105 with AutoEmpty Dock boasts a three-stage cleaning system that provides 70 times the suction power as Roomba 600 series robots. It features a multisurface brush and an edge-sweeping brush that ensures all your home’s surfaces are as clean as possible, without any dust bunnies left in corners or along baseboards. However, because of its auto-emptying dock that holds more than a month’s worth of dirt and debris, you can go 75 days without having to empty the robot.
Like other Roomba models, the Roomba 105 uses smart-mapping to learn your home’s layout. Its ClearView LiDAR navigation allows it to map quickly and accurately. It can also steer easily around furniture and other obstacles, and its sensors keep it from falling down stairs.
You’ll also appreciate how easy the Roomba 105 is to use. The Roomba Home app allows you to create fully customized cleaning schedules, targeting specific rooms that require extra cleaning as needed. You can also use a smart home assistant, such as Alexa or Siri, to control the robot using voice commands. Finally, if you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can use the buttons on the robot to send it off on a cleaning run.
Best for Multisurfaces
Battery life: 120 min | Dimensions: 14.06” L x 13.82” W x 4.17” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.1 gal | Water tank capacity: 3 L | Weight: 9.44 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant | Scheduling: Yes
If you want to ensure your home's floors are as clean as possible, the iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo Robot Vacuum & Mop can get the job done. It has the same powerful suction as other Roomba models, so it effectively deep-cleans carpeting and hard floors. However, it also features a mopping setting that can remove sticky, wet messes from hard surfaces. And the SmartScrub feature can remove even the most stubborn residue.
Best of all, you can choose from vacuum-only, mop-only, combo-clean or “vacuum first, then mop” settings to customize your cleaning. You don’t have to worry about your carpets getting wet, either, because the robot can detect carpeting and automatically lift the mop pad in response.
Like other Roomba models, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo features a self-emptying dock that can hold up to 75 days’ worth of dust and debris. However, it also washes and dries the mopping pads, so you don’t have to deal with that maintenance yourself.
Best for Large Homes
Battery life: 75 min | Dimensions: 14.65” L x 14.4” W x 4.13” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.07 gal | Water tank capacity: 3 L | Weight: 12.6 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant | Scheduling: Yes
Thanks to its intuitive vacuum and mopping features, the iRobot Roomba Max 705 Combo offers whole-house cleaning without interruption. It can easily transition from hard floors to carpeting and from vacuuming to mopping, ensuring every surface is as clean as possible. The robot also features advanced AI that allows it to identify obstacles of all sizes, including cords and pet waste, in real time and expertly avoid them. It can even recognize wet and dry messes and complete additional passes to fully remove them.
The Roomba Max 705 Combo also cleans so efficiently, thanks to its integrated Pro Lidar navigation. It can quickly create precise 3D maps of your home and automatically name the rooms, so every area is thoroughly cleaned. In the Roomba Home app, you can fully customize the cleaning routine, too, choosing specific rooms or areas to clean, adjusting the suction power or the amount of liquid used for mopping and increasing the number of passes in targeted areas.
The self-emptying dock makes maintenance a breeze, too. It can hold over a month’s worth of dirt and debris, so you don’t have to empty it after every cleaning session. It also automatically cleans and dries the mopping pads to ensure it’s always ready to mop. The dock even features an attractive faux-wood finish that helps it blend seamlessly with your home’s decor.
Solid Performance
Battery life: 120 min | Dimensions: 13.8” W x 4.2” H | Dustbin capacity: 295 mL | Water tank capacity: 378 mL | Weight: 9.06 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant | Scheduling: Yes
If you want a robot vacuum that requires as little hands-on effort from you as possible, the Roomba Plus 405 definitely fits the bill. It not only offers 70 times more suction power while vacuuming than previous Roomba models, but it also can mop hard surfaces for truly clean floors. Its Autowash dock can hold up to 75 days’ worth of debris from vacuuming and enough water for mopping and pad washing for four weeks. Best of all, it dries the pads after cleaning to ensure it’s always ready to mop.
While mopping, it uses spinning mop pads to scrub at messes on your hard flooring. That makes it highly effective for removing stubborn grime and residue in addition to cleaning up spills. Depending on your needs, you can mop with plain water or a cleaning solution to ensure your floors are as clean as possible.
You don’t have to worry about this Roomba getting stuck, either. It uses ClearView LiDAR navigation to map your home, allowing it to steer around obstacles and prevent itself from falling down stairs. Its smart maps also allow you to send the robot to specific rooms or areas you want cleaned and even establish Keep Out Zones that keep it out of certain locations.
Best for Small Spaces
Battery life: 120 min | Dimensions: 14.09” W x 3.98” H | Dustbin capacity: 325 mL | Water tank capacity: 380 mL | Weight: 7.98 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: No | Voice commands: Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant | Scheduling: Yes
Unlike other Roombas that require a bulky, self-emptying base, the unique iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor provides up to two months of hands-free cleaning without taking up much space. Instead, it mechanically compacts the dirt and debris inside its bin to maximize its capacity. That also means you don’t have to replace any bags, so maintenance costs are reduced.
This Roomba features improved suction, too. Its three-stage cleaning system lifts dirt and debris from carpeting and hard floors, while the edge-sweeping brush ensures that the edges of each room are free of dust and debris. It has four suction levels, too, so you can customize cleaning based on the type of mess and flooring surface.
Additionally, it can clean effectively even in the dark. It uses ClearView LiDAR navigation to learn your home and avoid obstacles, enabling it to navigate even in low-light situations. In the Roomba Home app, you can schedule cleaning and use the maps to target specific rooms or spot-clean a mess. If you have an Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant-enabled smart device, you can also use voice commands to start cleaning.
To identify the best Roomba for our readers, we spared no effort in our in-depth testing process guided by the BestReviews Testing Lab.
We began with testing that could provide quantifiable metrics, so we started the robots with full batteries and monitored how long they ran before they needed recharging. Afterward, we observed how long it took for the batteries to fully recharge. We also emptied the Roomba’s dustbins and noted how long they could vacuum before they were full. Finally, we tested how long it took each model to fully clean a room, noting both the time and the square footage of the space.
We examined how the Roombas handled specific types of messes. We placed small to medium-sized particulates like kosher salt or coffee grounds, kitty litter, pet hair or thread and cereal on both hard flooring and carpeting and observed how well they could clean up the debris. We also tested how well the robots transitioned from one flooring type to another and how well they reacted when small objects like a backpack or a pet toy were placed in their paths.
In addition to these specific tests, we sent the robots out on routine cleaning runs to record general impressions of how they performed in everyday conditions. We also considered how noisy each model was and how easy they were to empty and clean. For models with smart mapping and voice commands, we explored how well these features worked and the value they added to the Roombas’ overall performance.
For many people, the main draw is the time that it can save in one’s house cleaning routine. Because it cleans on its own, you can move on to other cleaning chores while it’s doing the vacuuming for you. With the connected app, you can even send your Roomba out to clean while at work or running errands. The scheduling feature also lets you select a regular time to clean on a weekly or daily basis, depending on your needs.
A Roomba is also a perfect vacuum option for anyone with limited mobility. You don’t have to push or carry it anywhere, and because it cleans on its own, you don’t have to stand at all to vacuum your home.
The Roomba can also easily go under most furniture so you never have to worry about dust bunnies or pet hair collecting under your couch again. Just keep in mind that because of its small size and design, unfortunately, a Roomba cannot provide a deep clean, especially on carpeting. Ketia Daniel, our cleaning expert, recommends a dual-cleaning strategy for carpet: a Roomba for daily spruce-up cleaning and a full-sized vacuum with the power and filtration for a weekly deep clean to protect your flooring investment and your health.
When trying to find the best Roomba for your cleaning needs, it helps to understand your options. Some features are standard in all models, but you can find more advanced technology and settings in premium Roombas.
When shopping for a Roomba, the first thing to consider is the flooring you’ll use it on. Carpeting requires greater suction to lift debris from its fibers, while hard flooring doesn’t need such powerful suction because the dirt sits right on its surface.
All Roombas are advertised as effective for all floor types, including hardwood, tile and carpeting because their cleaning heads automatically adjust to keep their brushes in close contact with the floor surface. However, some models, like the Roomba Max 705, are better suited for carpeting than others because they feature superior suction power.
The improved suction allows these Roombas to pull dirt, debris and even pet hair out of carpeting for a more thorough cleaning.
All Roomba models feature a patented three-stage cleaning system. The vacuums loosen, lift and suction dirt and debris to clean your floors effectively. They feature two multisurface brushes, which work together to thoroughly clean your floors. The first brush agitates the floor surface to loosen and lift embedded dirt, while the second brush directs the debris under the Roomba to ensure it is pulled in by the suction channel. Roombas also have an edge-sweeping brush that helps remove dirt from corners and edges.
However, some models clean more effectively because this three-stage cleaning system is paired with stronger suction power. For the most complete clean, you may want to opt for a higher-end Roomba model.
All Roomba vacuums operate on a battery, but not all batteries provide the same cleaning time.
Some Roombas are equipped with batteries that have 70 to 75 minutes of run time, while other mid-range models, have a 120-minute battery life. For the longest-running Roomba, look for a model with a battery life of about 200 minutes, such as the Roomba Max 705.
Every Roomba model has a self-charging feature, which means that they will automatically return to their docking station to charge when they’re running low on power.
They won’t go back to cleaning on their own, though, so you’ll need to set the vacuum back to cleaning again once it’s done charging.
However, some Roombas have a Recharge and Resume feature. It allows the vacuum to return to the docking station when it needs to charge but immediately pick up the cleaning job where it left off once it’s fully charged.
Roombas utilize responsive navigation and sensors to create a high-efficiency cleaning pattern that allows them to move around furniture and other clutter without missing a beat. But while they can all learn your home to determine the best way to clean, some models offer better navigation and mapping features than others.
The best Roombas have smart mapping capabilities, which enables them to remember specific areas and rooms in your home for more targeted cleaning. Many feature camera-aided navigation and can go on mapping runs to learn your home’s floor plan. They will designate most rooms on their own, but you can go into the app and rename areas or move dividers for improved accuracy.
For example, during testing, we sent a Roomba out on a mapping run before it vacuumed to help it learn the floor plan. It successfully mapped five rooms, accurately identifying all but one. To give the unidentified space a title, we only had to go into the iRobot app and add its name.
In addition to cleaning specific rooms, some models with smart mapping let you create Clean Zones and Keep Out Zones in your home to target your cleaning. During testing, we created a Keep Out Zone around pet bowls to avoid spills. The Roombas successfully avoided the bowls but effectively cleaned the rest of the space.
You can even find some models that can detect and avoid certain objects like your smartphone's charging cable. These objects are also added to the Roomba’s map, so it knows to avoid them in the future.
More advanced models, like the Roomba Max 705, even feature AI technology that allows them to identify obstacles in real time and easily navigate around them. These robots can recognize everything from cables to pet waste, so you don’t need to worry about picking up around the house before sending your Roomba out to clean.
Roombas have an internal bin that holds all the dirt, dust, pet dander and other debris they collect during cleaning. The bin is easy to remove and empty into your trash can, but it can sometimes get messy. Also, a Roomba will stop vacuuming when its bin is full and won’t continue until you dispose of the dirt.
To avoid having to come into contact with mess — and allow vacuuming to continue uninterrupted — some Roomba models are equipped with a base that contains a dirt disposal bag that can hold up to 60 to 75 days’ worth of dirt, dust and pet hair. These Roombas automatically empty their internal bins at the end of a cleaning session and return to the base during vacuuming to empty the bin when it’s full. That means a vacuuming session is never interrupted by a full bin you’re unaware of.
Nearly every Roomba is Wi-Fi-connected, which allows you to control your vacuum wirelessly with the Roomba app on your smartphone or tablet. That way, if you’re out running errands, you can turn the Roomba on to clean while you’re on the go so it’s done before you are back home.
You can also schedule your Roomba to clean the house at a designated time with the app. For example,you can schedule your Roomba to clean the kitchen and living room at two specific times during the day, and it will automatically go out to vacuum at the scheduled times without you needing to do a thing.
The app also allows you to check the Roomba’s cleaning history so you can be sure that certain areas of your home have been cleaned recently and to keep tabs on when you need to replace parts such as its brush roller, side brush and filter.
You can integrate your Roomba into your smart home setup by connecting them with a smart assistant, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. Once you register your Roomba, you can use voice commands to clean your home on-demand.
For example, you can say, “Alexa, ask Roomba to start vacuuming,” or “Hey Google, pause vacuuming.” Advanced models offer a broader range of voice commands, such as cleaning a specific room or around/under a certain piece of furniture.
Having a robot vacuum to suck up dirt, dust and pet hair around your home is certainly convenient, but a model that can also handle wet and sticky messes may be even more of a time-saver.
These robots usually have vacuum-only, mop-only or do a combination of the two. They can detect whether they are on a hard surface or carpeting and lift their mop pads on your carpets to avoid wetting the fibers. While all Roomba vacuum-mop combos can mop up dry debris and liquid messes, some even have a scrub feature that allows them to remove sticky messes and residue.
High-end Roomba vacuum-mop combos often have bases that not only automatically empty their onboard dustbin but also automatically clean and dry the mop pads. This saves you from having to wash the pads yourself and ensures the robot is always ready to mop.
During testing, we sent a Roomba vacuum-mop-combo model out on a mapping run before cleaning, so it could learn which areas were carpeted and which featured hard flooring. It then vacuumed and mopped simultaneously without wetting any of the carpeted surfaces.
If you have a pet, opt for a Roomba model equipped with tangle-free extractors, like the Roomba Max 705. These extractors help lift pet fur, hair, and other fibers from the floor without allowing them to become entangled in the Roomba’s brushes. Instead of traditional bristle brushes, which pet hair tends to get caught up in, these models have rubber brushes. The flexible design of the brushes prevents hair from wrapping around them and getting stuck.
In a house with a lot of pet dander, the tangle-free roller will keep your Roomba from stalling so it can continue to work as efficiently as possible.
If you or another household member suffers from allergies, you’ll want a Roomba fitted with a high-efficiency filter. The filter can capture 99% of allergens, pollen and particles that are as small as 10 microns to limit the dander in your home.
Some Roombas provide Clean Map reports. These maps provide a visual representation of where your Roomba has cleaned by marking out the areas with light green hue. You can also see any spots the vacuum missed, which are colored white on the map.
Clean Map reports also show you where the Roomba detected high concentrations of dirt, marking these areas with dark-green dots. This information can help you clean more thoroughly because you can send your robot out to vacuum those spots often. This feature can come in handy in a home with small children and/or pets, where there may be crumbs, hair and other debris you’re unaware of.
If you’re very particular about how clean your floors are and don’t trust an automatic vacuum to get the job done as precisely as you’d like, choose a Roomba model that provides custom cleaning preferences.
With the custom cleaning preferences, you can adjust various settings, including the number of cleaning passes and the suction power. It’s easy to do in the iRobot app, so you can create a customized cleaning plan even when you’re away from home.
Purchasing a Roomba is a costly investment, so it’s important to shop carefully. Typically, you’ll pay between $200 and $1,000 for one.
If you plan to only use the Roomba for maintenance work and still rely on a traditional vacuum to do the heavy lifting when it comes to cleaning your floors, opt for a basic model that costs around $250 to $300.
If you’re relying on your Roomba to do most of the floor cleaning in your home and want improved navigation, a mid-tier model is a better fit. These Roombas generally cost between $350 and $600.
If you want a model that can do all of the floor cleaning in your home and offers the most sophisticated navigation, you’ll want to choose a higher-end option that is equipped with features that allow for more thorough cleaning; expect to spend between $800 and $1,400.
The exact process for cleaning a Roomba can vary based on the model, but the steps are fairly similar.
Jennifer Blair has covered home, kitchen and lifestyle products for BestReviews since 2017. She has written more than 150 articles on topics like carpet cleaners, cordless vacuums and air fryers. She personally tested several Roombas for BestReviews and relies on her own Roomba j7+ Combo to keep her floors clean at home.
