If you’re choosing the best robot vacuum for hardwood floors, focus on models with gentle yet effective cleaning mechanisms. These vacuums should feature soft, non-abrasive brush rolls or rubber brushes to prevent scratches while picking up dirt and debris. From evaluating 99 vacuums and analyzing 152,257 reviews, three vacuums earned a place in our buying guide.
Our unique approach certifies products as tested and uses our proprietary Trust Score to filter out fake and low-quality reviews. The winning vacuums performed exceptionally well in tests, demonstrating superior cleaning performance, advanced navigation, and excellent battery life. You can trust these selections for maintaining your hardwood floors effectively and efficiently.
How Did We Rank the Best Robot Vacuums for Hardwood Floors?
To ensure our guide for the best robot vacuums for hardwood floors is top-notch, we analyzed over 200 websites. Our approach included a deep dive into testing methodologies, customer reviews, and expert analyses. This extensive research allowed us to determine the most critical factors, identifying 2 essential test results and 1 must-have specification. We distilled this information to provide the most reliable recommendations.
Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.
?️ Minimum Specifications
- Must be a robot vacuum
? Test Criteria
- Bare Floor Performance: The vacuum sucks up 95% of debris when cleaning bare surfaces such as tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors.
- Battery Life: Lasts more than 100 minutes before losing power.
Latest Updates
- 05/22/2024: Published the list of best robot vacuum cleaners for hardwood floors based on our True Score system.
Top Best Robot Vacuums for Hardwood Floors For 2024
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Roborock S7 Maxv Vacuum
Best Robot Vacuum For Carpet
The Roborock S7 MaxV is a versatile robot vacuum with excellent debris cleaning, advanced navigation, and HEPA filtration. Despite a small bin, it’s a top choice for any surface in your home.
True Score
878817Experts
881kCustomers
Absolutely Fresh
Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Advanced navigation with LIDAR and 3D scanning
- Exceptional bare floor cleaning performance for debris and pet hair
- Effective ultrasonic mopping for tackling dried-on stains
- Versatile video call and security camera options through the companion app
- Compatible with self-cleaning and self-emptying base stations
- Long, over 3-hour tested battery life
Reasons to Avoid
- Some parts require regular cleaning when used as a standalone vacuum
- Relatively ineffective 58% pet hair pickup on carpet
- Incurs high recurring costs
- Poor air filtration
- Lacks automatic water tank refilling
Specifications
Auto Docking & Recharging Yes 
Bagless Yes 
Bin Capacity 0.11 gal 
Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown 
Carpet Height Adjustments Manual 
Cleaning Path Width 6.5” 
Cliff Sensor Yes 
Compatible Floor Type All floors, Carpet, Hardwoods, Marble, Tile 
Cord Length Cordless 
Corded/Cordless Cordless 
Filter Type HEPA 
Hypoallergenic Yes 
Mop Feature – 
Pet Yes 
Product Weight 38.1 lbs. 
Room-by-Room navigation Yes 
Self-Emptying Yes 
Sensor Type – 
Smart App Amazon Alexa app, Google Assistant 
Vacuum Type Robotic 
Wet And Dry Usage Yes 
Works With Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 82 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 81 Noise level (dB) 70 Battery Life (Minutes) 154 All Retailers
Our Verdict
The Roborock S7 Maxv is a robot vacuum that excels across all surfaces, especially bare floors. It boasts an impressive debris cleaning rate of 99.15%, making it highly effective on hardwood floors and an excellent choice for thorough debris removal. It also manages to pick up 80.67% of pet hair and nets an incredibly impressive 82.36% of debris cleaned from carpets and rugs, making it an excellent all-around pick for all the surfaces in your home.
The MaxV operates at a moderate noise level of 69.96 dB, louder than most conversations but not particularly disruptive. The Robovac also features a HEPA filter, making it a great choice if allergies flare up when it’s time to vacuum. Advanced navigation features like room-by-room navigation, auto-docking and charging, and self-emptying also reduce the amount of attention you need to give to the vacuum while it works.
This is good because the vac features a bin capacity of just 0.11 gal, which means it’ll be returning home somewhat frequently to empty itself before resuming its cleaning.
Roborock’s S7 Maxv is a high-end robot vacuum that delivers excellent results for any clean-up job. Its superior cleaning performance, advanced navigation, and highly convenient quality-of-life features make it an unbeatable choice if you want a robot vacuum that cleans hardwood floors and can handle anything you throw at it.
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DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
Check out our guides about upright vacuums with HEPA filters are a robust choice. These models offer strong suction and specialized attachments for hardwood, ensuring effective cleaning without surface damage. Their larger dustbins and efficient filtration systems are ideal for homes with pets or allergies, effectively trapping dust and allergens.
Another great option is cordless stick vacuums, known for their lightweight design and maneuverability. They provide quick and efficient cleaning on hardwood floors, equipped with soft roller heads to prevent scratching while effectively picking up debris. Cordless stick vacuums are convenient for daily use and reaching tight spaces, offering a practical solution for maintaining hardwood floors’ cleanliness and appearance.
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Roborock Q7 Max+
Best Roborock
The Roborock Q7 Max+ is perfect for homes with hardwood floors and pet hair cleanup. It offers quieter operation and longer battery life. It compromises on carpet cleaning but excels in other areas.
True Score
83814Experts
865kCustomers
Absolutely Fresh
$549.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent mapping capabilities with lidar technology
- Simultaneous mopping and vacuuming for thorough cleaning
- Tested 99% dirt pickup on low carpeting
- Lengthy battery life of over 180 minutes
- Self-emptying dock for hassle-free maintenance
- Customizable no-go zones, virtual walls, and water-flow control
Reasons to Avoid
- Lacks a built-in HEPA filter and doesn’t remove allergens
- No sonic mopping feature for deeper stain removal
- Mopping performance on tough stains might be subpar
- Less powerful than other Roborock premium models
- Lacks automatic water tank refilling
Specifications
Auto Docking & Recharging Yes Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.12 gal Carpet Height Adjustments n/a Cleaning Path Width 7.8” Cliff Sensor Yes Compatible Floor Type Carpet, Hardwoods Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type 3-stage HEPA filtration, Replaceable, Reusable Hypoallergenic Yes Mop Feature – Pet Yes Product Weight 25.79 lbs Room-by-Room navigation – Self-Emptying Yes Sensor Type – Smart App – Vacuum Type Robotic Works With Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 46 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 82 Noise level (dB) 66 Battery Life (Minutes) 160 All Retailers
$549.99
$869.99
Our Verdict
The Roborock Q7 Max+ offers fantastic hardwood cleaning performance and an impressive bin size. It boasts an exceptional bare floor performance of 99.0%, perfect for hardwood floors, tile, and vinyl. The vac also does a great job with pet hair, picking up 81.66% of pet hair and dander.
However, the Q7 makes a significant tradeoff: carpet cleaning. Unlike its brother, the S7 MaxV, the Q7 cleans only 46.25% of debris from carpets and rugs. If you have a lot of carpeting or area rugs in your home, consider the S7 instead. It’s the same price and performs very similarly with bare floors and pet hair, but the Q7 offers quieter operation (65.6 dB) and longer battery life (160 minutes vs. the S7’s 154.)
Like its sibling, the Q7 features a HEPA filter, room-by-room navigation, auto-docking for charing, and a self-emptying function. This, combined with its larger bin capacity of 0.12 gal, means the Q7 can run for longer without having to stop and “head home” to empty itself out before resuming.
If you don’t have much carpet in your home, it’s hard to argue with the Q7’s suite of useful features, including its excellent performance on hardwood floors. For the same price as the S7, the Q7 Max+ is a fantastic alternative that trades carpet performance for improved pet hair cleanup, quieter operation, and longer battery life.
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Category Snapshot
Vacuum Cleaners
- Total Brands/Products Tested
31 Brands, 99 Products
- Top 2 Brands
Dyson, Miele
- Price Range (Budget-Premium)
$50-$400+
- Average True Score
75.70
- Important Test Criteria
Bare Floor Performance (%)
Carpet Performance (%)
- Most Trusted Testers
- Typical Warranty
1 year
- Covered by Insurance
Yes – Amazon, Best Buy
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Ion Robot R76
Best Quietest Robot
The Shark Ion Robot R76 is a budget-friendly option with low noise and high performance on bare floors and pet hair. It lacks advanced features, but its battery life and quiet operation make it a solid choice.
True Score
76751Experts
79959Customers
Mixed Reviews
$199.99$199.59Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Great battery life
- WiFi connectivity for app control
- Suitable for cleaning bare floors
- Decent suction force
- Two power modes
Reasons to Avoid
- No HEPA filter
- High recurring costs
- Requires high user maintenance
Specifications
Auto Docking & Recharging Yes Bin Capacity 0.1 gal Carpet Height Adjustments n/a Cleaning Path Width 5.9″ Cliff Sensor Yes Compatible Floor Type All floors Filter Type Standard Hypoallergenic Unknown Mop Feature – Pet Yes Product Weight 5.3 lbs Self-Emptying No Sensor Type – Smart App – Works With Amazon Alexa, Wi-Fi All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 97 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 47 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 97 Noise level (dB) 59 Battery Life (Minutes) 164 All Retailers
$199.59- $227.00
Our Verdict
If you’re on a budget but still want a quiet robot vacuum for your hardwood floors, the Shark Ion Robot R76 delivers shockingly quiet cleaning power. It manages an impressive 97.25% of debris cleaned from bare floors, including hardwood, tile, and vinyl, and the vacuum also cleans an impressive 97% of pet hair.
The tradeoff of the R76 comes in the form of its mediocre carpet performance. If you have lots of carpet or large area rugs, you might want to consider the Roborock S7 MaxV instead, but you’ll be compromising not only on a much higher price tag for the S7 but also on a worse battery life, louder noise, and poorer pet hair cleanup.
Part of what distinguishes the R76 is its extremely low noise level of 58.9 dB, which puts it right at the level of a typical conversation. This low noise level means you won’t disturb pets or young children while the robovac cleans.
Despite its excellent performance, the Shark Ion Robot R76 lacks some advanced features, such as room-by-room navigation and smart app integration. It also does not have a self-emptying feature, which means you’ll need to manually empty the bin. Given that the bin is only 0.1 gal, expect to be running to the trash, especially if you’re constantly cleaning up clumps of pet hair with it. Fortunately, the vacuum features a battery life of 164, so the R76 won’t give out halfway through a clean-up job.
Shark’s Ion Robot R76 is a great choice thanks to its low cost, low noise, and high performance. If you don’t have many carpets, have skittish pets, or need fancier navigation, it’s hard to argue with, thanks to excellent hardwood floor performance and comparable pet hair cleanup.
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Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Robot Vacuums for Hardwood Floors?
By focusing on these criteria (2 required), anyone can quickly and easily compare these vacuum cleaners and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a vacuum cleaner that will meet your needs.
| CRITERIA | RANGE | REQUIRED | DEFINITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Floor Performance | > 95% | Yes | How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors. |
| Battery Life | > 100 min | Yes | How much time a robovac can run before it needs to be recharged. |
Our Trusted Data Sources
We looked at 120+ robot vacuum cleaner reviewers and found that 27 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for vacuum cleaner.
- James Morris – Kit Guru, LinkedIn
- Matt Spencer – TechGearLab, LinkedIn
- Brian Nadel – Tom’s Guide, MuckRack
Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every vacuum cleaner review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.
Vacuum Cleaner Test Data & Results
1. Bare Floor Performance Test Results
As the name suggests, bare floor performance references how well a vacuum does when it’s cleaning up tiles, vinyl planks, or hardwood flooring. Debris comes in a variety of sizes of course, and much of the testing revolves around picking up debris that ranges in size from cereal to bits of dirt to sand to a mix of everything above and more.
We recommend that a vacuum be able to pick up at least 95% of debris from a bare floor to ensure you end up with clean floors. Hitting a perfect score is obviously ideal, but the worse a vacuum performs here, the more work you need to do sweeping up or re-vacuuming. Missing debris is frustrating, and can invite pests if you miss bits of food, or annoyance if you step on something barefoot and hurt yourself.
Bare Floor Performance
> 95%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Scale
Why It’s Important:
A vacuum is supposed to clean, so if it can’t pick up most of the debris on a floor, it’s not doing its job.
Bare Floor Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
2. Battery Life (mins) Test Results
Battery Life
> 100 min
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How long the vacuum can run before the battery dies.
Units of Measurement: min (minutes)
Tools to Measure: Timer
Why It’s Important:
Longer battery life means fewer interruptions when your vacuum is cleaning because it’ll have to stop and charge less.
Robot vacuum cleaners can only run for so long before their battery dies. Some models feature an auto-dock feature that sends the unit home before the battery dies, while others choose to wander under your couch and die. A longer battery life helps reduce the likelihood of a unit dying before it finishes its job, and helps reduce the overall time it takes to clean your home by taking fewer “rest stops” to charge.
Your robot vacuum should have a least a battery life of 100 minutes, but longer is always appreciated. Low battery life doesn’t overly impact performance, but it does greatly increase the amount of time it takes for your robot vacuum to clean anything, given it’ll have to keep pausing to charge.
Battery Life (min) (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
Best Robot Vacuums for Hardwood Floors: Mistakes To Avoid
- Choosing Too Much Suction Power: Opting for a robot vacuum with excessively high suction power can be unnecessary for hardwood floors. This can lead to increased noise and energy consumption without providing any significant benefit for smooth surfaces. Instead, choose a vacuum with adjustable suction settings to balance performance and efficiency.
- Ignoring Brush Type: Not considering the type of brushes can result in scratches on your hardwood floors. Some brushes are too abrasive and can damage the finish of the floor. Look for models with soft bristle brushes or rubber rollers specifically designed to be gentle on hardwood surfaces similar to a robot mop.
- Overlooking Edge Cleaning Capabilities: Overlooking the importance of edge cleaning capabilities can lead to dust and debris accumulating along the baseboards and corners. Ensure the robot vacuum has side brushes or dedicated edge-cleaning features to effectively clean these areas.
- Neglecting Filtration System: Disregarding the filtration system can significantly impact indoor air quality. Opting for a high-quality vacuum, such as the best Miele model, is crucial. A good filtration system, particularly one with a HEPA filter, plays a vital role in capturing fine dust and allergens, which are often more prevalent on hard floors. This ensures cleaner air and a healthier home environment, especially beneficial for those prone to allergies or respiratory issues.
The Best Robot Vacuums for Hardwood Floors Tests Compared
Product |
True Score
|
Bare Floor Performance
|
Carpet Performance
|
Pet Hair Performance
|
Noise Level
|
Battery Life
|
Column 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 |
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| 83 |
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| $549.99 |
| 76 |
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|  $199.59 |
