A robot vacuum cleaner can keep hard floors regularly clean if the rooms are accessible and the floor is clear. It complements rather than replaces a vacuum cleaner for stairs, furniture and out-of-reach areas. Mapping is mainly useful for targeting rooms or zones, while a docking station means you need to empty the dust container less often. Mopping adds the extra task of looking after the water and mop pads, and results vary between floor types. Start by considering thresholds, obstacles and vacuuming tests on a similar floor, then choose features only if their benefits justify the extra upkeep. Que Choisir distinguishes between random navigation and mapping, and its tests on tiled floors show that mopping results vary.
If thresholds, furniture, cables or rugs make it harder to get around, compare how easily the robot can move through your home with the capabilities reported for the model. Mapping alone doesn’t guarantee that small objects will be detected. Tests by Que Choisir and Les Numériques shed light on different criteria for the models they have tested.
If you want to schedule regular cleaning, check whether the docking station reduces the need to handle the dust container or simply shifts the upkeep to the station. The type of dust container and the tasks the station actually handles vary by model.
If you’d also like to mop your floors, check that your flooring is suitable and distinguish between the type of mop pad and the station’s maintenance features. Que Choisir’s tests published in 2024 show that mopping results on tiled floors vary.
Consider it: for simple cleaning runs in an accessible space, if targeting individual rooms isn’t essential.
Bear in mind: you’ll have fewer options for setting cleaning zones than with systematic mapping.
Consider it: if you want to schedule cleaning for certain rooms or set no-go zones.
Check: the settings available in the app and their connectivity requirements. A map doesn’t guarantee that cables will be detected or thresholds crossed.
Consider it: if you want to empty the robot’s small dust container less often, particularly when it runs frequently.
Bear in mind: the station takes up space and its dust container also needs to be emptied or cleaned.
Consider it: if your flooring is suitable for wet cleaning and you’d like one appliance to care for your hard floors.
Check: results on similar flooring and types of dirt, as well as the upkeep required for the mop pads and tanks.
| Consideration | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Movement and obstacles | Compare your thresholds and the clearance under furniture with the model’s capabilities; check navigation test results and remember to pick up cables. | If thresholds, cables or rugs make it harder to move around, you’ll want to know whether the robot can get about without help. Around 29% of consumers prioritise obstacles and ease of movement. |
| Regular pick-up | Check test results on hard floors and along edges. If you have pets, look for results on pet hair or fibres too. | If dust and crumbs keep accumulating on your floors, you’ll mainly want reliable pick-up in accessible areas. Around 23% of consumers share this priority. |
| Emptying and station maintenance | Check what the station does beyond charging: emptying and mop-pad maintenance. Check its size, dust container and which parts need cleaning. | If you want to handle the robot’s dust container less often, check what you’ll still need to empty or clean at the station. Around 18% of consumers put emptying at the top of their list. |
| Mopping and floor type | Check that your floor is suitable for water, what type of mop pad is used and whether mopping tests cover comparable stains. | If you want to freshen up a hard floor as well as vacuum it, check that the flooring is suitable and that you’re happy with the extra wet-cleaning upkeep. Around 18% of consumers prioritise mopping. |
| Connectivity and lifespan | Check which features work without an internet connection, what the app requires and what information is available about parts and energy consumption. | If you’re choosing a connected appliance you plan to keep, you’ll want to know how it works and what maintenance options are available for that specific model. Around 12% of consumers share this priority. |
A map helps organise the robot’s route, but it doesn’t guarantee that the robot will spot cables or cross the thresholds in your home. In its 2024 tests, Les Numériques reports that the Ecovacs Deebot N20 Plus struggles with obstacles and that the Dreame X40 Ultra Complete sometimes fails to identify them correctly.
Measure the clearance, look for tests of the exact model and clear cables and small objects before scheduling the robot.
Clearing the floor and freeing a robot that’s got stuck can add time to every cleaning cycle.
A self-emptying station doesn’t necessarily wash the mop pads. In its 2024 test, Les Numériques describes the N20 Plus’s bagless dust container and notes that the X40 Ultra Complete’s station gets dirty.
Check separately which emptying, washing and drying tasks the station handles for the exact model you’re considering.
In tests published in 2024, Que Choisir found varying results on tiled floors. A fixed cloth and mop pads shouldn’t be considered equivalent.
Check that your flooring is suitable and look for test results on a floor and types of dirt comparable to yours.
Wet cleaning also means looking after the tanks and mopping components, and some stains may need to be cleaned by hand.
The European Commission excludes robot vacuum cleaners from the scope of the ecodesign rules for vacuum cleaners that it describes. The DGCCRF explains that only certain categories of goods are subject to a requirement to make spare parts available.
Compare the energy-use figures available and ask about spare parts for the exact model, rather than assuming they will all be available for the same length of time.
The Deebot N20 Plus is an example of a model with a bagless self-emptying station.
The X40 Ultra Complete combines vacuuming and mopping with a station that maintains the mop pads.
The Qrevo Edge S5A is an example of a mapping model with a multifunctional station and accessories designed for a specific variant.
The X-Plorer series lets you compare navigation settings across the models featured by the brand.
For connected Roomba models, it’s worth checking app access and update requirements for each model.
This selection includes robot vacuum and mop models for hard floors, with different emptying and maintenance set-ups. Check which tasks the station for each model actually handles.
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Worth considering for flat hard floors if you’d like to combine vacuuming with spray mopping.
The title describes it as cordless and slim, with a stated noise level of 20–40 dB. The description says it’s designed for flat hard floors and advises against using it on thick, long-pile rugs.
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Worth considering if you’d like to empty the dust container less often while choosing a robot with a mopping function.
The title lists 8000 Pa suction power and a self-emptying station. Check the mapping settings and app requirements for this model.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a model that combines vacuuming and mopping with a maintenance station.
The title lists 16 200 Pa, hot-water mopping at 75 °C and a self-cleaning station. Check the exact functions of the station for the variant on offer.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a robot vacuum and mop and want to empty it less often.
The title lists 19 500 Pa suction power and an OZMO Roller 2.0 mop roller. Check which emptying and maintenance tasks are actually included with the station for this model.
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Worth considering if you’d like to combine vacuuming and mopping with automatic emptying at the station.
The title lists 12 000 Pa, FlexiArm mop pads and hot-air drying. Check that the navigation and obstacle-avoidance features suit the layout of your home.
No. A map helps organise routes and zones, but it doesn’t guarantee that small objects will be detected. In tests published in 2024, Les Numériques found that the Deebot N20 Plus can knock over or suck up obstacles, and that the X40 Ultra Complete sometimes fails to identify objects correctly. Put away anything that could cause a problem and check tests for the model you’re considering.
Some basic functions may still be available using the buttons, but zone settings or remote control may depend on an internet connection. Ecovacs says that some DEEBOT models can work offline after set-up. Check the manual for the model you choose rather than assuming this applies to the whole range.
Choose an accessible spot for the base and measure your thresholds and clearances. If you’re following Ecovacs’ set-up process, you’ll need the manufacturer’s app and a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Exact requirements depend on the model.
No. A self-emptying station means you need to handle the robot’s dust container less often, but the station’s container still needs to be emptied. For a mopping model, also check whether the station maintains the mop pads and which tanks or components need cleaning.
Not necessarily. Check that your flooring is suitable for wet cleaning and look for tests on comparable floors and types of dirt. Que Choisir found varying results in its tests on tiled floors published in 2024; those findings don’t tell you how the robot will perform on a different type of flooring.