Best robot vacuums for apartments, tested in my apartment

UPDATE: May. 7, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EDT I'm currently testing the Roborock Saros 10 and Saros Z70 announced at CES in January, as well as a slew of new Roombas announced in March. If I find any solid new contenders, this guide will be updated accordingly.

The 10 minutes it takes to manually vacuum a tight space probably isn't enough to send someone over the edge as far as chores are concerned. While the time-saving factor may be a moot point here, it doesn't completely diminish the appeal of getting a robot vacuum for a small apartment.

But don't automatically assume that less floor to cover means that the cheapest vacuum you can find will suffice. Cramped furniture arrangements and quick changes between floor types actually call for a robot vacuum that's relatively good at navigating, or you'll risk coming home to a vacuum that got stuck in kitchen chair legs during the first five minutes of cleaning.

Are robot vacuums worth it in apartments?

Yes, there are several quiet, compact robot vacuums that would assimilate smoothly into apartment life. One could even argue that spaces with less square footage get dirty faster because virtually every spot is a high-traffic spot. With that logic, a robot vacuum is absolutely worth it in a small space.

One way to downsize the space a robot vac takes up is to forgo the self-empty dock. While it might not be ideal, having to empty manually may be a little less damning in a small space, as the vacuum wouldn't be sucking up as much dirt on each run as it would in a big house. However, finding a self-emptying robot vacuum compact enough for an apartment is way easier now than it was a few years ago.

If your small apartment has hard floors, a robot vacuum and mop combo is a genius way to downsize chores supplies. This'll save you not only the time it takes to mop manually, but also the breath it takes to curse your Swiffer for hogging limited closet space. Many high-end 2-in-1 robot vacuums nowadays come with large do-everything docks that go as far as to wash and dry the mopping pads. That may be overkill if floor space is scarce, but again, there are some compact options out there.

Lastly, I'll die on the hill that smart mapping is still a non-negotiable feature in a space with just a few rooms. The ability to clean just the bathroom or just the kitchen is a level of customization that anyone would appreciate, especially if multiple floor types are involved. And without smart mapping technology, a robot vacuum won't be able to spot clean specific zones within those few rooms — you'd essentially be sending the robot vacuum out to clean the entire place just because your dog made a mess by the food bowl.

Not sure which robot vacuum would be worth it in your small space? I've hands-on tested a ton of options in my own apartments over the years and have handpicked the three best robot vacuums for apartments, studios, and other one-story homes for 2025 so far.