Tile floors have met their match in these 7 robot vacuums

When it comes to household cleaning products and devices, most folks would agree that you’d be hard-pressed to name a more revolutionary concept than the robotic vacuum — even the dishwasher doesn’t really compare to the convenience of a device that does your floors without you ever having to lift a finger.

And it’s not just the ease of use or satisfaction of watching a robot do the work for you that makes a robotic vacuum oh-so-appealing, either. Not having to worry about stress-cleaning before guests arrive, the ability to schedule cleans while you’re away from home, and even foregoing having to empty the dustbin in certain cases are all enticing benefits of upgrading to a robot vacuum — especially if you have tile floors.

Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the best robot vacuum for tile floors — whether you want a device to do all the vacuuming and mopping for you, you need something that self-empties, or you just want a complementary helper to pick up the dust and debris you might have missed while manually vacuuming.

Vacuuming carpet vs. hardwood vs. tile floors

Figuring out the right routine for your specific household is key to making sure your floors stay as tidy as possible — which is why it’s vital that you understand exactly what type of robot vacuum is right for your floor. If you’re dealing with a mix of different types of flooring — say you have tile in the kitchen but carpet in the living room, for example — you’ll want to make sure you look for a robot vacuum that has sensors to differentiate between different types of flooring.

That being said, you’ll want to keep in mind that most modern robotic vacuums are made for hardwood flooring, which is great news if you have a particular amount of tile as well. This means that the brushes are specifically made to capture dust and debris without pushing it away; something that can be tricky when you consider the lack of friction when comparing hardwood and tile flooring to carpeted areas or rugs.

What features are most important for vacuuming tile floors?

What to look for when considering a robot vacuum for tile floors depends on a handful of lifestyle and household factors as well as the budget you’re hoping to stick with. That said, if you’re looking for something that will keep your tile floors sparkling, there are a few universal factors that you’ll want to keep in mind.

Suction power and rubber brushes: Hard floors like tile are generally easier to clean than carpeting because they don't latch on to debris like velcro. But slippery flooring poses a problem. If you’re looking for something that will efficiently suck up dust and debris rather than just pushing it into the corners of your home, you’ll want to get a vacuum that has both powerful suction and brushes that will catch dirt on the first pass — rather than simply pushing it around.

Smart mapping: A robot vacuum's navigation tech decides whether or not it's equipped to adhere to virtual boundaries (or be stuck with those ugly magnetic strips). LiDAR, a laser that scans different points in your home to determine where walls are, will be particularly handy if you can see yourself only wanting to clean specific rooms (like the kitchen after dinner) on certain days. This mapping precision also allows you to set up zones that you'd like the bot to avoid, like a pile of toys or your pet's water bowl.

Floor type sensors: If your home features a lot of transitions from carpet to tile, a robot vacuum that understands the difference will make your clean more precise. In the dry sweeping realm, this just ensures that carpeting is dealt higher suction while tile or hardwood cleaning isn't ridiculously loud. For robot vacs that mop, carpet recognition will keep your hybrid from releasing water on floors that don't require mopping. Most hybrids automatically start to mop once their water tank is attached, but only the smarter ones know to pause the water flow and lift their wet cloth above the carpet. Bots that remember your rooms or follow virtual boundaries can be programmed to avoid carpeted areas while mopping altogether.

Smart home integration: Smart home features have become so precise and efficient over the past couple of years that it only makes sense to optimize your vacuum as well. Robot vacuums with smart home and app integration will allow you to schedule cleans from your device, have clear access to maintenance information and errors, and even set up specific zones you want the robot to focus on or avoid.

What is the best robot vacuum for tile floors?

Whether you’re looking for something that can handle pet hair and dander without batting a metaphorical eye or you want something that can tackle both vacuuming and mopping, here are some of the best robot vacuums for tile floors in 2023: