Buying guide for best robot vacuum for long hair
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Robot vacuums make life much easier when cleaning your floors, but they often have trouble when confronted with long hair. The best robot vacuums for long hair have excellent suction power and tangle-free brush rolls — or, in some cases, no brush roll at all — that prevent strands from clogging the robot and affecting its ability to pick up hair, dirt and other debris.
The BestReviews Testing Lab put many robot vacuums through their paces to find the best models for dealing with long hair. We tested standard robot features, such as battery life, charging time and dustbin capacity, as well as specific factors that affect a robot’s performance with long hair, such as the suction power on carpeting and hard surfaces and their ability to pick up various types of debris, including pet hair and kitty litter.
Our top choice is the ECOVACS DEEBOT X9 PRO Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop, which self-washes while it mops to avoid dirty streaks on the floor.
Editors' picks
iRobot Roomba j9+
Fast Mapping
Battery life: 120 min | Dimensions: 13.3” L x 13.3” W x 3.4” H | Weight: 7.5 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Shortcuts | Scheduling: Yes
With an impressive 100 times the suction power of Roomba i-series robots, the Roomba j9+ can handle long hair with ease. As one of iRobot’s most powerful vacuums, it easily sucks even long strands into its dustbin to prevent clogs. It also features rubber brushes designed to prevent tangles and keep the robot from stalling.
Using the updated iRobot OS 7.0, it can map your home seven times faster than previous models and relies on its Dirt Detective intelligence to automate where it cleans based on its cleaning history. That means it will vacuum the dirtiest rooms first and automatically adjust the suction and number of cleaning passes to capture the most hair possible.
iRobot Roomba s9+
Battery life: 107 min | Dimensions: 12.25” L x 12.25” W x 3.5” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.5 L | Weight: 8.15 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri | Scheduling: Yes
The Roomba s9+ isn’t just the best robot vacuum we tested for long hair — it scored the highest overall in every testing category. But it has several features that make it ideally suited for long hair. Instead of traditional bristle brushes that often get tangled with long hair, it features an anti-tangle rubber brush roll. The rubber is flexible enough to prevent the hair from wrapping around the brushes too tightly. When we cleaned the s9+ after testing, we observed just a few pieces of hair around the brushes, even though we tested in a home with two very hairy dogs. The strands weren’t tangled, either, so we easily removed them with our fingers.
When we tested the s9+ on just pet hair specifically, the robot picked up a clump on both hard flooring and carpeting in a single pass without leaving a strand behind. Unlike round robot vacuums, such as the ILIFE V3s Pro, Roomba j7+ and Eufy RoboVac X8, the s9+ offers a unique D-shape that lets it fit more easily in corners and along walls, where hair often accumulates. Our testing found it was highly effective in removing debris from corners on both hard flooring and carpeting, as it removed all but a few particles of coarse kosher salt we placed in its path. It also offered good battery life, running for more than 100 minutes during testing before needing to recharge.
The s9+ also stood out for its excellent navigation and mapping abilities. We sent the robot to map the testing area before cleaning and found it correctly identified all three rooms. We then created Keep-Out Zones around pet bowls to avoid spills and successfully sent it to clean specific rooms. Easy to control via the iRobot app or with voice commands, it also has a self-emptying feature so you never have to get your hands dirty to empty the bin. Ultimately, we found that the s9+ is a premium Roomba with many convenient features and superior suction power to handle long hair without any issues.
Read more: iRobot Roomba s9+
ILIFE V3s Pro
Best robot vacuum for the money
Battery life: 90 min | Dimensions: 11.8” L x 11.8” W x 3” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.3 L | Weight: 4.5 lb | Mapping: No | Self-emptying: No | Voice commands: No | Scheduling: Yes
The ILIFE V3s Pro isn’t just noteworthy for its affordable price — it also stands out as the only robot vacuum on our list without a traditional brush roll. Without the usual rolling brushes, there’s nowhere for long hair to get tangled. Instead, this robot relies on two spinning side brushes and powerful suction to pick up hair and debris without getting jammed. It also lets you choose from three cleaning modes — auto, spot cleaning and edge cleaning — so hair isn’t left behind.
Because the V3s Pro is an entry-level robot model, it doesn’t offer all the bells and whistles that come with more advanced robots. Its lack of a brush roller means it is unable to resurface debris buried deep within carpet fibers. However, the vacuums does effectively clean hardwood, tile, laminate, stone and low-pile carpet, and its low profile fits beneath sofas, beds and other low-to-the-ground furniture where hair tends to collect and hide. Even with its included base, it doesn’t take up much space, making it ideal for smaller homes. You can schedule cleaning sessions in advance, so your floors always look nice with little effort required from you.
For a more affordable robot vacuum, it also offers impressive battery life, running for 90 minutes before needing to recharge. The V3s Pro returns to its base to recharge when it senses its battery is low, so you don’t have to worry about it getting stuck somewhere in your home. It can be a bit loud during operation, registering at approximately 65 decibels, which is the noise level of a normal conversation. However, traditional vacuums usually reach 75 decibels, so it’s quieter than most upright models. Overall, given its price and solid, basic features, the V3s Pro is ideal for those looking for an affordable robot vacuum that can stay on top of long hair around the house.
iRobot Roomba j7+
Best robot vacuum for long hair on carpet
Battery life: 97 min | Dimensions: 13.3” L x 13.3” W x 3.4” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.4 L | Weight: 7.49 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri | Scheduling: Yes
Like the Roomba s9+, the Roomba j7+ has twin anti-tangle brush rolls that prevent long hair from getting caught around the bristles. During our testing, hair was never stuck to the brushes after the robot finished cleaning. We also found that the j7+ offered enough suction power to remove hair and other debris from carpeting effectively. For instance, it removed the clump of pet hair we placed in its path in a single pass and effectively picked up kosher salt and cereal in two passes, leaving no debris behind. It also transitioned easily from carpet to rug, carpet to hardwood and hardwood to carpet, so it never got stuck as it moved around our testing area, which isn’t the case for every robot vacuum.
But the j7+’s most notable feature is its obstacle avoidance. It has a front-facing camera that lets it react to obstacles in real-time, which is why iRobot guarantees it won’t run into pet poop and track it across your floors. During testing, we placed a handbag, a shoe and a stuffed pet toy in its path, and in all three cases, the robot sensed the objects and swerved around them. When we stepped into the j7+’s path, it pivoted away without touching our feet at all. Thanks to its smart-mapping capabilities, it quickly learned specific rooms and obstacles, so we could send it out to clean certain rooms and create Keep-Out Zones around pet bowls to prevent spills.
Additionally, the j7+ cleaned for more than 90 minutes before recharging. We also found it was very responsive to voice commands through Alexa, reacting within seconds when we asked it to vacuum the living room or pause vacuuming. Like the s9+, the j7+ is a premium robot vacuum that effectively cleans carpeting with powerful suction, so it’s excellent if you need to remove long hair from carpeting.
Read more: iRobot Roomba j7+
How we test
We started our testing by setting up the robot vacuums to see how long and involved the process was for each model. For Wi-Fi-connected robots, we downloaded the connected app to see how easy it was to navigate and how it aided in using all the robot’s features.
Next, we moved on to stats that we could easily quantify. We ran each robot to see how long its battery lasted before it needed to recharge — and then we timed how long it took for the battery to recharge fully. We also noted how long the robots took to clean an entire room and what the square footage was. For vacuums with mapping capabilities, we also considered how long that process took and how accurately the models captured the testing area’s floor plan.
We wanted to see how well each robot performed on hard flooring and carpeting, so we placed different types of debris in their path to evaluate the suction power. While we were primarily interested in the robots’ performance with hair, we also observed how they picked up coarse kosher salt, coffee grounds, sugar, kitty litter, cereal and other items on hard floors and carpet. We noted whether they could handle the mess in a single pass or needed multiple passes to fully remove the particles.
When the robots were finished vacuuming, we cleaned the brush rolls to see how much hair we found around them. We also cleaned other components, like the side brushes and wheels, to see if hair had collected elsewhere. For self-emptying models, we examined how well the emptying process went and how loud it was. We also considered how easy it was to empty models manually.
Finally, we observed how well the robots navigated the testing area and responded to obstacles by placing small objects in their path, such as a handbag, shoes and pet toys. We also tested voice commands to determine how responsive those that supported voice prompts were.
Considerations when buying a robot vacuum for long hair
Brush roll
The main problem that all vacuums encounter when picking up long hair is the strands tend to get caught around the rolling brushes and clog them. Robot vacuums run into this issue just like standard vacuums, so many models feature specially designed brush rolls to prevent tangles.
Rather than traditional bristles, these brushes are made of rubber, so they’re flexible enough to keep the hair from tangling around them. During testing, we observed that the anti-tangle brushes found in models like the Roomba s9+ and Roomba j7+ had much less hair caught around them than the bristle brushes found in older models.
However, an anti-tangle brush roll isn’t your only option when shopping for a robot vacuum for long hair. Some models, like the ILIFE V3s Pro, feature no rolling brushes, so they don’t get tangled, which can reduce airflow through the machine and cause it to get stuck. Instead, these robots use stronger suction and side brushes to pull long hair directly into their dustbin.
Keep in mind that a brush roll helps a robot vacuum agitate carpet fibers to pull out dirt, debris and hair, so if your home is heavily carpeted, you may prefer a model with an anti-tangle rubber brush roll to a brushless design to get your floors as clean as possible.
Suction
Suction power is crucial when shopping for a robot vacuum for long hair. It has to be strong enough to draw the long strands into its dustbin without getting caught around its brushes.
A robot vacuum that provides a solid cleaning typically offers about 2,000 pascals (Pa), so a model like the Roomba s9+, which provides 2,500 Pa, is ideal for long hair. During testing, the s9+ picked up all types of debris, including hair, from both carpeting and hard flooring effortlessly.
Some robot vacs feature twin-turbine suction that increases airflow through the robot. In our testing area, we observed a visible difference in the amount of hair and dander picked up due to this difference in design.
Battery life
A robot vacuum’s battery life determines how long it can clean and how large an area it can cover before recharging. To deal with long hair, a robot may need to use its highest suction power setting, which can drain its battery more quickly. For example, many robots have sensors that detect what type of flooring it’s on, so they can automatically increase suction to pull hair and other debris out of carpet fibers. In those cases, the battery will drain more quickly.
If you want a robot to effectively clean long hair around your home, choose a model with approximately 90 minutes of battery life. For large homes or those with a lot of carpeting, though, you’ll likely want a robot that can provide 100 minutes or more of cleaning time. During testing, the Roomba j7+ Combo cleaned for two hours and eight minutes before recharging.
Pet hair vs. human hair
Robot vacuums can effectively remove both pet hair and human hair. Some pets have long hair that’s more likely to get caught around the vacuum’s brushes, so there isn’t much difference between the two types.
Regular cleaning is key if you don’t want long hair from your pets or your own head to damage your robot vacuum. Most robot manufacturers recommend cleaning the robot’s brushes weekly. However, if you have pets, they typically suggest cleaning the brushes twice weekly. If you have long hair yourself, the same guidelines apply.
Robot vacuums vs. traditional vacuums
Generally, robot vacuums don’t provide the same suction power as traditional vacuums. That can make a standard vacuum more effective at dealing with long hair than a robot model. However, the brushes on a traditional vacuum are just as likely to get tangled with hair, so you’ll still need to clean them regularly.
But there’s another key feature to consider when choosing between a robot and a traditional vacuum for long hair. Because of its slim, low profile, a robot vacuum can easily get under furniture that your regular vacuum may not. Hair tends to collect in those areas, too, so a robot vacuum can ensure there aren’t clumps of hair under your bed or sofa you’re unaware of.
For many homeowners, pairing a standard vacuum with a robot model is the most effective way to deal with long hair.
Robot vacuum price
Robot vacuums for long hair typically range from $150 to $1,000, but the price determines its suction power, navigation abilities and features.
Inexpensive ($150 to $400)
If you’re looking for an entry-level robot vacuum for long hair, expect to pay between $150 and $400. These models typically have less than 2,000 pa of suction power, offer fairly basic navigation abilities and don’t provide many special features.
Midrange ($400 to $800)
If you want a more powerful robot vacuum that provides advanced mapping and special features like no-go zones, a self-emptying base and at least 2,000 pa of suction, you’ll usually pay between $400 and $800.
High-end ($800 and up)
If you want the most powerful robot vacuum to deal with long hair with plenty of advanced features like advanced mapping and navigation, a self-emptying base, zone cleaning and more, you’ll usually spend $800 or more.
![Person pressing "Clean" button on robot vacuum](http://cdn10.bestreviews.com/images/v4desktop/image-full-page-cb/8-best-how-we-test-reviews-long-hair.jpg?p=w1228 "Person pressing "Clean" button on robot vacuum")
