Category guide

Robot vacuums

A robot vacuum is the one household robot most people actually own — and the only category on Valumech where every model has a public price. As of August 2026 we track 7 of them from 7 makers, from $800 for the SwitchBot S20 to $1,700 for the Dreame Technology X60 Max Ultra Complete, with a median of $1,500. Spread over a five-year life that is roughly $299 a year for the middle of the market.

Every robot vacuum we track, cheapest first

All 7 carry a manufacturer-published price and are orderable today. Unlike the humanoid and robot-dog markets, nothing here is quote-only — which makes this the one category where price comparison is straightforward.

EREcovacs RoboticsDEEBOT X12 OmniCyclone

$899new

Used $809–$872 est.

ShippingWheeled

IiRobotRoomba Max 775 Combo

Used $1,350–$1,455 est.

ShippingWheeled

RRoborockSaros 10

$1,600new

Used $864–$1,056 est.

ShippingWheeled

DTDreame TechnologyX60 Max Ultra Complete

$1,700new

Used $1,530–$1,649 est.

What you actually pay per year

Sticker price is the wrong unit for something you keep for years. Below is each model divided over a 5-year life — a stated assumption, not a measurement, and the same one applied to every row so the comparison is fair.

Robot	Price	Per year over 5 years	Built in
SwitchBot S20	$800	$160	China
Ecovacs Robotics DEEBOT X12 OmniCyclone	$899	$180	China
iRobot Roomba Max 775 Combo	$1,000	$200	China
Matic Matic	$1,495	$299	United States
Narwal Flow 2	$1,500	$300	China
Roborock Saros 10	$1,600	$320	China
Dreame Technology X60 Max Ultra Complete	$1,700	$340	China

Where they are built, and why it now matters

In July 2026 the FCC added foreign-built ground robots to its Covered List, and robot vacuums fall inside the definition. It gates new models rather than existing ones, so nothing on sale today disappears — but it does make manufacturing location a live question for what launches next. The one US-built model here is Matic Matic. Full detail on which robots the FCC Covered List affects.

Common questions

How much does a good robot vacuum cost?

Across the 7 models we track the range runs $800 to $1,700, with a median of $1,500. Every one of them is a flagship with a self-emptying dock — budget models exist below this range, but they trade away the dock that makes a robot vacuum genuinely hands-off.

What is the real yearly cost of a robot vacuum?

Divide the purchase price by how long you keep it. At a five-year life, the median $1,500 model works out to about $299 a year before consumables. Bagless docks avoid a recurring dust-bag cost; mop-washing docks do not add one.

Are robot vacuums affected by the FCC Covered List?

Yes — the FCC's definition of an "advanced robotic device" covers robots that drive around the floor and weigh over 4.4 lb including their dock, which every robot vacuum does. Of the 7 we track, 1 is US-built and 6 look exposed. It only gates new models, so nothing on sale today is going away.

Does a robot vacuum need a cloud connection?

Not always, and it is worth checking if a camera-equipped robot mapping your home concerns you. Most flagships route maps and cleaning data through the manufacturer's servers; the Matic Matic processes on-device instead. Each model page records what its maker states.