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. If your small apartment has hard floors, a robot vacuum and mop combo is a genius way to downsize chore supplies.
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.
Roborock Saros Z70 review: If you think you need the robot vacuum with an arm, no you don’t
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.
Other robot vacuums I’ve tested
I have tested several other compact robot vacuums in the past that didn’t make the most recent cut for this list. These include older models like the Eufy L60, Roomba 694, and the Roomba Combo Essential 2, which have simply been overshadowed by other (often newer) vacuums that offer more suction power and smarter features in the same budget price range.
One comparison that sticks out is the Roomba 205 DustCompactor versus the 3i G10+, which both “self-empty” without a self-emptying dock. However, I wasn’t psyched on my experience with the Roomba 205 — it got stuck on rug corners and got lost too often. Plus, the 3i G10+ offers more advanced features like small obstacle and pet waste avoidance and a livestream pet camera, whereas the Roomba 205 doesn’t.