Vacuum type: Robot vs. cordless stick
Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors in 2024
iRobot created an affordable and effective robot vacuum in the Roomba i3 Plus that is great at picking up pet hair in homes.
For some, even the effort required to use a cordless vacuum can be too much or requires time that isn’t available. In these instances, getting one of the best robot vacuums can really be the ticket. These devices are the ultimate time-saver and multitasking products, allowing you to free up your time to do other things. However, there are some areas the robot vacuum can’t go, like on the couch. So, there are limitations to this type of vacuum, too.
Cost and value
Whether something is expensive or not is largely in the eye of the beholder. Though we do offer what is considered to be value options on this list, you are still looking at a minimum of a few hundred dollars to get a great vacuum for cleaning your floors. That is the out-of-pocket cost, then you have to consider the cost of your time.
Using a stick vac will require you to physically be involved in the cleaning process by walking around and pushing the vacuum around to pick up any messes. Whereas a robot vacuum will cost you more than most cordless vacuums, you won’t have to be involved in the cleaning process nearly as much. This is what is considered a value proposition. If saving $100 or more upfront is the most important thing to you, then look at the lower-cost items on this list or save even more money with a product from our best cheap vacuums list.
But if time is more important to you, then picking up a robot vacuum, which is usually more expensive than cordless options, is the way to go. You’ll have trade-offs with this style of vacuum compared to a stick vac, but you can use the time saved for other things.
