November 11, 2026, 2:12 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Kitchen tiles are spotless, but there are still crumbs in the living room carpet. For many robotic vacuums, carpets are a stumbling block, and some even avoid them entirely. myHOMEBOOK asked Stiftung Warentest how these devices perform on carpets and which models are suitable.
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Vacuums Reach Their Limits on Carpets
On smooth floors, almost all tested robotic vacuums perform well to very well. On carpets, the results are significantly worse. “Most models only achieve satisfactory ratings there,” reports Ralf Gaida, project manager in the Living and Leisure team at Stiftung Warentest.
The weaknesses are spread across several test points. The thoroughness and uniformity of cleaning are only satisfactory to poor for many devices. Many models struggle to pick up fibers. Problems also arise on carpets at corners and edges.
High-Pile Becomes a Problem
Robotic vacuums have the most difficulty with high-pile carpets. Gaida cites two reasons for this. First, the vacuums have weaker suction than a traditional vacuum cleaner. Second, their brushes lack depth. “The brushes would need to have firm, deep bristles to penetrate deep into the carpet. Robots generally don’t have this,” explains the Warentest expert.
Instead, the brushes often have short, soft bristles or just rubber strips. An example from the garden illustrates the problem. A rake with short tines glides over tall grass, barely reaching the leaves on the ground. The robot brush experiences a similar issue with high-pile carpets. It brushes over the fiber tips, leaving dirt at the base.
However, stronger bristles would have a downside. “Long, firm bristles would likely damage the carpet over time due to the high mechanical stress,” warns Gaida. “The shorter the pile, the more suitable a robotic vacuum is,” summarizes the Warentest project manager.
Fringes, Runners, and Dark Carpets Also Tested
Short-pile carpets are also a standard part of Stiftung Warentest’s testing program. Every robotic vacuum is tested on such a carpet, and the carpet ratings are based on this. However, the foundation does not test fringes, light runners, and dark patterns. For these special cases, manufacturers provide practical advice.
Long fringes easily wrap around the brushes. A fringe holder or folding the fringes under the carpet can prevent this. Light runners slip away under the wheels. An anti-slip mat or carpet stopper keeps them in place.
Dark carpets confuse some devices in other ways. Drop sensors on the underside protect the robotic vacuum from stairs. Very dark areas are sometimes interpreted by these sensors as a drop-off. The robot then turns around and skips the carpet. According to manufacturers, some models are now designed to handle this situation and can manage black pile.
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Mopping Pads Off Course
In Stiftung Warentest’s tests, vacuum-mop combo devices reveal their own weakness. Almost all tested models recognize carpeted floors and automatically lift their mopping pads. However, the technology has glitches. “This recognition doesn’t always work reliably,” Gaida notes. In some devices, the pads still touch the carpet. On light pile, they leave dirt marks.
An app setting can help prevent such stains. There, you can set up no-go zones that the robot avoids while mopping. Despite this, the Warentest expert is not fully convinced by combo devices on carpets. “Overall, vacuum-mop robots are not ideal for carpets–neither in vacuuming nor mopping do they achieve satisfactory results,” Gaida concludes.
What to Consider When Buying a Robotic Vacuum
For homes with a lot of carpet, the expert recommends a dedicated robotic vacuum. Its suction power is generally stronger. In homes with only hard floors, combo devices show their strength. They vacuum and mop in one go.
When looking at a robotic vacuum’s data sheet, skepticism is warranted. The suction power is often listed in Pascals. This value describes the vacuum pressure created by the fan. Gaida considers such information “not very informative.” They say little about the actual cleaning quality. Test results on carpet suction performance, especially regarding thoroughness, uniformity, and fiber pickup, reveal more. The design of the brush also matters. Gaida recommends single-sided brushes. These brushes are only attached on one side, making it easier to remove long hair. In households with pets or long-haired residents, the test feature “interference from long hair” deserves special attention.
Also interesting: 12 recommended robotic vacuums for every household
Robotic Vacuum Checklist
To minimize the need for additional vacuuming, consider these questions before purchasing:
- Is the home mostly carpet or hard floor?
- How long is the carpet pile?
- Are there fringed rugs, light runners, or very dark carpets in the home?
- How does the robotic vacuum perform on carpet in tests–in terms of thoroughness, uniformity, and fiber pickup?
- Is the brush single-sided?
- Are there pets or people with long hair in the household?
- Can a no-go zone for the carpet be set up on a combo device?