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The best robot vacuums for multiple floors in the UK (2024)

The best robot vacuum for multiple floors

Last updated: 31.12.2023 Reading time: 10 Min.

Houses with several floors have some unique challenges in stock for robot vacuums.

Even though the robotic vacuums can’t climb stairs yet, there are well-suited models for use in multi-storey houses.

You want to know which features the robot vacuums must have for use in a house with multiple floors? Then read this detailed review.

Reviewing and comparing best robot vacuums for multiple floors

Choosing the right robot vacuum for multiple floors: What are the essential criteria when buying?

  • You have to be able to save multiple maps.
  • Extensive app functions should simplify the cleaning of several floors.
  • Crash sensors
  • Fast and seamless navigation
  • The robotic vacuum should have a long-lasting battery.
  • Not a must but nice to have: wiping function
  • You should be able to set suction power and water intensity for each room/floor via the app.
  • Good price-performance ratio

Best Robot Vacuums for Multiple Floors in the UK - Our Top Picks:

  • Our favourite
    S8 Pro Ultra
    Price from £ 1,429 £ (1,430.55 )
    Experience top-tier cleaning with the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, boasting the standout Ultra Station.
    S8 Pro Ultra
    Experience top-tier cleaning with the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, boasting the standout Ultra Station.
    Price from £ 1,429 (£ 1,430.55 )
  • Good Value 💰
    Deebot T10+
    Price from £ 299 £ (399 )
    This high-tech device offers much more than just vacuuming and mopping your floors.
    Deebot T10+
    This high-tech device offers much more than just vacuuming and mopping your floors.
    Price from £ 299 (£ 399 )
  • Best value for money
    Q7 Max
    Price from £ 570.40 £ (688.24 )
    Roborock quality at an affordable price point.
    Q7 Max
    Roborock quality at an affordable price point.
    Price from £ 570.40 (£ 688.24 )
  • User-friendly mobile app
    Roomba i7+
    Price from £ 1,199 £ (1,299 )
    High-end vacuum robot with an emptying station. You can save up to 10 maps. Excellent app and good voice control.
    Roomba i7+
    High-end vacuum robot with an emptying station. You can save up to 10 maps. Excellent app and good voice control.
    Price from £ 1,199 (£ 1,299 )
  • Strong suction power
    S7 Max Ultra
    Price from £ 599 £ (799 )
    Premium device. State-of-the-art features ensure fully automated floor cleaning
    "The automatic object recognition is truly remarkable!"
    S7 Max Ultra
    Premium device. State-of-the-art features ensure fully automated floor cleaning
    "The automatic object recognition is truly remarkable!"
    Price from £ 599 (£ 799 )

Find out more about our favorites now

Our favourite

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

Experience top-tier cleaning with the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, boasting the standout Ultra Station.

Enhanced automation and quality set this model apart from its predecessor, the S7 series.

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra makes a bold promise: "Forget cleaning - really!" and it does a good job living up to that.

This robot cleaner is packed with top-notch features, with the Ultra Station being the star. ⭐️

This handy station does four things for you:

  • Cleans the mop
  • Dries the mop
  • Empties the mobile dust tank
  • Refills the water tank

functions of the ultra station

Essentially, it makes daily cleaning mostly hands-off. ✋🏻

It's evident that the makers have taken the best parts of their older models and added some neat improvements.

Highlights include a new way to dry the mop, an improved brush system, better obstacle detection, and two mop settings for a thorough clean.

This model feels more like a polished version of the previous ones rather than a brand-new invention.

During our tests, its wiping function worked extremely well. 🧽

wiping function of the Roborock S8 pro Ultra
© Smart Home Fox
wiping test of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
© Smart Home Fox

Its strong suction was commendable too.

suction test of the Roborock S8 pro ultra
© Smart Home Fox
Suction test of the Roborock S8 pro ultra
© Smart Home Fox

The device also showcased good navigation skills, especially in obstacle detection.

map building through laser navigation
© Smart Home Fox
obstacle detection of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
© Smart Home Fox

On the downside, its side brush could be better on carpets and edges, and the use of throwaway dust bags seems a bit old-fashioned.

Plus, it's on the pricier side. 🤑

So, if you're after the latest in robot cleaning and don't mind the cost, this is a great pick.

But if you're looking to save a bit, considering the slightly older S7 series might be a good idea.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Powerful battery for extended cleaning sessions

Quick battery charging

Energy-efficient with "off-peak" charging times

High Suction Power (6000 Pa.) for optimal cleaning results

Ultra Station handles multiple tasks: extraction, mop head washing & drying, water tank filling

Efficient brush system with two rubber brushes

Can store up to 4 cards

Enhanced object recognition

User-friendly mobile app

Superior data handling with no built-in camera

High-quality build

Disadvantages

High price point

Ultra Station occupies substantial space

Ultra Station doesn’t automatically add cleaning fluid to the mobile water tank

Uses disposable dust bags in the extraction station

Three-arm side brush has difficulty manoeuvring corners and performing on carpets

No spare parts are provided

Underdeveloped voice control

Non-removable wiping module

Good Value 💰

Ecovacs Deebot T10+

This high-tech device offers much more than just vacuuming and mopping your floors.

The Ecovacs Deebot T10+ comes with numerous high-tech features, including advanced AIVI 3.0 obstacle detection, a unique voice assistant, and an air freshener, making it a standout choice.

The Ecovacs Deebot T10+ from the "T-Series" lives up to the brand's reputation for quality. 

This robot brings a whole suite of advanced features to your home cleaning routine. 🏠

A standout feature of the Deebot T10+ is its laser navigation system, which is boosted by the latest AIVI 3.0 technology

AIVI 3.0 technology of Ecovacs Deebot T10+
Image © Ecovacs

This means it's smart enough to avoid even small, flat objects that are less than 10 cm high

So, if you've ever been frustrated with vacuums getting stuck on socks or other small items on the floor, this robot is a game-changer!

Apart from its impressive navigation capabilities, the Deebot T10+ comes with an air freshener integration. 

However, we see it more as a bonus than an essential feature.

Air freshener capabilities of Ecovacs Deebot T10+
Image © Ecovacs

Its built-in camera transforms the robot into a mobile surveillance device. 📷

You can even use it to make video calls – a feature not commonly found in its competitors. 

Surveillance camera footage of Ecovacs Deebot T10+
Image © Smart Home Fox
Video calling through Ecovacs Deebot T10+
Image © Ecovacs

The in-built voice assistant, OK YIKO, is another highlight, working seamlessly in our tests and setting the Deebot T10+ apart from the crowd.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Useful suction station features

Efficient navigation with flat object detection and avoidance

Includes an air freshener

Turbo Station for mop washing, enhancing mopping results

Excellent climbing ability (2.1 - 2.2 cm)

Quiet operation

User-friendly app with extensive features

Triple filtering system (2 pre-filters + HEPA filter)

Built-in surveillance camera

Capable of video telephony

Detailed 3D mapping

"OK YIKO" voice assistant with a wide range of commands

Disadvantages

Ongoing expenses for bags, extraction station, and air freshener capsules

Expensive initial cost

Mobile app has some minor glitches

AIVI 3.0 obstacle detection not completely reliable

Disposable wipes included are not very effective

Suction power is decent, but not top-tier

Best value for money

Roborock Q7 Max

Roborock quality at an affordable price point.

Mid-range series of Roborock.

The most impressive thing about the Robrock Q7 Max+ is the value for money.

Unnecessary “bells and whistles” and some premium functions have deliberately been dispensed with to keep the purchase price low.

Some weaknesses, like the mopping capabilities, are clearly made up for by its many strengths (suction power, emptying station, navigation, app).

This robot vacuum offers the usual "Roborock quality". At the same time, sensible selective cutbacks ensure a very attractive price. 💰

For all Roborock fans who are looking for an absolutely reliable and at the same time affordable robot vacuum (with emptying station), the Q7 Max+ is a good choice. 💃 

Check Amazon*

User-friendly mobile app

iRobot Roomba i7+

High-end vacuum robot with an emptying station. You can save up to 10 maps. Excellent app and good voice control.

The iRobot Roomba i7+ can save up to 10 maps, which makes it ideal for big houses. And the luxury robot vacuum from the American manufacturer has more to offer: an self-emptying dust bin.

  

The iRobot Roomba i7+ can save up to 10 maps. So if you live in a house with multiple floors, you should take a closer look at this luxury robot vacuum. 

You can also carry it very comfortably from floor to floor because it has a practical carrying handle.

Carrying the iRobot Roomba i7+ with the help of a handle

The self-emptying function also worked exceptionally well. 

The emptying station empties the mobile dust container of the iRobot Roomba i7+.

You won’t have to empty the mobile dust container by hand anymore. The self-emptying cleaning base will take care of that, whenever the robot vacuum comes to the charging dock. This automates the daily floor cleaning even more.

Another highlight is the well-designed and intelligent voice control with Alexa and Google Assistant. It has a wide variety of voice commands.

Overview of iRobot Roomba i7+ voice commands for Alexa.

The range of functions and the simple operation of the app were impressive. 

The app is very user-friendly so that even technically uninclined won’t have any troubles with it. 

Mobile App of the iRobot Roomba i7+

The fast navigation and the long-lasting battery also make the Roomba i7+ very suitable for houses with multiple floors.

This robot vacuum belongs to the luxury segment with its high price.    

If you have to save so many maps (up to 10 floors) and don’t mind spending a little more on your household helper, you certainly won't be disappointed. 

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Save up to 10 maps (suitable for multi-storey homes)

User-friendly app

High quality design

Impressive voice control

Self-empty station

Disadvantages

Navigation system not "state of the art"

Quite high price

Rather weak battery

Strong suction power

Roborock S7 Max Ultra

Premium device. State-of-the-art features ensure fully automated floor cleaning

Robot vacuum cleaner with an auto empty dock and cleaning station for mops. 💧

The Roborock S7 Max is a big step in the right direction towards better and, above all, automatic house cleaning.

Two of the most important features of the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra are its ReactiveAI 2.0 technology (obstacle avoidance) and its Empty Wash Fill dock.

Especially the cleaning station of the S7 Max Ultra is a real highlight. Because it does the following tasks for you:

  • The mobile dust bag is emptied automatically 
  • The water tank is automatically filled and emptied
  • The mop is rinsed in the middle of a cleaning session

The Roborock S7 Max can work largely without human intervention, making it the ideal solution for those who want to spend their time doing what they love. 🏖️ 🍸

(Floor cleaning is rarely included in that).

But all the innovations also come at a price: the S7 Max Ultra is not entirely cheap. 💸

If budget is not a big issue for you and you place a lot of value on the most innovative features and absolute top quality, then the Roborock S7 Max Ultra is the device of your choice. 🎯

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Powerful suction (5100 Pa)

Highly automated floor cleaning

Vibrating mop plate for scrubbing

Self-cleaning mop pad

Carpet detection with mop lifting

Reactive AI 2.0 for flat obstacle avoidance

LED front light for enhanced obstacle detection

Self-emptying base

Security and communication functions

Auto-fill and empty water tank

Excellent app functionality

Fast mapping technology

Superior build quality

Disadvantages

Expensive

Bulky docking station

Only available in black

Ultra station uses disposable dust bags

Mop air-dries without blowing

Privacy concerns with integrated camera

Lacks cleaning tool

Obstacle detection still has some flaws

1 robot vacuum for multiple floors or 1 robotic vacuum cleaner per floor?

Robot vacuums can’t climb stairs or fly (yet). You have to make the following decision:

Do you want one robotic vacuum for each floor or one robot vacuum for multiple floors?

Option 1: One robot vacuum cleaner per floor

That’s undoubtedly the most convenient alternative.

For example, if you have a house with 3 floors, you can buy 3 vacuum robots and put them on each floor.

Advantage: They’ll clean the entire house at the same time. You don't have to carry the robot vacuum from floor to floor. This saves effort and time.

Disadvantage: It may be convenient, but it’s quite expensive. You’d have to buy a total of 3 vacuum robots (instead of just one).

Therefore we’d go with option 2 instead.

Option 2: One robotic vacuum cleaner for multiple floors

With this option, you have "only" one robotic vacuum that cleans the entire house.

Your robot vacuum (including the charging station) is therefore only on one floor at a time ("main floor").

If you want it to clean another floor, you have to carry the robotic vacuum to the (second/third) floor and let the little household helper do its work.

As soon as it has completed its tasks, you have to carry it back to the main floor. The charging station will be there, too, and the robot vacuum can recharge its battery.

Advantage: Cost-effective variant.

Disadvantage: You have to carry the robotic vacuum from floor to floor, which takes more time and effort. You can’t clean several floors at the same time.

A valuable addition: You could put one charging station on each floor. This way, you wouldn’t have to carry the robotic vacuum cleaner back to the main floor (where the charging station is) after cleaning. You’d only have to move the robot vacuum when you want it to clean another floor.

Robot vacuums for several (separate) rooms

It may happen that your robot vacuum can’t enter several rooms due to an insurmountable elevation (e.g. very high door threshold).

A terrace or balcony are typical examples of that.

This means that your robotic vacuum cleaner can’t reach the other room.

Thus, this room is like a second floor.

So if you want your little household helper to clean both rooms, it should be able to save several maps.

In our detailed review, "Robot vacuum cleaners for high thresholds", we address exactly that problem. We’ll show you numerous models that overcome heights well and how your little household helper can climb seemingly insurmountable heights with the help of a robot vacuum doorstep ramp (available* on Amazon UK).

Robotic vacuum cleaner for multiple floors: What should I consider when buying?

If you live in a house with multiple floors, there are a few things you should keep in mind when buying your robot vacuum.

The following criteria are essential:

  • Possibility of saving multiple maps
  • Extensive app functions
  • It shouldn’t be only suitable for use on several floors, but also an all-round excellent vacuum robot.
  • Must have crash sensors
  • Good navigation
  • Long battery runtime
  • With wipe function?
  • Individual adjustment of suction power (and water intensity) per floor or room
  • Weight of the robot vacuum
  • Price-performance ratio

We’ll take a close look at each criterion now.

Basic Requirement no. 1: Smart Mapping Technology. The robot vacuum must be able to save several maps for multiple floors.

If you want to use a robot vacuum in a multi-storey house, the device must be able to create and save several maps for several floors (Multi Floor Mapping technology).

Robot vacuums can create multiple maps of multiple floors and save them in the mobile phone app.

As soon as you place down the robot vacuum on the second floor, it recognises this and automatically pulls up the correct map.

This way, your little household helper doesn't have to reorientate himself whenever he has to vacuum the second floor.

That makes cleaning the second floor much faster, too.

Another advantage: You always have a detailed map (floor plan) of the second floor, which you can edit as you please (set up virtual walls, merge or separate rooms if necessary, etc.).

You can find out which features and settings are essential in the next chapter, "Extensive app functions".

This way you can personalise the daily floor cleaning according to your wishes.

The key question here is: How many floors does your home have? The robot vacuums can save different amounts of maps. From 2 to 10 maps, anything is possible.

Basic requirement no. 2: Extensive app functions

The mobile app determines the intelligence of a “smart” robotic vacuum. And

It should provide numerous useful functions that make cleaning several floors easier.

These are the must-have features:

  • Define no-go zones / virtual walls (exclude areas from cleaning - e.g. the children's play corner).
  • Room separation or merging
  • Definition of no-mop zones (e.g. for carpets)
  • Schedule cleaning (e.g. setting the start time of the cleaning)
  • Setting the order of the rooms that the robot vacuum should clean
  • Single room cleaning (send the vacuum to a specific room only)
  • Spot Cleaning (Let the vacuum clean a particular spot)
  • Choosing suction power and water intensity per room (so it can clean very dirty rooms in a stronger cleaning mode/water intensity than less dirty rooms)

The functions listed above extend the flexibility enormously and make cleaning multiple floors much more manageable.

Basic Requirement no. 3: Your robotic vacuum for several floors should have an all-round good performance

The robotic vacuum cleaner shouldn’t only be suitable for use in a house/flat with several floors. It should have top performance in all other relevant areas, too.

All our top models for multiple floors convinced us in our extensive tests.

In addition to this, the robot vacuums are also particularly suitable for use in homes with multiple floors.

It must have crash sensors

If you have a house/apartment with 2 (or more) floors, there are usually "real abysses".

Robot vacuum stands in front of a staircase

Therefore, your robotic vacuum should have built-in crash sensors. They are located on the robot vacuum’s bottom side and are a somewhat standard feature of modern models.

Crash sensors on the bottom side of a robot vacuum

It detects precipices in time with these sensors. The robot vacuum will stop immediately and look for another way.

This way, there’ll be no drama - such as your household helper falling down the stairs.

Important tip: Always make sure that the crash sensors are clean. We recommend cleaning the sensors with a cloth at regular intervals.

Navigation

Your robot vacuum has to clean a huge area if you want to use it on several floors.

That quickly adds up to cleaning areas of more than 100 m².

Therefore, you should pay particular attention to navigation.

The prerequisite for good navigation: the robot vacuum should clean your home seamlessly.

Navigation speed is also essential. After all, you don't want the robot vacuums to take forever for cleaning the entire home.

All our "top robot vacuums for multiple floors" have seamless and relatively fast navigation. It took them about ~38 - 50 minutes to clean our 80 m² flat.

Charging dock and battery: Good battery life is a must

Your robot vacuum for multiple floors should have a long-lasting and powerful battery.

Ideally, the robot vacuum should be able to clean several floors in one go without needing a charge in between.

That’s better because the charging dock may be on a different floor.

Battery runtimes of 90 minutes and more are sufficient. It can usually clean areas of 150 m² to 250 m² during that time.

Furthermore, it’s more convenient if your robot vacuum has a "Recharge & Resume" function.

If the battery runs out during the cleaning, the little household helper returns to the charging station by itself. As soon as the battery is charged, the robotic vacuum continues its cleaning route where it left off.

It’s a great feature that saves a lot of time.

A practical tip: If you don’t want to put one charging dock on each floor, you should let the robot vacuum clean the floor without the charging station first. Then you can take it to the "main floor" (where the charging station is) and let it clean there.

Your advantage: If the battery runs out, the robot vacuum will return to the charging dock by itself and recharge the battery.

The robotic vacuum will continue cleaning at the same spot where it had to stop. It’ll clean your home seamlessly, even if it has to interrupt its trip, thanks to the "Recharge & Resume" function.

Mopping Function

Do you want the robot to vacuum AND mop the floors in your home?

Robot vacuum with mop do both (vacuuming and mopping) in one go.

Robot Vacuum with mopping function vacuums and mops the floor at the same time

The mopping function can’t replace wiping by hand yet.

Nevertheless, this function ensures that the robot will free your floors from the last traces of dust and dirt. Your home will look even cleaner.

If you want to learn more about the 2-in-1 hybrid models, then take a look at our detailed "Robot Vacuum and Mop Combos review". Here you’ll find everything you need to know about the topic. We’ll also give you a few tips & tricks to improve your device’s mopping performance.

You can find a lot of dirt on an entire floor...

Dirty mop after mopping an entire floor.

You should rinse the mop thoroughly under running water after each floor.

Or you could also get a separate mop for each floor. Reusable mops are available on Amazon* in the UK at a low price.

Individual setting of suction power (and water intensity) per floor or room

Different floors can have very different levels of soiling.

or:

Different floors can have different floor types (hardwood-floors, low-pile carpet, high-pile carpet).

There may be highly sensitive laminate flooring on the first floor, whereas the basement has robust tiles.

Your robotic vacuum cleaner should be able to cope well with all floor types (and all kinds of dirt).

Modern robot vacuums have a great feature for this:

You can control the suction power and the water intensity (if there is a wiping function) via the app.

You can set the suction power and water intensity individually per room in the app

This means that you can let the robot vacuum clean the basement with the tiled floor at the highest suction level/highest water intensity. For the living area (sensitive laminate flooring), it’ll use the medium power mode/water intensity.

That increases the flexibility for daily floor cleaning even more.

Weight of the robotic vacuum cleaner

The weight of the robotic vacuum cleaner is also quite important.

If you want that your household helper cleans several floors, you also have to carry it back and forth between the floors.

The robot vacuums usually weigh approx. 4 - 5 kg.

Thus: the lighter the robot, the better.

Some models (e.g. iRobot Roomba i7+) also have a practical carrying handle.

With this, it’s effortless to carry the robot vacuum from one floor to another.

A somewhat hidden but handy feature!

Budget and Price-Performance

You usually have a limited budget.

Therefore, your new household helper should fit into the budget and offer the best performance/quality possible for the price at the same time.

Whether it's a price-performance winner (Roborock S5 Max) or a luxury model (iRobot Roomba i7+) - our selection of the "Top robot vacuums for multiple floors" has a model for every budget.

Best Robot Vacuums for Multiple Floors in the UK - Conclusion

Some robot vacuums are very well suited for use in a house with multiple floors.

Certain functions make it possible.

The most important one is undoubtedly the possibility to save several maps (for multiple floors).

These are other features that the robotic vacuum should have:

  • a long-lasting battery and a "recharge & resume" function,
  • a good app with many useful functions,
  • a low weight,
  • fast and seamless navigation,
  • a wipe function (if desired),
  • being able to set suction power/water intensity per floor or even per room,
  • an excellent price-performance ratio.

Our top picks:

  • Roborock S5 Max
  • Roborock S6 MaxV
  • iRobot Roomba i7+
  • Cecotec Conga 5490
  • Ecovacs Deebot OZMO 950

So, can a robot vacuum clean multiple floors?

Yes! Nothing stands in the way of using a robot vacuum in a home with several floors. Treat yourself to a little household helper to make your life easier!

Frequently asked questions

  • Can you buy robotic vacuum cleaners for Multiple Floors on Amazon in the UK?


    There is an enormous assortment of roboti vacuum cleaners for multiple floors that you can buy on Amazon in the UK.

Ilia

Robot vacuum cleaners are my passion. These little helpers make cleaning our homes so much easier. That's why it's my personal concern to recommend only the most outstanding products and the best tips and tricks to you. Then you can devote your valuable time to the finer things in life - and as a rule, floor cleaning is not one of them.

Why trust us?

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