5 Things to Know About Robot Vacuum Suction Power

Suction power is measured in pascals (Pa), and higher numbers mean stronger pickup. Entry-level robots sit around 2,000-2,500 Pa, while premium models push 5,000-6,000 Pa.

Raw suction matters most on carpets. On hard floors, even 2,000 Pa is plenty since debris doesn’t get trapped in fibers.

Don’t obsess over the highest Pa number for hard floors. A 2,000 Pa robot will clean tile or wood just as well as a 6,000 Pa one.

Carpet performance improves with higher Pa, but only up to a point. Beyond 4,000 Pa, gains are marginal for most home carpets.

Check the brush design, not just suction. A robot with weak suction but a good brush can outperform one with high suction and a poor brush on carpets.