How to choose a robotic pool cleaner
Pool size, floor, wall and waterline cleaning, cordless or corded, runtime, filtration and skimmers: what to check before you buy a robotic pool cleaner.
In short
- Match the cleaner to your pool's size and surface: concrete, tile, fibreglass and vinyl need different brushes.
- 57 of the 69 cleaners we track clean walls and 54 the waterline; entry models may clean only the floor.
- Cordless cleaners avoid tangled cables; check the runtime against your pool size.
- A solar skimmer keeps the surface clear between cleaning runs.
Pool size and shape
Manufacturers rate their cleaners for a maximum pool area, in square metres or square feet, sometimes with a maximum length. Choose a cleaner rated above your pool's area so it finishes the floor and walls on one charge. Free-form pools, steps and benches need good navigation: cleaners with gyroscopes and sensors map the pool and cover it systematically rather than bouncing at random.
Floor, walls and waterline
Debris collects on the floor, algae on the walls and an oily line at the waterline. Entry models clean only the floor; better ones climb the walls and scrub the waterline, and the top models also skim the surface. Check the brush type against your pool: rubber brushes grip tile and smooth surfaces, while PVC brushes suit vinyl liners.
Cordless or corded
Cordless cleaners run on a battery and need no cable across the deck, which ends tangles and makes them easy to drop in; they recharge on a dock or a wireless charging station. Check the runtime against your pool: two to three hours covers most residential pools. Corded cleaners run without limit, and still suit very large pools or daily cleaning. A cleaner that parks at the waterline when it finishes is far easier to lift out.
Filtration and debris capacity
The cleaner's own filter captures what it sucks up, so your pool's filtration system does less work. A finer filter (rated in microns, fewer is finer) catches fine dust and pollen; a large, top-loading basket is easier to empty and copes with leaves.
Robotic skimmers
A robotic skimmer floats on the water and collects leaves, insects and pollen before they sink. Most charge from a solar panel on their back and run all day. We track 4 skimmer ranges; a skimmer complements a pool cleaner rather than replacing it, and suits pools under trees.
What a robotic pool cleaner costs
In the United States the cleaners we track range from $199 for the Dolphin Niya Sonar 20 to $3,999 for the Beatbot AquaSense X. Price rises with wall and waterline cleaning, runtime, navigation and surface skimming. Compare every model by pool size, cleaning and price in the robotic pool cleaner comparison.
Questions
Are cordless robotic pool cleaners as good as corded ones?
Modern cordless cleaners match corded ones for most residential pools and avoid tangled cables; corded cleaners still suit very large pools or daily cleaning without recharging.
Do robotic pool cleaners clean walls and the waterline?
Many do, but not all: entry models often clean only the floor. Check that the model lists walls and the waterline if you need them, and a skimmer for the water surface.
What is a robotic pool skimmer?
A floating robot, often solar-charged, that collects leaves and debris from the water surface before they sink. It complements a pool cleaner rather than replacing it.