Topic
Small flats
In a flat the dock's footprint and the noise matter as much as the robot. A compact dock, good mapping and quiet modes suit small spaces and shared walls.
- Typical flat
- 40 to 70 m²
- Coverage per charge
- Often 150 m² or more
Most robots cover a flat on one charge; add up your rooms with the floor-area adder to compare against the stated coverage. In a small home a compact dock or a robot without a self-emptying dock may be the better fit.
Look for room mapping with no-go zones, a quiet or night mode and scheduling, so the robot runs while you are out and keeps away from cables and pet bowls.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a large all-in-one dock for a narrow hallway.
- Running the self-emptying cycle late at night in a flat with thin walls.
Guides on this topic
- Robot vacuum won't connect to Wi-Fi: fixesRobot vacuum won't join your Wi-Fi? Use a 2.4 GHz network, check phone permissions and router settings, then reset the robot's Wi-Fi. Works for most brands.Fix
- Using a robot vacuum with Alexa or Google HomeHow to link a robot vacuum to Alexa or Google Home, the kinds of voice commands Eufy, Shark, Roborock and other robots support, and fixes for common problems.How-to
- How to set up a robot vacuum: first map to first scheduleSet up a robot vacuum step by step: where to put the dock, the first mapping run, splitting rooms, no-go zones and building a cleaning schedule.How-to
- How do robot vacuums map your home?How robot vacuum mapping works: lidar, cameras and gyro navigation explained, plus room splitting, no-go zones and multi-floor maps for UK homes.Guide
- Do robot vacuums need Wi-Fi?Do robot vacuums need Wi-Fi? What works from the button alone, what needs the app, and why most robots want a 2.4 GHz network during setup.Guide
Buying guides on this topic
- Best robot vacuums for small flatsSeven robot vacuums for small flats compared on dock size and type, runtime per charge, suction, mopping and navigation, from no-dock to compact bases.Buying guide
- Best robot vacuums under £300Seven lidar robot vacuums under £300 compared on suction, what the base does, mop type, navigation and runtime, using the makers' own listings.Buying guide