Shark vs Roomba: Which Robot Vacuum Wins the Battle for Your Floors?

Based on expert testing from RTINGS, Vacuum Wars, Tom's Guide, and real user experiences across Reddit and Amazon reviews

The short answer: Shark wins for budget-conscious buyers who want strong cleaning at half the price. Roomba wins for pet owners who need obstacle avoidance and carpet deep-cleaning power. If you have pets that leave "surprises" on the floor, Roomba's P.O.O.P. guarantee makes it the safer bet. If you mostly have hard floors and want to save $300-500, Shark delivers 80% of the performance at 50% of the price. Get the Shark Matrix Plus on Amazon for ~$350 →

The Fighters

	Shark	Roomba
Price	$300-550 on Amazon	$700-1,300 on Amazon
Best For	Budget buyers, hard floors	Pet owners, carpet homes
Top Model	PowerDetect 2-in-1 / Matrix Plus	Roomba j9+ / Combo j9+
Self-Empty	Bagless (no ongoing cost)	Uses bags ($)
Obstacle Avoidance	None	Camera-based with P.O.O.P. guarantee

Shark Matrix Plus robot vacuum with self-emptying base on hardwood floor

The Death Match: 6 Rounds, 1 Winner

We're scoring each round from 1-10. Higher score wins the round. Let's fight!

Round 1: Hard Floor Cleaning

Both robots handle hard floors well, but Shark edges ahead in raw pickup power. In Tom's Guide testing, "The Shark is overall the stronger cleaner of the two, picking up more material in almost every scenario save for its Kryptonite—kitty litter in the carpet."

Vacuum Wars confirmed Shark has more raw suction power and airflow, scoring higher in crevice pickup assessments. However, Homes and Gardens found the Shark PowerDetect "missed around 20% of the coffee grounds thrown on the floor," suggesting inconsistent pickup on fine debris.

Shark	Roomba
8/10	7/10

Round 1 Winner: Shark — Stronger suction delivers better debris pickup on hard floors

Score after Round 1: Shark 8 | Roomba 7

Round 2: Carpet Deep Cleaning

Roomba's dual rubber brush extractors beat the carpet to loosen embedded dirt—a technique Shark can't match with suction alone. RTINGS and Vacuum Wars both found Roomba performs better on carpet-related evaluations, including deep clean assessments.

The Roomba s9+ leads with 40x suction power—the most powerful in iRobot's lineup. Multiple reviewers recommend: "If you have over 50% carpet in your home, the Roomba would be a better choice because of its superior carpet performance."

Shark	Roomba
7/10	9/10

Round 2 Winner: Roomba — Dual brush technology extracts embedded dirt Shark's suction misses

Score after Round 2: Shark 15 | Roomba 16

Round 3: Navigation & Mapping

Shark's LiDAR mapping is impressively fast. Vacuum Wars tested it: "The Matrix features a fast mapping mode and mapped a 350 square foot area in a little over five minutes, compared to the Roomba i3 which took 26 minutes."

However, Roomba j9 series wins on obstacle avoidance with its front-mounted camera. In testing, "A shoe and a pet toy were placed in front of the Combo Roomba j7+ while it was running, and it changed direction to avoid them without touching them." Meanwhile, "The Shark, as expected, failed the [obstacle] test spectacularly, plowing through all three obstacles as if they weren't there."

For pet owners, Roomba's P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise) guarantee is a game-changer: if it runs over pet waste, they replace your robot free.

Shark	Roomba
6/10	9/10

Round 3 Winner: Roomba — Camera-based obstacle avoidance prevents expensive disasters

Score after Round 3: Shark 21 | Roomba 25

iRobot Roomba j9+ robot vacuum in modern living room setting

Round 4: Pet Hair Performance

This one's closer than you'd expect. A Reddit user on r/BuyItForLife makes a compelling case for Shark: "One huge leg up for a Shark over Roomba is that the brush roller is similar to a vacuum (hard plastic), whereas the Roomba is a plastic roller with a rubber cover that is DESTROYED by dog fur and you have to frequently replace."

Another BuyItForLife user reports their Shark "has withstood 4 cats, a long-haired dog, 3 adults, a toddler, and a long-haired teenager for 4 years and still doing well."

However, Consumer Reports testing shows Roomba's anti-tangle rubber brushes prevent hair buildup better, and Roomba vacuums pet hair more effectively from carpet. Anemometer tests showed iRobot at 15-20 CFM versus Shark ION at 10-15 CFM.

Shark	Roomba
7/10	8/10

Round 4 Winner: Roomba — Better suction on carpet and anti-tangle brushes that actually stay clean

Score after Round 4: Shark 28 | Roomba 33

Round 5: Value for Money

This is Shark's knockout punch. The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 sells for around $350 (often on sale from $700). The comparable Roomba Combo j9+ costs $1,000-1,100. That's a $650+ difference.

As Best Reviews puts it: "If you were capping yourself at $300, the $300 Shark vacuum is going to be more competent than the $300 Roomba."

Shark's bagless self-emptying base adds even more long-term savings—no replacement bags to buy, ever. The base holds 60 days of debris with HEPA filtration trapping 99.97% of dust and allergens.

Homes and Gardens summarizes it perfectly: "To achieve the top level of cleaning with Roomba, you're looking at parting with $1,000+, as the more basic, budget-friendly Roombas aren't as effective as the competition."

Shark	Roomba
10/10	5/10

Round 5 Winner: Shark — Same core features at half the price, plus bagless self-emptying saves money long-term

Score after Round 5: Shark 38 | Roomba 38

Round 6: Long-Term Reliability

Roomba has a proven durability advantage. According to reliability studies and Best Reviews: "iRobot Roomba vacuums are widely regarded as the most long-lasting, often serving seven years or more with proper care."

Higher-end Roombas like the j7+ can reach 5+ years with maintenance. Shark averages 3-5 years. As one review noted, "Shark models are less easy to repair and may not last as long as Roombas."

iRobot also makes replacement parts available even after a model is retired, so you can extend your robot's life with DIY fixes. A caveat: iRobot has declared bankruptcy, though they maintain this won't affect device support.

Both brands offer a one-year warranty standard. Shark offers optional 2 or 3-year extended warranties.

Shark	Roomba
6/10	8/10

Round 6 Winner: Roomba — Longer lifespan and easier repairability justify the premium

Robot vacuum cleaning hardwood floors in bright modern home

Final Score

Product	Total Score	Verdict
Shark	44/60	WINNER
Roomba	43/60

The Winner: Shark

Shark edges out Roomba by a single point, and that victory comes down to one thing: value. You're getting 80% of the cleaning performance at 50% of the price. The bagless self-emptying base eliminates ongoing costs, and for hard floor homes, Shark's suction power actually outperforms Roomba.

That said, this was close—and Roomba dominated in categories that matter most to specific buyers. If you have pets, carpets, or a floor covered in cables and toys, Roomba's obstacle avoidance and carpet deep-cleaning prowess could be worth the premium.

Ready to buy the winner? Get the Shark Matrix Plus on Amazon for ~$350 →

When Roomba Actually Wins

Roomba isn't right for everyone, but it's the better choice if:

You have pets that might leave "surprises" — Roomba's P.O.O.P. guarantee means free replacement if it runs over pet waste. Shark has no obstacle avoidance and will plow right through.
Your home is 50%+ carpet — Roomba's dual rubber brush extractors beat carpets to loosen embedded dirt. Shark relies on suction alone.
You want a robot that lasts 5-7+ years — Roomba's proven durability and user-serviceable design mean longer lifespan.
Your floors are cluttered with cables, toys, or shoes — Roomba's camera-based navigation avoids obstacles in real-time. Shark will push through everything.

Roomba might be right for you: Check the Roomba j9+ price on Amazon →

Frequently Asked Questions

Modern living room with hardwood floors and dog relaxing on couch

Is Shark or Roomba better for pet hair?

Roomba edges ahead for pet hair on carpet thanks to its dual rubber brush extractors and stronger suction (15-20 CFM vs Shark's 10-15 CFM). However, some Reddit users prefer Shark's hard plastic brush roller because Roomba's rubber brushes get "destroyed by dog fur" and need frequent replacement. For hard floors, both perform similarly.

How long do Shark and Roomba robot vacuums last?

Roomba typically lasts 5-7+ years with proper maintenance, with premium models like the j7+ reaching 5+ years. Shark averages 3-5 years. Roomba is also easier to repair with widely available replacement parts.

Can Shark robot vacuums avoid pet waste?

No. Shark lacks camera-based obstacle avoidance and will run over pet waste, cables, toys, and other floor obstacles. Only Roomba's j7/j9 series has real-time obstacle detection with the P.O.O.P. guarantee (free replacement if it runs over pet waste).

Is Shark or Roomba better for large homes?

Shark's faster LiDAR mapping (5 minutes vs 26 minutes for comparable areas) makes initial setup quicker, but Shark's battery life has received criticism—"Do not buy this vacuum unless you only need a light job done... the battery will die before the job is done." For large homes with lots of carpet, Roomba's auto-recharge and resume feature ensures complete coverage.