Sourcing Robot Vacuums from China: Wholesale Guide

iRobot (Roomba) started the robot vacuum category, but Chinese manufacturers now dominate it. Roborock, Dreame, Ecovacs, and Narwal are all Chinese brands that have built genuine global businesses competing on technology — not just price. The same factories and supply chain are accessible to importers.

This is one of the higher-complexity categories in consumer electronics sourcing. The technology differences between budget and premium are significant, and buyers do research before purchasing. You can’t fake navigation quality.

The Navigation Technology Divide

This is the single most important spec differentiation in robot vacuums.

Gyroscope/random-bounce navigation ($15–35 factory cost): The oldest tech. The robot moves in a vaguely systematic pattern but doesn’t map the room. Misses spots, takes forever to clean, can’t avoid obstacles reliably. Budget robots. Sells at $50–100 retail.

Camera/optical navigation ($25–55 factory cost): Uses a downward or forward camera to estimate position. Better than random but still imprecise. No persistent maps. Entry-level smart navigation.

LiDAR (Laser Distance Sensing) navigation ($40–120 factory cost): Uses a rotating laser to map the room in real time. Precise, efficient paths. Persistent maps with room labeling. Avoidable areas, scheduled room-specific cleaning. This is the standard that buyers expect in any robot vacuum priced above $150 retail.

3D obstacle avoidance + LiDAR ($60–180 factory cost): AI-powered obstacle recognition (avoiding socks, cables, pet waste). Multiple structured light sensors plus LiDAR. Premium tier. Dreame, Roborock, and Ecovacs compete here. These are the products beating iRobot in market share.

Key Specs

Suction power (Pa): Measured in Pascals. Budget robots: 800–1,800Pa. Mid-range: 2,000–3,000Pa. Premium: 4,000–10,000Pa. For carpet cleaning, 2,500Pa+ is a meaningful threshold. Budget suction on carpet is inadequate.

Mopping function. Many modern robots combine vacuuming and mopping. The quality range is wide: a damp cloth on a fixed plate (budget, barely works) vs. spinning dual mop pads with auto-wash station (genuinely impressive). If mopping is a feature, specify whether the mop pads actively rotate.

Auto-empty base stations. Stations that automatically empty the dustbin into a disposable bag after each clean. Buyers love this. It’s a significant BOM addition (the base station adds $20–40 factory cost) but transforms the user experience and generates strong reviews.

Self-cleaning mop stations. For combo vac-mops, stations that wash and dry the mop pads automatically are now available from Chinese factories. These are premium products commanding $300–600 retail.

Battery life. Robot vacuum runtime is typically 90–180 minutes. For larger homes (2,000+ sq ft), runtime and auto-resume (returning to dock to charge, then continuing) matter.

WiFi and app. Buyers expect: Alexa/Google voice control, app-based scheduling and room mapping, do-not-enter zone setting, cleaning history. Test the app experience specifically. Chinese apps with poor English localization generate US market complaints.

Noise level. Budget robots at full suction are loud (65–70 dB). Mid-range: 60–65 dB. Premium: 55–60 dB. An important specification for buyers running robots during work hours.

Certifications

FCC Part 15: Required for US market. Robot vacuums with WiFi need FCC Part 15 wireless authorization. Verify FCC ID at fcc.report.

UL or ETL: Safety listing for the charging power supply and the device electronics.

CE + RED: Required for EU/UK.

CARB (California Air Resources Board): Some states have battery disposal requirements that affect sales. Not a certification per se but awareness of state-specific requirements.

MOQs

Budget LiDAR-navigation robots with your branding and app: 100–300 units. Many Shenzhen factories have full product designs ready.

Premium combo vac-mop with auto-empty: 50–200 units. Higher unit cost means smaller MOQs are financially viable for factories.

Custom robot design (different form factor): 2,000+ units with tooling. Robot vacuum chassis molds are expensive ($30,000–100,000 for a full product). This tier is for established brands.

What Buyers Research Before Buying

Robot vacuums have a dedicated community of reviewers (TechRadar, The Wirecutter, Reddit r/robotvacuums). Buyers read these reviews. The specs that get specifically evaluated:

• Side brush and main brush debris ingestion under carpet
• Obstacle avoidance pass/fail on pet waste and cables
• Mapping accuracy and room recognition
• App ease of use
• Noise level testing
• Return rate and customer service responsiveness

A genuinely good robot vacuum that performs well in these tests gets organic traction. A mediocre one at a low price competes only on price and loses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What navigation technology should a robot vacuum have to be marketable in 2026? LiDAR navigation is the minimum standard buyers expect above the $120 retail price point. Below that, any navigation is accepted as “entry level.” For positioning against established brands, LiDAR with AI obstacle avoidance (3D sensor) is necessary to compete in the $200–400 tier.

What is the difference between suction Pa ratings and actual cleaning performance? Pa (Pascals) measures suction force, but actual cleaning performance depends on brush design, airflow path efficiency, and how well the robot maintains contact with the floor. A 2,000Pa robot with well-designed brushes may outperform a 4,000Pa robot with poor brush geometry on carpet. Test with real debris on carpet rather than relying on Pa specs alone.

Do robot vacuums need special certification for the US market? FCC Part 15 for the WiFi radio, and UL or ETL for the power supply and device electronics. FCC is verified at fcc.report. UL certification is especially important for any robot vacuum sold through US retail channels.

What’s the best entry product for a first-time robot vacuum importer? A LiDAR-only (no mopping, no auto-empty) robot with strong suction, Alexa/Google integration, and English app. The mopping and auto-empty features add cost and complexity. A clean, capable vacuum-only robot at $120–180 retail with good LiDAR navigation is a strong starting point before adding complexity.

Why are Chinese robot vacuum brands beating iRobot in market share? Roborock, Dreame, and Ecovacs out-feature iRobot’s core lineup at lower prices, iterate faster, and have made better navigation and obstacle avoidance decisions in recent generations. iRobot has been slow to add LiDAR and mopping. Chinese brands now own the technology leadership story in this category.