Key facts
- Chinese manufacturers now hold 70% of the global market for household cleaning robots.
- Global cleaning robot shipments increased by 20.1% year-over-year in 2025, reaching 32.72 million units.
- Window cleaning robots saw a 70.4% increase in shipments, while lawn mower robotics grew by 63.8%.
- Roborock is developing the world's first stair-climbing cleaning robot.
- Chinese brands are leading innovation in AI, cordless technology, and global expansion across various cleaning robot categories.
Chinese manufacturers are rapidly dominating the global household cleaning robot market, capturing 70% of the share through significant innovation and aggressive international expansion. Companies are shifting focus from price competition to developing unique features, such as stair-climbing capabilities, to differentiate themselves.
According to IDC, global cleaning robot shipments grew 20.1% year-over-year to 32.72 million units in 2025. While smart vacuums still represent the largest segment, window cleaning robots and lawn mower robotics are emerging as primary growth engines. Window cleaning robot shipments surged 70.4%, with Ecovacs holding a dominant market share. Lawn mower robotics saw 63.8% growth, particularly in wire-free models which increased by 182.4%, with Chinese brands like Segway-Ninebot, Dreame, and Ecovacs leading this segment.
Roborock is notably developing a stair-climbing robot, aiming to be the first of its kind globally. The market is characterized by a structural transformation, moving towards multi-scenario intelligent automation. Chinese brands are leveraging their supply chain depth, rapid iteration capabilities, and e-commerce strategies to set pricing benchmarks, accelerate cordless transitions, and scale globally. Pool cleaning robots are also seeing a trend towards premiumization, with consumers expecting advanced features like autonomous navigation and smart home integration.