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How High a Threshold Can a Robot Vacuum Climb?
Manufacturer figures: maximum threshold height by model
The figures come from the manufacturers’ own specifications (as of September 2026) and apply to vacuuming on hard floors. If in doubt, check the data sheet of your robot.
| Manufacturer / series | Maximum threshold height stated by the maker |
|---|---|
| iRobot Roomba (all models) | 1.6 cm (5/8 in) |
| Ecovacs Deebot (without mopping plate) | 1.8 cm |
| Roborock S and Q series, standard models | 2 cm |
| Dreame L series, Xiaomi, eufy, Mova, Medion, Vorwerk | about 2 cm |
| Roborock with AdaptiLift chassis (Qrevo Curv, Qrevo Edge, Saros 10 / 10R) | 4 cm |
| Dreame with ProLeap legs (X50 Ultra, L50 Ultra) | 4.2 cm, up to 6 cm in two stages |
Two centimetres is less than most people expect. A standard wooden or aluminium door threshold is 2 to 4 cm high, a balcony or patio door sill 5 to 8 cm, and a floor step between two rooms often 3 to 10 cm.
Why your robot often manages less than the data sheet says
- Mopping attachment. With a water tank and mop pad the robot is heavier and has more friction. Ecovacs models with the PRO mopping unit (active scrubbing) are known to fail in mopping mode at obstacles they clear easily when only vacuuming.
- Shape of the threshold. A rounded threshold can be driven at; a vertical edge of the same height cannot. Manufacturer figures describe the favourable case.
- Cliff sensors. The Roborock S7 and some Ecovacs models trigger their cliff sensor at steep transitions and turn around. The AEG RX9 uses a 3D camera that wrongly detects a drop at the top of a ramp.
- Carpet and run-up. Starting from a carpet the robot lacks momentum; right behind a door there is often no straight run-up.
What to do when the threshold is higher
Two things do not help: grinding down the threshold (on balcony doors it is the seal) and carrying the robot across (it then no longer drives its map completely, and the app loses the room). What helps is a ramp of the right height – on both sides of the threshold if the robot crosses it in both directions.
One rule matters: the ramp must be as high as the threshold. A 3 cm ramp in front of a 4 cm threshold is not enough, even if the robot could clear 1 cm on its own – on the slope it has no run-up left for the remaining edge.
Door threshold ramp up to 10 cm
For door thresholds, high door tracks and low floor steps. Solid wood, made to measure in height and width, 15 degrees standard or 10 degrees flat for Roborock S7 and Ecovacs. Rests in place without drilling – in the UK also known as a robot hoover ramp.
Step ramp up to 30 cm
For single higher steps, platforms and split-level rooms. No robot vacuum climbs a step on its own – the multi-part step ramp for robot vacuums bridges up to 30 cm.
The height decides which ramp fits: up to 10 cm the robot vacuum ramp for door thresholds, above that the step ramp for robot vacuums.
Measuring correctly
Measure the height of the threshold from the floor to its top edge, on the side the robot approaches from – for balcony doors inside and outside separately, because the heights differ. The measuring points, with pictures, are in the measuring instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Can my robot vacuum clear 3 cm?
Standard models not reliably; from 3 cm Roomba, Ecovacs and most Roborock and Dreame models need a ramp. Models with a lifting chassis (Roborock AdaptiLift, Dreame ProLeap) manage 3 cm according to their makers.
And 5 cm or 8 cm?
No current model manages that on its own. A door threshold ramp of exactly that height solves it.
Does every door need a ramp?
No – only the transitions that are higher than your manufacturer’s figure in the table above. Interior doors without a threshold or with a flat transition strip are no problem.
Will the robot drive down the ramp again?
Yes. The inclines of 10 and 15 degrees are chosen so that the cliff sensors do not trigger. Known exceptions (Roborock S7, Ecovacs) are listed above; for them there is the flat version.
More answers on wood, dimensions and installation are in the frequently asked questions.