Can robot vacuums climb stairs yet? (2026 status)
Where it stands
As of Oct 22, 2026: stair-climbing robots have been shown and announced, but none has a confirmed US price or on-sale date.
It's one of the first things people ask about robot vacuums. The short answer is still no, but 2026 is the first year companies have shown robots that get up the stairs, in two different ways: a robot that climbs and cleans each step itself, and a lift that carries your robot to the next floor.
Can I buy a robot vacuum that cleans stairs?
No. The two stair robots we track, Roborock's Saros Rover and Eufy's MarsWalker, had no confirmed US price and no firm US on-sale date in a roundup updated Aug 29, 2026. Today's robots stop at the top step.
Sources: [1] The Home Picker, [2] CNN Underscored
What is the Roborock Saros Rover?
A robot vacuum on two wheel-legs, shown at CES 2026. At a pre-show demo, CNN Underscored watched it climb a set of stairs and clean each step on the way up. Each leg rises and lowers on its own to keep the body level. Roborock says it handles straight, curved and carpeted stairs.
Roborock calls it a real product in development, but has announced no price or release date. All stair claims so far come from Roborock and staged demos.
Sources: [2] CNN Underscored, [3] HomeKit News
What about Eufy's MarsWalker?
The MarsWalker takes a different approach. It's a separate track-driven platform that picks up the robot vacuum and carries it up and down straight, L-shaped and U-shaped stairs. It doesn't clean the stairs; it moves the robot between floors.
Eufy announced it at IFA in September 2025 for release in the first half of 2026, with no price. It works only with a few Eufy models. By late August 2026 there was still no confirmed US price or firm on-sale date.
Sources: [4] Engadget, [1] The Home Picker
And Dreame's Cyber X?
The same idea as the MarsWalker: a module that carries compatible Dreame vacuums between floors. Dreame quotes steps up to 25 cm. It was expected in Europe at about €1,199, with no US date.
Sources: [5] FutureFive Australia, [6] Vacuum Wars
What can today's robots climb?
Thresholds, not stairs. Dreame quotes about 6 cm for the X50 Ultra. In a two-month review it climbed raised laundry and bathroom thresholds by itself; one threshold only worked after the reviewer marked it passable in the app.
Will these stair robots even reach the US?
That's now an open question. On July 28, 2026, the FCC put new foreign-produced "advanced robotic devices" on its Covered List, and the FCC confirmed that robot vacuums fall under it. New foreign-made models can't get the authorization they need to be sold in the US unless they qualify for a Conditional Approval.
Robots that were already authorized can still be sold. Stair robots that haven't been authorized yet would need that approval, and 9to5Google argues few makers will qualify, because 65% of components must come from the US.
Sources: [9] Vacuum Wars, [10] 9to5Google
Should I wait, or buy a robot for each floor?
Engadget made the point when the MarsWalker was announced: if a stair lift costs about as much as a robot vacuum, a second robot for the other floor may make more sense. Until stair robots have a price and independent reviews, that comparison can't be made.
Sources: [4] Engadget
What we’ll update next
- A US price and on-sale date for the Saros Rover or MarsWalker
- The first independent test on a real staircase
- Whether a stair robot cleans the steps or only carries the robot
How we know (10 sources)
Affiliate roundup (updated Aug 29, 2026): neither the Roborock Saros Rover nor the Eufy MarsWalker has a confirmed US price or firm US on-sale date; both are announced, not buyable. The MarsWalker carries the Eufy Omni S2, which is on sale.
Read the sourcePre-CES demo of the Roborock Saros Rover: the reviewer watched it climb a set of stairs, cleaning each step, with each wheel-leg raising and lowering independently. Roborock says it handles curved and carpeted stairs and calls it a real product in development; no on-sale date.
Read the sourceCES 2026 report on Roborock's Saros Rover, a wheel-leg vacuum prototype. Roborock says it handles straight, curved and carpeted stairs. Still in development with no confirmed release date.
Read the sourceIFA 2025 announcement of Eufy's MarsWalker, a track-driven platform that carries a robot vacuum up and down straight, L-shaped and U-shaped stairs. Release planned for the first half of 2026, no price, works only with a few Eufy models. Notes that if it costs about as much as a robot vacuum, buying two robots may be better.
Read the sourceIFA 2025 report introducing Dreame's Cyber X stair-climbing system with a quoted 25 cm step limit. No price or availability given.
Read the sourceRoundup of Dreame's European launches: Cyber X is a separate module that carries compatible X60 Pro Series vacuums between floors. Citing UK reporting, it expects a European launch in September at about €1,199. No US date or price.
Read the sourceAnnouncement coverage of the Dreame X50 Ultra, quoting an obstacle-crossing height of 6 cm.
Read the sourceTwo-month hands-on review of the Dreame X50 Ultra. It climbed raised laundry and bathroom thresholds on its own; one ensuite threshold only worked after the reviewer marked it passable in the app.
Read the sourceExplainer (last updated Sep 9, 2026) on the FCC adding foreign-produced advanced robotic devices to its Covered List on July 28, 2026. New foreign-made models can't get the FCC authorization needed to be sold in the US unless they qualify for Conditional Approval. Robots you own, already-authorized models and new units of them are not affected. The definition fits most robot vacuums and can also cover robot mowers and humanoids.
Read the sourceReports the FCC confirmed to The Verge that robot vacuums fall under its ban on new foreign-produced advanced robotic devices. Existing and already-approved models can still be sold. Argues few makers will qualify for a waiver because 65% of components must be sourced in the US.
Read the source