Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Hoover vs Kärcher
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Hoover |  Kärcher |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | HG4, HG2 Hydro TurboSlim, HG2 Hydro ProTurboSlim | RVF 7 Comfort, RVM 4 Comfort, RVC 3 Comfort, RCF 3 |
| Top suction (Pa) | 5,000 | 15,000Higher |
| Mop type | Pad | Roller |
| Obstacle avoidance | None | Camera AI |
| Warranty | 1 to 5 yearsHigher | 2 years |
| Entry price | £64.99 | Not confirmed |
| Flagship price | £319.99 | Not confirmed |
| Runtime | 160 | Not confirmed |
| Dust bin capacity (ml) | 800 | Not confirmed |
| Height (cm) | 8.3 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Self-empty dock (Yes), LiDAR navigation (Yes), Spare parts shop (Yes), Markets (GB).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Hoover scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Top suction (Pa) is higher at Kärcher: 15,000 vs 5,000.
- Warranty is higher at Hoover: 1 to 5 years vs 2 years.
- Support channels: only Hoover offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at Hoover: 1908 vs 1935.
- Products: only Hoover offers Upright, Handheld.
Our verdict on each
Hoover
Hoover suits UK buyers who want a full floor-care and cooking range in one place, backed by a Haier legal entity and long parts availability. Its entry vacuum price of £64.99 sits well inside the category, while the flagship reaches £319.99 with lidar and a self-empty dock.
Kärcher
Kärcher suits households who want a robot vacuum and a stick machine from the same maker, with the self empty dock and lidar both listed. Suction of 15,000 Pa sits level with the site median, so buyers chasing raw power have wider options, while GB shoppers can reach email, phone and help centre.
Score breakdown
| Area | Hoover | Kärcher |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5Entry price £64.99 is competitive, and the flagship holds at £319.99. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.2HigherSpare parts shop plus 10 years of parts, with vacuum warranty of 1 to 5 years. | 9.1Suction of 15,000 Pa matches the site median 15,000 Pa, and robot vacuum, wet dry and stick covers robot, wet-dry and stick. |
| Trust | 9.8HigherBacked by Haier Smart Home UK&I Ltd, founded 1908, support across email, chat and phone. | 9.5A named German operator, Alfred Kaercher SE & Co. KG in DE, founded 1935, with email, phone and help centre support behind the machines. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Hoover | Kärcher |
|---|---|---|
| Top suction (Pa) | 5,000 | 15,000 |
| Warranty | 1 to 5 years | 2 years |
Licences and countries
| Country | Hoover | Kärcher |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Germany |
How they place
| Ranking | Hoover | Kärcher |
|---|---|---|
| Robot vacuums | 9 of 34 | 12 of 34 |
| Robot vacuum and mop combos | 11 of 47 | 15 of 47 |
| Cordless vacuums | 8 of 38 | 11 of 38 |
A third option
Coolblue Belgium has top suction (pa) at 42,000, against 5,000 for Hoover and 15,000 for Kärcher.
Coolblue Belgium reviewWhere these facts come from
Hoover
- hoover-home.com: 19 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Kärcher
- kaercher.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- karcher.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Hoover | Kärcher |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Robot vacuum, Stick, Upright, Wet dry, HandheldCovers more | Robot vacuum, Wet dry, Stick |
| Legal entity | Haier Smart Home UK&I Ltd | Alfred Kaercher SE & Co. KG |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Germany |
| Founded | 1908Lower | 1935 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Home appliances
| Fact | Hoover | Kärcher |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £119 | Not confirmed |
| Energy class | A | Not confirmed |
| Annual energy use (kWh) | 40 | Not confirmed |
| Capacity | 9 kg | Not confirmed |
| Dimensions | 59.5x52.1x85 | Not confirmed |
| Spare parts period | 10 years | Not confirmed |
| Installation offered | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Installation fee | £20 to £99 | Not confirmed |
| Mobile app | Yes | Not confirmed |
Air treatment
| Fact | Hoover | Kärcher |
|---|---|---|
| Filter types | Not confirmed | Hepa h13, Carbon |
| Filter change interval | Not confirmed | 12 months |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Hoover | Kärcher | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | £64.99below the median | Not confirmed | £79.99 |
| Flagship price | £319.99at the median | Not confirmed | £319.99 |
| Top suction (Pa) | 5,000lowest quarter | 15,000at the median | 15,000 |
| Runtime | 160above the median | Not confirmed | 120 |
| Dust bin capacity (ml) | 800above the median | Not confirmed | 700 |
| Height (cm) | 8.3lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 9.8 |
Median across 55 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Hoover
Pros
- Entry price of £64.99 places Hoover near the front of the field on price at entry, and the flagship adds lidar and a self-empty dock.
- The range covers robot vacuum, stick and upright, so a single brand covers robot, stick, upright, wet-dry and handheld cleaning.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, and a spare parts shop plus 10 years of parts cover keeps machines in service.
Cons
- Suction of 5,000 Pa sits below a category median of 15,000 Pa, so deep carpet pile is not the strong suit.
- Obstacle avoidance is listed as none, which leaves cables and clutter to be moved by hand.
- Suction ranks 40 of 46 brands, and the flagship rank is 29 of 66.
Kärcher
Pros
- Self empty dock and lidar are both listed, while 15.8% of listings on the site have no self empty dock.
- A spare parts shop is listed, and only 3.8% of listings lack one, so wear parts can be ordered directly.
- The warranty runs 2 years, a useful length of cover on a machine that runs most days in a busy home.
Cons
- Suction tops out at 15,000 Pa, level with the site median 15,000 Pa, so it does not lead on raw power.
- Mopping is limited to a roller system only, with no pad or spinning alternative listed.
- The range skips upright and handheld formats that both Daewoo Electricals and Ewbank list in robot vacuum, stick and upright and robot vacuum, stick and upright.
Who each suits
Hoover
Who it suits
- Households wanting robots, stick, upright, wet-dry and handheld models under one roof
- GB shoppers who prioritise entry price over peak suction
- Buyers who value a spare parts shop and 10 years of parts cover
Who should look elsewhere
- Homes with thick carpet where suction of 5,000 Pa is not enough
- Buyers who want object recognition, since obstacle avoidance is none
- Shoppers outside GB
Kärcher
Who it suits
- Households that want the robot, the wet-dry and the stick machine from the same brand.
- Buyers who weigh ownership details heavily: 2 years of cover, a spare parts shop and email, phone and help centre.
- Busy homes that want lidar mapping and a self empty dock rather than the highest suction figure.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants upright and handheld formats alongside the robot should start with Daewoo Electricals, whose robot vacuum, stick and upright covers more formats than this range.
- Shoppers who do not want a stick machine in the same range may prefer Philips, which lists robot vacuum and wet dry.
Current offers
Country by country
| Country | Hoover | Kärcher |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Hoover
What does the cheapest Hoover vacuum cost?+
Hoover's vacuum entry price is £64.99, which is well under the site's typical mid-range price of €61.38. At that level the models are compact machines rather than full self-emptying robots. A phone-based tidy-up on hard floors is the realistic target here.
What does the flagship Hoover robot cost?+
The flagship is listed at £319.99 and it is the model that adds a self-empty dock and lidar. Hoover's flagship rank is 29 of 66 brands, so the top of the range is mid-table. Buyers on a tight budget can start much lower with £64.99.
Kärcher
How much do Kärcher's floor care machines cost?+
Budget from the category spread rather than the brand name. Robot vacuum entry prices in this category centre on €145.84 and flagship models sit at €719, while cordless entry prices sit at €99.99.
Does the robot empty its own dock?+
Yes, a self empty dock is listed, so the machine empties its bin between runs without you handling it. Lidar is also listed for mapping, and the models named in RVF 7 Comfort, RVM 4 Comfort, RVC 3 Comfort, RCF 3 cover the robot and the stick machine.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Hoover vs SwitchBot
- Hoover vs Buture
- Hoover vs Ewbank
- Hoover vs Nilfisk
- Hoover vs INSE Life
- Hoover vs LeFun Robotics
- Hoover vs Rowenta
- Hoover vs RYOBI
- Hoover vs Shark Australia
- Hoover vs Exquisit
- Hoover vs Philips
- Hoover vs Gavri CZ-SK
- Hoover vs Samsung
- Hoover vs TP-Link
- Hoover vs AIRROBO
- Hoover vs Coolblue Belgium
- Hoover vs SharkNinja Brasil
- Hoover vs Dr.Prepare
- Hoover vs Dreame
- Hoover vs eufy
- Hoover vs Eureka
- Hoover vs Cowsar
- Hoover vs Lubluelu
- Hoover vs ECOVACS