<p>Academics and policymakers are becoming interested in how industrial robots impact sustainable manufacturing. This study investigates the connection between industrial robot applications and urban ecological efficiency, using city-level data from China spanning 2007 to 2019. Findings show a significant increase in industrial robot applications, varying across industries and urban clusters, alongside modest ecological efficiency gains with regional disparities. Industrial robots significantly boost urban ecological efficiency, with stronger effects observed where labor pressures, labor quality, and labor costs are higher. Environmental regulations powerfully moderate the connection between industrial robot applications and urban ecological efficiency. While command-and-control environmental regulations have a moderating effect that shifts from positive to negative, market incentive environmental regulations magnify the benefits. Environmental management with public engagement is essential, especially at the extreme of ecological efficiency levels. By revealing the connection between industrial robots, environmental regulations, and ecological efficiency, this study offers factual supports for the sustainable development of cities.</p>