How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job of removing dust and light debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The most expensive models will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. And, if you're looking to add more features, you might be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic floor scrubber vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't trip up when climbing stairs.

This Black and Decker amazon robot vacuum has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the location where it last stopped, making it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it does. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

best combo vacuum for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum with a high rating for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are good at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs, and some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta and metal screws. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.

For most expensive robot vacuum carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best self cleaning vacuum choice. It is possible to swap out the cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't need to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at staying clear of obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. It also has impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors with no floor. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be set to only run for certain hours (a useful feature for keeping the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark has less suction power than some other mop/robot combos however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of an entire task in one sweep. Choose one that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. Its reusable pads reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed and reused.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can use the app to create an area where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues with these machines however. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and require a certain level of light to know where they are moving. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to map the space. Our top overall pick and runner-up models use this. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

The models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.

Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to go to. This can be helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't offered on all the models we've tested and recommend that you review our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.