How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

best robot vacuum for large house Overall

The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient and easy to use and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and that has decent ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get caught when climbing stairs.

This Black and Decker robot vacuum cleaner industrial - click through the following website, has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners, because it will prevent the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future use. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean smart robot as well as our top 5 robot vacuum-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. It is possible to swap out the cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other automatic hoover robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring and rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech 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 needing to be emptied. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum sale vacuum/mop combinations, but it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one go. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for instance, use the app to create zones that the vacuum won't enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name implies the robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better than larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where the bigger robots struggle to reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors could 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 don't solve all the problems that these devices have, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones did and most require a certain amount illumination to be able to see where they're going. You should consider a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top overall pick and runner-up models use this. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that could interfere with this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot to go, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.