How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The top models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self cleaning vacuum-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots that we tested are efficient and easy to use and are able to cope with the everyday messes. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and has adequate cleaning power for carpets. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a fan of the robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to cover larger spaces. This model is a good option for pet owners, because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for future use. It can also 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 provides an interactive 3D model of your home, complete with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as effective at cleaning as our top models, but it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a less effective navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are good at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some can be quite effective in picking up heavier debris like orzo pasta and metal screws. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner amazon vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to clean your home when you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We loved its navigation on floors that are not bare as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and excellent path planning for such a small device.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be cleaned. It also features impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to only run during certain times (a beneficial feature to keep mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuums and mops but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best robot floor cleaner value of our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they can easily navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are fantastic at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best robots come with two-in-one features, combining a vacuum with a mop to do a complete job in one step. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for a model with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

When you need mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.

The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can use the app to set up a zone where the vacuum can't go or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

best automatic vacuum cleaner suited for small Spaces

As the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years back, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic accident.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems with these devices however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they require some level of illumination to be able to know where they are moving. Consider getting an option that incorporates an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top models and runners-up models do this. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

They can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all of the models we test so make sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.