How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum sale vacuum will save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris and many 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. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with daily debris. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you might be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

When compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the location the last time it was used which makes it easier to cover larger areas. This model is a good option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and Best robot Vacuum cleaner detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it works. The app offers a 3D view of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda as well as larger items like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a less efficient 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. Many models do a decent job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. Additionally, you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can last for several weeks without having to be emptied and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and automatic floor cleaning machine emptying on carpets and floors. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be set to only run during certain hours (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations, but it still manages to pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one go. Find a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it can mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

When you need mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them over to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum won't enter, or to label rooms, or best robot vacuum cleaner plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, which means you don't have to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot cleaner commercial accident.

The new sensors don't solve all the problems with these devices however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older models faced, and many of them need a certain amount of light to be able see where they're headed. You should consider one that has an LIDAR spinning unit that is placed on top of the model to create maps of the space. Our best overall model and the runners-up use this. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

In addition being capable of working in the dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the cheap robot vacuum to think it is in another room.

Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to go to. This is a great option if you have pets or small children. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.