How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum cleaner cheap vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust, light debris and cords.

The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to cope with everyday debris. It is also important to choose a model that can take on stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a big fan of robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing the stairs.

In comparison to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its score for navigation is lower. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it stopped last which makes it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is a great choice for pet owners because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. It can stay clear of stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it works. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning like our top models, but it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum with a high rating for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister, and could miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. 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 raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor, and you don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuum cleaner on sale remote vacuum cleaner/mops at keeping away from obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We liked its navigation on bare floors and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and excellent path planning for such a small device.

If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart robot mapping system that can be set to only run for certain times (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark has less powerful suction than other mop/robot combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are capable of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best robots are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one step. If you have floors that are mixed choose 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 effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot vacuum cleaner Best mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses an efficient robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, instead of simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save you time. The mop pads can also be dried, Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best washed, and used again.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum won't enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins, which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners than larger models. They can also fit under 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 few years ago, robot vacuums went through an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.

The new sensors don't solve all the problems with these machines, however. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they require a certain level of light to see where they are moving. Look into a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is that is mounted on top to map the area. Our top model and the runners-up have this feature. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.

In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. It's essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot sweeper think it's in a different space.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas you don't want the robot to go, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.