How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

The more expensive models even clean your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a model with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing the stairs.

In comparison with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it last stopped and makes it much easier to tackle larger areas. This model is a great choice for pet owners, as it can avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any moment and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot does its work. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, however it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. But they don't pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum cleaner best vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. You don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces and its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 self cleaning vacuum cleaner-Empty robot vacuum deals black friday Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however it does pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best canister vacuum, meaning they're not the best choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best robots are two-in-one, which combine a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one step. If you have flooring that is mixed choose models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac as well as the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to create a zone that the vacuum won't enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. 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 don't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than the 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 started adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advancements reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.

However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit placed on top of the model to map the space. Our best overall pick and runner-up models have this feature. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

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

A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test and recommend that you review our full reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.