How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and other small particles and allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even mop your floor but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested that we tested are efficient and easy to use and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot cleaner amazon that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing steps.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. However, it does have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it was last. This makes it easier to clean larger areas. This model is a great option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app offers a 3D view of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it is a pro at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.

The best robot floor cleaner for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select one that has a high score for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They can't take in small particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking 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 vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to clean your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors that are not bare and rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and bare floors. It also has a clever mapping system and can be set to only run during certain times (a beneficial feature to keep pets and robot Cleaner commercial children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however, it does pick up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the best price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they are able to maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright 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 the entire chore in one go. Choose models that have an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can move seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with smart vacuum navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example, use the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

best value robot vacuum for Small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed 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 as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are generally less expensive than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. These advancements have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they require an adequate amount of light in order to see where they are moving. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, robot vacuum cleaner Top 10 consider purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, like our best robot vacuum for vinyl plank floors self cleaning vacuum; Forum.bryansk-velo.ru site, overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

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

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