How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

robot vacuum cleaner price vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers are good at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.

The most expensive models can even mop your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a model equipped with smart robot vacuums mapping technology or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences like those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also loves robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning robot price sessions and then return to the place where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it is able to identify and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to detect 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 for future use. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it does. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, however it is great 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.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between an empty bin for automatic vacuum cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum cleaner quiet vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can be set to mop only. We liked its navigation on bare floors as well as rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be empty, and it has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on carpets and floors. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are fantastic at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete the entire chore in one pass. Find models that have an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction in line with the changes. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it can mop as well. Its sensors let it 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 to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can, use the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name implies the robots are best robot hoover to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where larger robots struggle to get in. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.

However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and require some level of illumination in order to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition to being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.

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