How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

robot sweeper vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best ones are adept at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart vacuum mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most features like ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuum cleaner comparison vacuums. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

Compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't need regular emptying and Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger spaces. This model is a great option for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests, Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. It is able to avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it does. The app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick an automatic vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models are good at cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some are capable of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. However, they can't handle small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum, and they may miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. You can swap out the cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpets, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home when you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors with no flooring 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 high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be emptied and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from running it amuck). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it does pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

robot vacuum cleaner best (simply click the next document) vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one move. If you have mixed flooring choose a model equipped 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 allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When it comes to mop pads the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than wipe them to get rid of light dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone where the vacuum can't go, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name suggests that these robots are to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that hold less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors could become stuck on or run across. This has have reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones did and most require a certain amount of light to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being able to work in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not above them. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.

Some of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot vacuum cleaner cheap go, which is useful if you have children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we test and recommend that you read our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.