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 lightweight debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient and able to keep up with daily debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. If you want a robot vacuum near me (pediascape.science) that has additional features, you should consider a model that has 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 dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing steps.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning times and return to where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for later use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot does its work. The app provides an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as effective at cleaning like our top 10 robot vacuum cleaner models, but it is a pro at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it's not able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and some do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home when you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring and rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a huge charging dock that can last for several weeks without having to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation abilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be set to only run for certain times (a beneficial feature to keep pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations, but it still manages to pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are best for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging bare surfaces. 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, which makes them unsuitable for Robot Vacuum Cleaner Sale deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most expensive robot vacuum effective robots are those that are two-in-one, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one step. Find a model that has an onboard sensor that detects any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to think about a robotic mop and vacuum robot combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When it comes to mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. They are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make 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 or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

As the name implies the robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better over larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This has reduced the number of times our testers had to clean smart robot up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems with these devices however. The cheaper models are still not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to see where they are going. Consider getting one that has an LIDAR spinning unit that is placed on top of the model to trace the space. Our top overall model and the runners-up do this. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. 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 that we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This is helpful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.