How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust, light debris and cords.

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

best robot floor cleaner Overall

The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. And, if you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you 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 robot vacuum cleaners vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. Additionally, it has the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the spot where it last stopped and makes it much easier to cover larger spaces. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners, since it is able to avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is able to pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it does. The app provides a 3D view of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing fine debris like baking soda and sand, as well as heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick an automatic vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can exchange an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other cheap robot vacuum cleaner vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on carpets and floors as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot floor cleaner Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system that can be set to only run during certain times (a beneficial feature to keep mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however it still manages to pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

robot vacuum cleaner Best vacuums are the ideal choice for robot Vacuum cleaner best hardwood floors as they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best robots come with two-in-one features, combining mop and vacuum to complete the task in one go. If you have mixed flooring, look for models with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can go seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is made up of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum cleaner sale vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

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

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners than larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advances 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 aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to see where they are moving. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

In addition to being capable of working in 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 is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot to go, which is useful if you have pets or children. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested so make sure to review our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.