How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models do a great job at removing dust and light debris, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.

The more expensive models even clean your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to cope with the daily messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot vacuum price that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you remote control vacuum cleaner it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. In addition, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it last stopped, making it easier to cover larger homes. This model is a good choice for pet owners since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it does. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This robot vacuum ebay is not as good at cleaning like our top models, however it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick an automatic vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several are capable of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. 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 automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can program it to clean your home even when you're away. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces and its ability to get up and over furniture. 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, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be emptied and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be programmed to run only during specific hours (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations, but it still picks hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of the entire chore in one pass. If you have floors that are mixed, look for models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. 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 primarily composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum cleaner vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors let it avoid hazards such as stairs.

When it comes to mop pads, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. They are also able to be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins, that can store less debris. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently over larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the more expensive models, however, you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors might become stuck on or run across. These advances reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.

However, the new sensors aren't solving all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount illumination to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to trace the space. Our top overall pick and runner-up models do this. This allows them to avoid stairs and Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best other barriers while working in the dark.

These models can also be programmed to utilize their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the affordable robot vacuum think it's in another room.

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