How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The top rated robot vacuum models do a great job picking up dust and light debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

best value robot vacuum Overall

The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with daily debris. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a robot with additional features, think about a model that has smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested numerous robotic vacuum cleaner on sale vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't get tripped up when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It has a large, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners, because it will prevent the tangles of fur and best buy robot vacuum food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and identify obstacles using an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

While this robot vacuum near me 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 items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can swap out an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home when you are away. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as carpets. 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 alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be cleaned. It also has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and bare floors. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be programmed to run only during specific times (a beneficial feature to keep mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less powerful suction than other mop/robot combos however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top choices.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they are able to maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor's surface. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best robot vacuum under 200 (here are the findings) two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of a more complete chore in one go. If you have mixed flooring, look for models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can transition effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

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

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mops can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can, use the app to create zones that the vacuum won't enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic 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 has decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.

The new sensors don't solve all the issues with these machines, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones faced and most need a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to map the area. Our top overall model and the runners-up do this. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.

They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the amazon robot vacuum think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas you do not want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all the models we test, so be sure to review our full reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.