How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The top models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris and allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive can even mop your floor however they're not able to climb stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested that we have tested are effective, easy to use, and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also need a Robot Cleaner Amazon that can handle stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. And, if you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried several robotic vacuum cleaner commercial vacuums, has been acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of buy robot vacuum cleaner vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing the stairs.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the spot where it last stopped, making it easier to clean larger areas. This model is a good option for pet owners, as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs easily with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four automatic floor cleaning machine plans for future use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing small particles like sand and baking soda and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and [Redirect Only] has a less impressive navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and can be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.

For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best option. It is possible to swap out a cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles, getting close to 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 through the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare and rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark has less suction power than other mop/robot combos, but its still very good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top choices.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage bare surfaces. They are excellent at of removing crumbs and dust, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum to complete the entire chore in one sweep. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture 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 flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors help it avoid the 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 mops, 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 mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mops can also be dried, washed, and reused.

The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can use the app to create a no-go zone where the vacuum can't go or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

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

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues with these devices, however. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and require some level of illumination to be able to see where they are going. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to create maps of the space. Our top overall pick and runner-up models have this feature. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

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

Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to visit. This can be helpful for those with small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.