How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and other small particles, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb up stairs. Find models that feature smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, best robot vacuum and spacious self-emptying bins.

best cheap robot vacuum Overall

The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with the daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing steps.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the best inexpensive robot vacuum-rated models. It comes with a huge non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot the last time it was used and makes it much easier to cover larger areas. This model is an excellent option for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using an organized light sensor to 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 use. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The app includes a 3D view of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. Its only drawbacks are that it can't mop and has a less efficient navigation system.

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 rug. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum, and they may not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.

The best affordable robot vacuum choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum cleaner commercial vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when they come into contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs and its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for such a small device.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be emptied. It also has amazing navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark has less suction power than other mop/robot combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best affordable robot vacuum value of our top choices.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the ideal choice for hardwood floors as they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or best robot vacuum upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one step. If you have mixed flooring you should look for models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. The mops can also be dried, washed and used again.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for example utilize the app to create zones that the vacuum won't enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are made for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. They tend to be cheaper than the pricier picks, too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robot snag.

The new sensors don't solve all issues with these machines however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same issues that the older models faced and most require a certain amount illumination to be able see where they're headed. Look into one that has a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to map the area. Our top pick and runner-up models use this. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

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

Some of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas you do not want the robot go, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.