How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The most expensive models can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on 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 app that lets you control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing numerous robot vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing steps.

When compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it stopped last and makes it much easier to cover larger areas. This model is a great choice for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it does. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

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

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a Robotic Vacuum Cleaner vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rug. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some are capable of cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles like canister or upright vacuums, and they may 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. You can exchange a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and wet mop with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpets, preventing the Automatic floor vacuum from getting wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home while you are away. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for months without needing to be emptying and has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be set to only run for certain hours (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however, it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

robot cleaner amazon vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop and take care of the entire chore in one go. Find a model that has an onboard sensor that detects any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot vacuum cleaner cheap mop and automated vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum cleaner comparison vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. They can also be washed, dried and used again.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, automatic floor vacuum you can make use of the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name implies that these robots are to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots can't reach. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. These improvements reduced the number times our testers had to clean up after a robotic accident.

However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The cheaper models are still not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to see where they are moving. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to map the space. Our top pick and runner-up models use this. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.

In addition to being able to work in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful when you have pets or small children. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test so make sure to review our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.