How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

The most expensive models can even mop your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

best smart vacuum Overall

The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use and able to cope with the daily messes. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control the self-cleaning robot vacuums remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest 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 don't fall when climbing steps.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to cover larger spaces. This model is a good option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for later use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The app provides a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. It is possible to swap out an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot cleaner commercial vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors and rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner best, Hougaard-shapiro.blogbright.net, Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be emptied and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it still picks up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best value of our top choices.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are the ideal choice for hardwood floors as they can easily navigate around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine a vacuum with a mop to do a complete job in one move. If you have floors that are mixed, look for one with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When you need mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed and used again.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example, use the app to create zones that the vacuum won't enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't have to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins, that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners than larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years back robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all issues with these devices however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older models faced, and many of them require a certain amount light to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting one that has a spinning LIDAR unit placed on top of the model to create maps of the area. Our top models and runners-up models use this. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function however, because the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to enter. This is a great option when you have pets or small children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.