How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best vacuum will save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of getting rid of dust as well as light debris and cords.

The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self cleaning vacuum cleaner-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robovacs that offer the most expensive robot vacuum convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. However, it does have an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to take care of larger homes. This model is a great option for pet owners, as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for future use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it does. The app provides an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand as well as larger objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downside is that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models do a decent job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. 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 baseboards and thresholds.

For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange the cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home while you are away. It can also be set to only mop and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both carpets and floors, as well as its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best home vacuum cleaner choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.

The best robots are two-in-one, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one move. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum cleaner comparison mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses an efficient robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. 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 damaging your hardwood.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, instead of simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. They 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 set up a zone where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

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

However, the new sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models are still struggling 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 device that is mounted on top to trace the space. Our top overall pick and runner-up models do this. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition being capable of working in dark they can also be set to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot move, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.