How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models do a great job of removing dust and light debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even mop your floor however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Look for models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a robot equipped 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 reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing steps.

Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning robots for home sessions and then return to the location where it last stopped and makes it much easier to tackle larger areas. This model is a great choice for pet owners because it will prevent hair tangles and food particles.

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

This robot is not as effective at cleaning as our top models, but it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best option for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpets, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in keeping away from obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and great path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be empty and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however, it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them a poor Automatic Floor Cleaner choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best robots are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one move. If you have mixed flooring you should look for a model with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an impressive robotic vacuum cleaner comparison vacuum that has 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 have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging 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 clean to remove dirt and dust. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. They are also able to be dried, washed and used again.

The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone that the vacuum won't enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are made for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better over larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These improvements reduced the number times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems with these devices, however. The cheaper models are still not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

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

A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is helpful if you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.