How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums robot can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job of removing dust and light debris and many allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.

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

Best Overall

The best robots in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot vacuum cleaner best that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot 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 refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the location where it stopped last and makes it much easier to cover larger areas. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and identify obstacles using 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 also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for future use. It is also able to stop 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 included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced automatic cleaning robot options.

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

The best roborock vacuum for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs 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 to only mop. We loved its navigation on bare floors and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a more 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 has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a handy feature for keeping mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it does pick up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best option for hardwood floors since they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the best choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective robots come with two-in-one features, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one move. Choose one that has an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can go effortlessly from hard to soft 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 has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and used again.

The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

Like the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them avoid household items that their traditional sensors could become stuck on or run across. This has decreased the amount of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.

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 older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to see where they are moving. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

The models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. 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 believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all of the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.