How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and light debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking capability and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of the robots that are able to detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing the stairs.

This robot vacuum cleaner amazon from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It has a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to identify and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to detect 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 to be used in the future. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the budget robot vacuum is working. The app includes a 3D view of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as good at cleaning like 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's not able to mop and that 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 mobility and pickup. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some can be quite effective in cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can exchange a cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to avoid wetting the floor. Additionally, you don't need to remove or replace them after every 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 using the app to clean when 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 rugs. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty robot vacuum deals black friday Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty. It also has amazing navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and bare floors. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be set to run only during specific hours (a beneficial feature to keep pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark has less suction power than some other mop/robot combos however it's still good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top picks.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are a great pick for hardwood floors because they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They are excellent at of removing crumbs and dust, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other large debris. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.

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 step. If you have mixed flooring, look for models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum cleaner best vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When it comes to mop pads the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to remove light dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac as well as the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example, use the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in 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 specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This has reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these devices however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older models faced and most require a certain amount of light to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being able to work in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not when they're above them. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas where you don't want the robot cleaner to go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test and recommend that you read our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.