How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum bot cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good at cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.

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

Best Overall

The top robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and able to cope with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. And, if you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robotic floor scrubber vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also likes the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing the stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the most popular models. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it was last. This makes it easier to cover larger homes. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

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 is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for later use. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select one that has a high score for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from getting wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well 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 liked its navigation on floors with no flooring and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the best value of our top choices.

best inexpensive robot vacuum for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent at of picking up crumbs and dust, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum and take care of a more complete chore in one go. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors in it allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mop pads can also be dried, washed and used again.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a Bagless Robot Vacuum or disposable bin, which means you don't have to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners than larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

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

However, the latest sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them need a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

They can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function though, as the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it is in another room.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to visit. This is a great option when you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested so make sure to read our full reviews of each model below before making your purchase.