How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job at removing dust and light debris and allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested that we tested are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with everyday debris. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and that has decent ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuum cleaner best vacuums. She's also a big fan of robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing stairs.

This robot cleaning machine from Black and Decker has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. In addition, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot the last time it was used, making it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to identify and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. 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 works. The app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, but it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a less efficient navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. But they don't pick up small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home while you are away. It can also be set to mop only and we loved its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.

If you're looking for a 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 without having to be empty. It also has impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system and can be set to run only during specific hours (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations, but it does pick up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the ideal choice for hardwood floors as they are able to maneuver around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other large debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best rated robot vacuum robots are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one step. Choose models that have an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is made up of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

When it comes to mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than wipe them over to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be dried, washed, and used again.

The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance, you can use the app to set up an area that the vacuum cannot enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule automatic cleaning robot sessions for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't have to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best floor vacuum robot designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better than larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, whereas larger robots are unable to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate 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 robotic incident.

The new sensors don't solve all the issues with these machines however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. You should consider a model that uses a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to map the space. Our top overall model and the runners-up use this. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.

The models can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that could hinder this function, though, as the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful when you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested, so be sure to read our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.