How to Choose the Best Robot vacuum cleaner Best Vacuum bot cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to cope with everyday debris. You'll need a model with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for a robot vacuum black friday with extra features, consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuum cleaner on sale vacuums. She's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the most popular models. It has a large, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners, since it is able to avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to 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 future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot is working. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some are capable of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic floor vacuums vacuum/mop is the best option. You can exchange a cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from getting wet. You don't need remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. It also has impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system that can be set to only run during certain times (a beneficial feature to keep mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other robot vacuums and mops but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top choices.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best robots come with two-in-one features, combining mop and vacuum to complete the job in one step. If you have floors that are mixed, look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mops can also be washed, dried and used again.

Both the robovac as well as the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for certain 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 you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the pricier picks, as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advances reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.

However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the problems these machines have. The most affordable models struggle with the same challenges that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. Consider getting one that has a spinning LIDAR unit placed on top of the model to create maps of the area. Our best overall models and runners-up models do this. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.

These models can be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. 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, which makes the robot believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas where you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.