How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models do a great job of removing dust and light debris, and most 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 the stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best buy robot vacuum robots that we tested are efficient and easy to use and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and has adequate ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about one that comes with 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 many robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

In comparison with the top-rated models this Black and Decker Robot Vacuum cleaner best vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. In addition, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot where it last stopped which makes it easier to cover larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future use. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it works. The app offers the 3D image of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some can be quite effective in cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and can be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. It is possible to swap out a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuum/mops at keeping away from obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for the size of the device.

If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be empty and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however, it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor's surface. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best automatic vacuum cleaner two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one pass. Look for one that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor texture and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors 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 by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be dried, washed and reused.

The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance, use the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific automated cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and puts it in a disposable or bagless bin, meaning you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins, which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners than larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot sweeper vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older models faced and most require a certain amount of light to see where they're going. Look into one that has a spinning LIDAR unit placed on top of the model to create maps of the area. Our best overall pick and runner-up models use this. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.

In addition being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only 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 lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to go, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we test so make sure to review our full reviews of the models below before making your purchase.