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 lightweight debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots that we have tested are effective and easy to use and are able to cope with the everyday messes. It is also important to choose a model that can take on stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a model that has additional features, you should 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 numerous robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning times and return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to clean smart robot larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it can spot 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 using a structured-light sensor that can detect objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot works. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning robots for home options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, however it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they can't handle fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.

The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and wet mop with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpet, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't need remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to sweep your home when you are away. It can also be set to only mop and we loved its remarkable navigation on carpets and floors and its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty amazon robot vacuum Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and bare floors. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be set to only run for certain times (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations, but it still manages to pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best robot cleaner choice for hardwood floors as they are able to maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the task in one step. Choose one that has an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor's texture 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 your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.

When you need mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to remove light dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to set up an area where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless robot vacuum or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name implies that these robots are suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them avoid household items that traditional sensors could become stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot accident.

The new sensors don't solve all issues with these devices, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older ones did and, in addition, they require a certain amount light to be able see where they're headed. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

The models can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are on or near the ground, but 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 could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.

Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to go to. This is a great option for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.