How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models do a great job at removing dust and light debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb up the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

best robot vacuums Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with the daily debris. It is also important to choose a model that can take on stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried dozens robotic vacuums, is credited with testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four automatic floor cleaner maps for future reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any time and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot works. The app includes the 3D image of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models do a good job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet, and several do a decent job at cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into 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 vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another good option 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 to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and excellent path planning for such a small device.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also has amazing navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other mop/robot vacuum deals black friday combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are great in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one move. Find one that has an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

When you need mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate an area that the vacuum won't enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name suggests the robots are best robot vacuum for the money designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. This has reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they require some level of illumination to be able to see where they are going. You should consider a model that uses a spinning LIDAR unit placed on top of the model to trace the area. Our top overall models and runners-up models have this feature. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that might interfere with this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to go to. This can be helpful when you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.