How Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Has Become The Most Sought-After Trend In 2024

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job at removing dust and lightweight debris and allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart robot vacuums mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large Self Vacuum-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate ability to pick up carpets. If you want a robot 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 tried numerous robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self vacuum near me-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The app provides the 3D image of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downsides are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum with good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpet and rug. Many models do a good job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and some are capable of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles like canister or upright vacuums, and they may not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum cleaner best vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to get 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're looking for a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other mop/robot combos, but its still very effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top choices.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are the best pick for hardwood floors because they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are capable of picking up crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum and take care of an entire task in one sweep. If you have mixed flooring, look for a model with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards like 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 pads that are reusable reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.

The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for example, use the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are made to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins, which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better than larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them avoid household items that conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.

The new sensors don't solve all issues with these machines, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older models faced and, in addition, they need a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit placed on top of the model to map the area. Our best overall models and runners-up models do this. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition to being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in a different space.

Some of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas where you don't want the robot to go, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.