How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The top models do a great job at removing dust and light debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll need a model with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to handle stairs. And, if you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences like ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing the stairs.

When compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a huge non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to where it was last. This makes it easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and 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 detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only drawbacks are that it can't mop and has a less efficient navigation system.

The best option for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum with a high rating for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can also be set to only mop and we were impressed by its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces and its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime 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 has a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be cleaned. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it does pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

self-cleaning robot vacuums vacuums are the best option for hardwood floors since they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning robot price upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete the entire chore in one sweep. If you have flooring that is mixed you should look for one with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft 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 is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, not 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 in the docking station to save you time. The mops can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance utilize the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests that these robots are to be used in 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 struggle to get in. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that helped them avoid household items that conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. This has decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean smart robot up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems that these devices have, however. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they need some level of illumination to be able to know where they are moving. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.

In addition being capable of working in dark they can also be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that may hinder this function, however, because the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.

A few of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot go, which can be useful if you have pets or children. These features aren't included on all of the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.