How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get caught when climbing stairs.

Compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities, and its navigation score is lower. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the location the last time it was used and makes it much easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to identify and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect 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 floor maps for future use. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any time and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing fine debris such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum; clinfowiki.win, that has a high score for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a good job of picking up heavier 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 could miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing the floor from getting wet. It is not necessary remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home when you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors as well as carpets. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be emptied, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart vacuum mapping system that can be set to only run during certain hours (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of picking up dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one step. If you have floors that are mixed choose a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. 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 made up of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When you need mops the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be dried, washed and used again.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can, use the app to create zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These improvements reduced the number times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic vacuum cleaner best incident.

However, the new sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The most affordable models struggle with the same challenges that the older ones did and, in addition, they require a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.

The models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.

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