How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good at cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robot vacuum black friday robots that we tested are efficient, easy to use, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll need a model with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested several robotic vacuum cleaner reviews vacuums, has been credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as effective at cleaning like our top models, but it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

The best amazon vacuum option for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models do a good job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile 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 fine particles like an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best option. You can exchange an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and wet mop with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also better than other Robot vacuum sale vacuum/mops at staying clear of obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its remarkable navigation on bare floors and rugs as well as its ability to go up and over 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 high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for weeks without needing to be empty, and it has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however, it still picks up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one go. Choose one that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor texture and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When you need mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them to remove light dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mops are also able to be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to create a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, however you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers had to clean smart robot up after a robot accident.

However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the issues these machines face. The cheaper models are still unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they require a certain level of light in order to see where they are going. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.

In addition to being capable of working in dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, because the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones in areas where you don't want the robot to go, which is beneficial if you have small children or pets. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test and recommend that you review our full reviews of the models below before making your purchase.