How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job of removing dust and other small particles and allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

best smart vacuum Overall

The best robots in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for a model with extra features, consider an option that incorporates 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 many robotic vacuum cleaner comparison vacuums. She's a big fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that are able to detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing the stairs.

When compared with 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. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning times and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier to take care of larger areas. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future references. It is able to pause and resume cleaning at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as effective at cleaning robots for home as our top models, but it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some are capable of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in a cleaning bin and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, which prevents the Automatic Floor Cleaner from getting wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set up to only mop. We liked its navigation on bare floors as well as carpets. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty. It also has impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and bare floors. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be programmed to only run during certain times (a useful feature to stop pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations, but it does pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, however they are unable to deal with pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one pass. If you have flooring that is mixed choose one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.

When it comes to mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe them over to remove light dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up an area that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

Like the name suggests that these robots are suited for small areas. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently over larger models. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot accident.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues with these machines, however. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they need some level of illumination to be able to see where they're going. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

The models can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in another room.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test so make sure to review our full reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.