How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust, light debris and cords.

The ones that are more expensive can even mop your floor however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with the daily debris. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a robot with extra features, consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and The best robot vacuum cleaner a product reviewer who has tried numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of dozens of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. Additionally, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it last stopped which makes it easier to cover larger homes. This model is a great option for pet owners, as it can avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It is able to pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it does. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing small particles like sand and baking soda as well as larger objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one that scores high for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot cleaner amazon vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors that are not bare and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and great path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner top 10 Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be programmed to only run for certain times (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however, it still picks hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors as they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, however they are unable to deal 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 most effective robots are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to complete the job in one step. If you have mixed flooring choose one with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly made up of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum cleaners mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. They can also be washed, dried and used again.

The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance utilize the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are generally less expensive than the pricier picks, however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This has have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the new sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same issues that the older models faced, and many of them require a certain amount of light to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

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

Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to go to. This is helpful for those with pets or children who are small. Those features aren't available on all the models we test and recommend that you review our full reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.