How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best (2Ch-Ranking.Net) vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good at picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot vacuum cleaners that can handle stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot with additional features, think about an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

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

When compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning times and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to clean larger spaces. This model is a great choice for pet owners, because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs easily with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for future use. It is able to pause and resume cleaning at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand as well as larger items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

The best option for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and could miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot automatic vacuum and mop that lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you do not need 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, getting close to rugs and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors that are not bare and rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be emptying and has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/budget robot vacuum combination models, but it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and robot Vacuum cleaner best other large debris. They don't have the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum and take care of a more complete chore in one pass. If you have flooring that is mixed you should look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. The sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't need 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 clean to remove light dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. They are also able to be dried, washed and used again.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name implies the robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots can't reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them avoid household items that conventional sensors might become stuck on or run across. These improvements reduced the number times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.

However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount of light 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 a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.

These models can also be programmed to utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best and not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing 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 you don't want the robot to go to. This can be helpful for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested, so be sure to review our full reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.