How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job picking up dust and other small particles and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

best automatic vacuum cleaner Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about a model that has smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

In comparison 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 has an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured 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 reference. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app includes the 3D image of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, however it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. Its only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select a robot vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and some do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as 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 recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to avoiding obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home when you are away. It can also be set to mop only and we loved its excellent navigation on carpets and floors, as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can last for months without needing to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to 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 has less suction power than some other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable robot vacuum of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best inexpensive robot vacuum two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one pass. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and 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.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, spread germs less and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. They are also able to be dried, washed and reused.

The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for instance, use the app to designate areas that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name suggests the robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that contain less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate and avoid household items that their traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems that these devices have, however. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light in order to know where they are going. You should consider an option that incorporates an LIDAR spinning unit that is that is mounted on top to trace the area. Our top model and the runners-up have this feature. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition to being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is helpful when you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.