How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of automatic cleaning robot up dust, light debris and cords.

The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll also need a robot capable of handling stairs and has adequate cleaning power for carpets. And, if you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning times and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier to cover larger homes. This model is an excellent option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see 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 for future reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot does its work. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning robot price options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downsides are that it's not able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one that has a high score for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models are capable of collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and metal screws. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. It is possible to swap out the cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums and mops in staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring and rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime 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 great option. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. It also has amazing navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful than other mop/robot combos but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top picks.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they are able to maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and other large debris. 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 best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete the entire chore in one sweep. If you have flooring that is mixed choose a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of 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 in the docking station to save you time. They are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

best budget robot vacuum suited for small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are generally less expensive than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These improvements reduced the number times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.

However, the latest sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they require some level of illumination to be able to know where they are moving. Consider getting a model that uses a spinning LIDAR device mounted on top to map the space. Our best overall models and runners-up models have this feature. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.

In addition to being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in another room.

A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the Robot vacuum Cleaner Best to go to. This can be helpful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested and recommend that you review our full reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.