How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum cleaner cheap vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb up stairs. Find models that feature smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to cope with the everyday messes. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuum cleaners vacuums. She's a fan of the robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it stopped last and makes it much easier to clean larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future references. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The app includes the 3D image of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, but it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick one that has a high score for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a good job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. However, they can't handle fine particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and can be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best choice. You can swap out an empty bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot broom vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. Additionally, you don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in staying clear of obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. 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, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large charging dock that can last for months without needing to be emptying and has amazing navigation abilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be set to only run for certain times (a beneficial feature to keep pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations, but it still manages to pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.

best robot vacuums for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one move. If you have mixed flooring, look for a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

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

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to create a zone that the vacuum won't enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't have to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins, which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, however, 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 Floor Vacuums 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. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.

The new sensors don't solve all the issues that these devices have, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older models faced, and many of them require a certain amount 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 purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition to being capable of working in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not when they're above them. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in a different space.

Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful for those with small children or pets. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test and recommend that you go through our complete reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.