How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robot vacuum for vinyl plank floors robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to keep up with daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot equipped with 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 tried many robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule house cleaning robot sessions and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners, as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for later use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, however it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.

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 rugs. Many models do a good job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and a few do a good job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. But they don't pick up small particles like an upright or canister vacuum and may also miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set up to only mop. We loved its navigation on bare floors and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very 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 last for weeks without needing to be empty, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a smart mapping system and can be programmed to run only during specific times (a useful feature for keeping the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it still picks up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are great for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted areas or deep cleaning upholstery.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum robot to complete the job in one move. Find a model that has an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly made up of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated vacuum (by Starplatinum) and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried 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, rather than simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to create a zone where the vacuum can't go, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name implies, these robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums robot underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.

The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones did and, in addition, they require a certain amount of light to see where they're going. You should consider one that has an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to trace the area. Our best overall pick and runner-up models have this feature. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

They can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It's important 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 believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to enter. This can be helpful when you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.