How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. The top robot vacuum cleaner models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Choose models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking capability and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the 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 loves robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they don't fall when climbing steps.

The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It has a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it last stopped and makes it much easier to cover larger areas. This model is a good choice for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as effective at cleaning as our top models, however it is a pro at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models do a decent job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.

For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best automatic vacuum cleaner choice. You can swap out a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and wet mop with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuum/mops at keeping away from obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests, and you can schedule it to sweep your home when you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare as well as rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty robot vacuum cleaner comparison Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for several weeks without having to be empty and has impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a smart mapping system and can be programmed to only run during 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 mop/robot combinations however it still picks hair and pet hair very well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one go. If you have mixed flooring you should look for a model with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you may want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When it comes to mop pads, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them to remove light dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

As the name suggests the robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robot vacuum cleaner for sale vacuums underwent significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have, however. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to be able to be able to see where they're moving. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our best robot vacuum for the money (please click the next website page) overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

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

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is helpful for those with small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.