How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.

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

Best Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to cope with everyday 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 a robot with extra features, consider one that comes with smart vacuum 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 numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to take care of larger spaces. This model is a great choice for pet owners because it will prevent hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so you can continue to do chores while it is working. The app comes with the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier 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.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic remote vacuum/mop is the best option. It is possible to swap out a cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing the floor from becoming wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid 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 be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors as well as rug. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a smart mapping system that 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 has less suction power than some other mop/robot combos, but its still very effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are capable of picking up crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.

The best robots come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one move. Choose models that have an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can move seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better over larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning robots session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them avoid household items that traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.

However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of these machines' problems. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they require some level of illumination in order to know where they are moving. Consider getting an option that incorporates an LIDAR spinning unit that is placed on top of the model to trace the area. Our best overall model and the runners-up do this. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition to being able to work in the dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not above them. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.

Some of the models that we recommend let you 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 the models we test, so be sure to read our full reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.