How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. The best robot hoover models do a great job picking up dust and light debris, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability and the capability to climb stairs. If you want a robot with additional features, think about an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to detect landmarks such as 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 most popular models. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning times and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier for you to take care of larger homes. This model is a good choice for pet owners because it will prevent the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It can also stop the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot works. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, but it is great at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a less efficient navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. 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 cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. It is possible to swap out an empty bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and wet mop with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. Additionally, you don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum cleaner amazon vacuums/mops in staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home when you are away. It can also be set to only mop and we loved its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces 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 want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can last for several weeks without having to be empty and has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system and can be programmed to only run for certain times (a useful feature for keeping the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however it still manages to pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are capable of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to do a complete job in one go. Find one that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model uses an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean smart robot hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. Its sensors assist it in avoiding the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable pads 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 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 use the app to create an area where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a disposable or bagless bin, meaning you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

best robot floor cleaner suited for small Spaces

As the name suggests the robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins, that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers started adding sensors that allowed them to navigate and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. These improvements reduced the number times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.

However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the issues these machines face. The cheaper models are still unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they need some level of illumination in order to be able to see where they're going. You should consider an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to map the area. Our best overall model and the runners-up do this. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being able to work in the dark, these models can be programmed 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 in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot vacuum cleaner price think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to enter. This is helpful if you have pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested so make sure to review our full reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.