How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and light debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive can even mop your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

best robot vacuum for vinyl plank floors Overall

The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a model that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart robot mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of the robots that can detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. In addition, it has the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the place where it stopped last and makes it much easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for future use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as effective at cleaning like our top models, but it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. However, they can't handle fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum, and they may miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops wet with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor, and you don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both carpets and floors as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.

If you're looking for a high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be empty, and it has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from running it amuck). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuums and mops however it's still effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top picks.

The best choice for hardwood floors

robot Vacuum cleaner best (fevexnanolv.fevex.eu) vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they can easily navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They do an excellent job of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one step. If you have mixed flooring you should look for models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot 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 can mop as well. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mops can also be dried, washed, and reused.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can, use the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

As the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are generally less expensive than the pricier picks, however, you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them avoid household items that their traditional sensors could be stuck on or across. This has reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.

However, the latest sensors aren't solving all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they need a certain level of light in order to see where they are going. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR device mounted on top to create maps of the space. Our top overall pick and runner-up models do this. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

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 near or on the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.

Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot cleaner commercial to go to. This can be helpful for those with pets or small children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.