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. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

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

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also want a robot capable of handling stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuum reviews vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing steps.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying and Best Self Cleaning Vacuum a long battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, 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 can stay clear of liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it works. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best self cleaning vacuum (Footballzaa website) option for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 automatic hoover robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. 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 rpm. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum cleaner industrial vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home when you are away. It can also be set to only mop and we loved its remarkable navigation on carpets and floors as well as its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a smart mapping system that can be set to run only during specific times (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however, it does pick hair and pet hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and larger 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 areas or deep cleaning upholstery.

The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and Best Self Cleaning Vacuum a mop, taking care of an entire task in one pass. If you have flooring that is mixed choose models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance make use of the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where the bigger robots struggle to reach. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

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

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems that these devices have, however. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to see where they are going. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

These models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are on or near the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, because the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot go, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test, so be sure to review our full reviews of the models below before making your purchase.