How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust, light debris and cords.

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

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient and able to keep up with the daily debris. You'll also want a robot capable of handling stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to clean larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for later use. It is able to pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it works. The app provides the 3D image of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a less impressive navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rug. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few do a good job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 cheap robot vacuum mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange the cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and wet mop with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it comes into 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/mops at staying clear of obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It was a great performer in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set up to mop only. We loved its navigation on bare floors and carpets. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a huge charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent at of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one pass. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can transition effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, think about a robotic automated vacuum cleaner and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

When you need mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them to remove light dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mops can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for example utilize the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are made for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors could be stuck on or across. These advances have reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues with these machines however. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and require some level of illumination to be able to see where they are moving. You should consider a model that uses a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to trace the area. Our top overall models and runners-up models do this. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.

The models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function, though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it is in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas you do not want the robot go, which can be useful if you have pets or children. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.