How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good at getting rid of dust, light debris and cords.

The most expensive models can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we have tested are effective and easy to use and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you want a robot vacuum cleaner best with additional features, think about one that comes with 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 many robotic vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of the robots that can detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning times and return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so you can continue to do chores while it works. The app offers a 3D view of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing fine debris such as baking soda and sand as well as larger objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only downsides are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up 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 aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best roborock vacuum option. You can exchange the cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare and rugs. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item 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 & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. It also has amazing ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and bare floors. It also has a clever mapping system that can be programmed to run only during specific hours (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot vacuum hoover combination models however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They don't have the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of a more complete chore in one pass. If you have mixed flooring, look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When it comes to mop pads the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to remove dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. They can also be dried, washed, and used again.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning robots for home times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the 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 you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests that these robots are to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are usually less expensive than the pricier picks, as well, but you'll have to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.

However, the new sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones did and most require a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

They can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that could interfere with this function though, as the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it is in another room.

Some of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you don't want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have pets or children. These features aren't included on all of the models we test so make sure to go through our complete reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.