How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb up stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with daily debris. You'll also want a robot vacuum deals black friday (Botdb.win) capable of handling stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a model 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 several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they don't fall when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location where it stopped last and makes it much easier to cover larger spaces. 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 observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs with ease 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 return to where it stopped so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing fine debris such as baking soda and sand and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and Robot Vacuum Deals Black Friday has a less efficient navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are good 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 don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner amazon vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for Robot vacuum deals black friday instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We loved its navigation on bare floors and rugs. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.

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 dock that can last for weeks without having to be emptied. It also has impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and bare floors. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however, it still picks up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the best value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They are great in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum and take care of the entire chore in one pass. If you have mixed flooring you should look for a model with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. 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 may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.

When it comes to mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to get rid of light dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. They are also able to be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can utilize the app to create zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are made for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that hold 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 generally less expensive than the pricier picks, as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic vacuum cleaners snag.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues that these devices have, however. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to know where they are going. Consider getting an option that incorporates an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the space. Our top pick and runner-up models have this feature. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in the dark they can also be set 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 happening. The lasers used by 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 let you create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the self-cleaning robot vacuums to enter. 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 deciding.