How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job of removing dust and other small particles and allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb up stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top 10 robot vacuum cleaner robots that we tested are efficient and user-friendly, 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're looking for 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 dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of robots that detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger areas. This model is an excellent option for pet owners, as it can avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for later use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and resume where it left off and let you do chores while the robot works. The app offers a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less efficient navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one that scores high for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models do a good job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several do a good job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from getting wet. It is not necessary remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home while you are away. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs as well as its ability to climb up and over furniture. 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 model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot vacuum Cleaner best Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got a smart robot vacuums-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are fantastic in removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one sweep. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can transition effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When it comes to mops the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe them over to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, robot vacuum cleaner best for example make use of the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

best vacuums suited for small Spaces

As the name implies that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, as well, but you'll have to empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that conventional sensors might become stuck on or run across. These improvements reduced the number times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues with these machines, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older ones did and, in addition, they require a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. Look into a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to map the space. Our best overall pick and runner-up models do this. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition to being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that could interfere with this function though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot go, which is useful if you have pets or children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.