How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. the best robot vacuum cleaner best models are capable of picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with daily debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuum cleaner best vacuums, has been acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing the stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier to cover larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners as it can avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot works. The app includes the 3D image of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a less efficient navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpet and rugs. Many models do a decent job of picking up 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. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot cleaner commercial mop/vacuum is the best option. It is possible to swap out the cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to 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 set it up to schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We loved its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as 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 top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 affordable robot vacuum Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can last for several weeks without having to be empty, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system and can be programmed to only run during certain hours (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however, it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the best auto vacuum value of our top choices.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the best option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one move. If you have mixed flooring, look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

When it comes to mop pads the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to get rid of light dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads can also be washed, dried and reused.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advances reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues that these devices have however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older models faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount light to be able to see where they're going. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to trace the area. Our top model and the runners-up use this. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.

In addition being capable of working in dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that could interfere with this function however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you don't want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.