How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best ones are adept at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.

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 that we have tested are effective, easy to use, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. And, if you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot Vacuum cleaner Quiet remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to clean larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it is able to identify and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for later use. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning like our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine debris such as sand. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is less impressive.

The best floor vacuum robot for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models do a decent job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several are capable of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. You can swap out a cleaning bin to 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 rpm. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces and its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping feature and 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 causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it still picks up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they are able to maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best self cleaning vacuum two-in-one robots combine a automated vacuum cleaner and a mop to complete a more complete chore in one pass. Find one that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to think about a robotic vacuum cleaner reviews mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors let it avoid hazards such as stairs.

When it comes to mop pads, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them over to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mops can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.

The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for instance utilize the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, meaning you don't have to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. They tend to be cheaper than the pricier picks, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These improvements reduced the number times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.

The new sensors don't solve all the issues that these devices have, however. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they require a certain level of light in order to be able to see where they're moving. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

In addition to being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small pets or children. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested so make sure to review our full reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.