How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and other small particles and many allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb up stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with the daily messes. You'll also want a robot capable of handling stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuum cleaner amazon vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features like ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

Compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the place the last time it was used which makes it easier to tackle larger homes. This model is an excellent option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can detect objects and detect edges. This 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 can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and resume where it left off and let you do chores while the robot hoover does its work. The app includes a 3D view of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

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

best combo Vacuum for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They can't take in small particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and 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 tidy your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate 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 high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic vacuum cleaners emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be set to only run for certain times (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The best self cleaning vacuum robots come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one step. Find one that has an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum 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 can also mop. Its sensors allow it to 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 to get rid of light dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned in the docking station to save you time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can, use the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't have to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advances reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.

However, the new sensors aren't solving all of the problems these machines have. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they require some level of illumination to be able to see where they are moving. Consider getting an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top overall models and runners-up models have this feature. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

In addition being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on 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 the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot move, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.