How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with everyday debris. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot with extra features, consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features like ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing stairs.

In comparison with the top-highest rated robot vacuum models this Black and Decker vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. However, it has a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot where it stopped last which makes it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to identify and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future references. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The app offers a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing fine debris like baking soda and sand as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only drawbacks are that it can't mop and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and they may be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best option. You can exchange a cleaning bin for a moist 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 revolutions per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from getting wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and staying clear of obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We loved its navigation on bare floors as well as rug. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for such a small device.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a large charging dock that can last for several weeks without having to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however, it still picks hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.

best budget robot vacuum for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage bare surfaces. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop and take care of an entire task in one go. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for a model with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor vacuum robot's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model uses an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When it comes to mop pads, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them over to remove light dirt and dust. Its reusable pads reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and used again.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small 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 be placed under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the new sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older ones did and most require a certain amount of light to be able see where they're headed. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can 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 create virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot vacuum cleaner black friday move, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested so make sure to go through our complete reviews of each model below before making your purchase.