How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning robots for home. Top performers are good at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.

The more expensive ones can even mop your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Find models that feature smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with daily debris. You'll also want a robot capable of handling stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. And, if you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing hundreds of robot 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 fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get caught when climbing the stairs.

In comparison to the top-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. Additionally, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the location where it last stopped and makes it much easier to cover larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. The combination allows it to stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The app provides the 3D image of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing fine debris such as baking soda and sand as well as larger objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum with good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and a few 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 as well as canister or upright vacuums, and they may miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot vacuum deals mop/vacuum is the best option. It is possible to swap out the cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops wet with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from becoming wet. You don't need remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for such a small device.

If you're looking for a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied and has impressive navigation skills and automatic hoover robot (click the following document) emptying on carpets and floors. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however, it does pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The best robots are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one go. Choose models that have an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent vacuum cleaner navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking 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 get rid of light dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be dried, washed and reused.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example, use the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better over larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They tend to be cheaper than the pricier picks, however, you'll need to empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might become stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.

The new sensors don't solve all the problems with these machines, however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination to be able to see where they are going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

In addition to being capable of working in dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not when they're above them. It's essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.

A few of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot go, which can be useful if you have pets or children. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested so make sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.