How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris and allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot vacuum black friday equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried dozens robotic vacuum cleaner comparison vacuums, is credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot does its work. The app provides an interactive 3D model 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, it excels in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downsides are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models are capable of collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and metal screws. But they don't pick up small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.

For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. You can swap out the cleaning robot price bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare 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 that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system and can be set to only run during certain hours (a useful feature to stop pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). 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 most affordable price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

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

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. Its sensors help it avoid staircases 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 mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them to remove light dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. They can also be dried, washed and used again.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making 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 label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the latest sensors aren't solving all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older ones did and, in addition, they require a certain amount illumination to see where they're going. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space like our best Automatic Floor cleaner overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in another room.

Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This can be helpful for those with small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.