How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and light debris and allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

best robovac Overall

The best robots in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also want a robot Vacuum cleaner best that can handle stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a model that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuum cleaner amazon vacuums. She's a huge fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't trip up when climbing stairs.

Compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning times and return to where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger spaces. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to 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 future use. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, so you can continue to do chores while it is working. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only downside is that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

The best option for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robotic vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. 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 thresholds and baseboards.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with 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 rpm. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and 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 keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can also be set to only mop and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs and its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line 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 months without needing to be emptied and boasts impressive navigation skills and automatic 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 that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations, but it does pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop and take care of a more complete chore in one sweep. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for one with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you may want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for instance make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum won't enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. 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, meaning you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests that these robots are suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less debris, and they're 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 have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might become stuck on or run across. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.

The new sensors don't solve all the problems with these machines, however. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they require a certain level of light to be able to know where they are moving. If you live in a dark house cleaning robot or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.

They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room cleaning robot.

Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to go to. This is helpful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't offered on all the models we've tested, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.