How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best models are capable of picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried dozens of robotic 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 water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing the stairs.

When compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects and 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 use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off so that you can complete chores while the Robot Vacuum cleaner best does its work. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot hoover isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles like sand and baking soda and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick one with a high rating for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models are good at cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet to avoid wetting the automatic floor vacuum. Additionally, you don't have 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 did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop. We loved its navigation on bare floors as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.

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 go months without needing to be emptied, and it has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be programmed to only run for certain hours (a useful feature for keeping the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however it still manages to pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the best cheap robot vacuum price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are capable of picking up crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective robots come with two-in-one features, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one step. Find one that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can transition effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum cleaner on sale vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

When you need mops the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to create an area that the vacuum won't enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. This has reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.

However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of the problems these machines have. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination to know where they are going. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.

The models can also be programmed to utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that may hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This is a great option when you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.