How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Choose models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a robot that uses 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 tested several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing the stairs.

This Black and best robot vacuum for vinyl plank floors Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. In addition, it has an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the spot the last time it was used which makes it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can detect objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for later use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app offers a 3D view of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, however it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models do a good job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.

For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best choice. You can swap out the 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 that spin at 200 rpm. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and great path planning for a device of this size.

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 great alternative. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors with no floor. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be programmed to only run for certain hours (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other mop/cheap robot vacuum combos but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best automatic floor cleaner option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one step. If you have flooring that is mixed choose a model with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, think about a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When you need mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to remove light dirt and dust. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mops can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate a zone where the vacuum can't go, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.

best robot vacuum for vinyl Plank floors for Small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best robot vacuum for tile floors to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, whereas larger robots are unable to reach. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. These advances reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the issues with these devices however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require an adequate amount of light to be able to see where they're moving. If you reside in a dark area 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 picks do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that may hinder this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.