How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good robot vacuum at getting rid of dust as well as light debris and cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart robot mapping, real time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll want a self-cleaning robot vacuums [Full Post] with decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. If you want a robot with extra features, consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing stairs.

Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier to take care of larger areas. This model is a good choice for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to 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 is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, however it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one that scores high for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs, and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. But they don't pick up small particles like canister or upright vacuums, and they may be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.

For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. You don't have to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on carpets and floors and its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and excellent path planning for such a small device.

If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be empty and boasts impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuums and mops but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top choices.

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Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They also lack the suction power of an expensive 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 two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete the entire chore in one pass. If you have flooring that is mixed choose models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can go seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. They can also be washed, dried and used again.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance you can make use of the app to designate an area that the vacuum cannot enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions 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 that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best for Small Spaces

Like the name suggests that these robots are to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins, which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently over larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advances have reduced the number 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 haven't eliminated all the problems that these devices have however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older ones did and most need a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. Look into a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to map the space. Our best overall pick and runner-up models do this. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.

In addition to being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that could hinder this function, however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room cleaning robot.

Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to visit. This is helpful for those with pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test, so be sure to review our full reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.