How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Look for models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we tested are efficient and user-friendly, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins 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.

When compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier to clean larger areas. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects as well as detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app includes a 3D view of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing small particles like baking soda and sand and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. But they don't pick up fine particles like canister or upright vacuums and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner price vacuum and mop that lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, Robot vacuum price preventing the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to clean your home when 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 rug. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and bare floors. It also has a clever mapping system that can be set to only run during certain times (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however it does pick up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best cheap robot vacuum for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are fantastic at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one pass. If you have floors that are mixed, look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you may want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum price - via, vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. They can also be dried, washed, and reused.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance, you can use the app to set up a zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't need 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, which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots aren't able to 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 significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors might become stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot accident.

However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination to be able to be able to see where they're moving. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our top 10 robot vacuum cleaner overall and runner-up picks do. This will allow them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

In addition to being able to work in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the automatic floor cleaning machine, not above them. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to enter. This can be helpful for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren't included on all the models we test, so be sure to review our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.