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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots that we have tested are effective and easy to use and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll also need a robot capable of handling stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a model with extra features, consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features like those that have Self vacuum-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to clean larger homes. This model is a good option for pet owners, as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.

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

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot automatic vacuum cleaner is the best robot vacuum for the money option. You can exchange an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes in contact with carpets, preventing the automatic floor vacuum from getting wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner quiet Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be emptied. It also has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and bare floors. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however it does pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are great in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of the entire chore in one sweep. If you have mixed flooring, look for models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is comprised of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.

When it comes to mop pads, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to get rid of light dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mops can also be dried, washed and reused.

The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for instance utilize the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins, which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better than larger models. They can also fit under furniture, whereas larger robots struggle to get in. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. This has decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems that these devices have, however. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination to be able to see where they are moving. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

These models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in another room.

Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot cleaner to enter. This is helpful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all of the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.