How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot that uses 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 numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences like ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing stairs.

Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a huge dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it was last. This makes it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners, as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for future use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot does its work. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing fine debris like sand and baking soda as well as larger objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one that has a high score for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models are capable of collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in keeping away from obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and staying clear of obstacles.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set up to mop only. We loved its navigation on bare floors as well as rug. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for such a small device.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be emptied. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it does pick hair and pet hair very well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are best robot vacuum for tile floors for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other large debris. They don't have the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum deals, which is why they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The best robots are two-in-one, which combine mop and automatic vacuum cleaner to do a complete job in one step. If you have flooring that is mixed choose models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors let it 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 to remove light dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. The mops can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance utilize the app to create zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't have to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name suggests, these robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that contain less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuum cleaner amazon vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advances decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues that these devices have however. The cheaper models are still unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they need an adequate amount of light to be able to be able to see where they're going. Look into one that has a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top model and the runners-up have this feature. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

These models can be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that could hinder this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones for areas you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have pets or children. These features aren't included on all the models we test and recommend that you go through our complete reviews of the models below before making your purchase.