How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job at removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we tested are efficient, easy to use, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested 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 refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't trip up when climbing stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to the place it stopped at the last point, making it easier to clean larger spaces. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners because it will prevent the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning like our top models, but it is great at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only downside is that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpet and rugs. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren't able to 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.

The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to only mop, and we liked its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, 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 for a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot vacuum Cleaner best Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be emptying and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best robots are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the task in one move. If you have floors that are mixed choose models with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When you need mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. They are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for instance, use the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name implies the robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less debris. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners than larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots struggle to get in. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that helped them avoid household items that traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advancements 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 don't solve all the problems with these devices, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount of light to be able see where they're headed. 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 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.

The models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.

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 go to. This is a great option when you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested, so be sure to review our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.