How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good at cleaning up dust, light debris and cords.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Find models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuum cleaner quiet vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences, 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's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

In comparison to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier to take care of larger areas. This model is a great option for pet owners, as it can avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It can also save up to four floor Best Robot Vacuum plans for future use. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so you can continue to do chores while it is working. The app offers a 3D view of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

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

The best option for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best amazon vacuum option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with 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 rpm. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors as well as rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be emptied. It also has impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and bare floors. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuums and mops however it's still effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best robot cleaner choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are capable of picking up crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one move. If you have mixed flooring you should look for models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. The mops can also be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac as well as the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example utilize the app to create zones that the vacuum will not 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 disposable or bagless bin, so you don't have to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robot vacuum ebay vacuums underwent significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that traditional sensors might become stuck on or run across. These improvements reduced the number times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.

The new sensors don't solve all the issues with these devices however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older ones did and, in addition, they need a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to map the area. Our top overall model and the runners-up have this feature. This will allow them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.

In addition to being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This can be helpful if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested and recommend that you read our full reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.