How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

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

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. However, it has a large dustbin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. In addition, it has the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the spot the last time it was used, making it easier to clean larger homes. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor vacuum robot maps to be used in the future for reference. It can also stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as effective at automatic cleaning robot like our top models, but it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. Its only downsides are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum Cleaner best vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models are capable of picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum cleaner deals vacuum/mop is the best choice. You can exchange an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations 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 every time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, https://www.jtayl.me and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home even when you're away. It can be set up to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as rugs. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be emptied and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark has less powerful suction than other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top choices.

Best for Hard Floors

robot cleaner vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are great for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one step. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for one 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 you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful 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 have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When it comes to mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed and reused.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone where the vacuum can't go, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored 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, these robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less debris. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better than larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them avoid household items that their traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the issues with these machines however. The cheaper models are still unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to know where they are going. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

They can also be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, because the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.

A few of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot go, which is useful if you have pets or children. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test so make sure to read our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.