Kristin Ampt

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris and many allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb up the stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

best combo vacuum Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with the daily messes. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a robot with additional features, think about 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 credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a fan of the robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger areas. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners since it is able to avoid tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app offers the 3D image of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, but it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. Its only downsides are that it's not able to mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.

The best option for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one with a high rating for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models are capable of picking up dust in low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best buy robot vacuum - home-page, choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from becoming wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot automated vacuum cleaner & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic floor cleaners emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be programmed to only run during certain times (a beneficial feature to keep pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top picks.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one move. If you have flooring that is mixed choose models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum cleaner commercial mop and vacuum combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

When you need mops the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to remove light dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mops can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up a 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 puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name suggests that these robots are suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that traditional sensors could become stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the issues that these devices have however. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to be able to know where they are moving. Consider getting an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device mounted on top to trace the area. Our top overall models and runners-up models have this feature. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

In addition to being able to work in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor vacuum robot, not when they're above them. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that may hinder this function, however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in another room.

Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This is helpful for those with pets or small children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.