Mariel Causey

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. The best models are capable of cleaning up dust as well as light debris and cords.

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

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a robot that has adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to handle stairs. If you want a robot with extra features, consider an option that incorporates 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 several robotic vacuums, has been credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. In addition, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot where it last stopped and makes it much easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen 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 detect objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

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

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models are capable of picking up dust in low-pile rugs. Some are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and metal screws. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic floor scrubber vacuum/mop is the best choice. You can exchange an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops wet with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home even when you're away. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare as well as rug. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be empty, and it has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be set to only run during certain times (a useful feature for keeping the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark has less suction power than other mop/robot combos however it's still effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top picks.

Best roborock vacuum for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor washing robot's surface. They are capable of picking up crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum and take care of the entire chore in one go. If you have mixed flooring you should look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's 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 your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried 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, rather than simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to prevent 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. For instance, you can utilize the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better than larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots can't reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advances have reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues that these devices have, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. Look into one that has a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top pick and runner-up models use this. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that could interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to visit. This can be helpful when you have pets or small children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.