Arielle Gilreath

How to Choose the Best robot vacuum near me Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and other small particles, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive models even clean your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we tested are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with everyday debris. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot floor cleaner with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuum cleaner comparison vacuums. She also likes the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing the stairs.

In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities, and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

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

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing fine debris like baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less impressive 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 carpets and rugs. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few do a decent job at cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and could miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home when you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We liked its navigation on bare floors as well as rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be cleaned. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and bare floors. It's also got an intelligent Vacuum Cleaner mapping system that can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the best price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are excellent for removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop and take care of an entire task in one pass. If you have floors that are mixed, look for a model 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 may want to consider a robotic floor vacuums mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can utilize the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are made to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the bigger robots struggle to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back, robot vacuums went through an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older ones faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.

The models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, but 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 could 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 you don't wish the robot to go to. This is a great option when you have small children or pets. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.