How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job at removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The most expensive models can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robot hoover robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use and able to cope with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and that has decent ability to pick up carpets. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with 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 numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing hundreds of budget robot vacuum vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most features, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that can detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing the stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. In addition, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location where it stopped last which makes it easier to tackle larger areas. This model is a good choice for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It can avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for future use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any moment and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot works. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles like baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best option for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. Many models do a decent job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. But they don't pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when they come into contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces and its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty robot vacuum cleaner best Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptying and boasts impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing chaos). The Shark has less suction power than other robot vacuums and mops however it's still effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The best affordable robot vacuum two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of an entire task in one pass. Find a model that has an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best example, Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated cleaning vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

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

The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance, you can use the app to create an area that the vacuum won't enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems that these devices have, however. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and require some level of illumination to be able to be able to see where they're moving. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in the dark they can also be set to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not above them. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that might interfere with this function though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.

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