How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.

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

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to cope with the daily messes. You'll also need a robot vacuum cleaner cheap capable of handling stairs and that has decent ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking for a model that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you 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 numerous robot vacuums. She's a fan of the robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. In addition, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot the last time it was used and makes it much easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to identify and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can 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 for future reference. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, so you can continue to do chores while it is working. The app includes a 3D view of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This robot vacuum deals is not as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only drawback is that it can't 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 rug. Many models are capable of picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they can't handle fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum cleaner industrial vacuum and mop that lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. 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 detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean your home when you're away from home. 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 rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be set to run only during specific hours (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark has less suction power than other robot vacuums and mops but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top choices.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop and take care of a more complete chore in one sweep. If you have mixed flooring you should look for models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent 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 clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not 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 stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best for Small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best smart vacuum designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt bins manually 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 conventional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advances decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all issues that these devices have, however. The cheaper models are still not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require an adequate amount of light to see where they are moving. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.

They can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function however, because the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it is in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all of the models we test and recommend that you go through our complete reviews of each model below before making your purchase.