How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job picking up dust and other small particles and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even mop your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll need a model with 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 for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been credited with testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It has a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot works. The app provides a 3D view of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top robot vacuum cleaner models, however it is great at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuvera hair and is the most affordable of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best option for hardwood floors since they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage bare surfaces. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one go. If you have floors that are mixed choose one with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. 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 mostly comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.

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

The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for example make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name suggests the robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These improvements reduced the number times our testers had to clean up after a robotic incident.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the issues with these machines however. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require an adequate amount of light in order to know where they are going. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to create maps of the area. Our top model and the runners-up have this feature. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas you don't want the robot floor cleaner to go, which can be useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.