How to Choose the best robot vacuum cleaner (Going Here)

A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and other small particles, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to handle stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning times and return to where it stopped last, making it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners since it is able to avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

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

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing fine debris like baking soda and sand as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downsides are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and house cleaning robot or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, like our top robot vacuum cleaner overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition to being capable of working in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that could hinder this function, however, because the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe 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 want the robot to enter. This can be helpful if you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't available on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.