How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning robots for home. The best models do a great job at removing dust and other small particles and many allow you to create no-go zones for Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner pets or power cords.

The most expensive models will even sweep your floor but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested that we tested are efficient and easy to use and able to cope with everyday debris. You'll need a robot cleaner that has decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for a model that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer 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 recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing steps.

In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its score for navigation is lower. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place where it last stopped and makes it much easier to cover larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it is able to spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as effective at cleaning as our top models, but it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. Its only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less efficient navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you g to be emptied. It also has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be programmed to only run during certain times (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuums and mops but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top choices.

The best choice for hardwood floors

robot vacuum cleaner black friday vacuums are the ideal choice for hardwood floors as they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are capable of picking up crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal choice for carpeted areas or deep cleaning upholstery.

The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete the entire chore in one pass. If you have flooring that is mixed choose a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

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

When you need mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. They are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.

The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance you can use the app to create an area that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto vacuum-emptying port that collects debris through 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.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, whereas larger robots are unable to reach. They are generally less expensive than the pricier picks, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors could be stuck on or across. These advances reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems with these devices, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older ones did, and many of them require a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. Look into a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to trace the area. Our top overall pick and runner-up models have this feature. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, because the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in another room.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to move, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't offered on all the models we test so make sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.