How to Choose the best self cleaning vacuum Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The top models do a great job of removing dust and light debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Find models that feature smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a Robot vacuum cleaner best that has decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. If you want a robot with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic hoovers vacuums. She's a fan of the robot floor cleaner 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 recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing the stairs.

Compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to take care of larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any time and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot is working. The included app provides 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 but it excels in removing fine debris look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be empty, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations, but it still picks up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

The best inexpensive robot vacuum choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They don't have the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop and take care of an entire task in one go. If you have flooring that is mixed choose a model with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus 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 with downward pressure rather than wipe them over to remove dirt and dust. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

Both the robovac as well as the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance make use of the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best for Small Spaces

Like the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots can't reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years back, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. These advancements have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues that these devices have however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older ones did, and many of them require a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. Consider getting an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to map the area. Our best overall model and the runners-up use this. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

In addition to being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas where you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't offered on all the models we've tested and recommend that you review our full reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.