How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models do a great job at removing dust and other small particles and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

best home vacuum cleaner Overall

The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. 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 is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She's a big 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 also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing steps.

When compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum hoover vacuum has less object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a huge non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects as well as detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped so that you can complete chores while the robot is working. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

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

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick one with a high rating for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a good job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet, and several do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister var it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete the entire chore in one sweep. Find a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. 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 comprised of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum deals with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

When it comes to mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mops can also be washed, dried and used again.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by 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 plan specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name implies, these robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins, which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently over larger models. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, automatic Floor cleaners but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them avoid household items that traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.

The new sensors don't solve all the issues with these devices however. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and require an adequate amount of light to be able to be able to see where they're moving. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not above them. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that might hinder this function, though, as the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This can be helpful when you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.