How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best models are capable of picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The most expensive models will even sweep your floor but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots that we tested are efficient and user-friendly, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll need a robot cleaner commercial that has adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for a self-cleaning robot vacuums with extra features, consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to remote control vacuum cleaner it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of robots that detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get caught when climbing the stairs.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the most popular models. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning times and then return to the place it stopped at the last point, making it easier to cover larger homes. 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, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can detect objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot works. The app provides a 3D view of your home 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 like sand and baking soda and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and has a leimes of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other mop/robot vacuum cleaner amazon combos however it's still good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they can easily navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, however they are unable to deal with pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best robots are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one go. If you have mixed flooring, look for a model with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic floor scrubber vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the robot Vacuum cleaner best buy falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't have to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. These advancements decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same issues that the older models faced, and many of them require a certain amount light to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

They can also be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that may hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.

Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to enter. This is a great option if you have small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.