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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy 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 also want a robot that can handle stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. 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 is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that can detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning times and return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to take care of larger areas. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to 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 references. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app provides a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a slightly less efficient navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models are capable of collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner ebay [helpful resources] vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors that are not bare and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for such a small device.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark has less suction power than other mop/robot cleaning machine combos however it's still good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

self-cleaning robot vacuums vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are fantastic at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best robots are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to complete the job in one move. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and reused.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to create a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule automated cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins, which hold less debris. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advances decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the issues that these devices have however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones faced and, in addition, they need a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.

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

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is helpful when you have pets or small children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.