10 Places To Find Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control the robot vac remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

Compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker automatic vacuum cleaners (Clashofcryptos explained in a blog post) isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its score for navigation is lower. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it last stopped and makes it much easier to cover larger spaces. This model is a good choice for pet owners, because it will prevent hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best robot vacuum for large house choice. You can swap out a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops wet with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from becoming wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on carpets and floors, as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 self cleaning vacuum cleaner-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be emptied. It also has amazing navigation and auto vacuum cleaner-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to only run during certain times (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark has less powerful suction than other mop/robot combos, but its still very good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one sweep. Find one that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can transition effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated vacuum cleaner vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. They can also be washed, dried and used again.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for example make use of the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. 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 need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

As the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, whereas bigger robots struggle to reach. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. These advances reduced the number 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 new sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require an adequate amount of light in order to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not above them. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in a different space.

A few of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to visit. This can be helpful for those with small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.