10 Quick Tips For Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a robot equipped with smart vacuum mapping technology or an application 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 vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing stairs.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-highest rated robot vacuum models. However, it does have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to take care of larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it is working. The app offers a 3D view of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning like our top models, but it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. Its only downsides are that it's not able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. Many models do a good job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a good job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and they may be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. It is possible to swap out an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums and mops in staying clear of obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.

Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We liked its navigation on floors that are not bare and rugs. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty cheap robot vacuum Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also has amazing ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and bare floors. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to only run for certain times (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less suction power than some other mop/robot combos, but its still very good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. 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 robots are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one move. If you have flooring that is mixed choose models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can transition effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors assist it in avoiding staircases and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mops are also able to be washed, dried and used again.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

These robots are designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning robot price session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. These improvements reduced the number times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.

However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced and most need a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.

The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in another room.

Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to enter. This is a great option for those with small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below before making your purchase.