How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust, light debris and cords.

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

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a robot equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested 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 fill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing stairs.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it last stopped which makes it easier to tackle larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. The combination lets it 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 the cleaning process at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it works. The app includes the 3D image of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as effective at cleaning as our top models, however it is great at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile rugs. Some are capable of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister vacuum and can be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.

For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. It is possible to swap out a cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from getting wet. You don't have to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at keeping away from obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set to mop only and we were impressed by its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also features impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and bare floors. best home vacuum cleaner has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models, but it does pick hair and pet hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at 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 a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.


The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete the entire chore in one go. Choose 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 allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. best home vacuum cleaner is a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs 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 using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance you can use the app to create an area where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't have to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues with these devices however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older models faced and most require a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is that is mounted on top to map the space. Our top model and the runners-up do this. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.

The models can also be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, because the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in another room.

A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you don't want the robot to go, which can be beneficial if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we test and recommend that you review our full reviews of each model below before making your purchase.