How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job at removing dust and light debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Find models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with daily debris. You'll also want a robot capable of handling stairs and has adequate cleaning power for carpets. And, if you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a robot equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of dozens of robot vacuums. She's a fan of the robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing stairs.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the spot where it last stopped, making it easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing fine debris like sand and baking soda as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they can't handle small particles like canister or upright vacuums and can be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.

The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor, and you don't need to remove or replace them after each use. 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 avoiding obstacles.


Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set up to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors with no flooring and rugs. robot cleaner has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be set to run only during specific hours (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best value of our top choices.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one pass. Choose models that have an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. Its sensors let it avoid hazards such as stairs.

When you need mops the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.

The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate an area where the vacuum can't go, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.

However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of these machines' problems. The cheaper models are still not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they need an adequate amount of light to be able to see where they're moving. 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 space like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

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

A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas you do not want the robot go, which can be useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.