How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris and allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The most expensive models can even mop your floor but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with daily debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. And, if you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most features such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of robots that recognize landmarks such as 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 robot vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its score for navigation is lower. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to the place it stopped at the last point, making it easier to clean larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The app comes with the 3D image of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister vacuum and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.
The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be cleaned. It also has impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models, but it still picks up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the best price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they can easily navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are great for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one go. If you have flooring that is mixed choose one with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can transition effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to 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.
When it comes to mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce waste, spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station to save you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and reused.
The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for instance make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name implies the robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins, which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners than larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuum cleaner best vacuums went through a major change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them avoid household items that conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.
However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the issues these machines face. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older ones did, and many of them need a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.
They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function however, because the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you don't want the robot to go, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't offered on all the models we've tested and recommend that you read our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.
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