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. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and other small particles, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.
The most expensive models can even mop your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Find models with 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 daily debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for a model that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also loves robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they don't fall when climbing steps.
Compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its navigation score is lower. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to take care of larger spaces. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. This 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 use. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot works. The app includes a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior 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 cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some can be quite effective in cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. It is possible to swap out a cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
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 to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a huge charging dock that can run for months without needing to be emptying, and it has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also has a clever mapping system that can be set to only run during certain hours (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark has less suction power than other robot vacuums and mops however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top choices.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of a more complete chore in one go. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When it comes to mop pads, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them over to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. best rated robot vacuum can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and reused.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate an area where the vacuum can't go or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. 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 that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. Learn Even more have smaller bins that contain less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advancements decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.
However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older models faced, and many of them need a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to trace the space. Our top overall pick and runner-up models do this. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
These models can be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it is in another room.
A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot move, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.