How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. Robot Vacuum Mops 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 loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. In addition, it has the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the place where it stopped last which makes it easier to clean larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and identify obstacles using 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 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 time and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot works. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as effective at cleaning as our top models, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in keeping away from obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean while you're away from home. It can also be set to only mop and we loved its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking for a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can last for months without needing to be empty and has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on carpets and floors. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations, but it still picks up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are excellent for removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one move. Look for models that have an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition 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 combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. The sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable pads reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. They are also able to be washed, dried and reused.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. 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, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name implies that these robots are suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, as well, but you'll have to empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. These advances reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older models faced and, in addition, they need a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
In addition to being capable of working in the dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it is in another room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to create 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 on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.