How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good at cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Choose models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a model with extra features, consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried several robotic vacuums, has been credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier for you to take care of larger areas. This model is a good choice for pet owners, because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they can't handle small particles like an upright or canister vacuum and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.
For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out the cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when they come into contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large charging dock that can last for months without needing to be emptied and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system and can be programmed to only run for certain times (a useful feature for keeping the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other robot vacuums and mops, but its still very effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning 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, taking care of the entire chore in one go. If you have mixed flooring you should look for one with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and used again.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance make use of the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best suited for small areas. 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 that larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.
However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require some level of illumination to know where they are going. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top overall models and runners-up models have this feature. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In automated vacuum cleaner being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not above them. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that could interfere with this function, though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't included on all the models we test and recommend that you read our full reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.