How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also loves robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing steps.
When compared to 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 has an ample dust bin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier to take care of larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off and let you do chores while the robot is working. self cleaning vacuum comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda, as well as heavier items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum with a high rating for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a good job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They can't take in small particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only and we loved its remarkable navigation on bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It has a large charging dock that can last for several weeks without having to be emptying and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations, but it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the ideal choice for hardwood floors as they are able to maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor's surface. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.
The best robots are two-in-one, which combine a vacuum with a mop to do a complete job in one step. If you have floors that are mixed choose one with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it avoid hazards such as stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate an area that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through 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 you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advancements decreased the amount of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.
The new sensors don't solve all issues with these machines however. The cheaper models are still not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they need an adequate amount of light in order to know where they are moving. 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 space, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to go to. This can be helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested, so be sure to read our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.