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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can 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 stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robot vacuum for vinyl plank floors robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. If you want a robot with extra features, consider an option that incorporates smart robot mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic floor vacuums vacuums. She's a big 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 recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. It comes with a huge dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the location where it last stopped and makes it much easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, so that you can continue with your chores while it does. The app comes with the 3D image 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 removing fine debris like sand and baking soda and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only drawbacks are that it can't mop and has a less impressive navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in a cleaning bin and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled through 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 and its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a handy feature for keeping mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other mop/robot combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors as they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are fantastic at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of the entire chore in one pass. Find models that have an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot hoover mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

When you need mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than wipe them to get rid of light dirt and dust. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up a zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts 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 suited for small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They are usually less expensive than the pricier picks, however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advancements reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic vacuum cleaner commercial (view site…) snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the latest sensors aren't solving all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to know where they are moving. If you live in a dark house or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

In addition being capable of working in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, because the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room cleaning robot.

A few of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to go to. This is a great option for those with pets or small children. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.