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 ones are adept at picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested that we have tested are effective, easy to use, and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll need a robot that has adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners since it is able to avoid tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it 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 also pause the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, but it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robotic vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can exchange the cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home when you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as rug. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can go months without needing to be emptied and boasts impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuums and mops, but its still very good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are great for removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They don't have the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The most effective robots are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one step. If you have mixed flooring, look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. 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 may want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.
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 areas where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms, or schedule 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, meaning 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 designed for small spaces. robot vacuum cleaner best buy have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. This has reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the new sensors aren't solving all of the issues these machines face. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older models faced, and many of them need a certain amount of light to be able see where they're headed. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that may hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test so make sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.