How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with the daily messes. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and has adequate cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you might be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they don't fall when climbing stairs.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it stopped last, making it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, 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 stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, so that you can continue with your chores while it works. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing fine debris like sand and baking soda, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downsides are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best option for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick an automatic vacuum cleaners vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris such awell. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at of picking up crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum and take care of the entire chore in one go. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the automatic floor cleaner texture and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is composed of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with smart vacuum cleaner navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. 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 as well as the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example, use the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests that these robots are suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the more expensive models, however, you'll need to empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This has have reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these machines, however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older ones did and, in addition, they require a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. Consider getting an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device mounted on top to map the space. Our top model and the runners-up use this. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.

They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that may hinder this function, however, because the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.

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