How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris and allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability and the capability to climb stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried several robotic vacuums, has been credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the place the last time it was used, making it easier to tackle larger areas. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured 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 for future references. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it does. The app provides a 3D view of your home, complete with 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 larger items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. Many models do a good job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet, and several are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles like canister or upright vacuums, and they may 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 exchange a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from getting wet. You don't need to remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set up to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors that are not bare as well as carpets. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for the size of the device.
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 run for months without needing to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from running it amuck). The Shark has less suction power than other mop/robot combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of a more complete chore in one go. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. 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 might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them in order 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 in the docking station, saving you time. The mops can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.
The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for example make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.
However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older models faced, and many of them require a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR unit placed on top of the model to trace the area. Our top pick and runner-up models use this. 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 on or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is still recommended 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, causing the robot to believe it is in another room.
Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful for those with small children or pets. best robot cleaner aren't available on all the models we test, so be sure to read our full reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.