How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust, light debris and cords.
The most expensive models can even mop your floor but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested 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 fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing stairs.
Compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger homes. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future references. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot works. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, however it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. automatic vacuum is that it isn't able to mop and has a less effective navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models do a decent 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. However, they can't handle small particles like canister or upright vacuums and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.
For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can exchange an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when they come into contact with carpet, preventing the floor from getting wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set to mop only. We liked its navigation on floors that are not bare and carpets. 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, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a large charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be empty and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be set to only run during certain hours (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations, but it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they can easily navigate around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.
The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop and take care of a more complete chore in one pass. If you have flooring that is mixed you should look for a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting 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 remove dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.
The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for example, use the app to designate areas that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better than larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where bigger robots struggle to 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 went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robot snag.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems with these devices, however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older ones did, and many of them require a certain amount of light to see where they're going. Consider getting one that has an LIDAR spinning unit that is placed on top of the model to create maps of the space. Our best overall models and runners-up models have this feature. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
These models can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that could interfere with this function though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is helpful for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren't offered on all the models we've tested, so be sure to review our full reviews of each model below before making your purchase.