How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to cope with everyday debris. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. And, if you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. best robot vacuums prefers the robovacs with the most features such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys 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 for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location the last time it was used and makes it much easier to cover larger homes. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects as well as detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot is working. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs, and some can be quite effective in cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can swap out an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and wet mop with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing the floor from becoming wet. You don't have to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to avoiding obstacles and getting closer to carpets 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 via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be empty, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however it does pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum to complete a more complete chore in one sweep. If you have floors that are mixed choose one with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
When it comes to mops the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them to get rid of light dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. They can also be dried, washed and reused.
best robot vacuum is controlled via your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance make use of the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't need to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where bigger robots struggle to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the pricier picks, however, you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advances decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require some level of illumination to know where they are moving. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.
In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful when you have small children or pets. These features aren't offered on all the models we test so make sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.