How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. The best models do a great job at removing dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.
The ones that are more expensive can even mop your floor however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Find models that feature 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 to keep up with daily debris. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. 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 tried dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also loves robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the place the last time it was used and makes it much easier to tackle larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-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 references. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app provides the 3D image of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as effective at cleaning as our top models, but it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it's not able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. But they don't pick up small particles like an upright or canister vacuum and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.
The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on carpets and floors, as well as its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for such a small device.
If you're looking for a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty 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 some other robot vacuums and mops however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are fantastic in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger 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 best robots are two-in-one, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one move. Find one that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
When you need mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, which means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
best robot vacuums for Small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that their traditional sensors could be stuck on or across. These advancements 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 pet waste.
However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of these machines' problems. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they need some level of illumination in order to see where they are going. You should consider an option that incorporates an LIDAR spinning unit that is placed on top of the model to create maps of the space. Our best overall model and the runners-up have this feature. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition being capable of working in the dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not above them. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in a different space.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot move, which is beneficial if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested so make sure to review our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.