How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The top models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Find models that feature smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to cope with daily debris. You'll also need a robot capable of handling stairs and has adequate ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a robot with 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 prefers the ones with the most features, 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's also a big fan of the robots that are able to detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing the stairs.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is a good option for pet owners, because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops 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 pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it is working. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select one that has a high score for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles like canister or upright vacuums and may also miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best option. You can exchange a cleaning bin to a damp 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 detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. Additionally, robot vacuum sale don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors that are not bare as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.
If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can run for weeks without needing to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation abilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be set to only run for certain hours (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less powerful suction than other mop/robot combos however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best robots come with two-in-one features, combining mop and vacuum to complete the task in one step. If you have floors that are mixed, look for models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's 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 may want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried 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, not simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't have to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
Like the name suggests that these robots are to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins, which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them avoid household items that traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues with these devices however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older models faced, and many of them require a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. You should consider an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to map the space. Our top overall pick and runner-up models use this. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.
In addition to being capable of working in the dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that could hinder this function, though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause 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 that you don't want the robot to enter. This is a great option for those with pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test so make sure to read our full reviews of each model below before making your purchase.