How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at picking up dust, light debris and cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily messes. You'll also need a robot capable of handling stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you might be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing steps.
The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. Additionally, it has the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the location the last time it was used which makes it easier to cover larger areas. This model is a good option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized 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 can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so you can continue to do chores while it does. The app includes the 3D image of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing small particles like baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a less effective navigation system.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpet and rug. Many models do a good job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a decent job at 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 they may miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. best rated robot vacuum were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as rugs. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If linked resource site looking for a advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities 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 handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however it still manages to 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 best for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.
best automatic vacuum come with two-in-one features, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one go. Find a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be washed, dried and reused.
The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a zone where the vacuum can't go, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via 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 other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name implies, these robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots struggle to get in. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years back, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. This has decreased the amount of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the new sensors aren't solving all of the issues these machines face. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older ones did, and many of them require a certain amount light to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.
The models can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that might hinder this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot go, which can be useful if you have pets or children. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested so make sure to read our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.