How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vac uum can save you lots of time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job of removing dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Look for models that have intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with daily debris. It is also important to choose a model that can take on stairs and has good ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested 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 water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so that they don't fall when climbing steps.
In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location where it last stopped which makes it easier to tackle larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This 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 references. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app provides a 3D view of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum with a high rating for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs, and some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and wet mop with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in staying clear of obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home when you are away. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
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 has a huge charging dock that can go months without needing to be empty and has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuum/mop combos, but its still very efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best robots are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one step. If you have flooring that is mixed you should look for models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. 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 composed of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.
When it comes to mop pads, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and used again.
The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance you can use the app to create an area that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a disposable or bagless bin, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues with these machines, however. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and require an adequate amount of light to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.
They can be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it is in another room.
A few of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.