How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and light debris, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The most expensive models can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and able to cope with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot 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 enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing steps.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. However, it has a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it last stopped which makes it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, however it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine debris such as sand. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick one that scores high for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at keeping away from obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set up to mop only. best automatic vacuum cleaner liked its navigation on floors that are not bare as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptying and has amazing navigation abilities and automatic emptying on bare floors and carpets. 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 causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however, it still picks up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are fantastic in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger 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 two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum and take care of an entire task in one pass. Find a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed and reused.
Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance make use of the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name implies the robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these machines, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older models faced, and many of them need a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is that is mounted on top to map the area. Our best overall models and runners-up models have this feature. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
These models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is helpful if you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested so make sure to read our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.