How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuum Cleaner Best vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust light debris, Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best cords and dust.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you want a robot with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get caught when climbing the stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. However, it does have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to take care of larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid liquid droplets, stairs, Robot vacuum cleaner best and furniture legs with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot works. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick one that scores high for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models do a good job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and some arther mop/robot combination models, but it still manages to pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are a great pick for hardwood floors because they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The best inexpensive robot vacuum two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of the entire chore in one go. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can move effortlessly from hard 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 uses a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. 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, instead of simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.

Both the robovac and 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 an area where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name implies that these robots are to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins, that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better over larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the pricier picks, however, you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.

However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination in order to see where they are moving. Consider getting an option that incorporates an LIDAR spinning unit that is placed on top of the model to trace the area. Our best overall pick and runner-up models have this feature. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition to being able to work in the dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot cleaner amazon to believe it's in another room.

Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to enter. This can be helpful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.