How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.

The more expensive models even clean your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Find models that feature smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with the daily messes. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuum cleaner best vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing steps.

When compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it last stopped, making it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

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

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in picking up fine debris such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only drawbacks are that it can't mop and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one that scores high for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models do a good job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, at's also the best automatic floor cleaner value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a automated vacuum cleaner and a mop and take care of a more complete chore in one pass. Look for one that has an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an efficient robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean smart robot hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors assist it in avoiding staircases and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When it comes to mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe them over to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be dried, washed, and reused.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance, you can utilize the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't have to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins, which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic Vacuum Cleaner Commercial vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot accident.

However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older models faced, and many of them require a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.

The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that could interfere with this function, though, as the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.

A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you don't want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't included on all of the models we test and recommend that you read our full reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.