How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and light debris and many allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.

The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

best robot vacuum under 200 Overall

The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. And, if you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried numerous robotic vacuums, https://www.jtayl.me/bestautomaticvacuumcleaner642948 is acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features like those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier for you to take care of larger areas. This model is a great choice for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect 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 for future use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot does its work. The app includes the 3D image of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing fine debris like baking soda and sand as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downside is that it isn't able to mop and has a less impressive navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum that scores high for rug i.win/wiki/Robot_Vacuum_Cleaner_Sale_10_Things_I_Wish_Id_Known_Earlier">robot cleaning machine combination models however, it still picks hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are a great pick for hardwood floors because they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best auto vacuum option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of the entire chore in one pass. If you have floors that are mixed choose models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads can also be dried, washed and reused.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can use the app to set up a zone that the vacuum won't enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins, which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advancements have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.

However, the new sensors aren't solving all of the issues these machines face. The lower-end 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 lots of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition to being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.

A few of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones in areas you do not want the robot to go, which can be beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested and recommend that you go through our complete reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.