How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best models are capable of cleaning up dust as well as light debris and cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Make sure you choose 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 the everyday messes. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate cleaning power for carpets. And, if you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a robot vacuum cleaner ebay equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the automatic hoover robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of dozens of robot 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 fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.

Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify 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 to be used in the future for use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it works. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

While this Robot sweeper can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing fine debris such as baking soda and sand and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downside is that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rug. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.

For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange the cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.

Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set up to mop only. We liked its navigation on bare floors as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and great path planning for such a small device.

If you want 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 weeks without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to run only during specific hours (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark has less suction power than other mop/robot combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

robot broom vacuums are the best choice 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 also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one pass. 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, has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is mostly made up of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model uses an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.

When you need mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them over to remove light dirt and dust. Its reusable pads reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for example make use of the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This has reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors don't solve all the issues with these machines, however. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require an adequate amount of light to know where they are going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition to being able to work in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that might interfere with this function, however, because the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones in 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 the models we've tested so make sure to review our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.