How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and light debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, cheap robot Vacuum cleaner real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

When compared to the top-rated models, this black friday robot vacuum deals and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place the last time it was used which makes it easier to tackle larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to identify 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 identify obstacles using a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot does its work. The included app offers an interactive 3D model 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 like baking soda and sand and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

best robot vacuum deals for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select a robot vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they can't handle small particles like canister or upright vacuums, and they may be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set up to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors as well as rugs. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for such a small device.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can go months without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also has a smart mapping system that can be set to only run for certain hours (a beneficial feature to keep pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuums and mops, but its still very good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the best robovac value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

robot vacuum near me vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they are able to maneuver around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one step. If you have mixed flooring you should look for one with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. 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 flooring in your home you might want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

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

The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate a zone where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a disposable or bagless bin, meaning you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name suggests the robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins, that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better over larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago, Cheap Robot vacuum Cleaner vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.

The new sensors don't solve all issues with these machines, however. The cheaper models are still unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and require a certain level of light in order to be able to see where they're moving. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

These models can also be programmed to utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.

A few of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot to go, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested so make sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.