Unexpected Business Strategies Helped Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Achieve Success

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to automated cleaning. The best models are capable of getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.

The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily messes. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a cheap robot vacuum cleaner equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried dozens of robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences like those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used 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 stairs.

Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it does. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine debris such as sand. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile rugs. Some can be quite effective in picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best option. You can swap out the cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuum/mops at staying clear of obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can run for weeks without needing to be empty, and it has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be set to run only during specific times (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations, but it still picks up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the most affordable price of our top robot vacuum cleaner picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are fantastic in removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of a top rated robot vacuum-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop and take care of a more complete chore in one go. Choose one that has an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When you need mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them to get rid of light dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

As the name implies, these robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, whereas larger robots are unable to reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advances reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems that these devices have, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older models faced and most require a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

These models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that could interfere with this function however, because the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it is in another room.

A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to enter. This is helpful when you have pets or children who are small. Those features aren't available on all the models we test, so be sure to read our full reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.