How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust, light debris and cords.

The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

best robot vacuum for large house Overall

The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with the daily messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to take on stairs. If you want a robot with extra features, consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features like ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get caught 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 an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger homes. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor robot maps to be used in the future for references. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot is working. 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 removing small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downsides are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum cleaner best vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models do a good job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. It is possible to swap out a cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner top 10 vacuum and mop that can clean and best robot vacuum For Large house mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with 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 is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare and carpets. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a clever mapping system that can be programmed to only run for certain hours (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it does pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best robot vacuum deals value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging bare surfaces. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining mop and remote vacuum cleaner to do a complete job in one go. If you have mixed flooring, look for a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

When it comes to mop pads the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to remove light dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance you can use the app to create a zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you'll need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

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

However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount illumination to see where they're going. Consider getting a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the space. Our top models and runners-up models have this feature. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

In addition being able to work in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't available on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.