How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and other small particles and allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best spacious self-emptying bins.

best robot vacuum black friday Overall

The best robots that we tested are efficient and easy to use and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll want a Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best (Maanation.Com) with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you want a robot with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app 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's a big fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get caught when climbing the stairs.

This black friday robot vacuum deals and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. Additionally, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning robots sessions and return to the spot where it stopped last and makes it much easier to clean larger areas. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners as it can avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It can avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs easily with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app provides the 3D image of your home, complete with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, however it is great at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best choice. You can swap out the cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from getting wet. You don't have remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.

Another option that is worth considering 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 up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can go months without needing to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to only run during certain hours (a beneficial feature to keep pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top picks.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.

The best robots come with two-in-one features, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one go. If you have floors that are mixed choose one with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot 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 features a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop as well. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.

When it comes to mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. They are also able to be dried, washed and reused.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name suggests, these robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins, which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

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

However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of the problems these machines have. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they require a certain level of light in order to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting a model that uses a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to trace the area. Our best overall model and the runners-up use this. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in the dark they can also be set to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that could hinder this function, though, as the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.

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