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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords. The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins. Best Overall The top robots that we tested are efficient and user-friendly, and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll also need a robot capable of handling stairs and that has decent ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely. Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that are able to detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing steps. This robot from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. In addition, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place the last time it was used which makes it easier to cover larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles. In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects as well as detect edges. It is able to avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for future use. homepage is able to stop and restart cleaning at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it does. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options. The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive. The best for Carpet If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models do a good job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds. For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. You can swap out an empty bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds. The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home when you are away. It can be set to mop only. We liked its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item 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 large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be empty and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be set to only run during certain times (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark has less powerful suction than other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top choices. Best for Hard Flooring Robot vacuums are the best pick for hardwood floors because they are able to maneuver around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas. The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of the entire chore in one pass. Find a model that has an onboard sensor that detects any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting. If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood. When you need mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe 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 you time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold. Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to create a no-go zone where the vacuum can't go or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models. Best suited for small Spaces These robots are made to work 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 as opposed to larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, whereas larger robots are unable to reach. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session. A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident. The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues with these devices however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older models faced and most require a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes 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 and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room. A few of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have pets or children. These features aren't offered on all the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.