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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models are capable of cleaning up dust, light debris and cords. The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up stairs. Choose models that have 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 are able to cope with everyday debris. It is also important to choose a model that can take on stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a model with extra features, consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app 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 huge fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing the stairs. In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It has a large, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. Additionally, top rated robot vacuum comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place where it last stopped, making it easier to tackle larger areas. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles. In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. It can avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs easily using this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it works. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options. This model isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, but it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a less effective navigation system. The best option for Carpet If you have carpeting, pick one that scores high for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models do a decent job of removing 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 can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds. The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to 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 need to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds. Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its impressive navigation on both carpets and floors as well as its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size. If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without having to be emptied. It also has impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be programmed to only run for certain times (a beneficial feature to keep mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best value of our top choices. Ideal for Hard Floors Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery. The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one sweep. Find Continued that have an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting. If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs. When you need mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to get rid of light dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and used again. Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up a no-go zone that the vacuum won't 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 disposable or bagless bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models. Best for Small Spaces These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They tend to be cheaper than the pricier picks, too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt compartments 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 conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste. The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues that these devices have, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same challenges that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top overall pick and runner-up models use this. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs. The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room. Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to enter. This is helpful for those with pets or children who are small. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test, so be sure to review our full reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.