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If you don't have time to regularly sweep or vacuum, robot vacuums are an easy way to ensure your home stays clean without needing to do all the work. Since they use technology like lasers or cameras to navigate and maneuver around a room, they can avoid furniture and get beneath couches and tables relatively easily. Some of the best automatic vacuums can self-empty their dirt compartments, reducing the work you need to do. Although they aren't as good at cleaning carpet as more traditional upright vacuums, many come with smart pathing technology to clean more efficiently. Many also come with companion apps or remote controls to set up scheduled cleaning times or place boundaries to keep it out of certain areas.
We've tested over 50 robot vacuums, and below are our recommendations for the best robot vacuum cleaners you can buy. These picks are selected based on performance, feature set, design, and price. For more recommendations, look at our list of thebest vacuums, thebest vacuums for high-pile carpet, and thebest vacuums for pet hair.If you're only looking for brand-specific options, you can also see our recommendations for the best iRobot vacuums.
Recent Updates
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Apr 03, 2024: Slight in-text adjustments to better convey product information.
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Mar 01, 2024: Verified that all main picks are still available and represent the best option for user needs. Added FAQ section to provide additional information to readers.
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Feb 19, 2024: Added a mention of the Roborock Q Revo in the Roborock S8+ pick section to provide a similarly-priced alternative with a more sophisticated docking station.
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Feb 13, 2024: Replaced the ILIFE A4S with the Eureka Groove as the 'Best Budget Robot Vacuum Cleaner' pick due to current availability.
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Jan 10, 2024: Removed the Roborock E4 from the Notable Mentions due to current availability.
FAQ
Can a robot vacuum fully replace a conventional vacuum?
Generally speaking, robot vacuums aren't a wholesale replacement for a full-size, manually operated machine. Most models on the market aren't powerful enough to deal with heavy debris or large piles of material, so you'll want to keep a conventional model on standby for bigger cleaning jobs. That said, robovacs have their market niche covered when it comes to "maintenance" cleaning; that's to say, frequent, low-intensity cleaning sessions that ensure there won't be a buildup of dust or lightweight dirt.
Are robot vacuums worth it?
Honestly, that'll depend entirely on what your expectations are, not to mention your budget. You don't necessarily need to spend a fortune on something that offers reasonable overall performance. Spending somewhere in the region of $200-$300 can net you a robot vacuum with LIDAR mapping, relatively advanced automation capabilities, and decent overall debris pickup performance. A good example of this kind of option would be theWyze Robot Vacuum. The above attributes are generally enough for most, as many models in this price bracket are quick to map out your home, smart enough not to get stuck too frequently, and powerful enough to deal with most kinds of messes.
If you want to spend less than that, you're likely to be looking at a robot vacuum with a rudimentary random-pathing bump navigation system, like theiRobot Roomba 694; these systems don't generate a coverage map of your home and aren't especially time efficient; while they might achieve good overall room coverage, they're pretty slow in doing so, and are far more liable to getting stuck on obstacles and cleaning the same area more than once.
Vacuums with mopping systems, real-time hazard avoidance technology, and self-emptying capability are generally pricier. None of these features are essential, but if you don't feel like emptying a vacuum's dustbin, scrubbing away stains, or ensuring your home is completely free of any potential obstacles before letting it run, they're worth a shot. It's also worth noting that prices for these niceties are creeping down. Consider theRoborock Q Revo, which offers all of these aforementioned features for not much more than the more basic stripped-downRoborock Q7 Max+.
How often should you perform maintenance on a robot vacuum?
Most manufacturers aren't shy about specifying how and how often a robot vacuum should be maintained, and it's worth noting that these maintenance intervals can vary pretty drastically from model to model. That said, there are absolutely a few things you can look out for, even outside of scheduled maintenance. You'll want to check the robovac's brushroll once or twice a week to ensure no hair is getting tangled in the mechanism; models with rollers with bristles, as opposed to smoother rubber rollers, tend to collect a lot of pet hair. The same goes for side brushes and wheels; stuck-on debris can jam up their mechanisms, compromising overall performance. You'll also want to dispose of any material in the vacuum's dirt compartment.
However, it's worth noting that there are plenty of models on the market that come with docking stations that suck debris from the vacuum's dustbin into an external dirt compartment or dirtbag, so you won't have to go through the process of emptying a dustbin yourself.
Can I run my robot vacuum every day?
Absolutely, this is what most robot vacuums are designed for. Some smarter models allow you to schedule cleaning sessions beforehand, so the vacuum will run while you're out and about.
How do I prepare my house for a robot vacuum?
You'll want to remove small obstacles like socks, slippers, or thicker power cords. While an increasing number of higher-end models, like theRoborock S7 MaxV, boast additional sensors that allow them to spot, identify, and, if necessary, avoid obstacles, these systems are still far from foolproof. You'll also want to remove any super-thick shag pile rugs because a lot of robot vacuums can get bogged down in really plush carpet fibers.
If you have a robot vacuum with a LIDAR sensor, you'll also want to cover up any floor-to-ceiling mirrors before it maps out your home for the first time. The laser emitted from the vacuum will bounce off reflective surfaces, effectively causing the vacuum to 'perceive' a nonexistent room and even bump into the mirror itself. You can also get around this by setting up a 'no-go' zone around mirrors, at least on models that support this kind of function.
Conversely, if you have a robot vacuum that uses an optical sensor to navigate, like theiRobot Roomba i3, leave the light on in areas you want the vacuum to clean. Unlike LIDAR systems, optical sensor-based systems need a certain level of ambient light to navigate.
It's worth noting that many robot vacuums will also struggle with navigating on really dark-colored floors. Most models on the market have cliff sensors that rely on infrared radiation to work, and since dark surfaces absorb infrared radiation, this will trigger the cliff sensors and cause the vacuum to stop.
All Reviews
Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the best robot vacuums for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our robot vacuum reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While there's no single best option that's perfect for every use, mostare goodenough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
