The best robot vacuums

Robot vacuums are impressive devices that will clean your floors well without complaining (much). As prices have dropped, these busy little bots have become less of a luxury and more of a necessity. They can reach places most standup vacs never see (under beds and sofas) and, thanks to better batteries and robot brains, they rarely get tired of cleaning.

I've been testing robot vacuums for six years and have run over 60 robot vacuums all over my house. These are my top picks if you're looking for the best: a robot vacuum that can do it all without getting stuck and with limited intervention from you.

I've also got options to fit specific needs, such as mopping, tackling small spaces, or besting pet hair. Check out my budget robot vacuum guide if you want to spend under $500 on a robot vacuum. Here, we're going to look at the premium options.

While there's been a lot of innovation in robot vacuums in recent years, we're still far from that Rosey the Robot dream of a robot that can handle all the household chores (or stairs). But they've got floors down. Today, there are robots that can mop well, charging docks that empty the bin for you, and "hands-free" models that can refill their water tanks and wash their mops so you don't have to. The biggest improvements, however, are in mapping and obstacle avoidance, two crucial skills that mean most robot vacuums today can avoid getting tripped up by your shoes and will get the job done.

Despite all these innovations, there still isn't one robot that excels at both mopping and vacuuming. For most people, the vacuum is the thing to focus on; I consider mopping a bonus feature. I prefer a powerful vacuum for my main rooms and one that excels at mopping for rooms like the bathroom or kitchen.

The good news is that robovacs are constantly on sale; I wouldn't pay the list price unless you want the latest model. The general range is around $500 for a standalone vacuum with good features and between $1,000 and $1,800 for an all-singing, all-dancing bot that can largely take care of itself and use AI to avoid common household clutter in its quest to clean your floors.

There are many options, and whether you have a 3,000-square-foot home and three shaggy dogs or a small, stylish apartment you share with a goldfish, there's a robot vacuum to suit your needs.