We recommend robot vacuums that score at least 70% overall so long as they also score at least 46% for carpet.

For models tested before 2023, this overall score is made up of performance only including hard floor dirt pick-up (40%), dirt removal from carpet (30%), cleaning corners and edges (15%) and pet hair removal (15%). From 2023 onwards, ease of use makes up 10% of the CHOICE Expert Rating and performance scores make up 90%.

We scatter a measured amount of sand evenly over a vinyl floor area and let the robot run for 25 minutes, or until the vacuum completes its cleaning cycle, measuring the dirt pick-up at intervals throughout. Objects like chairs and benches are placed around the room to make the set-up look similar to a home.

We sprinkle sand evenly into a section of carpet and let the robot run for a set period of time on the carpeted area. The sand collected is weighed and recorded.

Sand is spread into a right-angled corner, and the robot vacuum cleaners are assessed to see how close to the corner each one is able to pick up dirt.

We embed cat hair into the carpet and allow the robot vacuum cleaner to run for six minutes. We rate the vacs based on how much cat hair is left behind after the test.

Available for all models tested from 2023 onwards. Includes ease of connecting and using the app, and ease of emptying the bin (or the self-emptying dock, if it has this feature).

How easy it is to connect the the app to the robot and your home Wi-Fi network.

Ease of using the app and its features.

How easy is it to empty the bin? Models with a self-cleaning dock tend to score higher for this.

This test was introduced in September 2023 so not all models will have a score. We test ease of filling and cleaning the tank, using the settings and attaching the mop bin and pad. For performance we place stains on a hard floor and rate how well the vacuum removes them. We penalise models that stain carpet on their way around. Since not all robot vacuums can mop, we don't include this score in the CHOICE Expert Rating.

This test was introduced in September 2023 so not all models will have a score. We test stain removal performance and assess how much water is left on the floor.

This test was introduced in September 2023 so not all models will have a score. We test how easy it is to attach the mop pads and bin, fill the water tank, use the settings and controls, and clean the water tank.

Noise is measured at two metres. Even though most models produce similar sound readings, some emit a high-pitched whistle or various tones and alerts (even music!) that some people may find irritating.

How long the battery will last for without a charge, measured in minutes. We've noticed some models that seem to have a 'cleaning' mode and 'searching for home' mode. In these cases we measure battery life until the motor stops running (i.e cleaning has stopped).

Robot vacuums bump objects as they find their way around, but good sensors and cameras can help them avoid frequent and/or heavy collisions.

Shop Ethical rates the environmental and social impact of the company (not the product) using independent sources. This rating is not included in our total score. The rating ranks from A (highest) to F (lowest); N/A means there is no rating for that company.

We use the information received from members who took part in our reliability survey to rate the most popular brands for reliability. na means no/not enough responses were received for this brand.

In our reliability survey we asked owners what they think of their robot vacuum cleaner and got them to rate their vacuum ranging from excellent to terrible. We don't have enough responses from most brands.

The model has a claimed country of origin somewhere on it, but this ought to be taken with a grain of salt given it's rare that all the materials for a product come from the one country.

This is the manufacturer's recommended retail price at the time of testing, but shop around to see if you can find a better deal.

An approximate calculation of the mopping tank's water volume. Models with only onboard mopping tanks will have a very small capacity.

Height of the robot vac unit (measured from 2023 onwards).

Width of the robot vac unit in cm (measured from 2023 onwards).

Length of the robot vac unit in cm (measured from 2023 onwards).

Dimensions of the unit when it is connected to the docking station.

How long it takes for the robot vacuum to do a full charge, measured in minutes.

Whether you need to sign up to an account to use the app.

Whether the robot vacuum can double up as a mopping robot.

Whether the vacuum has a rotating brush under the housing that pushes dirt into the receptacle.

The vacuum connects to Wi-Fi meaning you can control it from your phone even when you're not at home.

Whether the vacuum comes with an app you can download to your phone to operate the machine.

The side brush helps to clean along edges. 

Most robot vacuums are remotely controlled using an app on your smart device, but some still come with physical remote controls.

This feature is used to create an invisible barrier to block off open doorways or other areas you don't want the robot to enter. Some come in the form of infrared towers (which may be an optional extra), but increasingly the barriers are defined using apps on your smart device.

Whether the vacuum can detect if it's near stairs.

Programmable times allow you to set times of the day or week to run the robot. For instance, you could set it to run only while you're out of the house.

Some models can be programmed to clean the floor on certain days of the week.

Sometimes extra brushes and filters are provided. Other functions may include a self-emptying function or mop attachments.