Our scoring model
We score each robot on a 1–10 scale across seven weighted dimensions. The weights reflect what actually moves the needle for most households, not what looks good in a spec sheet.
| Dimension | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning performance | 25% | Hard-floor debris pickup, carpet agitation, edge & corner coverage. |
| Navigation & mapping | 18% | LiDAR vs camera mapping, multi-floor support, no-go zones, object avoidance. |
| Pet & hair handling | 15% | Brush tangle resistance, fur pickup on carpet, self-empty base capacity. |
| Mopping & self-cleaning | 13% | Mop pressure, scrubbing, dock wash/dry, auto-empty & auto-refill. |
| Battery & runtime | 12% | Measured runtime, recharge-and-resume, large-home coverage. |
| App & smart features | 9% | Setup ease, scheduling, voice assistant support, reliability. |
| Noise & build quality | 8% | Decibel level at standard/boost, materials, long-term durability signals. |
Where the data comes from
We are transparent about our sources because trust is the whole point. For each model we combine:
- Manufacturer specifications — suction (Pa), battery capacity, dock features, dimensions, and official pricing.
- Independent lab & expert testing — where publicly available (e.g. published third-party teardown and benchmark data), we fold it into the relevant dimension.
- Long-term owner feedback — aggregated user reviews and community reports on real-world reliability, app bugs, and support experiences.
We do not accept free review units, and we have not physically benchmarked every robot in a private lab. Where we rely on manufacturer or third-party figures, we say so in the review. Our editorial score is an expert synthesis, not a substitute for your own research — always confirm the live Amazon price before buying, since deals move fast.
How a model earns a badge
- Best Overall — highest blended score with no critical weakness.
- Best Value — top score-per-dollar in its price band.
- Best for Pet Hair — leads the pet & hair handling dimension.
- Best for Hardwood — leads hard-floor cleaning with safe, scratch-free mopping.
- Best Self-Emptying — leads dock automation (empty + wash + dry).
How often we update
- Prices: checked continuously; each review shows a “last verified” date.
- Scores: re-reviewed quarterly and whenever a firmware update or new model shifts the tier.
- Rankings: refreshed whenever a new flagship launches or a price drop changes value leaders.
Read our Editorial Guidelines for how affiliate links, corrections, and conflicts of interest are handled, or meet the people behind the scores.