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As you might imagine, these vacuums tend to cost more than manual models. Is the premium worth it for you? Read on for an overview of how they work, what to look for when buying one, and the best self-emptying robot vacuums we've tested.
I test these products regularly and one of the best innovations in the space in recent years has been the development of robots that can empty their own dustbins. After making the switch, you won't ever want to go back. Beyond offering greater convenience than their traditional counterparts, self-emptying robot vacuums significantly limit your exposure to dust, a big plus if you suffer from allergies.
The whole point of a robot vacuum is to cut down on your housework, but cleaning the unit itself can become just another chore on your (probably already long) list. If you're tired of emptying your bot's bursting dustbin on the daily, consider investing in a more self-sufficient model with automatic bin-emptying abilities.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
4.5 Outstanding
The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is among the most advanced robotic floor cleaners on the market, with the ability to both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, wash and dry its own mop cloth, and refill its water tank. It even doubles as a roving home security camera with two-way audio and features a built-in voice assistant (dubbed Yiko) that enables voice controls without a separate smart speaker. When its dustbin is full, the X2 Omni empties the contents into a 3-liter dust bag in its base station. When you run out of bags, you need to buy replacements from Ecovacs ($39.98 for a pack of six).
This top-of-the-line model is suitable for those who are willing to pay a premium for convenience. With solid battery life, strong suction power, and AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology, the X2 Omni is an excellent option for large homes, as well as those with pets. The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra offers similar features and performance, but the X2 Omni is our Editors' Choice thanks to its more streamlined design, Yiko virtual assistant, larger dust bags, and built-in hot air mop dryer.
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$1,044.99 Amazon
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Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Review
4.5 Outstanding
The iRobot Roomba j7+ is one of the smartest standalone robot vacuums you can buy, with a pet waste-evasion guarantee and a self-emptying base that means you rarely have to lift a finger. It uses a built-in camera and machine learning technology to recognize obstacles in its path and automatically reroute around them. When it docks after a cleaning run, the robot automatically empties its dustbin into an allergen-sealed bag that holds around 60 days' worth of debris, depending on how often you vacuum and the cleanliness of your home. You get two in the box; when you run out, you can purchase a pack of three for $19.99. As with the Combo model, its self-emptying base is fairly compact and looks classy, with a matte ribbed texture on the canister and a leather pull tab on the lid.
If you have a cluttered home or accident-prone pets, the iRobot Roomba j7+ is the model to buy. It comes with a P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise) guarantee: If the Roomba j7+ fails to avoid solid pet waste within a year of purchase, iRobot will send you a new one for free. Also check out the Combo model, which carries a $300 premium over the standard Roomba j7+ and adds one key feature: mopping.
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$469.00 Amazon
$799.99 iRobot
$709.99 Walmart
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iRobot Roomba j7+ Review
4.5 Outstanding
Although most self-emptying robot vacuums transfer the contents of their bin into a bag, the Shark IQ Robot XL takes a different approach. It has two dustbins: one in the robot itself, and a larger one in the base station that you need to empty only about once a month. The advantage of Shark's bagless auto-empty system is that you never have to worry about running out of bags. Otherwise, it delivered strong suction power in our tests, effectively cleaning dust, debris, and pet hair from hard flooring and carpet, and it never got stuck.
If you want to upgrade from a basic robot vacuum to one with self-emptying abilities, the Shark IQ Robot XL is an excellent choice. Thanks to its bagless self-emptying system and self-cleaning brushroll, it's one of the lowest-maintenance models we've tested. That said, allergy sufferers might prefer the comparably priced Roomba i3+ EVO, which empties its bin into an AllergenLock bag, thus preventing any dust exposure. The more expensive Shark AI XL is another compelling choice that offers double the bin capacity of the Shark IQ XL.
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$333.00 Amazon
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Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL RV1001AE Review
4.5 Outstanding
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra stands alongside the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni as one of the most hands-off floor-cleaning robots on the market. Like the Omni, this high-end hybrid can do it all: It vacuums and mops your floors, then empties its dustbin, washes its mopping cloth, and refills its water tank so it's always ready for the next run. With a maximum suction rating of 5,100 pascals (Pa), the S7 MaxV Ultra is among the most powerful models we've tested, too. It comes with a preinstalled 2.5-liter dust bag and an extra one in the box. Replacement bags cost $31.99 for a pack of six.
If you're deciding between this Roborock model and the similar X2 Omni, go with the former if you have a lot of hard flooring and you mainly care about mopping performance. Roborock's bot uses sonic vibrations to scrub your floors 3,000 times per minute, whereas the X2 Omni's circular mopping pads spin at just 180 revolutions per minute. Both robots left our test floors spotless, but the S7 MaxV Ultra is slightly better at deep cleaning. We prefer this model over the newer Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, which has a non-removable mop mount and slightly scratched our floors in testing.
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$1,299.99 Amazon
$700.99 Best Buy
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Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra Review
4.0 Excellent
The older Roomba s9+ boasts some strengths over the newer Roomba j7+, including stronger suction power and better edge cleaning thanks to its D shape. When the s9+ docks itself, the Clean Base automatically sucks up all the dirt it collected. The base holds up to 30 cleaning runs' worth of debris and the app notifies you when it's time to swap it out for a new one. The vacuum comes with two bags, and you can buy more in packs of three for $19.99.
With 40 times the suction power of the Roomba 600 series, the s9+ is the strongest choice among iRobot's lineup for homes with carpets or shedding pets. But if lots of objects crowd your floors or your pets occasionally have accidents in the house, the Roomba j7+ is the better option.
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$599.99 Amazon
$999.00 Walmart
$1,099.99 iRobot
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iRobot Roomba s9+ Review
4.0 Excellent
The Roborock S7+ is a top-notch mop and vacuum hybrid that offers similar cleaning performance and features as the S7 MaxV Ultra for $450 less. Its dock has a two-chamber design with a curved HEPA air filter on the left and a 3-liter disposable dust bag on the right. When the robot docks after cleaning, the auto-empty function initiates automatically, sucking all the debris from the bin into the dust bag while expelling clean air from the outlet atop the HEPA chamber. It comes with a dust bag preinstalled and one extra; a 12-pack of replacement bags will set you back $41.99.
The Roborock S7+ works well on hard flooring and carpet but is best for homes that have both. Its long battery life and excellent obstacle-avoidance abilities make it a strong option for large homes with cluttered floors. With 2,500Pa of suction power, a self-emptying dustbin, and a bigger-than-average HEPA filter, it's a strong choice for allergy sufferers and pet owners. That said, the more expensive S7 MaxV Ultra offers much stronger suction power (up to 5,100Pa), automatic mop washing and refilling features, and home monitoring abilities.
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$949.98 Amazon
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Roborock S7+ Review
4.0 Excellent
This midrange Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ 2-in-1 is equally adept at vacuuming and mopping your floors, and it can empty its own dustbin after it completes the job. High-end robot vacuums now tip 8,000Pa of suction, but you don't necessarily need that much power. Its rating of 2,600Pa is still sufficient for carpeting and pet hair if you let it do multiple passes. In testing, the N8 Pro+'s automatic bin emptying feature worked well, always successfully transferring debris to the bag in the base. It comes with a hypoallergenic disposable dust bag preinstalled and there's an extra one in the box. Additional packs of three bags go for $20.
The Ozmo N8 Pro+ is a couple of years old, but it's still a worthwhile choice, especially because we've seen it on sale for around $400. That's a steal considering the Roomba i3+ EVO costs about the same and lacks mopping support. In this price range, we also like the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI; it adds home monitoring abilities, but has less suction power (1,500 Pa) and requires you to purchase its auto-empty dock separately.
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$348.49 Amazon
$348.49 Walmart
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Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ Review
4.0 Excellent
The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ is the first floor-cleaning robot with a fully retractable mop, a feature that allows this pricey 2-in-1 to suction debris and remove grime in a single run without wetting carpets. It supports self-emptying and comes with two Dirt Disposal bags, each of which holds roughly 60 days' worth of debris assuming normal use. Replacement packs of three cost $19.99.
The Combo j7+ offers the same advanced AI obstacle avoidance technology and poop-evasion guarantee as the standard non-mopping Roomba j7+, so it's an excellent option for homes with a mix of floor types. Some high-end competitors on this list offer more scrubbing oomph and require less mop maintenance, but the Combo j7+ is a top choice for efficient double-duty cleaning runs.
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$699.00 Amazon
$699.00 Walmart
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iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ Review
4.0 Excellent
The Roomba i3+ EVO is iRobot's most affordable model with a self-emptying dustbin. It offers 10 times the suction power of the entry-level Roomba 600 series and did a good job of removing dirt from hard floors and carpets in testing. When it finds an especially dirty area, it automatically engages Dirt Detect mode and moves over the offending spot multiple times. This model also boasts smart mapping capabilities, so you can send it to specific rooms with phone or voice commands. Its Clean Base comes with a preinstalled bag and you get an extra one in the box. Replacements cost $19.99 for a pack of three.
The Roomba i3+ EVO is a compelling option if you suffer from allergies because it uses a high-efficiency filter to capture allergens as it cleans, and transfers its bin contents into a bag. One caveat is that the i3+ EVO's mapping capabilities are limited to a single floor; its pricier siblings can remember multiple floors, a must for multi-level homes). For comparison, the Roomba j7+ boasts more advanced obstacle-avoidance tech and the Roomba s9+ offers the most suction power in iRobot's lineup.
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$299.66 Amazon
$349.00 Walmart
$549.99 Best Buy
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iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO Review
4.0 Excellent
The Shark AI Self-Empty XL offers the same bagless self-emptying system as the Shark IQ XL, just with double the bin capacity. Shark estimates that the large dustbin in its base station can hold up to 60 days worth of dust and debris between manual emptyings. The base station canister traps 99.97% of dust and allergens down to 0.3 microns, complying with HEPA standards according to the company. A transparent window on the right side of the base lets you check the fill level. This model also offers an UltraClean Mode for pet hair and carpeting. In testing, the vacuum delivered strong suction power, effectively collecting dust, debris, and pet hair from hard flooring and carpet. It got stuck occasionally, however.
Shark makes some of the best-performing robot vacuums we've tested, but for homes with shedding pets, we recommend this model over the more affordable Shark IQ XL because of its larger bin capacity. We also appreciate the convenience of Shark's bagless auto-empty system, but allergy sufferers should stick with an option that uses bags to avoid all potential exposure.
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$420.68 Amazon
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Shark AI Self-Empty XL RV2502AE ReviewBuying Guide: The Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums for 2023
Using a standard robot vacuum can sometimes feel like trading one dirty task for another: You no longer have to vacuum your floors, but you have to clean your robot all the time—ideally after every run—to ensure it continues to work properly. When manually emptying a robot vacuum's dustbin, some of what's trapped in there inevitably escapes into the air. If you're allergic to dust like I am, I recommend wearing a mask when doing this chore. I tend to start coughing and sneezing without one.
Roomba s9+ (Credit: iRobot)
Most self-emptying robot vacuums eliminate this step. They typically come with a sizable base station that charges the robot and features a canister on top with an allergen-sealed bag that holds at least a month's worth of debris.
When the robot docks in the base after a cleaning run, the auto-empty function initiates automatically. The process produces a lot of noise for about 15 to 30 seconds—about the volume of an old-school standing vacuum—as it sucks the debris from the robot's bin into the dust bag. When the bag is full, you usually get an alert in the robot's companion app. The robot or base also likely has a full-bag indicator light. Needless to say, these models offer a far superior user experience than traditional robot vacuums that require a significant amount of manual labor.
Self-emptying robot vacuums have existed for about a decade, but they didn't really take off until iRobot introduced the Roomba i7+ in 2018. With a $949.99 debut price, it was one of the priciest robot vacuums we'd seen up to that point, but it still impressed us in testing.
Since then, iRobot and its competitors have steadily released new self-emptying robot vacuums, and the pricing on these models has been coming down. A couple of years ago, it would have been difficult to find one for less than $1,000, but that's no longer the case. They're still not cheap, but you can now find self-emptying models in the $600 range (or less on sale).
Roborock S7+ (Credit: Roborock)
In 2020, iRobot introduced its most affordable model with a self-emptying dustbin, the Roomba i3+, and it's a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade from a traditional model that requires manual bin emptying.
Most self-emptying robot vacuums bundle everything you need in the box. Others, such as the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI, come with a standard docking station but require you to purchase the auto-empty base separately. All-in-one models are generally easier to set up, but buying the components separately gives you the flexibility to use the robot with the auto-empty dock or its standard docking station.
Aside from the hefty price, one of the drawbacks of self-emptying models is the ongoing cost of replacement bags. Self-emptying vacuums typically come with one dust bag preinstalled in the base and one extra in the box. As mentioned, each dust bag holds around a month of debris, but that depends on how often you vacuum and the cleanliness of your floors. The cost of replacement bags varies, but expect to pay around $20 for a pack of three to six.
You can find knockoffs online, but it's worth it to buy the official bags. We tried third-party bags with the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, and a poor-fitting cardboard mount prevented the auto-emptying feature from working properly.
If the ongoing cost of dust bags deters you, you might prefer Shark models, which have a unique, bagless auto-empty system. After docking, the vacuum automatically empties its dustbin into a larger, bagless bin in the base that you need to manually empty only about once per month. When its large dustbin is full, you hold it over the trash, press the Empty button on the side, and the bottom opens so the contents fall directly into the trash. It's a relatively clean process, though if you have a severe dust allergy, you might prefer a model that uses bags.
Roomba j7+ (Credit: iRobot)
Another thing to keep in mind: Most auto-empty models are an eyesore. Due to the canister on top, self-emptying base stations are typically much larger than traditional robot vacuum docks. If aesthetics are a big concern and you can't hide the robot away in a corner, this could be a drawback.
Fortunately, vendors seem to be placing more of an emphasis on design as of late. The Roomba j7+, iRobot's latest self-emptying robot vacuum, features a classier canister design than previous models, with a matte ribbed texture on the front and a leather pull tab to open the lid.
Finally, whether you decide to go with a self-emptying vacuum or a standard model, be sure to read up on our robot vacuum tips to get the most out of your new cleaning companion. And if you are loyal to iRobot, we have a roundup of the best Roombas.