All robot vacuums offer a relatively hands-off cleaning experience, but if you want to keep your involvement to an absolute minimum, you need a self-emptying model. As they smartly navigate floors, avoiding obstacles and picking up dust, the best self-emptying robot vacuums return to their base whenever their on-board collection bin fills up—and then, as the name implies, they self-empty. Our top pick overall (that we’ve tested) is the iRobot Roomba j7+, a mighty yet compact model with smart navigation technology that can hold up 60 days’ worth of dirt and dust.
“If you have pets or a home that constantly gets dirty and dusty, a self-emptying robot vacuum will alleviate the need to constantly empty the bin in the robot vacuum,” explains Jessica Samson, cleaning expert at The Maids, a country-wide cleaning service. “You only need to empty the docking station every 30 to 60 days, versus emptying the vacuum bin every 1 to 2 days with a regular robot vacuum. This makes it a more autonomous cleaning process.” While typically more expensive than standard models, self-emptying robovacs are objectively more convenient convenience. Ahead, we’ rounded up several of the best self-emptying robot vacuums for every home.
Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum For Hardwood Floors: Samsung Jet Bot+
Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum Overall
A Compact Model That Recognizes And Avoids Obstacles
Best Overall
iRobot Roomba j7+
Base dimensions: 15.7 x 11.9 x 13.3 inches | Robot dimensions: 13.3 x 3.4 inches | Dustbin capacity: 60 days | Max runtime: 90 minutes | Warranty: 3 years | Features: Dirt detection, obstacle avoidance, voice control
Pros:
Compact base can still hold 60 days worth of dirt
Better obstacle detection and avoidance than most models
Creates a detailed map of your home
Can be synced with an iRobot robotic mop
Cons:
Tricky to accurately place “no-go” zones on the map
The Roomba j7+ is the best self-emptying robot vacuum we’ve tested (and two of our contributors have tried it out), thanks to its compact form and superior obstacle avoidance. In fact, it has the best obstacle detection abilities of any Roomba model, as it automatically avoids things like power cords, rogue socks and dog toys that get left on the floor. It can even recognize and avoid pet waste, in case your dog is prone to accidents. “iRobot is so confident in the j7+’s obstacle avoidance abilities that the brand offers a ‘P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise),’ which offers a free replacement vacuum within a year of purchase if it does happen to run into pet waste,” one Forbes Vetted tester writes in her review.
This robot vacuum creates a detailed map of your home, allowing you to label different rooms and even create virtual “no-go” zones. “The vacuum effectively found the rooms I remotely told it to clean and proceeded to vacuum them efficiently,” another contributor writes in her tested review. (That said, it can be tricky to accurately place these on the map.) It uses two multi-surface rubber brushes to capture pet hair, dirt, and dust, and the base uses an enclosed bag to trap all the debris, making it easier to empty than many other models.
Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum And Mop
A High-Powered Vacuum With A Self-Cleaning Mop
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
Base dimensions: 16 x 16.5 x 18.5 inches | Robot dimensions: 14 x 14 x 4 inches | Dustbin capacity: 270 milliliters, or 7 weeks| Max runtime: 180 minutes | Warranty: 1 year | Features: Self-cleaning and -refilling mop, obstacle avoidance, voice control, flexible side brush
Pros:
Self-cleaning and -refilling mop
Live video via the on-board camera
Recognizes and avoids obstacles
Longer-than-average runtime per charge
Cons:
The base is large and bulky
Significantly more expensive than other models
If you want a unit that can do it all (and you’re willing to splurge), the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra can vacuum and mop both carpet and hard floors—and it does so efficiently and thoroughly. Featuring 10,000Pa of suction power, a flexible side brush for hard-to-reach areas and LiDAR navigation technology, this high-end model knows how to maneuver around everything from cords and stuffed animals to tackle the parts of your floor that actually need cleaning. As for its mopping prowess, it can clean your floors with extra-hot water (140 degrees) to lift stubborn stains, plus it has an automatic detergent dispenser.
What’s more, when it’s done working, it empties itself into a sealed dust bag that can hold up to seven weeks’ worth of dirt and debris; it also fills up the robot with cleaning fluid and washes and dries the mopping pad after use. Lastly, it has a cute feature: It comes equipped with a camera that can take photos of your pets as it works. (You can also use the camera to watch the gadget clean your floors in real-time.)
Best Value Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
A Basic, Budget-Friendly Option With A No-Frills Design
Shark EZ Robot Self-Empty
Base dimensions: 13.38 x 18.5 x 11.42 inches | Robot dimensions: Not listed | Dustbin capacity: 0.26 gallons, or 30 days | Max runtime: 60 minutes | Warranty: 1 year | Features: Voice control
Pros:
Good value compared to other self-emptying models
Cleans in a methodical row-by-row pattern
Can be controlled using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
Cons:
No mapping abilities
Doesn’t include boundary strips
The Shark EZ Robot Self-Empty is one of the most affordable self-emptying models available today—it’s actually less expensive than some standard robot vacuums! It has a basic design with minimal features, but it can still store 30 days worth of dirt in its base, meaning less maintenance for you.
This robot vacuum cleans in a row-by-row pattern for improved coverage, and it has two spinning side brushes to help clean along edges and in corners. While it can connect to your smartphone, the features are fairly limited—you can use your phone to start or schedule a cleaning cycle, but the robot doesn’t create a map of your home. Additionally, if you want to block off certain areas, you’ll need to purchase boundary strips, which are sold separately.
Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum For Pet Hair
An Upgraded Version With A Bigger Dustbin And Self-Cleaning Brushroll
Shark IQ Robot Vacuum AV1002AE
Base dimensions: 12.5 x 8.5 X 15 inches | Robot dimensions: 12.9 x 12.6 x 3.5 inches | Dustbin capacity: 45 days | Max runtime: 120 minutes | Warranty: 1 year | Features: Self-cleaning brushroll, voice commands
Pros:
Pet hair won’t get tangled around brushroll
Creates a map of your home for individual room cleaning
High-efficiency filtration to capture pet dander and dust
Cons:
Requires boundary strips to create no-go zones
If you’re constantly struggling to keep pet hair off your floors, the Shark IQ Robot Vacuum has a few key features that make it a top choice for this job. Instead of the brand’s standard multi-surface brush, this robot has a special self-cleaning brushroll that doesn’t get tangled with long strands of hair. It also has a larger base that can hold up to 45 days worth of debris, though you may find that large amounts of hair fills it up more quickly.
Unlike the other Shark vacuum, this model is able to create a virtual map of your home, allowing you to select individual rooms for cleaning. Its multi-stage filtration system is great for capturing pet dander and other allergens, but it still requires boundary strips (not included) if you want to keep it out of certain areas.
Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum For Carpet
A D-Shaped Robot That Digs Deep Into Rugs
iRobot Roomba s9+
Base dimensions: 11.49 x 14.93 x 19.02 inches | Robot dimensions: 12.25 x 3.5 inches | Dustbin capacity: 60 days | Max runtime: 75 minutes | Warranty: 3 years | Features: PerfectEdge Technology, dirt detection, voice control
Pros:
Three-stage cleaning system gets deeper into rugs
D-shaped robot offers better edge and corner cleaning
Able to map specific objects in your home, such as tables or couches
Cons:
Doesn’t have the same obstacle detection as the j7+
For homes with a lot of carpeting, the Roomba s9+ is one of the best self-emptying vacuums. One of iRobot’s latest models, this robot has a unique D-shaped form that features a larger brushroll and does a better job getting into corners and along edges. It also has a three-stage cleaning system that lifts and loosens debris from carpeting, as well as more powerful suction than other Roomba models.
In addition to its powerful cleaning abilities, this vacuum offers comprehensive floor mapping, and it can even make note of specific objects in your home. This means you can direct it to vacuum under the kitchen table or in front of the couch for more targeted spot cleaning. Plus, its large base can hold up to 60 days worth of debris, meaning very little maintenance is required.
Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum For Hardwood Floors
A Sleek Model That Adjusts Suction Based On Floor Type
Samsung Jet Bot+
Base dimensions: 15.8 x 13.8 x 20.7 inches | Robot dimensions: Not listed | Dustbin capacity: 2.5 liters | Max runtime: 90 minutes | Warranty: 1 year | Features: Intelligent power control, real-time tracking, voice control
Pros:
Adjusts suction power to suit flooring type
Fibers on brushroll help to capture fine particles
Five-stage HEPA filtration captures dust and allergens
Self-cleaning brushroll won’t get tangled with pet hair
Cons:
Scheduling options aren’t as flexible as other models
If your home mostly has hardwood floors, the Samsung Jet Bot+ will help keep them spic and span. This self-emptying robot vacuum features intelligent power control that automatically adjusts suction to suit the flooring, and it also has fibers on its brushroll that will help capture dust and fine particles. Plus, the unit is equipped with a five-stage HEPA filter that will keep allergens out of your home.
This sleek robot vacuum creates a detailed map of your home, and you can set up virtual “no-go” zones to keep it out of certain areas. You can even check on its real-time location through the app. However, its scheduling abilities aren’t as flexible as other robot vacuums, which may be inconvenient if you want the robot to clean while you’re away.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted’s home and kitchen team (including their experienced contributors) knows a thing or two about cleaning devices—especially vacuums.
For additional insight, we interviewed Jessica Samson, cleaning expert at The Maids, a country-wide cleaning service.
We regularly review this story to ensure we continue to stand by our picks (and that our favorite models remain in stock). This story was last updated in September 2024.
How We Chose The Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums
To determine the best self-emptying robot vacuums, we conducted extensive research, interviewed an expert and tested out some popular models.
Two Forbes Vetted contributors, Laura Denby and Caroline Mullen, rigorously tested the iRobot Roomba j7+ as part of their respective reviews of the best vacuums for pet hair and the best robot vacuums.
We interviewed a professional cleaning expert to better understand why someone might choose to inves
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