Having to sweep the crumbs off the kitchen floor, vacuum hair clusters, and empty the bin daily can feel like a full-time job. If there’s anything better than a clean house, it’s having a clean house without lifting a finger. And that’s exactly what self-emptying robot vacuums provide.
Self-emptying vacuums are autonomous cleaning specialists that vacuum your floors and empty themselves into a waste bag upon returning to the docking station. These advanced machines offer a hassle-free way to keep your home spotless. They are especially great for people with dust allergies or busy households.
It can be challenging to identify the best self-emptying robot vacuum from the numerous models available today. But don’t worry. I’ve teamed up with the Cybernews research team to do the homework so you don't have to do it. In this article, I’ll guide you to identify the best self-cleaning robot vacuum for your home.
Best self-emptying robot vacuums – shortlist
- eufy X10 Pro Omni – best robot vacuum for complete automation
- Shark AV2501AE – best robot vacuum for strong suction power
- iRobot Roomba j7+ – best robot vacuum for smart home integration
- Shark AI Ultra – best robot vacuum for homes with shedding animals
- eufy L60 – best robot vacuum for minimal human interference
- ILIFE A12 Pro – best robot vacuum for budget-conscious homes
- Shark UR2500SR – best robot vacuum for smart navigation
The best self-emptying robot vacuums compared
I’ve compiled the comparison table showing all the key features of my top self-emptying robot vacuums to allow you to compare them easily and choose the best vacuum robot for your home.
| Modelname | Best for | Dimensions | Battery life | Mop/vacuum/hybrid | Scheduling | Virtual walls | Remote controls | Phone Control |
| eufy X10 Pro Omni | Complete automation | 14.41" x 18.9" x 18.11" | 173 mins | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shark AV2501AE | Excellent suction power | 13.08" x 8.43" x 13.9" | 120 mins | Vacuum | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iRobot Roomba j7+ | Smart home integration | 13.3" x 13.3" x 3.4"H | 120 mins | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shark AI Ultra | Homes with shedding animals | 8.43" x 13.08" x 13.9" | 120 mins | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| eufy L60 | Minimal human interference | 12.85" x 18.71" x 14.22" | 120 mins | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ILIFE A12 Pro | Budget-conscious homes | 12.4" x 12.4" x 3.66" | 140 mins | Vacuum | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shark UR2500SR | Smart navigation | 13.7" x 13.7" x 4.1" | 120 mins | Vacuum | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
7 best self-emptying robot vacuums – our detailed list
In this section, I will review the best self-emptying robot vacuums in 2025, analyzing their key features, strengths, and drawbacks.
1. eufy X10 Pro Omni – best robot vacuum for complete automation
| Dimensions: | 14.41" × 18.9" × 18.11" |
| Mop/vacuum/hybrid: | Hybrid |
| Battery life: | 173 mins |
| Virtual walls: | Yes |
| Remote control: | Yes |
| Best for: | Complete automation |
The eufy X10 Pro Omni is one of the best robot vacuum and mop combo devices on the market. It features 8,000Pa of suction power, allowing it to gather debris in a single pass, and self-cleaning mop pads that leave your floor spotless.
It automatically empties and gathers debris into a 2.5L waste bag each time it returns to the base station. This eliminates the need for frequent manual interference. You won’t have to replace the waste bag for up to 60 days.
2. Shark AV2501AE – best robot vacuum for strong suction power
| Dimensions: | 13.08" x 8.43" x 13.9" |
| Mop/vacuum/hybrid: | Vacuum |
| Battery life: | 120 mins |
| Virtual walls: | Yes |
| Remote control: | Yes |
| Best for: | Excellent suction power |
If your home is often covered in dust, debris, and hair clusters, the Shark AV2501AE is a top contender for the best robot vacuum for carpet. This self-cleaning vacuum has strong suction power, allowing it to gather dirt on hard flooring or thick carpets effectively.
This device has a bagless base, which means you don’t have to spend money on replacement bags. It also uses HEPA filters to trap 99.7% of dust and allergens, reducing the chances of your allergies acting up when cleaning out the waste.
3. iRobot Roomba j7+ – best robot vacuum for smart home integration
| Dimensions: | 13.3" x 13.3" x 3.4" |
| Mop/vacuum/hybrid: | Hybrid |
| Battery life: | 120 mins |
| Virtual walls: | Yes |
| Remote control: | Yes |
| Best for: | Smart home integration |
The iRobot Roomba j7+ allows you to take your mind off cleaning. You can control it remotely from anywhere as it integrates seamlessly with your smartphone and smart home devices.
It has a three-stage cleaning process and uses 10x more suction power than the average robot vacuum. It also has an edge cleaning brush and dual multi-surface rubber brushes that adjust based on the surface.
4. Shark AI Ultra – best robot vacuum for homes with shedding animals
| Dimensions: | 8.43" x 13.08" x 13.9" |
| Mop/vacuum/hybrid: | Hybrid |
| Battery life: | 120 mins |
| Virtual walls: | Yes |
| Remote control: | Yes |
| Best for: | Homes with shedding animals |
The Shark AI Ultra is a powerful, hybrid vacuum perfect for homes with shedding animals. This self-emptying robot vacuum uses its self-cleaning brush roll to dig deep into thick carpets.
This vacuum’s powerful suction can handle even the trickiest pet hair clusters and automatically empties itself into its bagless base in the base station.
5. eufy L60 – best vacuum robot for minimal human interference
| Dimensions: | 12.85" x 18.71" x 14.22" |
| Mop/vacuum/hybrid: | Hybrid |
| Battery life: | 120 mins |
| Virtual walls: | Yes |
| Remote control: | Yes |
| Best for: | Minimal human interference |
Due to its large capacity, the eufy L60 gives you 60 days of hands-free cleaning. It transfers all the collected dust and debris into a 2.5L waste bag that you can simply pull out and replace when it's full.
It also has about 5,000Pa of suction power, which ensures it can effectively clean floors and carpets in one go. The self-emptying base station is also equipped with hair-detangling technology that eliminates the need to remove hair from the roller brush manually.
6. ILIFE A12 Pro – best vacuum robot for budget-conscious homes
| Dimensions: | 12.4" x 12.4" x 3.66" |
| Mop/vacuum/hybrid: | Hybrid |
| Battery life: | 140 mins |
| Virtual walls: | Yes |
| Remote control: | Yes |
| Best for: | Budget-conscious homes |
The best part about the ILIFE A12 Pro is that it offers high functionality but doesn’t cost a fortune. This self-emptying vacuum is a two-in-one hybrid device that can easily vacuum and clean your carpets or hard floors.
The ILIFE A12 Pro has a self-empty feature and five 2.5L waste bags. Each bag can accumulate dust and debris for as long as eight weeks, and with five free bags, you’d be getting around 40 weeks' worth of waste bags before you’d need to buy a new set.
7. Shark UR2500SR – best robot vacuum for smart navigation
| Dimensions: | 13.7" x 13.7" x 4.1" |
| Mop/vacuum/hybrid: | Vacuum |
| Battery life: | 120 mins |
| Virtual walls: | Yes |
| Remote control: | Yes |
| Best for: | Smart navigation |
Getting a Shark UR2500SR reduces the need to constantly rescue your robot vacuum when it gets stuck. Sometimes, it's not just about having a robot vacuum that empties itself, but one that can operate with minimal input, including navigation.
The Shark UR2500SR uses 360-degree LiDAR vision mapping technology to map your home and adapt to daily changes, allowing you to customize its cleaning cycles.
How did we select the best self-emptying robot vacuums?
Here are the main factors I considered when ranking the best self-emptying robot vacuum cleaners.
Extensive research (50%)
The Cybernews research team and I analyzed product specifications, customer feedback, and comments from online communities. This helped me narrow down the best self-cleaning robot vacuum for different needs and capture their true capabilities.
Key selection factors (50%)
- Suction power and mopping efficiency. I assessed the market for robot vacuum models with at least 2,500Pa of suction power to easily clean dust and debris on thick carpet. I also prioritized vacuums with advanced mopping techniques like vibrating pads.
- Smart features. I picked models with a companion app that allows you to customize clean cycles, schedule no-go zones, and receive updates from the device remotely.
- Battery life and auto-recharge. I chose vacuum models with reasonable run times to ensure they can clean large spaces and automatically return to the base station.
- Obstacle avoidance and navigation. I selected models with good navigational systems, such as LiDAR vision or advanced AI mapping technology, to avoid obstacles around your home.
How do self-emptying robot vacuums work?
Before diving deeper, let me briefly explain how these robot vacuums work:
- Self-emptying mechanism. The device has a powerful suction that connects to the moving robot and sucks out all the accumulated waste into a waste compartment.
- Bagged vs. bagless self-emptying vacuum. Bagged base stations have a disposable waste bag that stores collected debris. Bagless base stations, however, have a dedicated reusable compartment for storing waste.
- Benefits. Self-cleaning vacuums eliminate the need to empty the waste bin for a few weeks or months. Bagged vacuum models also trap dust allergens using HEPA filters and enclosed bags.
Are self-emptying robot vacuums really worth it?
If you have a busy household, self-emptying robot vacuums go a step further to automate your home cleaning, only require minimal maintenance every 30 to 60 days.
They're also among the best robot vacuum for pets, thanks to their ability to handle pet hair with ease. The self-empty feature is perfect for people with allergies, as bagged models use disposable bags with HEPA filters that trap 99.7% of allergens like dust mites.
However, it does come with some drawbacks. For starters, bagged models require additional disposable bags, incurring extra costs over time. Some models also take up a large amount of space, and there’s also the issue of the high price tag for the premium versions.
After extensive research with the Cybernews team, I don’t think self-emptying robot vacuums are for everyone. However, they are an excellent choice if you have a busy home or are like me and don’t have enough patience for daily cleaning.
How much does a self-emptying robot vacuum cost?
The features of a self-emptying robot vacuum often determine its cost. Here’s a breakdown of the price and features of different self-cleaning robot vacuum cleaners:
- Budget models ($150–$300). They offer basic functionality, limited features, and often no mopping functionality. They also have the weakest suction power.
- Mid-range models ($300–$600). Mid-range options have better suction power, between 3,000Pa and 5,000Pa. They also have LiDAR navigation and obstacle avoidance systems and offer basic app controls.
- Premium models ($600+). These top-of-the-line models offer advanced AI navigation and mapping systems and powerful suction — up to 6,000Pa. They are often hybrids and have more smart features.
How long does a robot vacuum last?
Several factors can influence how long your self-emptying robot vacuum lasts. Most of these factors depend on how you maintain it.
- Average lifespan. Most robot vacuums have an average life span of three to five years, depending on maintenance, usage, and brand.
- Factors affecting longevity. The battery often dies first due to constant use. And, due to wear and tear, you may need to replace other parts, like the brush, rollers, and filters. Frequent software updates can also improve performance.
- Tips for extending lifespan. Try not to overuse your robot vacuum, clean it regularly, and store it in a cool place. Also, follow the manufacturer’s guide for replacing various parts.
How do robot vacuums compare to normal vacuum cleaners?
Let’s briefly compare robot vacuums and traditional vacuum cleaners:
- Efficiency. Robot vacuums are designed to run daily and handle pet hair, debris, and dust easily. However, traditional vacuums are generally more effective for cleaning deep-rooted dirt.
- Convenience. Robot vacuums autonomously clean your home with minimal input. Traditional vacuums, however, require time and manual effort.
- Suction power. Traditional vacuums have stronger suction power, making them ideal for heavy-duty cleaning. However, most robot vacuums struggle with large debris.
- Price difference. Traditional vacuums are cheaper than robot vacuums because they offer fewer features. Robot vacuums with advanced features are significantly more expensive.
What to look for in a self-emptying robot vacuum?
Here are some key features to look out for when choosing the best self-emptying robot vacuum for your home:
- Suction power. Pick a self-empty vacuum with at least 3000Pa suction power. This ensures the device can effectively clean dust and debris.
- Navigation system. Choose a model with LiDAR or vSLAM navigation. LiDAR is more efficient and can maintain accuracy in low-light situations. On the other hand, vSLAM relies on visual cues and may struggle in low-light conditions like nighttime.
- Dustbin capacity. The larger the dustbin capacity, the more hands-free operation time you have.
- Battery life and charging. If you want to be able to clean large areas on a single charge, pick a model that can last at least 150 minutes and automatically return to the base station for a power boost.
- Smart features. Choose a model with voice and app controls which will allow you to customize cleaning cycles.
- Mopping functionality (optional). Look out for a self-emptying vacuum robot and mop combo that has self-cleaning and rotating or vibrating mop pads.
- Bagged vs. bagless auto-emptying stations. Bagged models are more hygienic but require additional costs to replace bags. While bagless models are more cost-efficient, they may release dust allergens when emptied.
A final word on the best self-emptying robot vacuums
Self-cleaning robot vacuums offer a level of convenience that is hard to beat. However, it’s essential to consider your specific needs, lifestyle, and budget when choosing one.
Based on my extensive research, the Eufy X10 Pro Omni is the best self-emptying robot vacuum in 2025. Its hybrid nature and capacity to autonomously clean your home hands-free for up to 60 days are game-changers. This robot vacuum has an AI-powered obstacle avoidance system and superior cleaning mechanisms to ensure your floors are left spotless and your carpets are debris-free.
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FAQ
Do self-emptying robot vacuums need bags?
No, not all self-emptying robot vacuums need bags. There are two types of robot vacuums: bagged and bagless models. Bagged models are more hygienic because they store waste in an enclosed bag. However, bagless models store waste in a large reusable container.
Can a self-emptying robot vacuum handle pet hair?
Yes, most self-emptying robot vacuums can handle pet hair. They are equipped with strong suction power, brushes, and rollers specifically designed to deal with pet hair, dust, and debris.
How often do I need to empty the base station?
Typically, you would need to empty the base station every 30 to 60 days, depending on the capacity. But if your home accumulates a lot of hair or dirt, you may need to empty it more frequently.
Do self-emptying vacuums work on all floor types?
Yes, most self-emptying vacuums work on all floor types. They have sensors that distinguish between hard flooring and rugs or carpets, allowing them to switch between suction and mopping pads for optimal cleaning.
Can I use a self-emptying vacuum without Wi-Fi?
Yes, some self-emptying robot vacuums are designed to function without Wi-Fi. However, for models that require a Wi-Fi connection, you cannot use features such as scheduling, smart mapping, and setting no-go zones without a Wi-Fi connection.
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