Outsourcing the job of vacuuming to a robot vacuum likely means that your floors are being cleaned more often in general. The only downside of that extra attention is that more debris off the floor means a fuller dustbin faster — and emptying a vacuum's dustbin is arguably the worst part of the chore.
Robot vacuums with automatic emptying allow you to forego that part, too, at least for a few weeks at a time.
Here are our picks for the best self-emptying robot vacuums in 2023:
Hands-off cleaning is evolving, with much more of the process being automated past just the act of cleaning itself. Its latest flagship hybrid, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, empties its own dust bin, refills its own water tank (swapping dirty water for clean when necessary), and not only washes, but also dries its own mop pads, correcting the biggest downfall of the older S7 MaxV Ultra. The dock, though still obnoxiously sized, has also undergone a chic redesign to better disguise the triad of water tanks. Boosted suction on carpet is also more intense: 6,000 Pa versus the older model's 5,100.
At $1,599.99, the S8 Pro Ultra is currently the most expensive robot vacuum on the mainstream market. Its menu of specs is almost identical to that of the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni, which is frequently on sale for less than $1,000 after a year on the market. But even on sale, we'd probably still advise opting for the $1,599.99 Roborock to avoid the IRL frustrations that come with the X1 Omni.
Read our full review of the Roomba Combo j7+.
We would say that the newest Roomba goes where no Roomba has gone before, but it's more about where it doesn't go. The j7+ is ideal for homes that a bit of an obstacle course, like a kitchen that's home to pet food bowls or a bathroom with laundry strewn about. The j7+ uses PrecisionVision Navigation tech — a combination of new sensors and upgraded recognition software — that helps it to avoid obstacles that are typically blind spots.
A year-ish after the release of the j7 and j7+, iRobot also welcomed a mopping iteration of the j7 series. The Combo j7+ operates identically to the regular j7s when it comes to vacuuming, and looks almost identical as well. The only differences are an interior water tank and a retractable mopping pad that scrubs when appropriate, lifts completely over the vacuum body when carpet is sensed, and lays flat when not in use.
Read our full review of the Roomba s9+.
Automatic emptying wasn't the norm when iRobot dropped its fancy new D-shaped vacuum in 2019. The smarts of the s9+ are far more ubiquitous now, but this powerhouse still does one thing better than the newest Roomba, the j7+: deep clean thick carpets.
The s9+ cleans with 40 times the suction of 600 Series Roombas (the j7+ offers 10 times the suction) to provide some of the most thorough carpet attention on the market. Despite such power, the s9+ can still clean for over an hour before retreating to charge and unload debris. The flat edge is also still quite the rarity, and does a better job of snatching dust bunnies and fur balls hiding in corners.
Roborock's newest series makes it hard to justify going fully premium. The Q5+ acts as a buffer price-wise compared to the brand's pricey S7+ and S7 MaxV Ultra, and could be snagged for a mere $599.99 during its very first sale.
The Q5+ hits in all the right places: Allegedly clocking 2,700 Pa in suction power, it's one of the most powerful vacs in this list (surpassing the Roombas). Its compact dock deals with its own debris for seven weeks at a time, rivaling the 45-day capacity of Shark's XL bin. It navigates via a LiDAR-created 2D or 3D map of your home. Downsides, which are minuscule irks at this price, include eating shag rugs and cords, but you can use the app to set a no-go zone.
3,000 Pa of suction is a bold claim that'd top Roomba's best — and at a price point that's almost always under $400 on sale, skepticism is valid. But the suction power on this budget vac is palpable — especially with the automatic carpet boost. Plus, mopping and automatic emptying makes it almost impossible to question whether this Yeedi could lighten your chore load.
The presence of room mapping is also impressive at such a practical price point, despite undercooked quirks like only having the capacity to hold a map of one story at a time. Shaky furniture avoidance isn't so annoying when you can still enjoy the convenience of virtual boundaries in the app.
The iRobot fam has grown considerably since it first brought the self-emptying innovation home...for over $1,000. Now, the i Series exists as a more affordable way in. Apartment dwellers won't be affected much by its inability to target specific rooms. They will, however, appreciate its peaceful noise level and the attention it pays to dirtier spots.
Though the i1+ skimps on some tech, it does benefit from iRobot's sweet software updating system. When the iRobot app gets an update (like the ability to suggest cleaning routines based on where it found the most debris), it applies to all existing Roombas. The best of these updates for the i Series — the addition of iRobot's room-to-room home mapping — skipped the i1 and i2 models. This isn't a major deal for smaller spaces and will save you nearly $100 over the i3+(opens in a new tab).
More in Robot Vacuums
Like a regular robot vacuum, the self-emptying ones navigate around your house tackling dust, dirt, hair, and crumbs, then return to charge without your involvement. But because robot vacuums typically aren't more than four inches tall, there's little real estate inside to house a roomy dustbin like upright Dysons do. A half-liter robot vacuum bin requires manual emptying after few sweeping sessions, if not every single time. Though the fact that they're bagless is nice, you typically end up reaching inside to pull out hairballs that are stuck, or inhaling the inevitable puff of dust.
A self-emptying vacuum actually takes that job out of your hands. It automatically empties itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock, which has the capacity to manage weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out on your end. You can literally set it up and forget about it.
Not having to lift a finger when it comes to floor maintenance is well worth it for anyone who just doesn’t have the time — or the interest — in wrestling an upright vacuum out of the closet every few days. Not only are these handy devices extremely practical for anyone who wants to cut down on the mental load that comes with keeping the house clean, but they allow for more frequent vacuuming than most folks' current manual schedule.
Automatic emptying quickly proves its worth in households where the layer of pet fur would otherwise have you dumping the vacuum's tiny dustbin after just a few rooms. Now, you're off the hook for at least a few weeks.
Leah Stodart is a Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable. She covers shopping trends, gift ideas, and products that make life easier, specializing in vacuums, TVs, and sustainable swaps. She graduated from Penn State University in 2016 and is watching horror movies or "The Office" when she’s not shopping online herself. You can follow her on Twitter at @notleah(opens in a new tab).
Jae Thomas is the Deputy Shopping Editor for Mashable. They specialize in all things outdoor gear, kitchen goods, pet products, and fitness gadgets. Before Jae came to Mashable, they received a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature from New York University and wrote for publications like Bon Appétit, Epicurious, The Daily Beast, Apartment Therapy, and Marie Claire.
When they're not testing products or writing about online shopping, you'll find Jae whipping up an elaborate meal, hiking, camping, or hanging out with their dogs, Miso and Dashi. Reach out to them on Twitter at @jaetaurina(opens in a new tab) or by email at [email protected]
