The Best Self-Empting Vacuums

Robot vacuums are fantastic in keeping your floors spotless, but they often come with small dust bins that require manual emptying after each cleaning session. The best models have self-emptying bases that eliminate this step, allowing for an effortless experience.

The most effective self-emptying vacuum comes with docking stations that can hold up to 45 days of debris without requiring intervention from you. Smart vacuums can also track your home and avoid power cords as well as other obstacles.

1. Roomba iRobot s9+

iRobot pioneered self-emptying robot vacuums with the Roomba i7. It took that technology to the next level with the s9+. The flagship model is costly but it also offers the highest performance of any robovac we've tested and comes with upgrades that other brands can only envy.

It first collects dirt in its Clean Base. Then, it emptys that into a large dust bag that you throw away every 60 days. This is a great option for those who want to clean their home without having to touch it, but want peace of mind knowing that their home is free of germs and allergens.

The s9+ also features advanced corner-cleaning abilities that get it closer to walls than the previous models, and it's better in spot cleaning too. If it detects that a specific area requires more attention, the app will send it back there with an recurring schedule. If the area is very dirty, the s9 returns to it with a more powerful suction until all the mess is cleared away.

You can control the s9+ with the included app or using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (the s9+ can support both) It allows you complete voice commands, including the ability to start and stop, as well as pause. You can program the robot to begin and stop its work at a certain time or let it decide when it should return to its dock.

The s9+ is great on flooring that is clean. It can easily take small pieces of debris, like rice, as well as larger objects like cereal. It is also good for cleaning carpets with low piles and has a strong suction, even if the dirt compartment is stuffed. However, it does not perform as well on thicker carpets.

2. Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra

The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is a robot vacuum and mop which can sweep, detect rugs, and self-clean making it one of the most hands-free robotic cleaners on the market. Its advanced navigation and mapping systems offer the best maneuverability, while its companion app gives you access to a range of cleaning configuration options. It also supports third-party apps that let you monitor your home as it is in motion.

Like its predecessor, the S7 MaxV Ultra is excellent at sweeping both hard floors and carpets. It scored very well in our tests of dirt pickup and was able to handle difficult-to-clean tasks such as the sand embedding test as well as the carpet deep clean test, which we carry out by weighing the dustbin of the robot before and after a set amount of time. The S7 MaxV Ultra also does an excellent job at mopping. It has plenty of suction to take care of big and small particles, as well as pet fur on floors without carpet. It is a bit more difficult to deal with hair on densely woven low-pile carpet, but it is able to collect the majority of the hair on this floor type.

This model is among the quietest that we've ever evaluated. Its low-power Quiet mode generates a maximum noise of only 57.5 dBA. It's not as discrete when it's in its highest power 'Max' mode which can produce over 80 dBA.

The S7 MaxV Ultra is equipped with a dock that automatically refills the water tank of the robot, as well as emptying its dust bin. It's a little more difficult to set up than the X1 Omni but it isn't difficult. Once you've got your robot set up and configured it will operate by itself without any intervention from you.

3. Shark IQ and XL

The Shark IQ Robot XL has a powerful suction, and plenty of smart features. It comes with self-emptying bags that are bagless and also maps your home as it cleans to provide full coverage. You can control the SharkClean using the SharkClean App or by voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also use physical boundary markers to limit the access of the device.

It's a minimalist, all-black appearance and feel. It is incredibly easy to put together out-of-the-box, with just a few snaps to attach the side brushes included and the charging dock. The dirt compartment may be small, so you'll need to empty it quite often.

IQ Robot XL performed well in tests and responded quickly to the app's commands. The app lets you choose power modes, modify settings, and even check the level of battery power while it's in use. The app also has an Find Robot button that helps you locate the device if it gets lost.

The IQ Robot XL, like other Shark products has a powerful suction that is capable of handling dust bunnies and dog hair. The self-cleaning brushroll stops hair from sticking to the machine as it combs debris. Its navigation module uses a combination of sensors to monitor the surrounding area as it moves, however the process isn't as extensive as robots that use LIDAR modules. The IQ Robot XL must run several clean cycles to map your space.

Comparing to the iRobot Roomba 690, the Shark IQ Robot XL is more durable, has lower costs for recurring maintenance, and delivers stronger performance across different surfaces. The iRobot is more durable, charges faster, and offers similar battery performance. It also comes with an array of sophisticated automation features that allow you to customize the coverage map for your home with no-go zones.

4. Eufy 11S

The Eufy 11S is a great option for those looking for an automated vacuum that can be cleaned on their schedule, but doesn't require a smartphone or voice control. This slim robot is easy to install and maintain, and is able to remove dust and dirt with minimal effort. It is recommended for light daily cleanings in order to keep your floors looking fantastic.

It's not as impressive as other top picks but has some advantages worth considering. For instance, its slim stature lets it navigate under furniture with a low profile that other vacuums cannot. It also has an effective "Quick Clean" mode that uses multiple steps to clean your floors as thoroughly as possible. The "Smart Pathing" feature is less efficient, but is still good enough to avoid repeating the same cleaning path repeatedly.

This model isn't able to perform as well as the iRobot Roomba S9+, although it's better than the Coredy R550 (which is the same price) and bObsweep Bob Pro. The iRobot is better-built, incurs lower costs for recurring repairs and has a larger dirt compartment and lasts longer on a charge, and maneuvers more effectively. It also removes pet hair more effectively and performs better on floors that are carpeted and unfinished.

The Eufy 11S is more expensive than the iRobot Roomba 614, but it's also more expensive than the Ecovacs N79S. The iRobot Roomba 614 is more expensive but it's also better built, has an extended battery life and can collect more dirt and dust. It is also simpler to maintain and has less recurring expenses. It also comes with more features for automation. The companion app is better, providing more useful information about the vacuum's current battery's status and levels.

5. Ecovacs Deebot Pro+

It may look like almost every other robot vacuum on the market however, this one has a few clever tricks up its sleeve. It allows you to use the app to manage the power levels of mops, vacuums, and even customize your preferences. Its 2600Pa suction power is impressive and, at 67dB, it's quieter than other robots I've tried.

The Deebot N8 Pro+ is also able to avoid obstacles due to its TrueDetect 3D laser. This technology uses structured light to scan a space and map out the contents, which means it can work around furniture as well as showpieces, shoes and charger cables. It's much more precise than other robots as it works at the millimeter scale to recognize small objects and devise an approach around them.

Using the ECOVACS app allows you to also track the progress of your robot, schedule cleaning sessions and adjust settings from wherever you are. It also allows you to set specific boundaries to give you better control of where it cleans. This keeps it from important family items as well as messy school projects and laundry.

The app is easy to use and gives clear instructions for getting started, with the entire setup process taking about an hour from beginning to the end. Once it's mapped your house, quietest you can let it run on its own or create a customized Ultimate Cleaning Power: Ultenic TS1 Robot Vacuum schedule for each room. It will return to its charging dock when the battery runs low and continue exactly where it left off when it's fully charged again. An auto-empty dustbin is included with the ECOVACS Deebot N8 Pro+, so you won't have to touch its contents unless you need to change the dust bag.