The 6 Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums, Tested and Reviewed

Final Verdict

Overall, we recommend the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum With Object Recognition. This self-emptying vacuum picked up all the debris we scattered on our rug and hard floor, and it moved around and under furniture with ease. It also successfully dodged objects on the ground and came with some impressive smart features, including the ability to livestream its performance to your smartphone thanks to its built-in camera.

Our Testing Process

We tested 11 self-emptying robot vacuums in our Lab and assessed them based on setup, effectiveness, noise level, maneuverability, features, ease of emptying, and overall value. Our first test involved taking the robot vacuums out of their boxes and evaluating how quickly and easily we could assemble the product.

Next, our testers evaluated the effectiveness of the robot vacuum by putting debris—wig hair, faux fur hair, Cheerios, and sand—on the hard floor and rug to see if it could completely suck up those materials in a two-minute time period. If the vacuum couldn’t, we noted how many additional passes it took and if any of the debris got stuck in the machine, like the in wheels and brush roll.

For the robot vacuums that have a mopping feature, we tested each model’s effectiveness by putting coffee and syrup on our floor and seeing how well it was able to clean the mess in a two-minute time period. We noted if it took multiple passes and if there was any smearing or leftover sticky residue. Our testers also judged the maneuverability of these machines by seeing if they could easily slide under furniture, go between chair legs, and transition from the rug to the floor (and vice versa) without any issues. We also left out a USB cable, a sock, and chocolate pudding (to simulate pet waste) to see if the robot vacuums could detect them and successfully avoid them.

Finally, our testers evaluated the ease of emptying each robot vacuum. We noted if the robot vacuum successfully emptied its own contents by itself without any errors or malfunctioning. We also considered the size of the dustbin and bag, how many days you could leave the dust bag in the docking station, and if emptying the dust bag made any mess.

How to Shop for Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums

Capacity

Capacity is an important factor to consider when shopping for robot vacuums because it determines how much debris it can hold and how much can be stored in a dust bag before it needs to be replaced. Because of their very small size, robot vacuums can only hold so much (upwards of two cups). Before you buy one, assess how much debris would need to be picked up from your floors. If your floors are more likely to be riddled with frequent little messes, such as those from kids or pets, then it’s best to go with a robot vacuum with a larger dustbin. But according to Dodge, there isn’t a large range of dustbin capacity between robot vacuums, so don’t spend too much time searching for the largest. The dustbin capacities of the models on our list range from 0.2 to 0.42 liters.

Another thing to consider is how often you want to change the dust bag. The dust bag, located in the docking station, is usually able to hold a lot more, so you don’t need to empty it frequently. In fact, most manufacturers specify how many days you can leave the dust bag in the docking station before it needs to be emptied. If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy having to empty dust and debris, get a robot vacuum with a docking station that only needs to be emptied every couple of months. However, Dodge says that households with furry friends shouldn’t wait too long to empty the dust bag, as pet messes can quickly cause a smell.

Battery Life

The average battery life of a robot vacuum on one charge is between 1.5 to 2 hours, according to Dodge, although it depends on the vacuuming mode you’re using, the type of floor, and the condition of the battery. If you want your robot vacuum to clean the entirety of your apartment or home, choose one with a longer battery life. But if you’re only programming it to run in dirtier areas of your home, such as your dining area or kitchen floors where bits of food are bound to fall on the floor, you may not need a robot vacuum with a very long battery life.

Extra Features

Self-emptying robot vacuums come with so many extra features that make the experience of owning one all the more convenient and fun. For some, you can download a smartphone app and control where the robot vacuum does and doesn’t go in your home. You can also create a map of your home on that app and watch as the vacuum moves about your home. Others can be connected to devices equipped with Amazon Alexa or Google Home so you can control the vacuum with voice commands. These additional features often come at a higher price though, so if you don’t feel like you need them, there’s no need to spend the extra money.

More Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums to Consider

Roomba i7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum: Although our tester was satisfied with how well this robot vacuum cleaned the floor and rug (minus its inability to pick up Cheerios and some hair), they were disappointed with the self-emptying mechanism, which failed to empty out all its contents into the docking station’s dust bag.

Neabot NoMo Q11 Three-in-One Robot Vacuum Cleaner: This affordable robot vacuum—which doubles as a mop—did an okay job at moving around our space and getting rid of messes. It sucked up our loose cables and a rogue sock, but it was only able to clean up 50 percent of the debris we left on our floor.

Questions You Might Ask

How does a self-emptying robot vacuum work?

These types of robot vacuums automatically empty the dustbins into their docking stations. Within the docking station is a dust bag that collects all the debris. Instead of emptying the dustbin every time you vacuum, all you have to do is simply remove the docking station’s bag when it’s full and replace it. This feature is usually designed to filter out and trap fine dust particles that would otherwise release into your home’s air, making it a great option for people with household allergies.

How long does it take to charge a robot vacuum?

According to Dodge, the charging times of a robot vacuum can vary. “For the first charge after purchase, or battery replacement, it may be up to 16 hours to charge a robot in full,” he says. “Day-by-day charging usually lasts about 2–3 hours.”

Be sure to check your instruction manual to confirm, as some of the robot vacuums we tested claimed to take between four and seven hours to completely charge. We know this all seems like a long time, especially if you are used to using a normal vacuum. To maximize your battery life, always keep your robot vacuum in its docking station, where it can charge. That way, if you have a sudden mess that needs cleaning, you can deploy your robot vacuum without having to wait for it to charge.

Are self-emptying robot vacuums worth the price?

It depends on your household and how much time you want to spend cleaning. “The most important advantage of a vacuum robot is the absence of a human being in the cleaning process,” says Dodge.

That said, we think self-emptying robot vacuums are worthwhile investments for people who want to minimize the amount of time spent cleaning. They would also work well for households that experience frequent small messes to the point where someone would have to pull out a regular vacuum nearly every day to clean them up.

Dodge says that a robot vacuum’s power is equivalent to a medium-sized regular vacuum, so it is best used to get rid of the short hair and regular dust that accumulate around the house. So if you’re looking to chuck your regular vacuum in lieu of a robot vacuum, don’t. In fact, the biggest mistake Dodge sees people make with robot vacuums is not knowing that there are limits to their cleaning abilities.

“A vacuum robot isn’t an industrial vacuum. It can support cleanliness in your home but can’t clean up a big mess, like after some renovation or big party,” he says. “If you purchase a vacuum robot, first clean the house with regular means then start to regularly use the robot.” As such, investing in a self-emptying robot vacuum is great for homes with children and pets, as well as high-mess areas, such as kitchens and dining rooms, that would otherwise be hard to keep clean.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Rachel Center, a product reviews home writer for Real Simple. We researched the best self-emptying robot vacuums and tested 11 of the most popular options in our Lab, evaluating them on ease of emptying, value, effectiveness, maneuverability, noise level, and more. We also spoke to Steve Dodge, CEO of SoCal Robot Repair, for expert tips on how to choose a self-emptying robot vacuum.

What Is Real Simple Selects?

Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn't an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company.

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