If you're searching for the best self-emptying robot vacuum, we've got you covered right here with our top picks.
Investing in a robot vacuum is extremely useful if you struggle to find the time to vacuum as often as you'd like or if you simply want to cut down on your housework.
However, emptying the contents of your vacuum after every cleaning run essentially negates the reason you wanted this type of device in the first place - it becomes just another chore to add to your list.
This is where self-emptying robot vacuums really come into their own. These cleaners do all of the work for you because they come with a dock that not only charges the device but also empties it into a larger storage bin within the dock itself.
Some docks can go up to 60 days before you need to empty them, meaning it requires minimal effort on your part to run, allowing you to focus your time on work, relaxing, or other household chores.
As you would expect from any of the best robot vacuums, the products on our list come with a ton of smart features including obstacle detection so they can avoid cables or furniture, and mapping systems via a dedicated app so they know the layout of your home and can guide themselves around.
It's also worth noting that suction power is an important area to look out for here. The devices we've chosen are all above 2,000Pa (pascals), which should be suitable for carpets as well as hard floors as they generally require a stronger suction to reach dirt hidden deep within their fibres.
We've picked out these vacuums based on these specs, general reviews, price, plus any other features we think make these devices worth considering.
So, with all of this in mind, let's take a closer look...
Best self-emptying robot vacuum
Best self-emptying robot vacuum - Roborock Q5+
The Roborock Q5+ looks like a great option for you to consider if you're on the hunt for an intelligent and efficient self-emptying robot vacuum with a variety of features.
First of all, it offers up to seven weeks of cleaning before you need to empty the dock's 2.5-litre dust bag. This means minimal effort is required from you and you really can let the vacuum do all the work.
Plus, it has its own Roborock app, where you can choose a range of auto-emptying settings to suit your personal needs. You can choose between Light (suitable for small homes), Balanced (suitable for medium-sized homes), Max (suitable for large homes), and Smart.
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Smart mode is particularly handy as the vacuum will adjust its emptying system based on recent cleaning habits and emptying frequency.
The vacuum also has what should be an accurate LiDAR system designed to create a precise map of your home that you can view in 3D in the app.
And you can even add your furniture and floor materials to it, so the vacuum can automatically avoid objects or adjust itself when working its way around your room.
You can control where you don't want the device to go as well by creating No-Go-Zones and Invisible Walls on the app. Roborock states you can create up to 10 of each.
And last but not least, it can clean for up to 180 minutes with a suction power of 2,700 Pa, meaning it should be effective at removing debris and pet hair from hard floors, as well as carpets. So, we'd say this vacuum is definitely worth considering if a self-emptying device is what you're after.
Best self-emptying robot vacuum for pet owners - iRobot Roomba j7+
Given how much hair pets can shed, a robot vacuum is definitely a wise choice as it can save you from cleaning every day. If this is the case, then this iRobot Roomba j7+ might be just the right choice for you.
This robot vacuum is a particularly good option for pets because, not only does it use iRobot OS technology and PrecisionVision to avoid objects like furniture and cables, but it should also be able to detect any unfortunate accidents and manoeuvre past pet waste.
It can also empty itself into its dock for up to an incredible 60 days before you need to change out the bag, which means there is minimal effort required on your part in terms of maintenance.
Read more: Best cordless vacuum for hard floors
You can also control it using a voice assistant device like Alexa, or by using the iRobot Home App; simply command it to clean a particular area in your home and it will obey.
And, for minimal interference, the vacuum is actually designed to clean the house while you're out - it uses geolocation services on your phone to make it aware that you're not at home before automatically getting on with its job (as long as you give it permission using the app).
A Dirt Detect function allows the vacuum to focus on the dirtiest spots in your home. Plus, with a powerful 3-stage cleaning system and a strong 2,200Pa suction, it should be able to easily suck up any sort of debris or pet hair, even if it's tangled into your carpet.
Moreover, a battery life of 75 minutes should allow it to get around a small to medium-sized home before it needs to recharge at its dock. We'd say it's a robot definitely worth considering if you're a pet owner.
Best multipurpose self-emptying robot vacuum - ECOVACS Deebot N8 Pro+
If you're looking for a 2-in-1 robot vacuum that also doubles up as a mop, say hello to the ECOVACS Deebot N8 Pro+.
On vacuum mode, it has an impressive suction power of 2,600Pa, meaning it should be able to suck up any debris or dirt around your home, including pet hair in your carpet.
And it automatically doubles the suction power when vacuuming a carpet, too. Plus, when in mop mode, it can identify and avoid your carpet so it doesn't leave the material soaking wet.
The vacuum will also avoid any other obstacles in your house, as its TrueDetect system uses laser-based technology to identify hazards such as cables or slippers.
Using the dedicated app, you can scan multiple floors and save two maps of different levels so the robot knows where it's going, plus you can customise its cleaning system depending on which map it's using.
Usage-wise, it can deliver 30 days of cleaning before you need to empty the storage bag, along with 110 minutes of runtime which should be enough to clean your entire home before it runs out of charge.
All in all, a pretty good choice for a robot vacuum in our opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finding the right robot vacuum can be tough. So, to help you out a bit, we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about self-emptying robot vacuums below.
Is a self-emptying robot vacuum worth it?
We'd say investing in a self-emptying robot vacuum is worth it because of how convenient and time efficient it is.
Any robot vacuum is going to be useful when you're too busy to do the vacuuming yourself or if your house needs cleaning every single day because of pet hair, for instance.
But because ordinary robot vacuums are quite small and don't have the capacity to hold a large amount of dirt and debris, you might find yourself having to empty them every time they complete a cleaning run.
This can somewhat negate the benefits of having a robot doing the work for you in the first place.
However, a self-emptying robot vacuum empties itself via a suction system into a storage bin held within its charging dock, which can usually store quite a large amount of waste before needing to be emptied.
In this case, you'll only really need to tend to the vacuum every 30 to 60 days to discard the debris it's picked up, saving you a considerable amount of time and effort when cleaning.
Should you run your robot vacuum every day?
The answer to this question largely depends on your personal home situation. According to Ecovacs, most people find that running their robot vacuum four times per week is sufficient enough to keep their floors clean.
However, if you have pets or children, it's likely that you're going to need to run your vacuum more frequently.
If you own a pet that sheds a lot of hair, you'll probably need to vacuum the entire house every single day, or just the most used rooms more frequently than others. The other parts of your house should then only need to be cleaned when you feel they need it.
To make life easier for you, a robot vacuum can often be set to automatically run seven days a week with a focus on areas of your home that tend to accumulate the most mess.
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