These Robot Vacuums Empty Themselves for a Truly Hands-Off Cleaning Experience

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Self-emptying robot vacuums are the smarter, easier-to-use versions of the robot vacuums we’ve grown to know and love. These self-emptiers come with a base that automatically removes the debris from the vacuum and suctions it into a dust bag. Depending on how often you send your robot out to clean, you’ll likely only have to replace the base’s dust bag roughly once a month. They’re often pricier than those without self-emptying bases, but they come packed with more features. Plus, most of the models we tested doubled as robot mops.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab has been testing floor cleaning devices like the best vacuums, mops, wood floor cleaners and carpet cleaners for over 100 years. And we've been testing robot vacuums since they were first introduced more than 20 years ago. For this recent test of self-emptying robot vacuums, we tested 11 of the newest and most readily available models on the market. In addition to putting each robot through our extensive performance, ease of use and maneuverability tests, we tested just how well each robot could self-empty. All of the robots tested had easy-to-remove dustbins but varied in their ability to clean up dry debris and maneuver around small obstacles. Here are the seven robot vacuums that came out on top.

Our top picks:

After our picks, keep reading for more information about how we test and answers to some frequently asked questions. Looking for more vacuum content? Check out our guide to the best stick vacuums and the top-tested vacuums for hardwood floors.

DEEBOT X1 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop

Snagging the top spot in our test of self-emptying robot vacuums is the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni. Not only does this robot vacuum double as a mop, but it also washes and dries the mopping pads after each cleaning session, has a camera that streams a live view of your home to your phone and stores all of the included accessories inside of its self-emptying base. This model was previously tested by our experts where it earned a spot in our round-up of the best robot mops for its stellar performance. In our more recent Lab tests, it impressed us with its obstacle avoidance, dodging large and small obstacles just before it hit them and suctioning up hard debris along edges and in tight corners impressively well.

The clean water tank in the base can hold up to 4 liters of water; enough for multiple cleaning sessions at a time. Because it holds two 4-liter tanks of water (one for dirty water and one for clean water), the charging base is very large. The robot senses when the onboard dustbin is full or the mopping pads are dirty, sending the robot back to home base to empty, wash the pads and return to its cleaning task where it previously stopped. All of the self-emptying robots tested in our Lab were startlingly loud as they suctioned debris out of the onboard dustbin, but the Deebot was the quietest of the models we tested. Because of the sensor on top of the robot, this model just barely fit under our test sofa so it may be too tall for some homes with lower furniture.

Connecting to the Ecovacs app was simple and the app was very easy to use. Some of the in-app features include adjusting suction and water levels, setting a cleaning schedule and following the X1 Omni’s cleaning path in real time. Like most newer robots, no-go zones are virtually programmed in the app too. If you’re bad with names, the voice control on this robot may not work for you, as you have to remember to call the robot by its name (Yiko) every time you tell it a command.

Sweeva 6500 Smart Robot Vacuum

While it isn’t as low-priced as some of our top-tested cheap full-size and handheld vacuums, this self-emptying model from TCL is significantly less expensive than many of the robot vacuums on the market. While it packs fewer features than its more expensive counterparts, the Sweeva 6500 scored amongst the top four of the self-emptying robots we tested. Common features like auto recharge, resume cleaning, virtual no-go zones and even auto-boost suction on carpet are packed into this robot vac. When we tested it under a sofa, it spent ample time cleaning the area and around the sofa legs leaving just a few bits of test debris behind. It struggled to avoid obstacles even after it had already encountered them and had trouble picking up faux pet hair, but its near-perfect pickup on bare floors and impressive performance cleaning along the edges of our test area were enough to bring this robot to the top of our list. It also left our test carpet free of dry debris during all three of our test runs.

This robot model’s self-emptying base was one of the smallest in our test group, making it a good choice for homes with limited floor space. According to the manufacturer, the robot sterilizes floors with a UVC light as it cleans, though we haven’t reviewed the test data substantiating this claim yet. The app allows you to adjust the suction power of the robot in addition to the other common features like setting no-go zones and scheduled cleaning sessions.

Q5+ Robot Vacuum with Self-Empty Dock

If you’re looking for a robot vacuum that will only vacuum and do it well, look no further than the Roborock Q5+. With a 99% average pickup of dry debris from hard flooring, it earned the highest overall performance score in our Lab tests. It also scored highly in tight corner cleaning, the pick-up of dry debris across bare floors in our obstacle course and the pick-up of dry debris from carpets. After every cleaning session, the self-emptying feature left the onboard dustbin completely clean, though it did so more loudly than many other robots. To maneuver around our test area, the Q5+ bumped and pushed many of the walls and small obstacles in its path, and though this isn’t ideal to protect furniture from damage, it allowed it to pick up the debris we deposited close to the edges of the room. The robot senses when it has moved onto carpet, increasing the suction power to better remove embedded dirt. While the extra power helped it earn a perfect score for dry debris pickup on this surface, it proved relatively ineffective with faux pet hair, leaving a significant amount of it behind during each test run.

One of the most notable aspects of Roborock’s user manual is a separate pamphlet with detailed instructions for setting up the robot for the first time and routine maintenance. Like with many other models, pairing the robot with the accompanying app allows you to set up virtual no-go zones, schedule cleaning sessions and send the vacuum to clean just one zone or room of your home at a time. The Q5+ can be voice controlled, but only when paired with an Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri or Google Assistant device.

T10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop with Self-Empty Base

Airrobo’s T10+ surprised us with how well it performed in pet hair pickup tests. It was the only model to leave our carpets completely clean of faux pet hair during all three carpet pickup tests. The T10+ was also the only model to include a remote control. Through the remote control, users can adjust the suction power of the vacuum, drive the robot around their home, send the robot back to the self-emptying base and start the robot’s spot-cleaning mode. It is the only self-emptying robot we tested that allows users to take advantage of these functions without connecting to an app on a smartphone. The obstacle avoidance capabilities of this model are not as effective as others, but after just over 10 minutes of cleaning through our obstacle course, it left bare floors spotless, including in tight corners and along edges.

The Airrobo T10+ has a small self-emptying base with a very effective emptying function, though some of the debris picked up by the robot was left behind after it made its way back to the base. To set cleaning schedules and no-go zones, the robot must be connected to an app on a smartphone. The water tank for wet cleaning floors is located right on the robot’s dustbin and is easily filled and emptied.

Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum Cleaner

This is likely the most unique-looking robot the GHI Cleaning Lab has ever tested. Packed into this 5-inch-tall robot vac are five filters, two soft brush rolls and a very long list of notable features. The fluffy brush rolls are ideal for keeping hardwood floors clean without causing any damage. In our tests, the JetBot AI+ flew through our bare floor pickup tests, cleaning up an average of 97% of the dry debris.

As soon as we switched the robot on, we were greeted with pleasant music and a voice with instructions for setting up the robot’s app. In under five minutes, we were connected and controlling the robot through its app. From the app, you can schedule cleaning sessions, set up virtual no-go zones and send the robot to clean by zone. It also offers some unique features like the ability to set the robot’s voice to one of 14 languages and adjust the size of the obstacles you want the device to avoid. Because this robot is so tall, it could not clean under our test sofa and struggled to get around the legs of a chair in a corner of our test area. It also took a significantly longer time to get through our obstacle course (almost 30 minutes during one test run). The robot’s obstacle avoidance caused it to occasionally think there was an obstacle when there wasn't. When it encountered a real obstacle, it steered clear throughout its entire cleaning task. The JetBot AI+’s self-emptying base was one of the quietest of all the models we tested and it emptied the robot’s on-board dustbin nearly perfectly each time.

L10s Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo

In our roundup of the best full-size vacuum mops, a model from Dreamtech earned the title of easiest to maneuver. Similarly, the L10s Ultra from the brand makes our list for its ability to avoid obstacles and easily navigate a space. It received the second-highest overall maneuverability and navigation score thanks to its impressive avoidance of small obstacles in our test area. While it performed well across both bare floors and carpets, of the 11 models tested this was the only one to score higher in our carpet tests than in our bare floor pickup tests. It senses when it moves from bare floor to carpet, increasing the suction level and raising the mopping pads a few centimeters off the ground. This model is a newer version of a model that impressed us so much it earned a 2022 Cleaning and Organizing Award.

Inside the base are two water tanks for clean and dirty water and a space for the brand’s floor-cleaning solution. After a cleaning session is completed and the onboard dustbin has been emptied, the base washes and dries the robot’s mopping pads. We still recommend you remove the pads (and all other mopping accessories from any robot mop) from the robot when not in use to allow them to remain dry and odor-free. As for the dry debris self-empty feature, it performed just fine, emptying 69% of debris from the onboard dustbin to the base.

Connecting this Dreametech robot to the brand’s app was very easy and our expert found the app intuitive and easy to use. From the app, you can tell the robot when you want a cleaning session to start, adjust water and suction levels, follow the robot’s cleaning pattern and start the auto-emptying process. This robot also has a camera that can be streamed and viewed on a connected smartphone.

RoboVac L35 Hybrid+ Robot Vacuum and Mop

With the most compact self-emptying base of the models we tested, Eufy’s L35+ Hybrid Robot Vacuum and Mop makes our list as the best for small spaces. It emptied its on-board dustbin effectively each time, averaging an almost 98% debris removal rate. In our performance tests on bare floors, it earned great scores but struggled to reach tight corners as well as other self-emptying robots. When tasked with cleaning dry debris from carpets it did very well, leaving just single pieces of orzo or oatmeal behind. Not unlike many others, on average, it only removed about half of the faux pet hair we applied to test carpets.

Our test stains for the mopping function were tough for almost all of the robots, but this model from Eufy showed significant lightening of stains after just two passes over the area. During one test run, the onboard water tank ran out of water, but the robot did not notify us resulting in less effective cleaning. With the app, users can set virtual no-go zones, adjust water flow and clean just one zone in a home.

After reviewing the user manuals for each of the 11 models considered in this category test, the L35+ Hybrid received the highest user manual score. It was one of just three models that had a clear explanation of each of the cleaning modes available which we found beneficial for consumers.

How we test self-emptying robot cleaners

The Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab has been testing all kinds of vacuums for over 100 years. To find the best self-emptying robot vacuums, we evaluated each model on several performance, maneuverability and ease-of-use tests, spending several weeks testing and collecting over 470 data points across several testing categories. Each robot was then scored and only the top seven were included in this round-up.

Our performance tests include testing how well each model picks up a predetermined mixture of sand, baking soda, oats and orzo from hard floors and carpet. The onboard dustbin is weighed before the cleaning task and then again after to calculate the percentage of the debris that is picked up by the robot vacuum from the testing area. Each robot vac's test area is adjusted according to the device's brush width.

A 107-square-foot, two-room obstacle course with a mixture of hard flooring and carpet is built in the Lab to judge the robot’s ability to clean in a home setting. A mixture of dry debris is deposited around the room, light lipstick stains and coffee are applied to hard flooring (if a model also has wet mopping capabilities) and debris is deposited in corners and along edges of the rooms. We also evaluate how well each model picks up faux pet hair from a test carpet and avoids small obstacles meant to mimic pet toys and other messes. We see if it can fit under low furniture like sofas and chairs and how well it cleans those areas. Each robot also receives scores for other performance and maneuverability evaluations like how seamlessly it transfers from bare floor to carpets and how well it covers all of the floors in the room.

To test the self-emptying capabilities of each robot, a weighed amount of dry debris was added to the robot’s dustbin. After the robot was placed back on its charging base and went through the self-emptying function, the onboard dustbin was again weighed to calculate the percentage of the debris that was removed into the charging base. Models that transferred a higher percentage of the dry debris from the onboard dustbin to the charging base dustbin or bag received a higher score.

What to look for when shopping for the best self-emptying robot vacuums

✔️ Combo device or two separate robots: More than half of the robots we tested are robot vacuum and mop combo devices. Across the board, we are seeing more brands release new combo models. These models can cut cleaning time in half and save space at home, as only one charging base is needed. If your home has a lot of carpets, make sure that the combo model you buy has good carpet recognition abilities and can lift the mopping pads high enough off the floor to avoid wetting carpets unnecessarily. If you have the space for it and prefer to have two separate models, consider getting a vacuum and mop from the same brand that can work together to keep your floors clean. For example. iRobot has its Imprint Link Technology that allows the brand’s Roombas and Braava Jets to communicate with each other and start a mopping task after a vacuuming session is completed.

✔️ Analyze your space: For larger homes, you’ll likely need a robot with a longer runtime and a larger dustbin to cover all of your floors in one session. Most models are now able to pause a cleaning task, return to its charging base to recharge and then resume the task where it paused earlier, though charging time for a full battery can be anywhere from two to seven hours. With a self-emptying model, dustbin size is less important as the robot will automatically return to its base to empty when it is full. Another solution is to schedule cleaning tasks for separate rooms in your home on individual days so your robot has a smaller area to cover during each session. All robot vacuums can clean tile and vinyl floors, but if your home has lots of wood flooring make sure that the model you choose is safe for use on this surface. Fluffy brush rolls and the ability to control the amount of water that is dispensed onto floors are things to look out for.

✔️ Features: The newest robots on the market have a long list of impressive features. Some brands will even release new features through a robot’s app via software updates. Here are some of the most common features available in models.

• App integration: This is easily the most useful feature. Pairing your device with an app can allow you to schedule cleaning sessions, set up no-go zones, track a robot’s movement and adjust settings like suction power and the amount of water that is dispensed onto your floors. If your self-emptying robot has a camera, some apps will allow you to view a live feed from the robot’s camera as it moves around the home. The Deebot X1 Omni can even broadcast your voice from your phone to the robot so you can communicate with your family at home through the app. Some models may be able to set no-go zones and spot clean without an app but likely will not have many other adjustable features.

• Mapping capabilities: Most robot vacuums and mops create a map of your home the first time they are sent on a cleaning task. Some models can only save one map at a time, while others can save multiple maps, ideal for homes with two or more levels. Mapping capabilities can also be more limited on some models, saving major structural aspects of your home like walls and doorways, but not smaller objects like chairs and dog beds. Through a robot’s connected app, many models also allow you to label objects and designate the area around them as no-go zones to keep your robot away. You may also be able to send the robot to clean just one zone or room in your home at a time, like the kitchen after dinner prep.

• Carpet sensors: Many robots automatically increase suction power when moving onto carpets to better remove stubborn, embedded dirt. This is an especially useful feature if your robot mops and vacuums in the same session. Look for models that will stop dispensing water when carpets are detected. Note that just one of the self-emptying robots we tested for this story lifted the mopping pad high enough to avoid wetting our test carpets.

• No-go zones: Don’t want a robot vac to enter your office or come too close to the antique rug in the living room? Make sure the model you purchase can designate areas as no-go zones. Older models work with strips you have to set up around the area you’d like to keep the robot out of, while new robots usually are able to remember areas to stay away from after you’ve designated them as no-go zones through the appliance’s app.

• Schedule cleaning: Nothing says modern-day cleaning like having a robot vacuum clean while you’re away at work (or on vacation). Another perk of using your robot vacuum with a connected app is being able to set a cleaning schedule for your robot to follow when you are away from home. For even more customization, look for a model that allows you to set different schedules for every room in your home with individualized suction power settings set for each room.

✔️ Price: It’s no secret that self-emptying robot vacuums and mops are quite expensive. Of the 11 models we tested for this story, just five cost less than $1000 (without sales or promotions). Models with fewer features and older releases are often less expensive than the newest models on the market. One brand we tested has a trade-in program that provides you with credits to purchase a new model from the brand in exchange for your old robot. You can find models for as low as $20 on retailers like Amazon, but we don’t recommend these as they will likely not perform well.

Are self-emptying robot vacuums worth it?

We think so! None of the robot vacuums, robot mops or combo vacuum-mops we’ve tested will replace a full-size vacuum and mop, but they will keep floors cleaner in between major floor cleaning tasks and can even reduce the amount of time you spend vacuuming your floors when it’s time to pull out your favorite stick vac. Self-emptying models are even more beneficial as they take away the additional (and often dreaded) task of having to empty the robot’s dustbin after every cycle.

How often do robot vacuums need to be emptied?

Typical robot vacuums that do not self-empty need to be emptied after every cleaning session. The onboard dust bin on self-emptying robots does not need to be emptied at all, but the charging base where dust and debris are collected usually needs to be emptied or have a bag replaced every 60 to 90 days. Of course, if your robot is picking up more debris than usual it will likely require more frequent emptying than that.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Jodhaira Rodriguez has been testing and writing for the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab since 2021. During that time she’s tested dozens of floor cleaning devices including vacuum and mop combo devices, stick vacuums and more. She personally tested every self-emptying robot included in this round-up.

You Might Also Like

• 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile

• The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper