21 products tested & ranked

We Tested 21 Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums — Here's What's Actually Worth It

Auto-empty docking stations that let you forget about vacuuming for weeks at a time

Featuring:Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra·Dreame X40 Ultra·iRobot Roomba s9+·Dreame X40 Master·Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni+16 more

Helping 12,000+ professionals choose the right tools

Quick Answer

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

Best Overall
9.5

Top-rated solution

Best for Small Teams
9.2

Top-rated solution

Best Value

Top-rated solution

Self-emptying robot vacuums represent the closest thing to truly hands-free floor cleaning. After each session, the robot returns to its dock and automatically empties collected debris into a larger base station bin. Our team evaluates the full auto-empty experience: how effectively the dock empties the robot, noise levels during the emptying cycle, base station capacity measured in weeks of normal use, and whether bagged or bagless systems work better long-term. We also test for dust cloud escape during emptying, which affects allergy sufferers.

0Products Tested
0+Hours of Testing
0+Years Experience
0Expert Reviewers

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Our Top Picks

#1 Top Pick
9.5
Excellent
#2 Runner Up
Dreame X40 Ultra logo
Dreame X40 Ultra

Best Premium Self-Empty

9.2
Excellent
#3 Also Great
iRobot Roomba s9+ logo
iRobot Roomba s9+

Best iRobot Self-Empty

#1 Our Top Pick
9.5/ 10Excellent
base_capacity9.4
suction_power9.5
empty_efficiency9.6
maintenance_free9.5

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra logoRoborock S8 MaxV Ultra9.5/10
Dreame X40 Ultra logoDreame X40 Ultra9.2/10
iRobot Roomba s9+ logoiRobot Roomba s9+
Dreame X40 Master logoDreame X40 Master9.3/10
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni logoEcovacs Deebot X2 Omni
Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo logoEcovacs Deebot T30S Combo8.5/10
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra logoRoborock S8 Pro Ultra9.0/10
Dreame L20 Ultra logoDreame L20 Ultra
iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ logoiRobot Roomba Combo j9+8.9/10
Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra logoNarwal Freo Z10 Ultra8.7/10
eufy X10 Pro Omni logoeufy X10 Pro Omni
iRobot Roomba j9+ logoiRobot Roomba j9+8.8/10
Roborock Q Revo MaxV logoRoborock Q Revo MaxV
Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI logoSamsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI
Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni logoEcovacs Deebot T20 Omni
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra logoRoborock S7 MaxV Ultra
Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni logoEcovacs Deebot N30 Omni
Dreame D10 Plus logoDreame D10 Plus
Yeedi C12 Pro Plus logoYeedi C12 Pro Plus7.8/10
Roborock Q5 Pro+ logoRoborock Q5 Pro+8.0/10
SwitchBot Mini K10+ Pro logoSwitchBot Mini K10+ Pro
Starting Price
Starting Price$1,799$1,599$1,899$799$1,199$1,399$1,299$799$349$429
Base Capacity2.5L bag3.2L bag3.2L bag2.5L bag2.5L bagBagged (60 days)3L bagBagged (60 days)2L bagless2.5L bag
Bag TypeBaggedBaggedBaggedBaggedBaggedBaggedBaggedBaggedBaglessBagged
Empty Noise (dB)75 dB78 dB76 dB76 dB72 dB80 dB74 dB78 dB70 dB73 dB
Suction Power (Pa)10,000 Pa12,000 Pa12,000 Pa11,000 Pa6,000 Pa~2,200 Pa12,000 Pa~2,500 Pa8,000 Pa5,500 Pa
Weeks Between Empty7 weeks10 weeks10 weeks6 weeks7 weeks8 weeks8 weeks8 weeks4 weeks7 weeks
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Detailed Reviews

#2Dreame X40 Ultra logo
9.2/ 10Excellent
base_capacity9.3
suction_power9.7
empty_efficiency9.4
maintenance_free9.3

Pros

  • Market-leading 12,000 Pa suction power
  • Extending mop arm reaches edges and corners other robots miss
  • Hot water mop washing at 158F for superior hygiene
  • Excellent 198-minute battery life with 6,400 mAh battery
  • Significantly cheaper than Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra

Cons

  • App interface less polished than Roborock competitor
  • Extending side brush can occasionally push debris away
  • Dock is large and not the most visually appealing
#3iRobot Roomba s9+ logo

Pros

  • D-shaped design provides best Roomba corner cleaning
  • 40x suction power is strongest in Roomba lineup
  • Excellent at deep discounts as legacy model
  • Proven reliability over years of firmware updates

Cons

  • Older platform lacks camera obstacle avoidance
  • No mopping function
  • Noisier than newer models during cleaning
#4Dreame X40 Master logo
9.3/ 10Excellent
base_capacity9.3
suction_power9.7
empty_efficiency9.5
maintenance_free9.4

Pros

  • Most feature-complete robot vacuum in existence
  • Extending side brush + extending mop for ultimate edge cleaning
  • 12,000 Pa suction with auto carpet boost
  • 180g mop downforce for tough stain removal

Cons

  • Most expensive robot vacuum on the market
  • Marginal improvements over X40 Ultra for 00 more
  • Dock is the largest of any model tested
#5Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni logo

Pros

  • Square design cleans corners 25% better than round robots
  • AIVI 3D 2.0 provides excellent obstacle detection and avoidance
  • All-in-one OMNI station with hot air drying
  • Refined Ecovacs app with comprehensive room mapping

Cons

  • 8,000 Pa suction trails newer flagship competitors
  • Square shape can occasionally get stuck in tight spaces
  • MSRP is high though frequently discounted
#6Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo logo
8.5/ 10Very Good
base_capacity8.3
suction_power9.0
empty_efficiency8.5
maintenance_free8.5

Pros

  • 11,000 Pa suction rivals flagship models at half the price
  • ZeroTangle 2.0 brushes genuinely resist hair wrapping
  • TruEdge adaptive mopping cleans close to baseboards
  • Excellent value at common sale prices under 00

Cons

  • Dock lacks hot water mop washing found on pricier models
  • Battery life slightly below average at 150 minutes
  • Navigation occasionally less efficient than top-tier models
#7Roborock S8 Pro Ultra logo
9.0/ 10Excellent
base_capacity9.2
suction_power8.0
empty_efficiency9.3
maintenance_free9.3

Pros

  • RockDock Ultra delivers best-in-class self-maintenance
  • VibraRise 2.0 sonic mopping is excellent
  • Significantly cheaper than S8 MaxV Ultra
  • Best-in-class Roborock app

Cons

  • No camera obstacle avoidance system
  • 6,000 Pa suction trails newer flagships
  • Mop lift only 5mm vs 20mm on S8 MaxV
#8Dreame L20 Ultra logo
Best Mid-Range Self-Empty

Pros

  • MopExtend technology for edge-to-edge mopping
  • Hot water mop washing at 131F
  • Solid 7,000 Pa suction for its price class
  • Excellent value at common sale prices

Cons

  • 7,000 Pa suction trails current flagships
  • Mop lift height limited compared to X40 Ultra
  • Dock footprint is large
#9iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ logo
8.9/ 10Very Good
base_capacity9.0
suction_power8.2
empty_efficiency9.0
maintenance_free9.2

Pros

  • Best pet waste avoidance with PrecisionVision camera
  • Auto-retract mop provides absolute carpet protection
  • Dual rubber extractors are industry-best for tangle resistance
  • 60-day auto-empty and 30-day auto-refill reduces maintenance
  • iRobot OS learns your cleaning patterns over time

Cons

  • Lower suction power than Chinese competitors at this price
  • Mopping performance is adequate but not class-leading
  • Premium pricing relative to specs offered
  • Older design language compared to newer competitors
#10Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra logo
8.7/ 10Very Good
base_capacity8.5
suction_power9.5
empty_efficiency8.8
maintenance_free8.8

Pros

  • 12,000 Pa suction matches market leaders
  • EdgeSwing extending mop for wall-to-wall mopping
  • Heated mop washing improves hygiene
  • Undercuts Roborock and Dreame flagships by 00-500

Cons

  • Navigation slightly less refined than Roborock
  • App needs improvement compared to established brands
  • Brand recognition still building in the market
#11eufy X10 Pro Omni logo

Pros

  • Full OMNI station included at mid-range pricing
  • AI obstacle avoidance works effectively
  • 12mm mop auto-lift protects carpets well
  • Quiet operation for a robot vacuum

Cons

  • eufy app less mature than Roborock or Ecovacs
  • 8,000 Pa is adequate but not class-leading
  • Customer support not as established as major brands
#12iRobot Roomba j9+ logo
8.8/ 10Very Good
base_capacity9.0
suction_power8.0
empty_efficiency9.0
maintenance_free9.0

Pros

  • Industry-best pet waste avoidance with P.O.O.P. guarantee
  • Dual rubber extractors virtually never tangle
  • 60-day self-empty base requires minimal attention
  • PrecisionVision navigates cluttered rooms expertly

Cons

  • No mopping capability for hard floor deep cleaning
  • Suction power trails Chinese competitors on specs
  • Premium pricing for a vacuum-only robot
#13Roborock Q Revo MaxV logo

Pros

  • Dual spinning mops provide excellent mopping performance
  • Hot water mop washing dock included at mid-range price
  • Best-in-class Roborock app with detailed mapping
  • Reliable PreciSense LiDAR navigation

Cons

  • 7,000 Pa suction is good but not flagship-level
  • Mop lift height is only 10mm versus 20mm on S8 MaxV
  • Obstacle avoidance not as advanced as S8 MaxV camera system
#14Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI logo

Pros

  • Seamless SmartThings integration for Samsung ecosystem users
  • Premium Bespoke design language looks elegant in any home
  • Auto steam mop cleaning dock for deep hygiene
  • 5-layer HEPA filtration captures 99.99% of fine dust

Cons

  • Cleaning performance trails dedicated robot vacuum brands
  • Premium pricing not justified by raw cleaning specs alone
  • SmartThings dependency limits appeal for non-Samsung users
#15Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni logo

Pros

  • Hot water mop washing at 131F in OMNI station
  • Excellent value at current deep discount pricing
  • Proven reliability with years of firmware updates
  • Full OMNI station with auto-empty and mop cleaning

Cons

  • 6,000 Pa suction below current standards
  • Previous-generation obstacle avoidance
  • Being discontinued at most retailers
#16Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra logo

Pros

  • Proven reliability with years of firmware optimization
  • Excellent value at current deep discount pricing
  • Full-featured Empty Wash Fill dock included
  • Polished Roborock app experience

Cons

  • 5,500 Pa suction is below current mid-range standards
  • Previous-gen obstacle avoidance less capable than current
  • Mop lift only 5mm compared to newer models
#17Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni logo

Pros

  • 10,000 Pa suction at under 50 is remarkable value
  • Full OMNI station with auto-empty and mop washing
  • ZeroTangle 2.0 brush handles hair expertly
  • TruEdge adaptive mopping for edge cleaning
  • Hot air drying prevents mop odor

Cons

  • Navigation less sophisticated than premium models
  • Build quality shows cost-cutting in plastic panels
  • Noise level higher than average during max suction
#18Dreame D10 Plus logo
Best Affordable Self-Empty

Pros

  • LiDAR navigation and self-empty base under 00
  • 45-day self-empty capacity reduces maintenance
  • Multi-level mapping supports 3 floors
  • Quiet operation at 65 dB

Cons

  • 4,000 Pa suction struggles with thick carpet
  • No mopping capability
  • Basic obstacle avoidance with bump sensors only
#19Yeedi C12 Pro Plus logo
7.8/ 10Good
base_capacity7.5
suction_power8.5
empty_efficiency7.8
maintenance_free8.0

Pros

  • 8,000 Pa suction matches robots costing twice as much
  • Bagless self-empty station eliminates ongoing bag costs
  • ZeroTangle brush system handles pet hair exceptionally
  • Under 50 for a complete self-emptying system

Cons

  • Build quality feels budget-level compared to premium brands
  • App lacks advanced features found in Roborock or Ecovacs
  • Obstacle avoidance is basic with occasional bumps
#20Roborock Q5 Pro+ logo
8.0/ 10Very Good
base_capacity8.0
suction_power7.8
empty_efficiency8.5
maintenance_free8.5

Pros

  • Best Roborock app experience at entry-level pricing
  • PreciSense LiDAR delivers precise navigation
  • Self-empty dock included at under 30
  • Dual rubber brushes resist tangling

Cons

  • No mopping capability
  • 5,500 Pa suction is mid-range
  • No obstacle avoidance camera
#21SwitchBot Mini K10+ Pro logo

Pros

  • Smallest self-emptying robot vacuum available
  • Fits under furniture other robots cannot reach
  • Matter certified for universal smart home support
  • Extremely quiet operation

Cons

  • Limited 3,000 Pa suction inadequate for thick carpet
  • Small dustbin fills quickly in debris-heavy homes
  • No mopping function

Our Testing Methodology

Auto-empty dock stations are tested for complete evacuation efficiency by weighing the robot dustbin before and after emptying cycles. Noise is measured at 1 meter distance during auto-empty. Base station capacity is tested by tracking the number of full cleaning sessions before the base requires attention. We evaluate both bagged and bagless systems for ongoing maintenance costs, ease of replacement, and dust containment during disposal.

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