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2 self-emptying Roombas are under $400, plus more robot vacuum deals this week

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Roomba j7+ on auto empty dock

UPDATE: Jun. 15, 2022, 12:55 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to include the best deals on robot vacuums from iRobot, Shark, Roborock, and more.

We’ve compiled the best deals on robot vacuums from brands like iRobot, Shark, and Ecovacs. Here are the ones to grab as of June 15:

  • BEST BUDGET DEAL: The Roomba 694 loosens and lifts with a three-stage system, working harder on dirtier areas — $179.99 $274 ($94.01)

  • BEST SELF-EMPTYING DEAL: The Roomba j7+ cleans competently, self-empties, and avoids cords and pet waste — $599.99 $799.99 (save $200)

  • BEST ROBOT VACUUM/MOP DEAL: The Roborock S6 Pure can sweep and scrub specific rooms for less than $400 — $359.99 $599.99 (save $240)

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don’t have time. Whether you detest the chore or get a little bummed when you can’t have that satisfying dance with your Dyson, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver. Shop models on sale below.

Robot vacuums under $200


Roomba 694 and smartphone with green iRobot screen

Credit: iRobot


Our pick: iRobot Roomba 694
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$179.99 at Amazon (save $94.01)



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Why we like it

The 694 is iRobot’s baseline model, offering a standard clean that you can trust to keep floors tidy on a daily basis. Hard floors are a breeze and carpets are tackled efficiently with Roomba’s loosen-then-lift strategy. Schedule cleanings and get custom cleaning suggestions in the iRobot app.

More robot vacuums under $200

Robot vacuums under $500


iRobot Roomba i1 vacuum and smartphone with green iRobot screen

Credit: iRobot


Roomba i1+
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$379 at Walmart (save $90)



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Why we like it

The most affordable self-emptying Roomba is the i1+, which unleashes three times the suction of the baseline Roomba 694. Roombas don’t benefit from smart home mapping until later models, but the i1 still makes its way around efficiently and works harder on areas with more dirt detected. The dock holds up to 60 days’ worth of debris.

More robot vacuums under $500

Robot vacuums under $800


Roomba j7+ robot vacuum and smartphone on green iRobot screen

Credit: iRobot


Roomba j7+
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$599.99 at Amazon (save $200)



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Why we like it

The smartest and newest Roomba is still chilling under $600. Its glow-up includes Genius Technology and PrecisionVision Navigation to avoid obstacles that were previously problem-causers, like phone chargers and pet waste. The j7+ also self-empties.

More robot vacuums under $800:

Robot vacuum and mop hybrids and dedicated robot mops


Roborock S6 Pure robot vacuum and smartphone with map on screen

Credit: Roborock


Our pick: Roborock S6 Pure
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$359.99 at Amazon (save $240)



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Why we like it:

Opting for a vacuum with LiDAR mapping is a smart move for floor plans more complicated than a one-bedroom apartment. The Roborock S5 Max solves bumper car woes by remembering the layout of each floor of your home and steering clear of the virtual boundaries you set. It also brings mopping to the table, which the cheaper S4 Max does not.

More hybrids and robot mops on sale

Are robot vacuums worth it?

The control of an upright vacuum comes with its own type of satisfaction. But if you’re not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task from of your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having “first day clean” floors all the time?)

But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can’t be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robovac that doesn’t do the job right — scattering dust, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — might actually create more work for you.

What to consider when buying a robot vacuum

  • Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), with most current vacs ranging between 1,500 Pa and 3,000 Pa. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set a no-go zone around Legos) and to pull matted-down pet hair from rugs.

  • Floor type: Carpeting and high pile rugs will probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robot vacuum that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.

  • Automatic emptying: Because robot vacuums are typically under four inches tall, their onboard dust bins are also small — which means they frequently require emptying. (Dustbins fill up particularly quickly in homes with pets.) A self-emptying vacuum takes that job out of your hands, emptying itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out.

  • Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you’ll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.

  • Low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what’s accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.

  • Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you’ll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 200 minutes, which translate to about 500 and 2,800 square feet covered on one charge.

  • App control: WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you’re not home. Low-end models that don’t connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you’re used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.

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