7 Best Self-Cleaning Vacuum Cleaners of 2025

This game-changing cordless stick vacuum redefines convenience with its fully automatic emptying system, delivering a truly hands-off cleaning experience. The vacuum returns to its dock and—like magic—empties up to 60 days of debris into a sealed bag, minimizing dust exposure by up to 500x compared to traditional vacuums. With HEPA filtration, an anti-allergen complete seal, and a multi-surface brushroll that auto-adjusts, it tackles allergens, pet hair, and deep-seated dirt without breaking a sweat—perfect for homes where cleanliness and ease are non-negotiable.

In real-world testing, the Shark Clean & Empty excelled across carpets, hardwood, and tile, adapting seamlessly thanks to its intelligent floor sensors. It offers up to 40 minutes of runtime in ECO mode (measured on the handheld unit), which is solid for medium-sized homes, though power users may wish for longer. The LED headlights revealed dust bunnies lurking under furniture, and the removable handvac made quick work of stairs and upholstery. However, the auto-empty base is large, making it less ideal for compact spaces, and while suction is strong, it can struggle slightly on high-pile rugs when fully charged.

Compared to the Shark Navigator Robot (AV2110S), this model gives you more immediate control and stronger suction, while still offering self-emptying—something most robot vacuums can’t match in performance. It’s ideal for pet owners and allergy sufferers who want power, portability, and hygiene in one sleek package. While pricier than some uprights, it delivers a best-in-class blend of automation, filtration, and versatility that outshines even premium cordless competitors.

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away punches far above its weight, offering high-end features at a budget-friendly price, making it a standout for value seekers. Its 1200-watt motor delivers robust suction, while the self-cleaning brushroll eliminates hair wrap—a major pain point for pet owners. The lift-away pod transforms it into a portable unit, effortlessly cleaning stairs, car interiors, and tight corners, all without the hassle of cords getting tangled. If you’re tired of vacuums that clog or fail on pet hair, this one solves real problems without a premium price tag.

During testing, the vacuum handled low to medium-pile carpets and hard floors with ease, thanks to its swivel steering that glided around furniture legs and into tight corners. The HEPA filter and anti-allergen seal effectively trapped dust, making it a strong pick for allergy sufferers. However, it’s not self-emptying, so you’ll still need to manually dump the dust cup—a step that feels outdated compared to newer models. It’s also heavier than cordless options, which could be tiring for extended use, especially on stairs.

When stacked against the Shark PowerDetect (HZ4001AMZ), this model lacks smart floor detection and cordless freedom, but it wins on affordability and deep-cleaning power for carpets. It’s best suited for households with pets and multiple surfaces that need thorough, reliable cleaning without breaking the bank. While it doesn’t offer the latest tech, it delivers proven performance and versatility at a fraction of the cost of high-end stick vacuums.

For those craving true set-and-forget cleaning, the Shark Navigator Robot is a hands-free powerhouse that combines smart navigation with self-emptying convenience. Its SmartPath liDAR navigation maps your home in precise rows—avoiding furniture and obstacles—delivering up to 1.5x more coverage than random-path robots. The bagless self-empty base holds 30 days of debris, eliminating the need for disposable bags and reducing maintenance. With recharge-and-resume and voice control compatibility, it’s built for busy households that want clean floors without lifting a finger.

In daily use, the robot excelled on hard floors and low-pile carpets, picking up pet hair, cereal crumbs, and tracked-in dirt with its self-cleaning brushroll that resists tangles. The object detection feature actually worked—skirting around shoes, toys, and cords without getting stuck. However, it occasionally missed spots in cluttered rooms and struggled slightly on dark rugs where sensors had trouble detecting edges. While suction is strong for a robot, it can’t match the deep clean of uprights or stick vacuums, especially on high-pile carpets.

Compared to the Shark Clean & Empty stick vacuum, this model offers greater automation but less raw power. It’s ideal for maintenance cleaning between deep cleans, especially in homes with pets or kids. If you want a low-effort, intelligent robot that truly empties itself, this delivers exceptional convenience and reliability without the high cost of top-tier competitors.

The Shark HydroVac MessMaster is a revolution for wet messes, merging vacuum, mop, and self-cleaning into one efficient machine—perfect for homes with spills, pet accidents, or sticky kitchen floors. Its continuous self-cleaning system ensures the brushroll stays clean during use, preventing grime from being smeared back onto the floor. With Stain Boost mode, it delivers twice the cleaning solution for tough spots, cutting through dried juice, coffee, and muddy paw prints with ease. If you’re tired of switching between vacuum and mop, this all-in-one powerhouse eliminates the hassle.

In real-world testing, it dominated on tile, hardwood, and laminate, leaving floors streak-free and odor-free thanks to its odor-neutralizing concentrate. The dual-tank system keeps clean and dirty water separate, ensuring fresh water mops each pass—no re-circulating grime. The rinse cycle on the dock automatically flushed debris, making maintenance effortless. However, it’s only for hard floors and area rugs, not deep-pile carpets, and the corded design limits mobility. While suction is strong, it’s not intended for dry-only deep cleaning like a traditional vacuum.

Compared to the DREAME G10 Pro, it offers better odor control and a more robust self-cleaning cycle, though with less runtime flexibility. It’s ideal for pet owners, parents, or anyone dealing with frequent spills who want a deep, hygienic clean in one pass. While bulkier than stick vacuums, it delivers unmatched performance for wet messes and sets a new standard for self-cleaning floor care.

The Shark POWERDETECT is a floor-sensing marvel, using Intelli-Sense ultrasonic technology to auto-detect surfaces and adjust suction in real time—a game-changer for homes with mixed flooring. Its DuoClean detect system uses dual brushrolls to pull up large debris and fine dust simultaneously, while the self-cleaning brushroll prevents hair wrap, a major win for pet owners. Weighing under 10 pounds, it’s ultra-light yet powerful, and the self-standing design means it won’t topple over during pauses. If you want effortless transitions from carpet to hardwood without manual adjustments, this vacuum delivers.

During testing, it excelled on all floor types, from plush rugs to hardwood, automatically ramping up suction when needed. The direction detect feature boosted suction forward and backward, ensuring no debris was left behind during push-pull motions. The odor neutralizer cartridge helped keep the vacuum smelling fresh, even after cleaning pet messes. However, being corded limits range, and while it stores neatly, the cord can snag on doorframes. It also lacks a detachable handheld unit, reducing versatility compared to other stick models.

Versus the Shark Clean & Empty, it offers better floor adaptation and lighter weight, but misses out on auto-emptying and cordless freedom. It’s perfect for multi-surface homes that prioritize ease of use and consistent performance. With superior floor detection and tangle-free cleaning, it strikes a brilliant balance between power, intelligence, and simplicity—making it a top pick for all-floor reliability.

The DREAME G10 Pro is a self-propelled floor-cleaning beast, engineered for effortless, one-pass cleaning of hard floors—from dust to dried spaghetti sauce. Its auto self-cleaning base rinses the roller and tanks after every use, so you never touch a dirty part, making it ideal for those who hate post-clean maintenance. With dual water tanks that keep clean and dirty water separate, it ensures true hygiene, unlike models that recirculate grime. The 35-minute runtime covers large homes on a single charge, and edge-cleaning mode gets right into corners where dust accumulates.

In practice, it handled hardwood, tile, and marble with precision, pulling up pet hair, cat litter, and sticky spills in one go. The self-propelled drive made it easy to guide, reducing physical effort—perfect for larger homes or users with mobility concerns. It cleaned edges better than most robot mops, and the one-press self-clean function worked flawlessly. However, it’s only for hard floors, so carpets are off-limits, and while suction is adequate, it’s not a replacement for a dedicated vacuum on deep debris.

Compared to the Shark HydroVac, it offers greater portability and battery freedom, but lacks the HydroVac’s odor-neutralizing tech and stain-boost mode. It’s best for homeowners who want a low-maintenance, self-cleaning mop-vac that handles daily messes without constant oversight. With excellent automation and solid performance, it delivers outstanding value for hands-free floor care.

The Bissell PowerClean FurGuard is a pet hair annihilator, built for homes where fur is a constant battle. Its 280W motor delivers industry-leading suction, and the FurFinder headlights illuminate hidden dust and hair on dark furniture and carpets—revealing what you’ve been missing. The self-cleaning brushroll handles hair up to 16 inches long without clogging, a rare feat that keeps performance consistent. With up to 50 minutes of runtime and a removable battery, it’s built for marathon cleaning sessions across stairs, sofas, and pet zones.

In testing, it dominated on upholstery and medium-pile carpets, removing up to 95% of embedded pet hair 2x faster than competitors, thanks to its specialized FurFinder tool. The HEPA-sealed allergen system trapped dander and dust, making it a strong ally for allergy sufferers. It self-stands while charging, saving space, and the onboard tools were always within reach. However, the battery isn’t included in spare packs, limiting extended use, and the dustbin is smaller than premium models, requiring more frequent emptying.

Compared to the Shark Clean & Empty, it offers longer runtime and superior pet hair tools, but lacks auto-emptying and smart floor detection. It’s ideal for multi-pet homes with frequent shedding that need maximum hair pickup and deep cleaning. With best-in-class pet performance and thoughtful design, it stands as the ultimate weapon against fur—even if it sacrifices some automation.