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Two robot vacuums with the same suction can differ by ₹30,000 or more, and most of that gap is the dock: the base the robot returns to. A basic dock only charges the robot; the most expensive ones empty its dust, wash its mops in hot water and dry them. Here is what each kind does, what it leaves for you, and what it costs, using the specs of the 24 robot vacuum-mops we list.
The four kinds of dock
| Charging dock | Self-empty dock | Mop-wash dock | All-in-one dock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charges the robot | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Empties the robot's dustbin | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Washes the mops | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Dries the mops | No | No | Yes | Most do |
| Robots in our list | 8 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| Price in our list | About ₹11,000–₹27,000 | About ₹19,900–₹34,000 | About ₹33,500–₹48,000 | About ₹40,000–₹1,00,000 |
Charging dock: you do the upkeep
The robot cleans, returns, and charges. After most runs you empty its small dustbin (the ECOVACS Y1 PRO's holds 200 ml, the Dreame L50's 400 ml) and rinse the mop pad, then refit both.
That suits a small flat, or a home where someone is happy to spend a couple of minutes on the robot each day. It is also the only type that needs no extra floor space beside the charging point.
Charging dock: 4.4★ from 2,214 buyers
Score 84/100 · ★ 4.4 (2,214)
The N30 Plus robot for ₹8,000 less, if you don't mind emptying the dustbin yourself
₹19,999₹59,99967% off
Charging dock on a budget
Score 83/100 · ★ 4.3 (3,033)
Tight budgets: LiDAR mapping and up to 320 minutes a charge for about ₹15,000
₹14,999₹59,90075% off
One in-between option: the Narwal Freo X Plus has no self-empty station, but compresses its dust into a bag inside the robot, which Narwal says lasts about 7 weeks.
Self-empty dock: no more emptying the bin
When the robot docks, the station sucks the dust out of its bin into a larger bag or container. The bags in our list hold 2.5–4 litres, which the makers say lasts from about 7 weeks (ILIFE A30 Pro) to 120 days (Dreame L50 Plus). The ECOVACS N30 Plus's station is bagless: you empty a container instead of buying bags.
You still rinse the mop pad by hand, so this type suits homes that mostly want daily dusting with occasional mopping.
Self-empty: the best-selling robot we list
Score 85/100 · ★ 4.4 (1,831)
The best-selling robot vacuum-mop we list: LiDAR, 10,000 Pa and a station that empties the dustbin, for about ₹28,000
₹27,999₹89,99969% off
Self-empty: the cheapest we list
Score 85/100 · ★ 4.1 (23,738)
The cheapest self-emptying robot we list, with LiDAR and a remote control
₹19,899₹69,99972% off
Mop-wash dock: clean mops without the dust handling
These docks hold a tank of clean water and a tank for dirty water. After a run they wash the mops and dry them, but they don't empty the dustbin. In our list, the Dreame L10 Prime has 3 L tanks and air-dries its rotating mops; the Narwal Freo X Ultra 2.0 washes, dries and refills its mops with water and cleaner, and compresses its dust inside the robot instead.
This suits homes where mopping matters more than heavy vacuuming, but for about ₹6,500 more than the L10 Prime, the Dreame D20 Ultra's all-in-one dock does both jobs.
Mop-wash dock
Score 84/100 · ★ 4.3 (2,684)
Mopping first: rotating mops washed and dried by the dock, for about ₹33,000
₹33,499₹64,99848% off
All-in-one dock: the robot looks after itself
The station empties the dust and washes the mops, and most of those in our list also dry them with warm air. What you still do: refill the clean water tank, empty the dirty one, and change the dust bag every few weeks.
The differences between all-in-one docks are in the details:
- Hot-water washing. The ECOVACS N50 Pro Omni and T50S Pro Omni wash the mops at 75°C, the Dreame L50 Ultra CE at 80°C and the Dreame L50s Pro Ultra at 100°C. Hot water helps with oil and masala on kitchen floors.
- Drying. The ECOVACS T30e and N50 dry the mops with 45°C air; the Narwal Freo X10 Pro at 40–45°C. Drying matters most in humid cities, where a damp mop can start to smell.
- Tank size. The Narwal Freo X10 Pro holds 5 L of clean water and the ECOVACS N50 Pro Omni 4 L, which means fewer refills in a large home.
- Bags or bagless. The ECOVACS T30e, N50 and T50S and the Narwal Freo X10 Pro use dust bags; the ECOVACS X11 OmniCyclone's station is bagless.
- Mop type. Rotating mops (the ECOVACS T30e, N50 and T50S, the Dreame D30 Ultra) or a roller (the ECOVACS X11) scrub harder than flat pads.
All-in-one: our Best Overall
Score 89/100 · ★ 4.4 (1,222)
Hands-off cleaning: the station empties the dust, washes the mops in hot water and dries them
₹53,999₹1,69,99968% off
All-in-one for about ₹40,000
Score 87/100 · ★ 4.2 (358)
Big homes: up to 370 minutes a charge, the longest stated runtime we list, with a dock that washes and dries the mops
₹39,999₹79,99850% off
Which dock should you choose?
| If… | Choose |
|---|---|
| You live in a small flat and don't mind a two-minute clean-up after each run | Charging dock |
| You mostly want daily dusting and mop now and then | Self-empty dock |
| You want the robot to mop every day | All-in-one dock |
| You want daily mopping but your budget stops around ₹35,000 | A self-empty robot with rotating mops, such as the Dreame L50 Plus, and rinse the mops yourself |
Whichever you choose, leave room around the station: it needs a power socket nearby and clear floor in front for the robot to dock. The self-empty and all-in-one stations are tall boxes, so measure the spot first.
For the full list with prices, ratings and scores, see our best robot vacuum cleaner with mop guide, or filter all 24 robots by dock type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a self-emptying robot vacuum worth it?
If the robot runs every day, yes for most homes: the station saves emptying a small dustbin after each run. In our list a self-empty robot costs about ₹19,900–₹34,000, and the cheapest is the ILIFE A30 Pro. Budget for replacement dust bags unless the station is bagless, like the ECOVACS N30 Plus's.
What is the difference between a self-empty and an all-in-one robot vacuum?
A self-empty dock only takes the dust out of the robot. An all-in-one dock also washes the mops, and most dry them too, so you don't handle dirty mop pads. All-in-one robots in our list start at about ₹40,000.
How often do I need to change the dust bag?
The makers' own figures for the robots we list range from about 7 weeks (ILIFE A30 Pro, 2.5 L bag) to 120 days (Dreame L50 Plus, 4 L bag). How often you actually change it depends on how dusty your home is and how often the robot runs.