Buying
How Much Does a Robot Vacuum Really Cost Per Year?
The price on the box is only the start. Bags, filters, brushes, mop pads, cleaning solution and electricity recur every year. This guide gives you the formula, the replacement intervals manufacturers actually state, and a calculator that uses your prices — never ours.
Quick answer
Annual ownership cost = (purchase price ÷ years you keep it) + Σ(part price × replacements per year) + (kWh per year × electricity rate) + cleaning solution. We do not publish fixed dollar totals per model because prices change constantly — use the calculator with the prices on the listing the day you buy.
Where the cost comes from
| Cost | What drives it | Do manufacturers state an interval? |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | One-off; spread over the years you expect to keep the robot | Not applicable |
| Dust bags | Only for self-emptying docks; depends on how much debris your home produces | Some — a stated days-per-bag rating (below) |
| Filters | Pets, dust, and how often the robot runs | Sometimes — e.g. every ~2 months on one kit listing |
| Main brush / roller | Hair and floor type | Sometimes — e.g. every ~6 months on one kit listing |
| Side brushes | Wear and hair | Sometimes — e.g. every ~2 months on one kit listing |
| Mop pads | Frequency of mopping, pad type, and whether the dock washes them | Rarely stated |
| Cleaning solution / detergent | Only for robots and docks that use it | Rarely stated |
| Electricity | Charging and dock heating (hot-water or hot-air drying) | Rarely stated — measure with a plug-in meter |
Documented replacement intervals
These are the only intervals we could source. Anything not listed is unknown, not zero.
| Robot | Part | Stated interval | Per year (derived) | Source basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eufy X10 Pro Omni | Dust bag (2.5 L) | every ~60 days | ~6.1 | listing: roughly two months per bag |
| eufy X10 Pro Omni | Side brushes | every ~60 days | ~6.1 | kit listing: every 2 months |
| eufy X10 Pro Omni | Filters | every ~60 days | ~6.1 | kit listing: every 2 months |
| eufy X10 Pro Omni | Rubber main brush | every ~182 days | ~2 | kit listing: every 6 months |
| Roborock Saros 10R | Dust bag | every ~60 days | ~6.1 | listing: 60-day automatic dust collection |
| Narwal Freo Z Ultra | Dust bag (2.5 L) | every ~120 days | ~3 | listing: bag holds ~120 days of compressed debris |
| iRobot Roomba j7+ | Dust bag | every ~60 days | ~6.1 | iRobot page: Clean Base empties the robot for up to 60 days |
| iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ | Dust bag | every ~60 days | ~6.1 | iRobot page: dock empties debris for up to 60 days |
| Shark AI Ultra | Dust bag / base capacity | every ~60 days | ~6.1 | listing: 60-day base capacity |
How dock type changes the running cost
A self-emptying dock replaces frequent bin-emptying with a bag (or bin) cost — see self-empty vs manual bin. A dock that washes and dries mop pads uses water and, on some models, detergent and heated air, which is why electricity and solution appear as separate lines. The dock automation matrix shows what each dock is documented to do.
Third-party parts
Compatible third-party kits exist for some models — for example our notes on the eufy X10 Pro Omni parts kit and the Roomba 800/900 kit. They are not official parts, so fit and lifespan can differ; check compatibility with your exact model.
Assumptions and limits
- Prices are yours to enter — this site never assumes them.
- Intervals are manufacturer guidance, not measured lifetimes; pets and heavy use shorten them.
- Electricity is an estimate unless you measure it.
- See the maintenance schedule and how often to replace filters for upkeep timing.
Which setups need the least upkeep?
The stated dust-bag interval is the clearest documented difference between docks: fewer bag changes per year means fewer recurring purchases and chores. We only list intervals manufacturers or listings state; the rest are unknown, not zero.
| Robot | Stated dust-bag interval | Per year (derived) |
|---|---|---|
| Narwal Freo Z Ultra | About 120 days | About 3.0 bags |
| Roborock Saros 10R | About 60 days | About 6.1 bags |
| iRobot Roomba j7+ (7550) | About 60 days | About 6.1 bags |
| eufy X10 Pro Omni | About 60 days | About 6.1 bags |
| Shark AI Ultra (XL HEPA base) | About 60 days | About 6.1 bags |
| iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ | About 60 days | About 6.1 bags |
Where this fits
Bag interval is only one input. Brushes, filters, pads and cleaning solution also recur, and prices change, so use your own prices in the calculator. For upkeep tasks, see the maintenance schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Do you publish a yearly cost for each robot?
Not as fixed dollar figures, because prices change too often to keep accurate. The calculator uses the prices you enter and pre-fills only manufacturer-stated replacement intervals.
Does a self-emptying dock save money?
It swaps manual emptying for a recurring bag or bin cost. Whether that is cheaper depends on bag prices and how much debris your home produces.
How often should I replace filters and brushes?
Follow the interval in your robot's manual. Where a listing states one we show it above; otherwise treat replacement as roughly every one to three months for filters and side brushes, sooner with pets.