Model guide · 5 picks
Roomba 105: Which of the Four Versions to Buy
Four Roomba 105 versions share one body and one navigation system. What separates them is a mop pad and a dock, and this guide shows which of those you need.
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The Roomba 105 is sold as four separate products, and the names are easy to confuse. There is the Vac, the Vac with an AutoEmpty dock, the Combo, and the Combo with an AutoEmpty dock. They look alike and navigate the same way. The choice comes down to two questions: do you want a mop pad on the back, and do you want a dock that empties the bin for you?
This page answers both from the maker's own listings. It compares the four versions in one table, reviews each one, explains how the 105 Combo mops and what the listings say about the dock, then covers the replacement parts you will buy and the point where the Roomba Plus 415 makes more sense. If you are still deciding between brands or between iRobot lines, our iRobot Roomba guide covers the whole range from the 105 up. This page is the narrower decision inside the 105.
The Picks at a Glance
Ranked for most homes. Tap a name for the full verdict.
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Best for a budget vacuum-only Roomba
LiDAR mapping and a three-stage clean, without a mop or a dock that empties the bin.
Budget
Check price -
Best for light mopping without a dock
The 105 with a microfiber mop pad that steers around carpet.
Mid-range
Check price -
Best for hands-free dust without mopping
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac AutoEmpty
The Vac plus a dock that empties the bin for up to 75 days.
Mid-range
Check price -
Best for vacuum, mop and dock in one
iRobot Roomba 105 Combo AutoEmpty
Everything the 105 line offers: mop pad, carpet avoidance and a self-emptying dock.
Mid-range
Check price -
Best step up from the Roomba 105
Spinning mop pads, a washing dock and obstacle recognition above the 105.
Mid-range
Check price
How We Choose
We do not run a test lab, and we will not pretend to. Every Roomba here was chosen by reading iRobot's own words on its Amazon US listing, line by line, and comparing the four 105 versions and the Plus 415 on the same points. We attribute each claim to the maker. Where a listing is silent, we write that it is not stated rather than guess.
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Navigation
LiDAR mapping, stair sensors and whether it cleans in neat rows.
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Mopping
Whether there is a mop pad, how it is controlled, and what happens on rugs.
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The dock
Whether the dock empties the bin, and for how many days the bag holds dirt.
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Brushes
The main brush and edge brush described on each listing.
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Upkeep
Dust bags, filters and brushes you will keep buying.
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Price tier
Budget, mid-range or premium. We never print a price: it changes daily.
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Current model
Every pick is a model sold today at Amazon US.
Checked on November 7, 2026. No brand paid to be on this page or saw it before publication. When you buy through our links we may earn a commission from Amazon; it never changes the order.
The Four Roomba 105 Versions Compared
The table puts the four 105 versions and the step-up Plus 415 side by side. Where a cell says not stated, the listing is silent on that point. The 105 listings do not give a suction rating in watts or pascals, only a comparison with the older Roomba 600 series, so that row is the same for all four.
| Robot | 105 Vac | 105 Combo | 105 Vac AutoEmpty | 105 Combo AutoEmpty Most complete 105 | Plus 415 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robot | | | | | |
| Best for | Hard-floor basics on a budget | Light mopping, no dock | Hands-free dust, no mop | Vacuum, mop and dock in one | Self-washing mop pads |
| Mop pad | None | Microfiber pad, avoids carpet | None | Microfiber pad, avoids carpet, extra pad in box | DualClean spinning pads, lift 10 mm |
| Dock | Charging only | Charging only | AutoEmpty, up to 75 days | AutoEmpty, up to 75 days | AutoWash: empties, washes pads, refills, heat dries at 113°F; up to 90 days |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR, stair sensors | ClearView LiDAR, neat rows, even in the dark | ClearView LiDAR, stair sensors | ClearView LiDAR, stair sensors | LiDAR plus obstacle recognition |
| Water tank | No mop | Not stated | No mop | Not stated | Refilled by the dock |
| Price tier | $ Budget | $ Budget | $$ Mid-range | $$ Mid-range | $$ Mid-range |
| Buy | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
105 Vac
- Best for
- Hard-floor basics on a budget
Show specifications
- Mop pad
- None
- Dock
- Charging only
- Navigation
- ClearView LiDAR, stair sensors
- Water tank
- No mop
- Price tier
- $ Budget
105 Combo
- Best for
- Light mopping, no dock
Show specifications
- Mop pad
- Microfiber pad, avoids carpet
- Dock
- Charging only
- Navigation
- ClearView LiDAR, neat rows, even in the dark
- Water tank
- Not stated
- Price tier
- $ Budget
105 Vac AutoEmpty
- Best for
- Hands-free dust, no mop
Show specifications
- Mop pad
- None
- Dock
- AutoEmpty, up to 75 days
- Navigation
- ClearView LiDAR, stair sensors
- Water tank
- No mop
- Price tier
- $$ Mid-range
Most complete 105
105 Combo AutoEmpty
- Best for
- Vacuum, mop and dock in one
Show specifications
- Mop pad
- Microfiber pad, avoids carpet, extra pad in box
- Dock
- AutoEmpty, up to 75 days
- Navigation
- ClearView LiDAR, stair sensors
- Water tank
- Not stated
- Price tier
- $$ Mid-range
Plus 415
- Best for
- Self-washing mop pads
Show specifications
- Mop pad
- DualClean spinning pads, lift 10 mm
- Dock
- AutoWash: empties, washes pads, refills, heat dries at 113°F; up to 90 days
- Navigation
- LiDAR plus obstacle recognition
- Water tank
- Refilled by the dock
- Price tier
- $$ Mid-range
The Roomba 105 Models, Reviewed
Each review opens with the short verdict, then who should buy it and who should not. The three things that change from one 105 to the next are the mop pad, the dock and the stage count in the cleaning description. Everything else is shared.
Top pick · Best for a budget vacuum-only Roomba
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac
The simplest 105. It maps with LiDAR, cleans hard floors and low carpet with its brush set, and charges itself, with no mop pad and no self-emptying.
- Budget
- Mop pad None
- Dock Charging only
- Navigation ClearView LiDAR, stair sensors
- Water tank No mop
- Buy it if
- You want a mapped, scheduled Roomba for dry floors and are happy to empty the bin yourself.
- Skip it if
- You want mopping, or you want to stop thinking about the bin. Neither is part of this version.
iRobot describes a three-stage clean: 70X more power-lifting suction than the Roomba 600 series robots, a Multi-Surface brush and an Edge-Sweeping brush. ClearView LiDAR maps the home, and specialized sensors stop it dropping down stairs. In the Roomba Home app you can schedule cleans, target rooms, change the number of passes and the suction level, set keep-out zones and run a spot clean that repeats one area for up to 5 minutes.
The robot recharges when needed and resumes where it left off. It works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant devices, per iRobot. Setup and operation use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The warranty is stated as one year from the manufacturer. Suction in watts or pascals, bin size and runtime are not stated.
What stands out
- ClearView LiDAR mapping with stair sensors
- Multi-Surface and Edge-Sweeping brushes
- Schedules, room targeting and keep-out zones in the app
- One-year manufacturer warranty, per the listing
Trade-offs
- No mop pad
- The bin is emptied by hand
- Bin size, runtime and suction rating are not stated
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
Best for light mopping without a dock
iRobot Roomba 105 Combo
The 105 for a home with hard floors that want a damp wipe after the vacuum. It adds a mop pad and carpet avoidance, and keeps the manual bin.
- Mid-range
- Mop pad Microfiber pad, avoids carpet
- Dock Charging only
- Buy it if
- You have hard floors and a few rugs, and you want vacuum and mop in one run without paying for a dock.
- Skip it if
- You want the mop washed or the bin emptied automatically. This version does neither.
The Combo adds a microfiber mop pad to the Vac. iRobot calls it four-stage cleaning, with the same 70X suction comparison, Multi-Surface brush and Edge-Sweeping brush, plus the mop. The listing says ClearView LiDAR cleans in neat rows even in the dark and that the robot automatically detects and avoids carpets while mopping, so rugs stay dry without programming.
You can choose vac only, mop only or a combined mode, and adjust passes, suction and the amount of mopping solution pumped onto the pad. The tank size and runtime are not stated. The stair-sensor claim is not repeated on this listing, so we do not repeat it here.
What stands out
- Microfiber mop pad with vac only, mop only and combined modes
- Detects and avoids carpet while mopping, per iRobot
- Adjustable mopping solution amount
- Neat-row LiDAR cleaning
Trade-offs
- No dock to wash the pad or empty the bin
- Water tank size and runtime are not stated
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
Best for hands-free dust without mopping
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac AutoEmpty
The pick if your floors mostly need vacuuming and your pain is the bin. The dock takes over the emptying.
- Mid-range
- Mop pad None
- Dock AutoEmpty, up to 75 days
- Navigation ClearView LiDAR, stair sensors
- Water tank No mop
- Buy it if
- You have pets or a busy home with mostly dry floors, and you want weeks between bin chores.
- Skip it if
- You want mopping. This version has no mop pad, and the Combo AutoEmpty costs the same tier.
iRobot says the AutoEmpty dock gives up to 75 days of hands-free cleaning. The robot empties into a bag that traps 99% of allergens as small as 0.7 microns, and you drop the full bag in the trash and fit a new one. The cleaning description is the same three-stage clean as the base Vac, with the same LiDAR, stair sensors, app controls and 5-minute spot cleaning.
The robot itself is unchanged from the Vac. What you pay for is the base. If you are weighing it against other self-emptying robots, our guide to self-emptying robot vacuums sets the dock types side by side.
What stands out
- AutoEmpty dock, up to 75 days per iRobot
- Bag traps 99% of allergens down to 0.7 microns, as stated
- Same LiDAR mapping and app as the Vac
- Stair sensors listed
Trade-offs
- No mop pad
- Dock footprint is not stated
- Bag cost is ongoing
Best for vacuum, mop and dock in one
iRobot Roomba 105 Combo AutoEmpty
The most complete 105. If you are buying one version and floors and bin both matter, this is the one.
- Mid-range
- Dock AutoEmpty, up to 75 days
- Navigation ClearView LiDAR, stair sensors
- Buy it if
- You have hard floors with some rugs and want the bin and the daily vacuum handled, with mopping available when you ask.
- Skip it if
- You want the pads washed for you. The 105 dock empties dust, and the listing does not describe pad washing.
This version combines the Combo's microfiber mop pad and carpet avoidance with the AutoEmpty dock. The listing states up to 75 days of hands-free cleaning, a 99% allergen bag and 20% better edge and corner cleaning from the edge-sweeping brush. You can pick vac only, mop only or combo vac-mop, and adjust the mopping solution.
The listing's what's-in-the-box line names one robot, one AutoEmpty dock and one extra mop pad, so you get a spare pad to swap. It lists ClearView LiDAR and stair sensors, and Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz. The water tank size is not stated.
What stands out
- Mop pad and AutoEmpty dock together
- Detects and avoids carpet while mopping, per iRobot
- Extra mop pad included in the box
- Up to 75 days of dust in the bag
Trade-offs
- Pad washing is not described, so pads are cleaned by hand
- Water tank size is not stated
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
Best step up from the Roomba 105
iRobot Roomba Plus 415
The step up when you want the mop pads washed and dried for you. It adds scrubbing pressure, a self-washing dock and obstacle recognition.
- Mid-range
- Navigation LiDAR plus obstacle recognition
- Water tank Refilled by the dock
- Buy it if
- Mopping is half the reason you are buying, and you want a dock that empties, washes and refills so there is little to do between runs.
- Skip it if
- You mostly vacuum. Then the AutoEmpty Vac covers you for less.
iRobot's listing describes DualClean mop pads with 2.8x more intense suction than the Roomba Plus 405 Combo, SmartScrub pressure for dried food and muddy prints, and a body 46% slimmer than the 405. The AutoWash Dock empties debris, washes the pads, refills water and heat dries the pads at 113°F after every run. The title states 90 days of self-emptying.
The robot detects carpet and lifts the pads 10 mm before crossing rugs. LiDAR mapping and obstacle recognition work around cords, shoes and toys, and rubber brushes are described as tangle-free for pet hair. The warranty is one year. Pad size, suction rating and tank volume are not stated.
What stands out
- AutoWash dock empties, washes pads, refills and heat dries
- Lifts pads 10 mm on carpet
- Tangle-free rubber brushes aimed at pet hair
- Obstacle recognition around cords, shoes and toys
Trade-offs
- Suction rating and tank volume are not stated
- A bigger dock than the 105 AutoEmpty base
- More upkeep parts than the 105
Vac or Combo: How the 105 Mops
The Combo versions carry a microfiber mop pad. iRobot says you can run vac only, mop only or a combined vac-mop clean, and set how much mopping solution is pumped onto the pad. The listing also says the robot detects and avoids carpets while mopping, so rugs stay dry without any programming from you.
That is the full mopping description on the listings. The water tank size, the pad's washing method and the mopping runtime are not stated, so we cannot say how large a floor a single fill covers. For a related question people ask, the Combo's pump feeds solution to the pad. A refillable tank is implied, but the listing never names it, so check iRobot's manual for the fill steps.
This is light mopping, a damp wipe that follows the vacuum. It is not the scrubbing, spinning pads and self-washing dock of the Roomba Plus 415, which is why we treat that model as the step up. The Combo with AutoEmpty is the best of the four for people who want both jobs done, as long as the pad is something you will rinse yourself.
Is the AutoEmpty Dock Worth It?
The dock does one job: it empties the bin into a bag after a run, which iRobot says covers up to 75 days of dirt and debris on the 105 listings. It does not wash the mop pad on the 105 Combo version. The listing does not describe that, so we do not claim it.
The dock earns its keep in homes where the bin fills fast. Pets, a family with several rooms and a robot on a daily schedule all fill the bin often. In a small flat with a weekly clean, emptying the bin by hand is a thirty-second job, and the Vac or Combo without a dock is enough.
One cost to plan for is the bag. iRobot's listing for the 3-pack of Dirt Disposal Bags says each bag holds up to 75 days and lists the Roomba 105 Vac and Combo with AutoEmpty docks as compatible, along with the Plus 405 and 505 AutoWash docks and the Max 705 models. A pack of three covers a long stretch, which makes the ongoing cost small. The one thing the listings do not say is whether you can add an AutoEmpty dock to a robot you already own. Ask iRobot before you plan on it.
For the wider picture, our self-emptying robot vacuum guide compares the options across brands, and the budget robot vacuum guide shows what else sits at the lower tiers.
Roomba 105 vs 205
People search for the 105 next to the 205 DustCompactor. At our November 7 reading, the Roomba 205 DustCompactor was not offered new on Amazon US, so we state no specifications for it and cannot compare it with the 105 line item by item. The only fact the listings give us is that iRobot's replacement edge-sweeping brush lists both the 205 DustCompactor and the 105 as compatible, which tells you the two share that part and nothing else.
If the 205 comes back to sale, we will compare it on its listing. Until then, the choice on the shelf is the four 105 versions and the Plus 415. For the whole iRobot lineup and how the numbers climb, see our iRobot Roomba guide. For how iRobot stacks up against other makers, read the Roomba vs Roborock and Eufy vs Roomba comparisons. The iRobot bankruptcy explainer covers what the company's situation means if you are buying a Roomba now.
Roomba 105 Parts
Three parts cover most of the upkeep, and all three are listed by iRobot as authentic replacements.
Replenishment Kit
The Replenishment Kit for the Roomba 105 Combo and Vac robots contains 3 filters, 3 edge-sweeping brushes and 1 multi-surface bristle brush. iRobot says a dirty filter weakens suction and that worn brushes do not grab debris as well, so these are the parts to swap on a schedule.
Edge-Sweeping Brushes
A 3-pack of edge-sweeping brushes is listed for the 105 and 205 series, the Plus 405 and the Essential line. The brushes are angled to sweep debris from edges and corners into the cleaning path.
Dirt Disposal Bags
The 3-pack of bags is only for the AutoEmpty versions. If you bought a 105 without a dock, you do not need them. The same bag fits the 105 docks, per the compatibility line.
Buy genuine parts: iRobot's listings say they are made to the exact specifications of each robot, and non-genuine parts may cut corners on materials.
Step Up: Roomba Plus 415
Move up to the Roomba Plus 415 if mopping is a real job in your home rather than an extra. The 415 listing describes spinning pads with scrubbing pressure, a dock that washes and heat dries the pads and refills water, and obstacle recognition that the 105 listings do not mention. The 105 Combo only has a flat microfiber pad that you clean yourself.
Stay with the 105 if you mainly vacuum. A Vac AutoEmpty covers the bin chore at the same price tier as the 415 on our scale, but it does not mop. The Combo AutoEmpty sits in between. It mops and empties, but does not wash its pad. Choose by what you are willing to do by hand: nothing (415), rinse a pad (105 Combo AutoEmpty), or empty a bin as well (105 Vac or Combo).
Roomba 105 FAQ
Sources
- iRobot product listings for the Roomba 105 Vac, 105 Combo, 105 Vac AutoEmpty, 105 Combo AutoEmpty and Roomba Plus 415, Amazon US, read on November 7, 2026 Every specification and claim on this page is iRobot's stated figure from its listing.
- iRobot authentic replacement parts listings (Replenishment Kit, Edge-Sweeping Brushes, Dirt Disposal Bags), Amazon US, read on November 7, 2026 Supports the parts contents, the 75-day bag figure and the compatibility lists.
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