Roomba battery replacement: how long it lasts and how to swap it

How long does a Roomba battery last?

According to iRobot, with proper care your robot’s battery should last at least 2 to 3 years before it needs to be replaced. That is a floor and not a promise: a robot that is never cleaned will wear it out sooner.

The battery type depends on the series. All s, j, i, e and 900 series robots come with lithium-ion batteries, writes iRobot. For other series, check iRobot’s battery compatibility chart for your type. Use only iRobot’s own batteries.

How do you know the battery is worn out?

If a cleaning run is shorter than when the robot was new, first check in the app that it charges all the way, and read our guide on a Roomba that is not charging. If charging and upkeep are fine, run iRobot’s runtime test:

1. Charge the battery fully. Leave the robot on its base for a few hours, or until the app says it is full.
2. Unplug the base from the outlet and put it away for the test.
3. Press the clean button and time how long the robot runs, until it plays an I’m-done tone, the four-tone dead battery song, or says “Low Battery Please Charge”. You may need several runs to drain the battery.
4. Try to keep the test on hardwood. Runtime is shorter on carpet.

Then compare the time with iRobot’s minimums. If the robot stops with a low battery error before them, iRobot says to consider replacing the battery.

Replacing the battery

You need a Phillips screwdriver. On some models the battery sits behind a small door with a few screws, on others under the whole bottom plate. iRobot has a video for each model and gives these screw counts:

For the 500 to 900 series and the i, e, j and s series, iRobot gives these general steps:

1. Place the robot upside down on a flat surface.
2. With a Phillips screwdriver, loosen the edge sweeping brush and the other screws that hold the bottom cover.
3. Remove the bottom cover, then take out the battery.
4. Fit the new battery and tighten all the screws, the edge sweeping brush included. The cover must sit flush with all the sensors.
5. Put the robot back on its base to charge.

On the s9, loosen one extra screw that holds the battery. The newer i1, i3, i5 and Combo i5 have a battery door instead of a bottom cover. On the door models with small screws (see the table) you free the battery by pulling off the small black clip at the end of the wires. Putting that clip back can be fiddly, so take your time and seat the battery the way you found it, because if it sits wrong the door will not close properly.

Use a genuine iRobot battery, of the type that fits your model. You can buy one from iRobot’s parts store, through customer care or from an authorized retailer. If the robot is still under warranty, contact customer care first.

How to make a battery last longer

• Charge the robot at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
• Keep the robot clean. Hair and debris make it work harder and drain the battery faster.
• Put the robot back on its base as soon as possible after each run, and leave it there when it is not running.
• If you will not use it for more than a few weeks, put it in ship mode (iRobot gives the steps for the Essential only) and store it somewhere cool and dry. If you cannot, take the battery out and keep it separately, also cool and dry.
• Charge the battery fully at least once every six months.

See also how to clean a Roomba and what to do when the robot stops responding.

What do you do with the old battery?

Do not throw an old battery or robot in the household bin. iRobot advises contacting your local waste management facility for the rules on electronics and batteries.

Or is a new robot the smarter buy?

If the robot is already several years old, a new one may be worth a look. Today 12 iRobot models are on sale, from $169, and the best placed, the iRobot Roomba Max 775 Combo, is number 43 of 157 in our ranking. These are the iRobot models with prices of November 4, 2026:

Every model of the brand is on the iRobot page, and the advisor finds the robot that suits your home in seven questions. For how long robots last in general, read how long robot vacuums last.