Best Shop Vacs (2024 Review)

TOH Reviews Team Take:

• The best shop vac in 2024 is the Craftsman Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac because of its high capacity, long hose length, and built-in wheels. However, you do need to plug it in.
• On average, you’ll spend around $125 for a high-quality shop vac, but you may spend anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on the suction power and capacity you opt for.
• Shop vacs have more powerful motors than even the best vacuum cleaners, making a wet/dry shop vac the best choice for picking up liquids and large debris.

Shop vacs are similar to vacuum cleaners in that they clean up fine dust and debris from floors and other surfaces. However, shop vacs are ultimately more versatile with the ability to pick up not only solid debris but also liquid messes. With in-depth research into the most important parts of a shop vac and what customers look for, we compiled multiple recommendations from portable to filtered choices.

In addition to providing information on the best shop vacs in 2024, we’ve put together a buying guide to help you decide what aspects are most important before purchasing a new shop vac.

Shop Vac Reviews

Before we review each of the best shop vacs in great detail, it’s worth comparing key features at a glance:

Learn about our picks for the top shop vacs available on the market in 2024 below.

Best Shop Vac

Courtesy Amazon

CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop Vac

• $206.66

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop Vac can handle wet and dry messes of any size with its 20-gallon tank and 6.5-horsepower motor. It also has a wrap for its 20-foot cord, making it easy to store. It also comes with several useful accessories, including seven wands and nozzles and a dust collection bag.

• $206.66 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a large 20-gallon tank
✔ Has wheels for easy portability
✔ Comes with 10 different accessories

✘ Blower port doesn’t turn off
✘ Motor can be loud while in operation

What Customers Are Saying About The CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop Vac

Customers who like the CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop Vac are impressed with its suction power and large gallon capacity. Reviewers also like that it is easy to maneuver. On the other hand, some felt this shop vac did not seal properly, while some customers had issues getting the wheels to lock on.

Best Small Shop Vac

Courtesy Amazon

Armor All Shop Vac

• $49.99

Prices taken at time of publishing.

With a 2.5-gallon tank and two-horsepower motor, the Armor All Shop Vac is best for smaller household tasks, such as picking up fine sand or sucking up a gallon of water. This wet/dry vac comes with eight accessories, including two filters, a hose, a detail brush, a crevice tool, and three nozzles.

• $49.99 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Is lightweight at just seven pounds
✔ Comes with eight accessories
✔ Has cord wrap for easy storage

✘ Not ideal for large households
✘ Power cord is shorter than some comparable products

What Customers Are Saying About The Armor All Shop Vac

Those who were happy with the Armor All Shop Vac like that it is highly portable and easy to maneuver. They were also pleased that it takes up minimal space. On the other hand, others felt this shop vacuum didn’t have enough suction power to lift medium- or large-size items, and others claimed it stopped working properly after a standard amount of use.

Best Cordless Shop Vac

Courtesy Amazon

DEWALT Portable Shop Vac

• $111.4

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Operated by a battery instead of a cord and featuring a flexible hose, the DEWALT Portable Shop Vac is easy to move between rooms as it weights just 4.5 pounds. Additionally, the machine has a large on/off button below its rubberized handle for easy operation in work gloves.

• $111.4 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has built-in filter that can be removed and rinsed with tap water between uses
✔ Weighs less than five pounds
✔ Blocks 99.7% of dust

✘ Too small for large particles
✘ Has a loud operation

What Customers Are Saying About The DEWALT Portable Shop Vac

Those who left satisfactory reviews for the DEWALT Portable Shop Vac are pleased with its simple setup and the excellent suction power this shop vac offers for its size. Others are impressed with its lightweight design. However, some customers felt this vacuum was overly loud, and others found it challenging to operate.

Best Shop Vac for Dust Collection

Courtesy Amazon

Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop Vac

• $168.6

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop Vac comes with a fine dust filter and a foam wet filter in addition to other accessories, preventing debris and liquid from damaging the machine. The fine dust filter that not only protects the machine from dust but also prevents that dust from entering the air.

• $168.6 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes with foam wet filter that prevents debris from damaging machine
✔ Has 5.5-horsepower motor and five-gallon tank
✔ Features quick-release cord

✘ Hose holder is poorly designed
✘ Has a smaller capacity than some other wet vacs

What Customers Are Saying About The Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop Vac

Customers who like the Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop Vac are impressed with its excellent suction power and its long cord. Others like that this wet/dry vac has a long cord. However, some customers felt this wet/dry vac was hard to maneuver since it didn’t have wheels. Some also found that the latches didn’t fully tighten.

Best Shop Vac with Detachable Blower

Courtesy Amazon

DEWALT 6-Gallon Shop Vac

• $99.99
• $149.99
• 33% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This six-gallon wet/dry vac from DEWALT falls in the middle range for both tank size and power. With its six-gallon tank and four-horsepower motor, this shop vac works best for medium-sized projects. At just over 14 pounds, we like that its size allows for movement.

• $99.99 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has dedicated space for cord storage
✔ Has wheels that rotate 360 degrees to let you move the shop vac in any direction with minimal effort
✔ Comes with a crevice tool nozzle to tackle hard-to-reach spots

✘ Doesn’t mention a warranty
✘ The shorter hose may require an extension cord for hard-to-reach places

What Customers Are Saying About The DEWALT 6-Gallon Shop Vac

Customers like and appreciate the DEWALT 6-Gallon Shop Vac’s strong suction, medium capacity, and plug-and-play design. Those who weren’t satisfied with their purchase mentioned not receiving screws, filter bags, and hoses, which prevented them from using the vacuum.

Best Wall Mount Shop Vac

Courtesy Amazon

Shop-Vac All Around EZ

• $102.99

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The Shop-Vac All Around EZ has a 1.5-gallon capacity and 2-horsepower motor, which works best for lighter projects around the home, such as cleaning floors or vacuuming car upholstery. I like that its dual-surface utility nozzle lets you seamlessly transition from wood or concrete floors to carpeted floors. It’s also under 11 pounds and has handles and casters for easy lifting and storage.

• $102.99 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Can be mounted on the wall for storage to free up floor space
✔ Comes with a three-year warranty
✔ Comes with several nozzles to tackle different tasks

✘ Not powerful enough to pick up larger pieces of debris
✘ Extension wands may be too short for some projects

What Customers Are Saying About The Shop-Vac All Around EZ

Positive product reviews show customers are generally satisfied with the performance of the Shop-Vac All Around EZ, as it’s lightweight and easy to move around. However, I saw some purchasers say it lacked suction power, and others said it was overly noisy.

Shop Vac Buyer’s Guide

Read our buying guide below to learn about the features that distinguish the best shop vacuums from each other.

Shop Vac Capacity

Most wet vacs have tanks between two and 18 gallons in size. Choose a tank size that fits the types of jobs you will use your shop vac for. Small jobs require tanks between two and six gallons, while 14-18 gallon wet/dry vacuums are better for large jobs.

What Size Shop Vac Do I Need?

Below, our experts recommend the size of shop vac that you need based on the size of project you may be tackling.

Shop Vac Horsepower

The power of your wet vac’s motor is measured in horsepower. Small tasks, such as picking up a half-gallon water spill, require one-to-two-horsepower motors, while large tasks, such as picking up large pieces of debris or pumping water out of your basement, require more powerful suction ability, such as machines with four-to-six-horsepower motors. However, vacuums with more horsepower typically have a shorter runtime.

Shop Vac Accessories

Shop vacs often come with extra hoses, brushes, extension wands, and other accessories for use in different situations. Shop vacs with accessories typically also have onboard storage to keep all of the tools together. Some vacuums will also include a drainage plug to on the bottom of the canister to help reduce clogs, and others have built-in self-cleaning capabilities.

How To Use A Shop Vac

Shop vacs are highly effective tools for homeowners who need to remove dry materials as well as wet messes or large amounts of debris at your home or job site. Our team put together this guide of some of the most common uses for shop vacs around the home.

• Cleaning a Garage: Shop vacs are excellent for dust collection for sawdust, wood shavings, metal chips, and other debris commonly found in areas like a workshop or garage.
• Removing Water and Other Liquids: Shop vacs can handle water and other liquids, making them ideal for removing spills, cleaning up flooded areas, and drying out carpets after water damage.
• Cleaning Car’s Interior: Shop vacs can be used to thoroughly clean the interior of your car, including carpets, seats, floor mats, and the trunk. They can remove dirt, crumbs, pet hair, and even small liquid spills.
• Unclog Sinks and Drains: With the right accessory attachment, you can use a shop vac to remove clogs in your sink, tub, or drain.
• Cleaning Outdoor Areas and Surfaces: Shop vacs are effective for cleaning outdoor spaces such as decks, patios and outdoor furniture. They can also be used to remove leaves and pick up dirt and debris.
• Removing Pet Hair: Shop vacs can be highly effective tools for removing pet hair from carpets, upholstery, and pet bedding.

Best Rated Shop Vacs: Our Conclusion

The best rated shop vacs are powerful, yet easy to maneuver. They’re also able to pick up both wet and dry messes alike. However, the best shop vac for you will ultimately depend on your needs. Because of this, our experts recommend a number of different shop vacs for a variety of use cases:

• Best Shop Vac: Craftsman 20-Gallon Shop Vac
• Best Small Shop Vac: Armor All Shop Vac
• Best Cordless Shop Vac: DEWALT Portable Shop Vac
• Best Shop Vac for Dust Collection: Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop Vac
• Best Shop Vac with Detachable Blower: DEWALT 6-Gallon Shop Vac
• Best Wall Mount Shop Vac: Shop-Vac All Around EZ

Shop Vacs: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about shop vacs:

Are wet vacs loud?

Yes. Some wet vacs are as loud as 85 decibels, so you may want to wear ear protection to avoid hearing damage.

Are wet vacs portable?

Most wet vacs are either lightweight for carrying or have wheels for rolling. This allows you to maneuver the vacuum to clean up messes with ease.

What does the static pressure rating of my wet vac mean?

Static pressure (SP), also called sealed pressure or sealed suction, is a measurement used for shop vacs whose main function is to pick up liquid. High-end shop vacs usually have an SP rating of around 75.

What power source do shop vacs use?

Shop vacs use electricity to run. Most are corded shop vacs that you plug into an outlet, but some cordless shop vacs have a rechargeable battery. Shop vacs with power cords have an unlimited supply of electricity, but they require extension cords for more reach. Battery-powered cordless wet vacuums are more portable, but they require frequent recharges and may have a higher price point.

What is the difference between a shop vac and wet/dry vac?

A shop vac is a vacuum optimized for heavy-duty cleanup. It typically doesn’t come with a rotating brush roll, meaning it shouldn’t be used on carpet. Shop-Vac is also the name of a popular brand of wet dry vacs.

Wet vacs can clean liquids without ruining the vacuum. Most wet vacs are also wet/dry vacs, meaning they can separate dry materials.

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