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TOH Team Take:
- The best shop vac in our roundup 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.
Compare Shop Vacs
| Product | Cordless? | Capacity | Horsepower | Hose Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop Vac | No | 20 gallons | 6.5 | 7 feet | 30.3 pounds |
| Armor All Shop Vac | No | 2.5 gallons | 2 | 6.25 feet | 7 pounds |
| DEWALT Portable Shop Vac | Yes | 0.6 liters | Not listed | 5 feet | 4.5 pounds |
| Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop Vac | No | 5 gallons | 5.5 | 7 feet | 13.5 pounds |
| DEWALT 6-Gallon Shop Vac | No | 6 gallons | 4 | 7 feet | 14.7 pounds |
| Shop-Vac All Around EZ | No | 1.5 gallons | 2 | 7 feet | 10.9 pounds |
| Product | Cordless? | Capacity | Horsepower | Hose Length | Weight |
Learn about our picks for the top shop vacs available on the market in 2024 below.
Best Overall
CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop Vac
- $206.66
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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 Light-Duty
Armor All Shop Vac
- $49.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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
DEWALT Portable Shop Vac
- $111.4
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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 for Fine Particles
Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop Vac
- $168.6
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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 Medium-Duty
DEWALT 6-Gallon Shop Vac
- $99.99
- $149.99
- 33% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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 Storage Design
Shop-Vac All Around EZ
- $102.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
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 Sizes
| Project Size | Tank Size |
|---|---|
| Small | Up to six gallons |
| Medium | Six to 14 gallons |
| Large | At least 14 gallons |
| Project Size | Tank Size |
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 Vac FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions about shop vacuums.
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.
Our Methodology
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, including power tools, outdoor equipment, major appliances, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and more that focus on product quality and helpfulness to our readers.
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of products with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we compared each model’s feature set to create a final shortlist, selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
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