Think of a shop vacuum as a more robust and versatile vacuum cleaner. Not only do they pick up fine particles and solid debris, but the best shop vacs also excel at liquid cleanup.
For this review and buying guide, our team looked at today’s top-selling shop vacs, learned about their key features, read verified buyer reviews to understand what customers look for, and found expert-backed answers to frequently asked questions. Below, you’ll find our top recommendation for every type of job and budget.
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.
Top 6 Shop Vacs
The best shop vacs are powerful yet easy to maneuver. However, different models excel at different jobs. Because of this, our experts have recommended a model for each of the most common use cases.
- CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop Vac: Best Overall
- Armor All Shop Vac: Best Light-Duty
- DEWALT Portable Shop Vac: Best Cordless
- Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop Vac: Best for Fine Particles
- DEWALT 6-Gallon Shop Vac: Best Medium-Duty
- Shop-Vac All Around EZ: Best Storage Design
Compare Top Shop Vacs
| Product | Cordless? | Capacity | Horsepower | Hose Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop VacCheck Price | No | 20 gallons | 6.5 | 7 feet | 30.3 pounds |
Armor All Shop VacCheck Price | No | 2.5 gallons | 2 | 6.25 feet | 7 pounds |
DEWALT Portable Shop VacCheck Price | Yes | 0.6 liters | No listed | 5 feet | 4.5 pounds |
Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop VacCheck Price | No | 5 gallons | 5.5 | 7 feet | 13.5 pounds |
DEWALT 6-Gallon Shop VacCheck Price | No | 6 gallons | 4 | 7 feet | 14.7 pounds |
Shop-Vac All Around EZCheck Price | No | 1.5 gallons | 2 | 7 feet | 10.9 pounds |
Best Overall
CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop Vac
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.
Pros and Cons of CRAFTSMAN 20-Gallon Shop Vac
- 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 People 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
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.
Pros and Cons of Armor All Shop Vac
- 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 People 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
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.
Pros and Cons of DEWALT Portable Shop Vac
- 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 People 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
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.
Pros and Cons of Vacmaster 5-Gallon Shop Vac
- 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 People 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
This robust wet/dry vac from DEWALT falls in the middle range for both tank size and power. With its 6-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.
Pros and Cons of DEWALT 6-Gallon Shop Vac
- 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 People 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
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.
Pros and Cons of Shop-Vac All Around EZ
- 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 People 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 Buying 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 |
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.
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 a 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 shop vacs 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.