The best shop vacuums come in all shapes, sizes, power levels, and price points. Almost every store that sells tools also sells shop vacuums. These handy tools range from larger capacity units to smaller portable models. Our picks for the best shop vacuums for 2023 include categories for a variety of needs and applications.
What is a vacuum cleaner?
Shop Vacs are like Kleenex, Bandaids and Sawzalls. The Shop-Vac brand has become so synonymous with wet and dry vacuums that people have started referring to them all as Shop Vacs. The Shop-Vac brand still exists, although it had a rough patch and a sale a few years ago.
Shop vacs usually have larger diameter hoses, and they don't usually get HEPA certified (although some do). You won't usually find automatic filter cleaning, and the motors tend to be smaller, so less powerful overall. These are what we consider the main differences between shop vacuums and dust collectors. Of course, these aren't all the differences, but it's a good start.
Our best shop vac reviews run the gamut from compacts to large vacs designed for shop carpentry. So what makes a good wet and dry vacuum cleaner? It depends on your needs. In most cases, it will be a balance between portability, airflow (CFM), suction (lifting water), and capacity. Add the included accessories, storage and hose/cord management to make it full circle.
How you personally weigh each of these categories varies by job and person. That's why we've compiled a list of the best shop vacuums of 2023 so you can decide which one is best for your needs.
Best Shop Vac Overall
Milwaukee Modular Wet/Dry Vacuum and Nozzle Accessories
The best shop vacuum overall has to be the best balance of all things, and the Milwaukee delivers on that, but not just with one vacuum. They've created a complete modular system that lets you customize what you want. Choose from single battery, dual battery or corded power. Then add 6, 9 or 12 gallon cans. From there, you can use a standard filter, a wet foam filter, or a HEPA filter.
Then there's the AirTip line of trade-focused fittings that are cross-compatible with virtually every hose size.
While there isn't just one vacuum that fits all needs, Milwaukee has designed a system that, due to the sum of its parts, far outperforms any one model.
Vacuum Price: $249.00 – $799.00
Air Tip Price: $17.99 – $119.00
The Best Cordless Vacuums
Greenworks 60V Pro Hybrid Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner
When we searched for the best cordless vacuums, one feature stood out – the hybrid battery/AC. While it's convenient to run completely wireless, sometimes you don't want to be limited by runtime.
With that in mind, the Greenworks 60V Wet/Dry Vacuum is our top pick. Its performance is excellent among battery powered options (90 CFM/36" liters), the overall design is solid, it has a great 9 gallon capacity, and you have a hybrid option.
Price: $199.99 (not including battery or charger)
Best Small Shop Vacuums
Craftsman 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum CMXEVCVVFB511
When it comes to the best small shop vacuums, your definition of "small" is key. For us, we were looking for tanks with a small footprint and 5 gallons or less. This year, we earned our Recommends with the Craftsman 5-gallon Wet-Dry Vacuum.
This is the performance that caught our attention. Despite its small size, it has 5.5 peak horsepower and an impressive combination of 102 CFM and 84 inches of water lift.
It's almost identical to the Vacmaster Beast 5 gallon, which is sold on Amazon if the Craftsman model at Lowe's is out of stock. We've used Vacmaster products for years and can't go wrong with either brand.
Price: 99.98
Best Heavy Duty Workshop Vacuums
Vacmaster 8 Gallon Industrial Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner VK811PH
The Vacmaster VK811PH Industrial Wet/Dry Vacuum earns our nod as the best heavy-duty shop vacuum for several important reasons. First, this shop vac has the highest tested water lift in its price class, at 106 inches (according to our tests). Even with that pull, it can still manage 125 CFM of suction.
We also think 8 gallon jugs are the best choice for commercial mobility and capacity. Large rubber rear wheels get you over bumpy thresholds without damaging the surface. The hose measures 10 feet, but it's still plenty for most situations. We also like the metal hardware and the great cord management. It's even HEPA-rated.
Price: $231.99
Best High-Capacity Shop Vacuums in the Construction Industry
Ridgid 16 Gallon NXT Wet & Dry Vacuum HD1800
There's a good reason Ridgid vacuums are all over the workplace: They're great value, and they're affordable. There are several excellent options in the range, and the Ridgid 16-gallon NXT is our top pick because it's the best vacuum in the construction business.
With 6.5 peak horsepower and 184 CFM, it's the most powerful model in Ridgid's lineup. Plus, the 16-gallon jug holds more debris than most models, the trolley design allows you to easily move it around your workspace, and the accessory set includes a nozzle to handle just about any mess you have to deal with.
Price: $179.00
The Best HEPA Vacuum Cleaners
Ridgid NXT Shop Vacuum with HEPA Conversion
Most of our top HEPA vacuums are in the dust collector category, not the shop vacuum category. Their designs typically have a stronger build to ensure you get a tight seal on the canister as well as finer collection by the HEPA filter to ensure those particles don't get into your breathing space. Still, there are some HEPA shop vacuums worth considering, and the trick to making the leap from basic collection to HEPA rating is not just the filter, but the collection bag.
Ridgid has you covered again, and for under $60 you can add HEPA filtration and cyclone collection bags to the wide range of 12 – 16 gallon Ridgid wet/dry vacuums. If you don't already have a Ridgid vacuum, Home Depot has kits that include the vacuum and HEPA accessories.
Price: $64.97
The Best Portable Vacuums for Car Cleaning
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Pack 2.5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
When it comes to portability and a clean vehicle, nothing beats a small capacity cordless model… if it has high enough performance. The M18 Fuel 0970 from Milwaukee uses a brushless motor to produce 50 CFM and 47 inch liters of water, has a 2.5 gallon capacity and is Packout compatible.
You can go smaller and have more mobility around the vehicle, but we like the performance level of this model, and the very convenient Packout interface makes it easier to store and transport your mobile detailing gear.
Price: $199.00 bare metal
Best value home vacuum cleaner store
HART 9 Gallon Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum VOC812SW 3701
HART has an impressive range of vacuums ranging from the wet/dry shop vacs we've been talking about to standard upright vacs and plenty in between. Dial in 6.0 peak horsepower to deliver 100 CFM and 89 inches of water lift, and it delivers great performance for the price. Plus, the stainless steel tank gives it a great look, and its cart-style base makes moving the vacuum easier.
Price: $74.00
The best wall-mounted woodworking vacuums
Rikon 60-101 Wall Mount 1 HP Dust Collector
For a true wall-mounted shop vac, we think you might want to do more than clean up some floor space. For connecting woodworking equipment to a storewide vacuum system without hitting the four-figure mark, we like the Rikon 60-101. Our pick for the best wall-mounted shop vacuum, it can collect up to 99% of dust as small as 1 micron.
It features all-metal construction and the motor's 10-inch impeller produces 800 CFM of suction using 4-inch ductwork (up to two units). With 5" tubing, you can get up to 1100 CFM for single tool use. This system can really handle pulling dust and wood chips from band saws, table saws, seamers, planers and more.
Price: $749.99
Best Shop Vac recommendations from more brands we trust
Best DeWalt Shop Vacuum: 9 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum DXV09P
DeWalt has a variety of wet/dry vacuum options to keep the duster pricing from swaying, and we've been impressed with their build quality. In your selection, we recommend the 9 gallon model for the best balance of capacity, performance and price. It boasts 5 peak horsepower, 90 CFM and 70 inches of water lift. At $144.99, it's a great upgrade if you're looking for better durability than the lower-priced model.
Price: $144.99
Best Flex Shop Vacuum: 1.6 Gallon Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum FX5221-Z
Currently, Flextronics' 24V system has only one vacuum cleaner. With dimensions of 41 CFM and 42 inch liters of water, the compact 1.6 gallon design performs surprisingly well.
It goes beyond the basics, with two operating modes for higher performance or longer run times, and a button to activate reverse flow so the vacuum can clean the included HEPA filter. The basic physical design deviates from tradition, but in a refreshing way that makes sense.
Price: $119.00
Best Hilti Shop Vacuum: High Suction 17 Gallon Wet/Dry Construction Vacuum VC 300-17 X
When talking about shop vacuums, the name Hilti doesn't necessarily come to mind. They're built with a lot of focus and don't have what you'd think of as a traditional shop vacuum. That said, if you need a vacuum developed by Hilti, their vacuums are excellent.
The best is Hilti's VC 300-17 X, which uses two turbines to produce an astounding 300 CFM and is designed to help contractors maintain Schedule 1 compliance. Capable of holding up to 159 lbs of dust, it features automatic filter cleaning and a HEPA design concrete contractor needs.
Price: $2039.00
Best Makita Shop Vacuum: Max 40V XGT 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum GCV03
Makita is another brand that doesn't compete in the vacuum space of traditional stores. However, they have a range of vacuums ranging from dust collectors to commercial cleaning, and even models that can detect the pull of a cordless tool trigger.
The GCV03 takes your typical wet/dry canister vacuum and is our top pick. It has a 4 gallon tank on smooth rolling casters with a brushless motor that provides 148 CFM and 92 inches of water lift. Those are fantastic numbers for a cordless vacuum cleaner. When the mess is mostly light debris, you can use the power knob to prioritize runtime, and a second battery port provides longer runtime at any power level.
If you don't need a wet vacuum, consider the GCV04. It has the same performance while being HEPA certified, and you can add Makita's AWS chip for automatic tool activation.
Price: $705.99 bare, $1129.99 kit with two 4.0Ah batteries and dual-port fast charger
Best Ryobi Shop Vacuum: 40V Cordless 10 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum RY40WD01
Ryobi has a major vacuum expansion in 2022, which is fine for you but complicated for us. With so many great models to choose from, both corded and cordless, it's not easy to pick the best.
Ultimately, we chose Ryobi's 40V Cordless 10 Gallon Shop Vacuum because of its cordless power supply with 80 CFM and 50 inches of water lift. You can get up to an hour of run time from the 6.0Ah battery. It's a strong contender with Greenworks for best overall cordless shop vacuum, but one thing it lacks is an AC option.
Price: $199.00 bare metal
Best Shop-Vac Brand Shop Vac: 12 Gallon 6.0 HP Stainless Steel Wet and Dry Vacuum 5761311
We couldn't have a guide to the best store vacuums without including the brands that gave the category its notoriety. Shop-Vac offers you a variety of sizes and power levels, with our favorite being the 12 Gallon 6.0 HP Stainless Steel model.
The tank is large but not as bulky as the 16 gallon model, the 6.0 peak horsepower motor provides 100 CFM and 66 inches of water lift, and it looks good too. It's a great all-around design for cleaning out your shop, car, garage, and all those clutter that life loves to throw at your home.
Get this one at Lowe's for $119.00.
Why buy a wet and dry vacuum cleaner?
Wet and dry vacuums (or Shop Vacs as they are known in the industry) are the cleaning workhorse from the home to the job site. Their ability to clean up everything from wet and dry messes around the house to your car to your job site makes them versatile. While they're usually not as powerful or as refined as portable jobsite dusters, they're also much less expensive, starting at less than $50. Unless you really need all the extra features of a duster, they're definitely the way to go.
Disagree with our selection?
It doesn't matter! We know that personal preference comes first when determining the best wet and dry shop vacuum for you, and every Pro is different. Do Pro Tool Nation a favor and tell us what your top picks are and why you like them. Feel free to drop it in the comments below or on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Best Shop Vac Buying Guide – What We Look For
Wired or wireless?
Our favorite shop vac still comes with a cord. However, many manufacturers have designed vacuum cleaners with smaller capacities that are very portable. Some actually have cordless shop vacs with higher CFM and water lift capabilities. These cordless vacuums can really help you clean up your job site because you won't have to hunt for an outlet. Runtimes are also getting better, making them more usable than ever.
When considering whether to choose a dust collector or a shop vac, we recommend looking at what you're hoping to achieve. Shop vacuums are usually good at picking up materials like wood chips and debris. It usually has a wider nozzle to handle these tasks without clogging as easily. Dust collectors, on the other hand, focus more on removing airborne particles such as concrete dust.
Airflow (CFM)
Airflow simply reflects the amount of air flowing through the nozzle over a set period of time. As an acronym, CFM stands for "Cubic Feet Per Minute." The higher the CFM, the more air will be drawn through the hose.
water lifter (suction)
Water lift is usually measured in inches, and it helps us understand a vacuum's ability to move heavier objects. The higher the water lift, the greater the suction, and the heavier the debris it can move. If you're mostly collecting wood chips, you don't need to lift a lot of water. If your pieces involve shavings or material or nails and screws, you'll need more.
capacity
Obviously, the capacity you need will depend on the application of your shop vacuum. When comparing similar models in your application, consider the amount of material your vacuum can pick up. We also investigated its efficiency in storing materials. A shop vacuum with a well-designed filter can outperform other models when it comes to actual storage capacity.
Remember that shop vacuums measure capacity by the overall size of the canister. The filter takes up part of the room, so the drying capacity is smaller. The wet capacity is still small to avoid the risk of water being sucked into the motor. Most premium models have a float valve that shuts off the motor when the water level is high enough.
portability
Not every shop vacuum qualifies as a "portable" tool, but even larger units need to be transported from the tool shed or workshop to the job site. Check out wheels, handle designs, and more to see which models offer the best mobility and transport portability.
Accessory storage
Accessory storage has been an issue with some wet and dry vacuums. No matter how much attention the manufacturer puts into this area, it seems like you can't help but hang up the hose or drop the nozzle. However, some vacuums can at least solve the accessory storage problem, giving you the chance to make sure floor tools, brushes and extension nozzles are always at hand when you need them.
For larger models, you can store most, if not all, of the accessories inside the canister when not in use.
Power Cord Management
Many store vacs include some form of cord wrap, but some are better than others. Think how easy a shop vac makes managing cords when you plug them in and when you're done with your day's work.
price and value
For many people, setting a budget is the first step in eliminating price selection. Consider the price of the vacuum and weigh it against the performance and features of the tool, as well as the warranty, line depth (for cordless products), included accessories, and other priorities you may have.
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