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A maneuverable shop vac with the perfect amount of suction power.

An extremely versatile shop vac with high-quality nozzle attachments.

A quality shop vac with a waterproof on/off switch for safe and easy access.

A lightweight shop vac with a hook and wall mount bracket for easy storage.

A powerful shop vac with a two-stage motor for great suction strength.

Our product testing team has spent many hours researching and testing the best shop vacs in the industry. While Shop Vac® is indeed a brand of vacuum, it is also the commonly-used term to describe this style of vacuum. Shop vacs are also referred to as bucket vacuums, due to the fact they resemble buckets with a hose attached.

Shop vacs typically feature a high-powered motor, durable hose, and large canister to hold dirt and debris. While all of the shop vacs featured in this article may possess all three of these characteristics, this type of product can vary dramatically. As is the case with all products that we test, our team members formulated our recommendations based on an honest and unbiased review process.

Shop vacuums, commonly called shop vacs, are powerful tools capable of handling messes most regular vacuums cannot. Most come with a bevy of attachments, have portable wet-dry vac capabilities, and use heavy-duty high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems.

The Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 has 6.0 peak horsepower (HP) and a 12.0-gallon tank capable of handling small projects in your garage workspace to big projects at your job site. This shop vac features dual-flex technology in the form of its 2.5-in. diameter shop vacuum hose having 180-degree mobility at each end to prevent hose kinking. It should also be noted that this wet/dry vac comes with a three-year limited warranty.

A built-in blower port featured on the wet/dry shop vacuum allows for a quick clean-up process of leaves and grass clippings. This shop vac also features an extra-long power cord that’s a whopping 20.0 ft. in length for easy maneuverability. Furthermore, a Qwik Lock Filter Fastening System allows you to quickly and easily switch between wet and dry vacuum filters.

The Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 comes with the shop vac itself, two extension wands, a car nozzle, a utility nozzle, a general-purpose filter, and a dust collection bag. Additionally, this shop vac includes a 2.5-in. by 7.0-ft. locking dual-flex hose in the box.

The Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 is our product testing team’s choice for the Best Overall shop vac on the market due to its flawless performance in all of our testing categories.

Average Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars based on more than 8,600 customer reviews

Customers absolutely agree that this is one of the best shop vacs, which is backed by the fact that a usually unheard of 94 percent of reviewers rate this shop vac 4 or more stars. Just 2 percent of reviewers rate this product 1 out of 5 stars, while 85 percent of reviewers rate it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

Our product testing team recognized the DeWalt DXV06P for having the Best Attachments out of all of the shop vacs in the industry. This shop vac has a powerful 4.0 peak HP motor as well as a built-in blower port that produces a powerful enough airflow to blow sawdust and debris from your workspace. This 6.0-gallon wet/dry vac has a large enough storage canister to handle bigger jobs but it’s ideal for smaller-scale do-it-yourself, or DIY, clean up.

This wet/dry shop vac features rubberized casters that are extremely durable and allow for smooth swiveling and ease of movement when you’re trying to maneuver this shop vac around your workspace. For wet messes, this shop vac features a drain port to easily drain any liquid that you’ve vacuumed up. A 10.0-foot power cord means that you may need an extension cord, but you’ll still have plenty of room to move around with this shop vac.

Included in the box with the DeWalt DXV06P shop vac itself is a range of nozzle attachments including a utility nozzle, floor nozzle, and crevice tool nozzle. This shop vac also comes with a 1.88-in. by 7.0-ft. hose, two extension wands, a washable/reusable cartridge filter, a disposable filter bag, and a mesh accessory storage bag.

Our product testing team named the DeWalt DXV06P as the shop vac with the Best Attachments due to the sheer number of nozzle attachments included and how useful they are.

Average Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars based on more than 4,300 customer ratings

Only two percent of reviewers rate this shop vac 1 star, while eighty-four percent rate it a faultless 5 stars – which speaks to customers’ general satisfaction with the product. A huge number of reviewers, 94 percent to be exact, rate this poly wet/dry shop vac 4 stars or higher.

The Stanley SL18116P was awarded the Best Size shop vac in the industry by our team members due to its 6.0-gal. capacity in a compact body. This shop vac features a 4.0 peak HP motor giving it enough suction power to suck up wet and dry messes alike. This shop vac offers three-in-one functionality as it has both wet and dry capabilities as well as a built-in blower port. It should be noted that this shop vac has a maximum current of 7.0 amps, a maximum suction of 85.0 in., and a noise level of 80.0 decibels.

This shop vac has over 16.0 ft. of cleaning reach thanks to a 6.0-ft. hose, 10.0-ft. power cord, and three extension wands so you won’t have to worry about where wall outlets are during your cleaning process. Additionally, swiveling casters mean you can easily wheel this shop vac around your workspace. A large on/off switch features a waterproof design for safe and quick access. It should also be noted that this shop vac has a sealed pressure capability of 50.0 in. of water.

Upon purchase of the Stanley SL18116P, you can expect to receive the shop vac itself along with a number of other accessories. Accessories that are included in the box include a 1.25-in. by 6.0-ft. hose, three extension wands, a gulper nozzle, a crevice nozzle, a floor nozzle, a foam filter, a dust bag, and one reusable dry filter. Although it’s not possible to physically include this in the box, a 12-month warranty also comes with the purchase of this product.

The Stanley SL18116P is our team’s choice for the Best Size shop vac in the industry due to its large capacity and overall compact design.

Average Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars based on more than 9,600 customer reviews

Most reviewers are pleased with this wet/dry vacuum, as 91 percent of reviewers rate it 4 stars or higher. A total of 77 percent of customers rate this shop vac a faultless 5 stars, while 3 percent gave it 1 star.

Our product testing team named the Vacmaster Red Edition VOM205P the Best Value shop vac in the industry for its high quality and affordability. This shop vac has 2.0 peak HP and a built-in blower port with 65.0 cubic feet of air moved per minute (CFM) airflow. The tank is built to last as it’s made from durable polypropylene and is big enough for smaller-scale clean-up jobs with a 2.5-gal. capacity.

This shop vac is easy to carry, operate, and store as it weighs only 6.2 lbs. and is significantly smaller than all of the other shop vacs that we have tested. A hook and wall mount bracket also add to this shop vac’s ease of storage. Although this shop vac is smaller than most, it features 14.0 ft. of cleaning reach. The manufacturer states that this shop vac has suction for household cleanup in the product description making it great for homeowners.

Customers can expect a number of parts and accessories included in the box when they purchase the Vacmaster Red Edition VOM205P. Upon purchasing this product, you can expect to receive a 2.5-in. by 7.0-ft. secure fit hose, four caster assemblies, two foam wet filters, a cartridge filter, two hose storage brackets, two extension wands, utility nozzle, floor nozzle, crevice tool, air/noise diffuser, and an operator’s manual.

We named the Vacmaster Red Edition VOM205P the Best Value shop vac for its high build quality and affordable price point.

Average Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars based on more than 3,800 customer reviews

A whopping 87 percent of reviewers rate this shop vac 4 stars or higher. Only five percent of reviewers rate this product 1 star, while most customers can’t praise this shop vac enough and rate it a perfect 5 stars.

The Ridgid RT1400 has a 6.0-peak horsepower motor, making it a clear choice for the Most Powerful shop vac on the market. A two-stage motor creates high-lift suction as well as more efficient airflow. This shop vac features a professional locking hose that won’t pull loose during use and a smooth interior surface of the hose reduces the chances of clogging. Additionally, the sturdy cart and push handle featured on this shop vac means it can travel easily through rough job site terrain.

A Qwik Lock Filter Fastening System allows users to install or remove filters quickly and easily without the use of power tools or fasteners. The large 14.0-gal. capacity of this wet/dry shop vac means it’s great for professional, contractor, or industrial use. The fine dust filter captures 99.5 percent of dust particles for superior filtration. It should also be noted that this shop vac is compatible with high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) compliant dust collection filters.

Customers who purchase the Ridgid RT1400 can expect a number of accessories included in the box. You can expect to receive the shop vac itself, two extension wands, hose, utility nozzle, wet nozzle, crevice tool, car nozzle, and fine dust filter. Additionally, a lifetime warranty is included with this product although it isn’t physically in the box.

The Ridgid RT1400 was named the Most Powerful shop vac by our review team due to its unequivocal suction strength.

Average Amazon rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 34 customer reviews

The Ridgid RT1400 has only a handful of ratings on Amazon, but the majority of reviews left by customers are positive. A total of 70 percent of reviewers have no issues with this shop vac and rate it a faultless 5 stars, while 10 percent of reviewers rate it 1 star. More than 84 percent of all reviewers in total rate this product 4 stars or higher.

Operating the best wet/dry vacs is fairly simple. Attach the appropriate nozzle, and point the end of the long hose towards the mess. The type of mess you’ll be cleaning should help inform what type of shop vac you need – a cordless wet vacuum probably isn’t the right choice for a woodworking shop.

Whether it is a portable shop vac or a more heavy-duty stainless steel model, customers should also follow the manufacturer’s directions for replacing the vacuum filter. These filters prevent clogs and ensure the motor isn’t overexerting itself. The best shop vacs come with filters, although you can purchase more at hardware or home improvement stores.

Before rushing to your favorite retailer to grab a new shop vac, we recommend reviewing some of the following.

As evidenced by these shop vacs’ names, one comes with a cord while the other doesn’t require a cord.

In general, you can expect your shop vac to come with a couple of different nozzle attachments. However, there is no standardized list of shop vac nozzles so the nozzle attachments you receive depend on which manufacturer you purchase your shop vac from. How you choose to use your shop vac will ultimately determine which nozzle attachments you’ll need.

From our experience testing the best shop vacs, we feel that two nozzle attachments are must-haves: a crevice nozzle and a wet/dry nozzle.

Some options may come with a detachable blower, but we wouldn’t call that feature a necessity.

The power ratings for shop vacs are commonly measured in horsepower (HP), but that is just a  measure of power output for a device. When it comes to suction or blowing, we look at two metrics: 

The actual construction of the shop vac is another factor to consider. Usually, shop vac tanks are crafted from plastic or stainless steel. 

A stainless steel vacuum offers more rigidity and can handle more abuse than a plastic version. In contrast, plastic shop vacs are typically cheaper and lighter.  

The shop vacs in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching Amazon for top products, looking at factors like Prime shipping eligibility, customer ratings, Amazon superlatives, and prices.

Our team ordered the five shop vacs that best met these standards for testing. A team member tested each product on a car, taking note of how well the shop vac sucked up messes, how easy to move around it was, and its ability to efficiently vacuum different surfaces. Each shop vac was given a rating out of five stars based on this criteria.

After researching the products through Amazon, the second bout of testing consisted of testing each of the five shop vacs against the following criteria:

Each year, we test more than 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. A team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.

We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, cordless wet/dry vacuums, and much more.

The Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 was our choice for the Best Overall shop vac on the market after thorough research, rigorous testing, and an unbiased review process.

The shop vac with the strongest suction out of all of the shop vacs that our product testing team researched and tested was the Ridgid RT1400. However, we found that its incredible suction strength made it quite difficult to use, as the nozzle was constantly suctioning itself to whatever surface we were vacuuming.

A good HP (horsepower) for a shop vac is between 1.0 and 2.0 HP. However, if you’re interested in a heavy-duty shop vac with exceptional suction power, then you’ll likely need anywhere between 4.0 and 5.0 HP.

Our review team tested models with tanks as small as 2.5-gallons to 14.0 gallons, but we found the best shop vacs usually hold between 5.0 to 8,0 gallons. This middle ground can handle most messes without filling too rapidly.

In most cases, the best shop vacs cost between $70 to $130 depending on the design and holding capacity. Cordless vacuums from brands like Milwaukee may not include batteries with the vacuum unit but can offer greater flexibility and reach.

Shop vacs can be used for a variety of tasks. They are useful for car detailing, cleaning workshops, removing small pools of water, or industrial-grade cleaning.

Our pick for the best wet/dry vac for auto detailing is the Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 . It had excellent suction power and we love the form factor. 

We awarded the Vacmaster Red Edition VOM205P Best Value for the $50 range price point and its ample suction power. 

Depending on the size and accessories, shop vacs can cost anywhere from $60 to around $200. 

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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