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Come hell and high water, a wet-dry vac just needs to work. Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

The Best Shop Vacuum Cleaners of 2024

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Come hell and high water, a wet-dry vac just needs to work. Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

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1
Product image of VacMaster VBV1210
Best Overall

VacMaster VBV1210

4.5
Check Price at Amazon

This isn’t the most powerful vacuum, but we loved its versatility, and it performed well in our dirt-and-debris tests. Read More

Pros

  • Eight different attachments
  • Instantly converts into a leaf blower

Cons

  • Middling suction
2
Product image of Ridgid HD06001

Ridgid HD06001

Check Price at Home Depot

For its size, this six-gallon vac offers impressive suction. But we found its filter tough to remove, and it lacks a dedicated water attachment. Read More

Pros

  • Plenty of raw power
  • Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Hard-to-remove filter
  • Disappointing number of attachments
3
Product image of Ridgid HD1200

Ridgid HD1200

Check Price at Home Depot

We liked that this model comes with task-specific nozzles and extension wands, though it’s a little bulky and difficult to store. Read More

Pros

  • Excelled in cleanup tests
  • Includes two extension wands and extra nozzles
  • Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Takes up a lot of storage space
4
Product image of Ridgid HD09001

Ridgid HD09001

Check Price at Home Depot

The nine-gallon Ridgid seems like a bang-for-buck proposition on paper, but its extra horsepower doesn’t yield the kind of performance you’d hope for. Read More

Pros

  • Compact, space-efficient design
  • A handful of useful attachments

Cons

  • Lackluster performance
5
Product image of Shop-Vac 5989300

Shop-Vac 5989300

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The Shop-Vac lacks power, although it comes with three cleaning attachments including a crevice, two wet-pickup nozzles, and extension wands for all three. Read More

Pros

  • Light weight
  • Attractive design

Cons

  • Poor suction
  • Best Overall VacMaster 12 gallon, 5 peak horsepower wet/dry vac
  • Other Wet/Dry Vacuums We Tested
  • How We Tested
  • What to Consider When Buying a Shop Vac
  • Are Wet/Dry Vacuums Worth It?
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

The best wet/dry vacuum cleaners can handle big spills in the house and quickly clean out a messy car, while still being able to take on tough tasks on job sites and home improvement projects.

Commonly called shop vacuums—not to be confused with the Shop-Vac brand—these heavy duty cleanup tools are designed to deal with difficult messes, tackling jobs other vacuums simply can't. That doesn't mean they're all-powerful, though.

Performing the tasks of both a vacuum and mop, there are some shop vacs on the market that greatly outperform others. That’s why we gathered best-selling models to find out which one is worth its salt.

After putting them through tests to measure power, usability, and versatility, we found that the VacMaster (available at Amazon for $151.85) was the best shop vacuum overall. It’s adept at handling big messes.

Someone is using a VacMaster to clean up spilled sand on a hardwood floor.
Credit: Reviewed / VacMaster

Versatile suction—that's Vacmaster.

Best Overall
VacMaster 12 gallon, 5 peak horsepower wet/dry vac
  • Dimensions: 24.25 x 18.25 x 20.75 inches
  • Weight: 24.3 pounds
  • Canister capacity: 12 gallons
  • Power cord length: 12 feet

The VacMaster is one of the most popular wet/dry vacs on Amazon and is our pick for the best 12-gallon model. While it wasn't the most powerful vacuum, it was the most versatile.

First off, this vacuum has a detachable motor, meaning it can instantly turn into a corded leaf blower that's easy to tote around the yard or use for garage cleanup. It also comes with eight attachments, including a crevice tool that makes it easier to clean out your car.

The only problem we found with this VacMaster was its power: It sucked up 1.36 gallons of water in 10 seconds, placing it in the middle of the pack. Even so, it was still able to handle our dirt and heavy debris test. Plus, it’s a great value that's covered by a two-year warranty. Altogether we think it's the best wet/dry vac for most people.

Pros

  • Eight different attachments

  • Instantly converts into a leaf blower

Cons

  • Middling suction

$151.85 from Amazon

$138.50 from Walmart

Other Wet/Dry Vacuums We Tested

Product image of Ridgid HD06001
Ridgid HD06001 6 gallon, 3.5 peak horsepower wet/dry vac
  • Dimensions: 18.1 x 18.6 x 20 inches
  • Weight: 10.54 pounds
  • Canister capacity: 6 gallon
  • Power cord length: 10 feet

For its size, the Ridgid 6 gallon, 3.5 Peak HP wet/dry vac packs plenty of raw power, but it only came with two extension wands and a utility nozzle, so there's no specific attachment for water pickup.

We also found the filter tough to remove—the Ridgid has rubber flaps you have to pull up on while pressing down on a hard plastic button. One piece of good news: the Rigid HD06001 is covered by a limited lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • Plenty of raw power

  • Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Hard-to-remove filter

  • Disappointing number of attachments

$69.97 from Home Depot

$69.97 from Walmart
Product image of Ridgid HD1200
Ridgid WD1270 12 gallon, 5 peak horsepower wet/dry vac
  • Dimensions: 18.7 x 18.6 x 26.6 inches
  • Weight: 16.49 pounds
  • Canister capacity: 12 gallons
  • Power cord length: 15 feet

The massive WD1270 also comes with a car-cleaning nozzle, along with the standard two extension wands, utility nozzle, and wet-cleanup nozzle.

In real-world cleanup tests, this Ridgid had no issues. So if you need to clean up a lot of mess and find it on sale for a lot less than the VacMaster, a limited lifetime warranty makes the WD1270 worth checking out.

Pros

  • Excelled in cleanup tests

  • Includes two extension wands and extra nozzles

  • Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Takes up a lot of storage space

$79.98 from Home Depot

$199.89 from Walmart
Product image of Ridgid HD09001
Ridgid HD09001 9 gallon, 4.25 peak horsepower wet/dry vac
  • Dimensions: 18.1 x 18.6 x 22.9 inches
  • Weight: 11.48 pounds
  • Canister capacity: 9 gallon
  • Power cord length: 10 feet

The Ridgid 9 gallon, 4.25 Peak HP wet/dry vac is like a value meal: For 20 percent more money than the HD06001, you get 33 percent more capacity, 21 percent more horsepower, and one extra attachment—a wet-cleanup nozzle—to top it all off.

However, after testing this Ridgid for two weeks, we found that the increase in power didn't translate into real-world performance. Remember, peak horsepower only lasts for a moment. If you need more capacity, we'd recommend stepping up to the 12-gallon WD1270.

Pros

  • Compact, space-efficient design

  • A handful of useful attachments

Cons

  • Lackluster performance

$89.97 from Home Depot

$116.58 from Walmart
Product image of Shop-Vac 5989300
Shop-Vac 5989300 5 gallon, 4.5 peak horsepower wet/dry vac
  • Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 21 inches
  • Weight: 12 pounds
  • Canister capacity: 5 gallon
  • Power cord length: 6 feet

Testing showed that the Shop-Vac 5989300 was one of the weaker contenders in our roundup. While the Shop-Vac wasn’t as powerful as others we tested, it wasn’t a total dud.

The stainless-steel exterior gives the 5989300 a nice industrial look, albeit one that might make it a little more susceptible to rust. It also comes with three cleaning attachments: a crevice tool and two wet-pickup nozzles, and extension wands for all three.

Pros

  • Light weight

  • Attractive design

Cons

  • Poor suction

$69.48 from Amazon

$69.48 from Walmart
Avoid
Stanley SL18130 5 gallon, 4 peak horsepower wet/dry vac
  • Dimensions: ‎12.5 x 12.5 x 24.5 inches
  • Weight: 9 pounds
  • Canister capacity: 5 gallon
  • Power cord length: 10 feet

This Stanley was the strangest of the wet/dry vacuums we tested—and not in a good way.

Because it's taller than it is wide, it can be hard to maneuver by its hose—but a high-up handle makes it easier to carry. A bag filter that slips over the motor was easy to remove, but hard to affix. It also lacked power and isn't a great value.

We think you should only buy this vacuum if you have serious space constraints.

Pros

  • Easy to carry

Cons

  • Weak suction

  • Difficult to empty

$87.57 from Amazon

How We Tested

The Tester

Hey, I'm Jon Chan, the Senior Lab Technician at Reviewed. In our testing labs, I'm the garage guru, testing everything from work gloves to pressure washers. I’m also the resident expert on vacuums in general. Having lab-tested more than 100 vacuums, I know superior cleaning performance when I see it.

When it came to testing wet/dry vacuums, I was most interested in finding the best model for the average homeowner. To claim that top spot, a vacuum needed to be reasonably priced, consistently powerful, and easy to use.

The Tests

Wet/Dry Vacs in testing
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

We test water pickup of a Craftsman wet/dry vacuum.

All the vacuums we chose ranged in size from 5 to 12 gallons, and from 3 to 5 horsepower. We tested them on three major criteria: power, usability, and versatility.

To test power, we first started by measuring how much water each unit could suction up in 10 seconds. It’s a quintessential task considering that’s the “wet” in wet/dry vac. We also took note of how much each model bucked when cleaning up a liquid mess. The strain of suctioning up water also speaks to the build quality of a unit.

The water pickup test was the most important and we performed it multiple times. Peak horsepower and amperage are not reliable ways of determining suction ability.

After the water pickup test, we moved onto more solid matter. We chose wet sand and metal bolts. We chose these two materials, but they represent a wide range of densities and malleability.

We tested usability by switching out filters, putting on attachments, and lugging the unit around our offices and labs. Finally, our versatility tests looked at how easy it was to store, how long the cord and hose were, whether it worked as a blower (plus the strength of the blower port), and if it included features like foam sleeves or cord wraps.

What to Consider When Buying a Shop Vac

Wet/dry vacuums are a very versatile tool. In addition to shop sawdust, car trash, and household spills, they can be used to unclog drains and clean fireplaces. Some can even be used as leaf blowers. What you need in a shop vacuum depends on how you’ll it. Here are some things to think about when shopping for a wet/dry vacuum.

Power

Most people should only require a 3.5 to 5 peak horsepower motor for their wet/dry vac. If it can suction up water and sawdust, you're probably good to go. Besides, the horsepower number on most wet/dry vacuums is peak horsepower, which is a more generous estimation than a defined power rating. Peak horsepower, also known as developed horsepower, is a number based on ideal laboratory conditions, not real-world work.

Tank Material and Capacity

We like plastic tubs over metal ones. Plastic won’t rust or corrode as metal does. Remember, stainless steel means it stains less—not that it won’t stain at all. We also like plastic models because they tend to be lighter, which aids in how easy they are to move.

The capacity of the wet/dry vacuums we tested ranged from 5 gallons to 12 gallons. While there are options that have more capacity, a vacuum in that range should be big enough for most homeowners.

Attachments

The more attachments that a wet/dry vacuum has, the more versatile it is. Our top pick, the VacMaster (available at Amazon for $151.85) , comes with eight attachments, including a crevice tool. Others we tested only came with two attachments. If you plan on using your shop vac extensively, you should consider one that has the attachments that suit your needs.

Blower

Many wet/dry vacuums allow you to hook the hose onto the exhaust end, in effect, creating a blower. The force generated is not as powerful as a dedicated leaf blower, but we found it more than adequate to deal with dust on workbenches and light walkway clearing duty in the fall.

Are Wet/Dry Vacuums Worth It?

Any homeowner would benefit from owning a wet/dry vacuum. They may be designed to live in the garage, but they’re not just for people working in a shop or doing construction projects. They’re a versatile tool that can help with many household messes and tasks.

However, while the best wet/dry vacuum cleaners are certainly a versatile tool, we don’t recommend having them replace your regular floor cleaner. First, most wet/dry vacuums do not come with a HEPA filter. Typically, if a HEPA is offered at all, it has to be purchased separately. Also, because a wet/dry vacuum has to be able to deal with water, there’s no such thing as a motorized brush roll head for this type of vacuum. This lack of spinning brushes means a wet/dry vacuum can’t clean carpet or upholstery as effectively as a moderately priced regular vacuum.

The ability to pick up sawdust as well as the odd nail is a huge time saver with a shop vac, too. There are also situations when a floor may be too delicate and can be scratched from using a broom and dustpan. For a case like this, such as a broken glass on your hardwood floor, a wet/dry vac would be a safer choice.

Anyone with small children will also appreciate the wet pickup power. Spills and bathroom mishaps that require half a roll of paper towels are no match for the powerful motor of a wet/dry vacuum.

If you find yourself constantly dealing with clogged drains, try using a wet/dry vacuum’s suction power on them. Plumber’s snakes and plungers can be very laborious and chemical methods can damage your pipes. Even when a wet/dry vacuum can’t remove a clog, we have found that removing the excess water makes the situation so much better.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

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