Best Overall
Vacmaster Wet/Dry Vacuum
AMAZON
- Effectiveness5/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Ease of Emptying4.9/5
- Portability5/5
- Noise Level4.5/5
Why You Should Get It: It provides excellent versatility, power, and functionality, with easy setup, and plenty of useful attachments, too.
Keep in Mind: It doesn’t come with collection bags, although these are available to buy separately.
The Vacmaster VBV1210 12-Gallon 5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum is a corded unit (no charging necessary) with useful attachments that are a breeze to attach and replace. We found that it is a little louder than a regular vacuum, though it comes with an attachment that can be placed on the blower top that muffles some of the noise.
The unit comes with four attachments that can be placed on the hose as well as two extensions (a wide floor extension, and a slanted extension that can be used in smaller areas and allows you to get very close to the floor with a lot of power). A filter for use on water is also included, while additional filters can be bought separately.
There’s also a narrow extension for nooks and crannies, such as the edge of stairs, in between sofa cushions, and cars, and two extensions to lengthen the wand. The attachments store well on the top of the unit’s wheel component. The hose is sturdy and bendy to provide effortless maneuverability, and it coils inside the vacuum when not in use.
We used the shop vac on hardwood flooring after repotting a plant and on spilled water. We also used the blower function to blow snow off the porch steps. Overall, we found that the unit performed impeccably. There was plenty of power to suck up the plant soil, although not as much with the wider attachment.
Even water that was within the mud was sucked up with ease, and the hardwood floor was left only slightly damp, quickly drying thereafter. The 12-gallon unit can store more than enough debris for general clean ups, and would only really need to be emptied if there was a flood (touch wood).
It moves easily on both hardwood floors and carpets and is light enough to carry when it’s not full. It can be used inside and outside as well, so it’s a great value for the price point.
Product Details: Size: 24.25 x 18.25 x 20.75 inches | Capacity: 12 gallons | Hose Length: 7 feet | Attachments: Secure fit hose, two extension wands, utility nozzle, crevice tool, car nozzle, concentrator nozzle, blower adapter, air/noise diffuser.
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JENNIFER BONNICHSEN
Best Budget
Armor All Wet/Dry Vacuum
AMAZON
- Effectiveness5/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Ease of Emptying4.8/5
- Portability5/5
- Noise Level4/5
Why You Should Get It: The corded option is lightweight and easy to empty.
Keep in Mind: It doesn’t work as well on pet hair.
For a pocket-friendly vac that can be carried around effortlessly and used in the car, the Armor All AA255 2.5-Gallon 2 Peak HP Wet/Dry Utility Shop Vacuum is the best wet/dry vac to consider. It’s small and lightweight, with a handle that makes easy work of moving it around a room or taking it out to a car, and its long cord further aids portability.
Though it only has a 2.5-gallon capacity, this is more than enough for weekly use. We found that emptying out the collection tank is simple, though it’s worth noting that it doesn’t come with any collection bags so you’ll have to purchase them separately.
Since the filter comes preinstalled, setting up the unit was fairly easy. All you have to do is remove the hose and attachments that are stored inside, set them into their placement holders, and attach the hose.
It comes with five attachments, including a detail brush, a blower nozzle that the detail brush attaches to, and a deluxe car nozzle that is innovative and helpful for cleaning out hard-to-reach areas in vehicles.
It also has two filters: a reusable cloth filter for normal vacuuming, and a foam filter for wet use. Its 6.5-foot hose is flexible yet sturdy and easy to maneuver and is made longer when you add the various attachments.
We used this vac to clean out a car, and during a home-painting project to pick up dust from sanding down walls. It was able to pick up almost everything that it came across, including a variety of different sizes and types of debris.
The vacuum was able to get two cups of water out of a bucket entirely, and even dry the area without issues. There’s also a convenient float valve that will stop the suction when the tank reaches its maximum capacity.
Although it performed admirably in the car, it’s clearly better suited for home use where it might not have to tackle such tight crevices. Its noise level is average (our tester was able to clearly hear their podcast through headphones while using the vac), and there’s also an air-blowing feature that works well.
How it Performed After Six Months
We continued to use the device at least monthly without noticing any decline in performance. The wet/vac was able to clear out water from a flood in the basement in under 30 minutes—pretty impressive considering we needed to periodically empty the tank. While a larger collection tank would have taken less time, we liked how easy the machine was to maneuver.
Product Details: Size: 20.6 x 14.2 x 14.4 inches | Capacity: 2.5 gallons | Hose Length: 6 feet | Attachments: Hose, 2-in-1 utility nozzle with brush, crevice tool, deluxe car nozzle, blower nozzle with an adaptor, and detail brush
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ASHLEY CRAIGER
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ASHLEY CRAIGER
Best Splurge
Fein Wet/Dry Dust Extractor
AMAZON
- Effectiveness4.3/5
- Maneuverability4.5/5
- Ease of Emptying4.5/5
- Portability5/5
- Noise Level5/5
Why You Should Get It: This tool-triggered vacuum is great for workshops—such as a woodworker’s—that creates a lot of dust.
Keep in Mind: The hose has a small nozzle, and the bag is smaller than the 5.8-gallon tub, so it will fill up quickly.
If you have a bit of cash to invest in a powerful shop vac for clearing up a lot of dust, we recommend the Fein Turbo I Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner with Dust Extractor. This is a professional-level dust extractor with exceptional dust collection and filtration of hazardous dust particles.
We tried this vac out in a woodworking shop, a dusty basement, and a number of cars, and it performed outstandingly. Its noise output is rated at 66 decibels, which is astounding considering most shop vacs are rated around 100 decibels.
The unit offers strong suction, requires minimal setup (snapping in the casters, and installing the collection bag inside the tub), and has an extra-long 13-foot hose with a soft rubber nozzle. There’s also a flexible and ribbed construction that makes it fairly crush-proof.
It’s small and lightweight enough to carry around as well. However, the long hose, as well as its long cord, gives you plenty of room to roam without having to drag the vac behind you at all times or unplug and replug to a new outlet.
It comes with two nozzle/cord mounts, but no extensions or extra nozzles are included with this unit. Fein’s Deluxe model, however, comes with all these extras if you need them and are willing to spend a little more.
Since this vac is designed for connection directly on tools that make the dust and capture it at the source, the lack of additional nozzles and extensions may not be big deal. It has a high-quality HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) cartridge style, and an ultra-fine filter rated to catch even the finest dust particles smaller than two microns.
There’s also a felt-like collection bag to further help capture the debris. Dumping the tub is effortless, although there’s no water drain so you have to lift and tilt it to pour the water out. There’s ultrafine filtering to keep the dust trapped and the air clean, and a built-in power outlet that lets you plug in a compatible tool, like a sander, router, or circular saw.
When you set the vac's power switch to the accessory setting and power up the tool, it automatically powers up the vac. After shutting the tool off, we found that the vac continued to run for a further 15 seconds, clearing the hose of any dust remnants.
Product Details: Size: 39 x 24 x 16 inches | Capacity: 5.8 gallons | Hose Length: 13 feet | Attachments: None
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / BOB HUNTER
Best Cordless
Ryobi Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum
THE HOME DEPOT
- Effectiveness5/5
- Maneuverability4.8/5
- Ease of Emptying5/5
- Portability5/5
- Noise Level5/5
Why You Should Get It: It offers impressive power, has a large tank, and is cordless with wheels for optimum maneuverability.
Keep in Mind: The top of the unit is a little tricky to get off.
If you’re fed up with having to find nearby electrical outlets, unplugging every time the cord of your shop vac reaches its end, or using an extension cord, the Ryobi 40V 10-Gallon Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum might just be the option for you. The lightweight vac comes pre-assembled, so all you have to do is attach the wheels and organize the accessories.
We used this vac to clean out a minivan from top to bottom, including the console and the carpeted floors, and the floor mats. We also used it on some plaster dust from an art project, and a spill on tile flooring. The unit picked up everything from fruit snacks to hair ties, as well as pretty much anything else that crossed its path.
Part of what makes this unit special is how easy it is to empty and clean. The canister is large enough to get your hand and a cloth in to effortlessly wipe any residue in between uses. There’s a drain at the bottom to discharge any water, too.
The battery lasts impressively long (up to 45 minutes), and the charging dock hardly takes up any space in a garage or even on a kitchen counter. Aside from the standard shop vac accessories, like crevice tools and extenders, it also has a squeegee tool to help pool up water spills.
While it doesn’t leave spills completely dry, it sucks up most of the liquid so that the area can easily dry thereafter. The filter comes already installed and is easy to remove and clean out. To get the top off in order to access the canister, you need to push in the two locks, which needs a little practice to perfect. Overall, a clip-down version would be preferable.
Overall, this unit is large and easy to use, easy to clean, and reasonably priced for the flexibility it offers. It makes about as much noise as an average vacuum, and, on the lower setting, it’s even quieter.
How it Performed After Six Months
We found the machine useful for cleaning a basement storage area with frequent water issues and other messes. While our corded shop vac probably has slightly stronger suction, we found it comparable, and the convenience of this model makes it well worth it. We did find that the wheels came off easily, which is a problem we've had with wet/dry vacs in the past.
Product Details: Size: 19 x 20.9 x 17.1 inches | Capacity: 10 gallons | Hose Length: 8 feet | Attachments: Hose, crevice tool, floor nozzle, two extension wands, two extension wand clips
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JODI ESPINOSA
Best with Wheels
DeWalt Poly Wet/Dry Vac
AMAZON
- Effectiveness5/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Ease of Emptying5/5
- Portability5/5
- Noise Level3/5
Why You Should Get It: It’s a powerful shop vac that handles water very well.
Keep in Mind: It’s a little loud and not the best for shorter pet hair that tends to get embedded into carpets.
Overall, this DeWALT unit performed exceptionally well. We used this pick to suck up leaves, dirt, cobwebs, and other debris from a garage space, as well as to unclog a bathroom sink. Clear instructions are provided, and it only takes 10 minutes to set up using just a screwdriver.
The wet/dry vac comes with a hose, two extension wands, a floor nozzle, which works great on carpets, and a round brush. There’s also a disposable filter bag intended for fine particulate matter, like sawdust, that’s easy to get on and off. It even has a blower function.
The wheels make it easy to move around, but there are also handles on the top to make it easier to lift and carry if you need to. The model also features a utility nozzle and a crevice tool for corners and small gaps.
One of the most notable features is a convenient bag to store the accessories. The bag attaches to the vac itself so you never have to worry about misplacing any pieces. Plus, it’s secure even when the vacuum is in use, but you can easily detach and reattach it when you need to.
The long, flexible, and sturdy 7-foot hose is able to bend and switch directions easily for cleaning at all different angles, and it wraps tidily around the vacuum when it's not in use. In addition, there’s a 10-foot cord so you’ll rarely need an extension.
The most impressive thing about this vac is its ability to vacuum water. When we used the extension wand, it sucked up debris from a slow-draining sink that had been clogged for weeks and even sucked up all of the water from the pipe in the process.
To get rid of the water in the canister, there’s a drain plug located on the front of the unit that you just unscrew to allow the water to drain out. It’s also worth noting that you have to wash the filter and let the filter and basin dry completely before using the vacuum again after dealing with water.
It’s a little on the louder side, but not enough to warrant hearing protection. Overall, this is a great machine from a top brand, and it comes at a good price for what it offers.
How it Performed After Six Months
The DeWalt continued to be a vast improvement over the last wet/dry vac we had used, handily sucking up water, leaves, grass, spider webs, and paint chips with ease. It was easier to move around and had better attachments than our previous model. For how effective it was and the strength of the suction, we were shocked at the affordability.
Product Details: Size: 17.9 x 23 x 18.5 inches | Capacity: 9 gallons | Hose Length: 7 feet | Attachments: Hose, two extension wands, floor nozzle, round brush, utility nozzle, and crevice nozzle
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ANNA KNIEF
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ANNA KNIEF
Best Large Capacity
Craftsman Wet/Dry Vac
AMAZON
- Effectiveness5/5
- Maneuverability4.8/5
- Ease of Emptying4.9/5
- Portability5/5
- Noise Level4.2/5
Why You Should Get It: It has a 16-gallon capacity and was able to pick up wet and dry leaves, branches, and cat litter.
Keep in Mind: Its cylindrical shape makes it a little awkward to move around, but this is greatly helped by the wheels that provide a smooth ride.
The Craftsman CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon Wet/Dry Vac is, quite simply, a beast—in the best way possible. The unit is simple to use and powerful and has a large 16-gallon capacity as well.
We tested the vacuum in a mudroom that sees tons of leaves, mud, and rain that are tracked through from the backyard and this vacuum performed impeccably. In addition to sucking up the wet and dry leaves, and even branches effortlessly, cat litter was also no bother for this strong vac.
When you unbox it, all you have to do is attach the nozzle, plug it in, and you're good to go. It comes with a bunch of attachments, including a Dual-Flex Hose, two extension wands, a utility nozzle, a car nozzle, and a wet nozzle.
It also has an additional filter, and a dust collection bag. While we found that it’s a little on the heavier side, it is a heavy-duty machine made for mucky tasks. Plus, it can even be used outside.
There’s a handle and wheels for portability, and, even though it’s a corded model, the cord is extra-long to reach almost anywhere you need to. During testing, we noticed that it was incredibly simple to maneuver around as well.
It’s also impressively compact, given its large tank and power. The wheels help it move about easier, but just like any cylindrical-shaped vac, it won’t be as easy to maneuver as upright or handheld models.
To empty the unit you simply unlatch the cover, lift it up and tip it out.. There are two openings (one is the vacuum, and the other a blower), but you can't switch between them, and there’s no reverse mode.
While it can’t be classed as quiet and is much louder than a regular vacuum, it’s not louder than any other typical wet/dry vac. This option is ideal for busy households, garage cleanups, those who like dabbling in messy DIY projects, and anyone with pets.
How it Performed After Six Months
The area we live in flooded a few times during the testing period and the Craftsman handled the water like a total dream. We liked it so much that our neighbors even started to borrow it. For such a large model it's extremely user-friendly and easy to use.
Product Details: Size: 23.8 x 26.7 x 21.03 inches | Capacity: 16 gallons | Hose Length: 7 feet | Attachments: Hose, two extension wands, utility nozzle, wet nozzle, and car nozzle
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DONNA FREYDKIN
Best with Attachments
DeWalt Wet/Dry Vac
- Effectiveness5/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Ease of Emptying5/5
- Portability4.5/5
- Noise Level4.5/5
Why You Should Get It: It has useful attachments to clean every single corner of a home and car, and on various surfaces.
Keep in Mind: We felt the cord could afford to be a bit longer.
With quick and easy assembly, a ton of helpful accessories, and incredibly strong suctioning power, the DeWALT 12-Gallon DXV12P Poly Wet/Dry Vac is a powerhouse of a machine.
We tested it in a crawl space that was flooded due to a burst pipe, and it got all the water out quickly and efficiently without a hitch. The unit has very strong suction, and it is exceptionally durable.
Assembly is quick and easy, and it comes with many attachments that can be used for cleaning dry areas like floors, rugs, and furniture, as well as any wet surfaces. There are also attachments for hard-to-reach spaces and corners. It comes with a filter, too.
The hose is large, durable, sturdy, and flexible enough to bend in a crawl space while still keeping the forceful suction going. There’s also a wrap that keeps the hose neatly coiled and tucked away for storage.
Maneuvering this 12-gallon wet/dry vac is easy thanks to its low weight and wheels that go over smooth surfaces and low-pile carpets easily. Lifting it even when it was at max capacity wasn’t all that difficult either, although it’s understandably heavier when full.
The wet/dry vac comes with built-in storage for the cord; however, a 20-foot cord on such a heavy-duty machine could do with being a little longer, especially for dealing with larger areas or taking it outside.
Perhaps the most convenient aspect of the DXV12P is how easy it is to empty. A drain on the side allows all the water to come out from the bottom so you don’t even need to lift it. In relation to noise, you won’t need any hearing protection as it sounds like a normal vacuum cleaner.
Product Details: Size: 19.09 x 26.7 x 22.56 inches | Capacity: 12 gallons | Hose Length: 7 feet | Attachments: Hose, two extension wands, floor nozzle, utility nozzle, crevice nozzle
Best Upright
Roborock Dyad Pro
ROBOROCK
- Effectiveness4.8/5
- Maneuverability4.9/5
- Ease of Emptying4/5
- Portability5/5
- Noise Level4.5/5
Why You Should Get It: It’s a smart vacuum that you can control via a smartphone, has a lot of power, and is upright so no bending is required.
Keep in Mind: It only has a 0.2-gallon tank so it will need regular emptying.
The Roborock Dyad Pro has powerful suction, is self-cleaning and drying, and can be controlled via an app on your smartphone, making it the best wet/dry vac to consider if you want an upright style. During testing, we found that the vacuum cleans marvelously on grout flooring, and was able to pick up everything in sight.
It’s very effective at cleaning up wet and dry messes, both individually and simultaneously. Almost all spills were cleaned up after just one pass, including water, milk, and mayo. It was even used on an egg yolk, which, granted, needed a little extra attention and a swipe with a damp cloth, but cleaned up nicely.
This vacuum has automatic settings, sensing when a tougher mess needs to be tacked and goes into Max Mode. Coffee grounds and soggy cereal were a breeze to clean up in this powerful mode, with floors being nearly spotless after.
The vacuum is compact and fits well under chairs, and when working around chair legs. It even managed to suck up crumbs that were right up against the baseboards. For extra cleaning power, there’s a special solution you can buy separately.
The debris container pops out at the front so you can empty it, hands-free, without getting your hands dirty. For a more thorough clean of the brushes, however, you can run them under a faucet.
This clever appliance also has an audio feature that lets you know if something is stuck in the rollers, and when the canister needs emptying. The battery also lasts impressively long.
The only downsides were that, in addition to the small tank that will need regular emptying, the rollers are kind of difficult to remove in order to inspect an obstruction. In relation to noise, this machine is quiet, and you can hardly hear it when it’s in self-cleaning and drying mode.
How it Performed After Six Months
This is one of the easiest and most effective wet/dry vacs on our list. The apartment was much cleaner once we introduced the Roborock into our routine. It's not quite as fussy to clean as other vac/mops, as the rollers get automatically cleaned once the machine is docked. That said, we still needed to remove the rollers and scrub the crevices of the vacuum a few times depending on the type of mess.
Product Details: Size : 12.2 x 10.6 x 43.7 inches | Capacity: 0.2 gallons | Hose Length: N/A | Attachments: None
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON