5 Best Shop Vacs for Wet and Dry Messes, Tested by Cleaning Experts
Even your most major messes are no challenge for these powerful picks.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
The best shop vacs are built for the messes you wouldn’t dare run through your everyday vacuum cleaner. Think puddles from a leaky pipe, a garage floor scattered with sawdust and wood chips, or a patio covered with small rocks and leaves. A good wet/dry vacuum can handle all of it, then be ready for the next job.
Our top picks:
- Best overall: Ridgid 12-Gallon Shop Vac
- Best value: DeWalt Stealthsonic Quiet 9-Gallon Shop Vac
- Best battery-powered: Ryobi 40V 10-Gallon Shop Vac
The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care & Cleaning Lab and Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab have evaluated hundreds of vacuums over the years, from robot and stick vacuums to handhelds, HEPA models, and heavy-duty shop vacs. For this guide, we looked closely at cleaning performance, durability, and ease of use, including the details that matter once you get a shop vac out of the Lab and into a garage or workshop, like how easy it is to maneuver, empty, and store.
Below are our top-performing shop vacs, along with advice on choosing the right size and power for your projects, what features are actually worth paying for, and how we evaluate wet/dry vacuums.
Best Deal
Pros
- Durable construction
- Impressive air flow
- Doubles as a blower
Cons
- Power cord is shorter than some
DIYers will definitely want to take a look at this 12-gallon shop vac by Ridgid that’s specifically geared toward regular people (as opposed to its commercial-grade shop vacs). It still has a ton of heavy-duty features, including a 5-horsepower motor that moves air at 144 cubic feet per minute—twice that of other shop vacs.
Many pros swear by Ridgid as a maker of quality tools built to last, and we tend to agree, having had favorable experiences with the brand’s cordless vacs, cordless drills, and more. While the power cord is on the short side at 15 feet, the comfort-grip handle and 360-degree casters allow for easy maneuverability.
The shop vac can also be converted into a blower to handle small piles of leaves or blow sawdust off a workbench. Ridgid also touts a patented sound-reduction technology that controls airflow for quieter operation.
| Power type | Corded |
| Air flow | 144 CFM |
| Capacity | 12 gallons |
| Hose length | 7 feet |
| Weight | 22 lbs |
Pros
- Quieter than many traditional shop vacs
- Strong 90 CFM airflow
- Good onboard accessory storage
Cons
- 10-foot cord limits reach
DeWalt shop vacs have impressed our experts for years, and this 9-gallon Stealthsonic is a strong current replacement for the discontinued 10-gallon model we previously recommended. While we haven't tested this exact vacuum, its specs are promising: It delivers 90 CFM of airflow, the same published rating as the older model, with a 5-peak-horsepower motor.
Its biggest selling point is the quieter Stealthsonic design, which should make it easier to live with in a garage, basement, or workshop. It also has a 7-foot hose, four casters for easy rolling, and onboard storage to keep attachments organized.
The main drawback is the 10-foot power cord, which is half the length of the 20-foot cord on the older DeWalt we tested. The 9-gallon tank is also slightly smaller, but for most home cleanup jobs, the combination of strong airflow, manageable size, and reduced noise makes this a practical pick.
| Power type | Corded |
| Air flow | 90 CFM |
| Capacity | 9 gallons |
| Hose length | 7 feet |
| Weight | 24.91 lbs |
Pros
- Impressive suction power
- Quiet operation
- Drain plug
Cons
- Lid is a little harder to get on and off
For a battery-powered shop vac, Ryobi’s 10-Gallon Shop Vac had no trouble acing our toughest tests, from cleaning up 2 gallons of water in under 10 seconds to picking up dry debris. “It was very good at sucking up spilled water from our test surface, thanks to the squeegee on the wet vac attachment, which left the surface completely dry,” said Alec Scherma, a test engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute. It’s cordless, so you can use it in places where you may not have access to a wall outlet, and it features a collapsible handle, quick-release latches, onboard storage for accessories, and more.
Our experts have now tested several products from Ryobi’s 40-volt battery-powered line, from leaf blowers and leaf vacuums to lawn mowers, and we’ve been consistently impressed with their performance. This Ryobi comes loaded with features and accessories, such as dual-extension wands, a wet filter, and a drain plug, which make it easy to empty the tank, especially when it reaches the 10-gallon capacity.
The cordless battery-powered design is a big convenience, particularly since it’s a bulky machine, though the lid is a bit tricky to take on and off. Finally, we found the Ryobi to be quieter than the other shop vacs we tested, even at its higher speed.
| Power type | Battery-powered |
| Air flow | 80 CFM |
| Capacity | 10 gallons |
| Hose length | 8 feet |
| Weight | 16.2 lbs |
Pros
- Extra-large tank
- Wide, flexible hose
- Doubles as a blower
Cons
- Requires a lot of storage space
If you need a machine that can handle some hefty tasks, this large-capacity pick from Craftsman may just be your new best friend. With its 6.5 horsepower motor and 16-gallon tank, this electric-corded Craftsman shop vac can do a whole lot. “It saved me during a flood that otherwise could have led to catastrophic damage to my basement,” said one tester who evaluated the machine at her home over the course of six months.
Whether you’re pumping water or vacuuming up dry debris, our experts found that this model delivers impressive performance in both dry and wet conditions, aided by its flexible hose. Thanks to a built-in blower port, you can easily take it outside to clear small piles of leaves and grass clippings from the garage or driveway. Other convenience features include onboard organizers for the hose, accessories, and power cord, as well as an oversized drain plug, essential when sucking up large spills. Just note that it does take up a lot of storage space.
| Power type | Corded |
| Air flow | 176 CFM |
| Capacity | 16 gallons |
| Hose length | 7 feet |
| Weight | 26 lbs |
Pros
- Multi-purpose cleaning
- Rugged stainless steel tank
Cons
- Relatively short power cord
The compact design, stainless-steel construction, and bevy of accessory tools make this corded electric Stanley shop vac one of the most multifunctional models on the market.
After reviewing this model’s specs and technical data, our experts were impressed. It’s one of the few shop vacs that comes with a floor brush in addition to the usual wet/dry nozzle and crevice tool. There’s also a dust collection bag, which helps keep the air clear when vacuuming living spaces.
The 10-foot power cord is shorter than others, and its 8-gallon capacity isn’t the largest on this list, but if you’re looking for a mid-sized shop vac to tackle minor messes all around the house, this Stanley is a solid option, especially at this price.
| Power type | Corded |
| Air flow | 85 CFM |
| Capacity | 8 gallons |
| Hose length | 6 feet |
| Weight | 12.76 lbs |
How we test shop vacs
When it comes to the wet/dry vac category, our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care & Cleaning and Home Improvement & Outdoor Labs have a solid sense of all the leading brands, especially having tested vacuums and power tools for decades.
We hone this knowledge by attending trade shows and industry events throughout the year, as well as by running a variety of brands and models through our rigorous testing process, both in-Lab and at home with consumer testers. Using that expertise, we identified the most promising shop vac models currently available for sale.
Hands-on testing and evaluations of shop vacs took place in our Lab, where we conducted controlled tests to measure performance across over a dozen models. Dry vacuuming tests included sucking up a mixture of oatmeal, baking soda, and rice from both bare and carpeted surfaces, as well as an assortment of screws, nails, and other hardware from the same two surfaces.
To measure wet vacuuming performance, we had each vacuum suck up 2 gallons of water from a bucket, then 2 cups of water spread across a wood floor. We also evaluated shop vacs in testers’ homes to gauge their performance and ease of use under real-world conditions.
We considered the range of accessories, the utility of any onboard storage features, the presence of a drain plug for quick draining, battery runtime (where applicable), and noise level, as it impacts the user experience.
What to consider when shopping for a shop vac
✔️ Power type: Shop vacs can either be corded electric or battery-powered. Here are the pros and cons of each:
- Corded electric: Until fairly recently, all shop vacs plugged into the wall. Overall, the most powerful machines are still corded electric, and this option also offers the greatest range of sizes, styles, and prices. They also run indefinitely, assuming you have a power source. The downside is you’re tethered by the cord.
- Battery-powered: The power-tool battery revolution has reached shop vacs. Eliminating the cord means total portability and easier storage. Our tests have found that the best battery-powered shop vacs deliver suction performance nearly equal to that of corded models. But because of their high-powered motors and increased suction capabilities, shop vacs draw a lot of power, so battery runtime is limited, with some heavy-duty models maxing out at around 30 minutes.
✔️ Capacity: This is determined by the size of the tank (a.k.a. “canister”), which can range from as small as 2 gallons all the way up to 18 gallons. Our experts recommend a tank size between 6 and 10 gallons for the average homeowner. If your main intention for the shop vac is to clean out the car, a 2-gallon model will do the trick. On the other hand, if you’re a serious DIYer with a basement workshop, or if flooding is a constant issue, a larger shop vac might be in order.
✔️ Cost: You can spend as little as $50 for a shop vac or more than $500. At the same time, cost is largely determined by capacity, with most under-$100 models having 5-gallon tanks or smaller; quality and convenience also factor in. Our experts say it’s worth spending more for a shop vac with casters so you can move freely throughout the room. Multiple shop vac attachments also make things easier, including extension shafts for increased reach and a squeegee nozzle for picking up the last of wet spills.
What do people need a shop vac for?
For most small household messes, you can easily use a classic everyday vacuum cleaner, like a stick, upright, or canister vacuum, to get your home back in tip-top shape. If you have a bigger job or something involving a lot of liquids, a shop vac may be a lifesaver. For tasks requiring you to pick up larger or sharp objects, like screws and nails, a shop vac will suck them up, and you'll avoid damaging your regular vacuum cleaner. These wet-dry vacuums are also great for pumping large quantities of water or sucking up big spills.
What's the most powerful shop vac?
Though corded wet vacs still generate the most power, those that run on rechargeable batteries are quickly closing the gap. If you’re going for maximum sucking power, it’s also important to check the airflow, measured in CFM, or cubic feet per minute. The most powerful shop vacs boast between 100 and 150 CFM (sometimes more!), middleweight models are in the 75 to 100 CFM range, and compact vacs are in the 30 to 50 CFM range.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Dan DiClerico has written about vacuum cleaners for more than 20 years, reviewing hundreds of models from every leading brand, as well as models from newcomers to the space. Before becoming a home expert, he worked on various construction crews, where shop vacs were part of the everyday cleanup. In his role as director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, he works closely with other product experts on staff to develop our testing criteria for shop vacs. Dan has also served as a consumer advocate on the vacuum committee for ASTM International, the organization that creates voluntary consensus standards across a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.
Carolyn Forté tested and reviewed hundreds of vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, mops, and other major (and minor) home appliances as former executive director of the Home Care & Cleaning Lab.
Expert-Approved Carpet Cleaners for Stain Removal
Our Favorite Vacuum-Mop Combos, According to Tests
The Best Clothes Dryers
Shop the Best Labor Day Vacuum Deals Right Now
