Pro Tool Reviews
protoolreviews.com › home › best shop vac and wet-dry vacuums: expert picks
Best Shop Vac and Wet-Dry Vacuums: Expert Picks - Pro Tool Reviews
June 30, 2025 - When you’re looking for a handheld vac that’s more capable than the one your mom used to have attached to the wall, I really like what Flex offers. Compared to other small vacs, the performance is higher and is balanced between airflow and water lift. I like that the canister holds more and the hose can reach into deeper, tighter spaces than one-piece units.
NYTimes
nytimes.com › home › garage › the best shop vacs (or wet dry vacs)
The Best 5 Shop Vacs (or Wet Dry Vacs) of 2026 | Reviews by Wirecutter
July 16, 2025 - I’ve never had any problems with it, and I’ve never found another wet/dry vac that was noticeably better. The 12-gallon Ridgid hits all the marks. A number of staffers have been using our pick since we first published this guide.
Videos
08:02
Best Shop Vacs for Wet and Dry Vacuuming in 2024 - YouTube
05:22
✅Top 5 Best Shop Vacs in 2025 - YouTube
10:15
TOP 5 Best Shop Vacs | Best Shop Vac Review (2025) - YouTube
06:43
Best Shop Vacs 2025 [don’t buy one before watching this] - YouTube
06:13
Quietest, Wet/Dry Vac I've Ever Tested! - YouTube
02:57
Shop Vac Shootout. - YouTube
What's the difference between a shop vac and a vacuum cleaner?
Shop vacs provide more cleaning power and are often sturdier than typical vacuum cleaners. That’s because they’re typically used for bigger, more serious messes. A shop vac is great for cleaning up emergency leaks in your home or large quantities of dirt and debris.
cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
How do I use a shop vac for water?
Vacuuming water is a strength of shop vacs, and it can often be cleaned up with other solid debris. However, most shop vacs require you to remove the filter when suctioning large amounts of liquid. If the filter does become wet, remove it when your job is complete to let it dry properly.
cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
What does CFM mean?
CFM stands for cubic feet per minute. It’s a measurement of airflow and one of the most important factors in how effectively a vacuum can clean — though it’s not the only factor. Our top pick, for example, measures at 144 CFM. That’s quite powerful. Our favorite cordless model doesn’t pack the same punch at 87 CPM.
cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
TechGearLab
techgearlab.com › floor cleaning › vacuum cleaner reviews
Best Shop Vacs of 2026 | Lab Tested & Ranked
Craftsman 16-Gallon
We tested the highest performing shop vacs from popular brands like Craftsman, Ridgid, Dewalt, Vacmaster, and more to bring you the best products for your... Tired of your regular vacuum choking on sawdust, screws, or big messes? A shop vac gives you serious power and durability to tackle heavy-duty cleanups...
Bob Vila
bobvila.com › reviews › cleaning supplies › the best shop vacuums tested by our experts
The Best Shop Vacuums Tested by Our Experts
September 10, 2025 - It was a little slower to vacuum up heavy debris, but that’s to be expected. For its size and power, the Ryobi is hard to beat for those looking for a compact shop-type vac that won’t take up a lot of real estate in a garage or storage shed.
The Spruce
thespruce.com › best-shop-vacs-4151284
We Tested 25 Shop Vacs, and These Are the Best for Quick Cleanup
August 13, 2025 - This 1-gallon capacity corded wet/dry vacuum might be small, but we found its performance impressive. While the manufacturer does not specify the airflow or horsepower, this shop vac was powerful enough to handle smaller tasks around our home.
Good Housekeeping
goodhousekeeping.com › home appliances › vacuum cleaner reviews › the best shop vacs of 2024, tested by experts
The Best Shop Vacs of 2024, Tested & Reviewed by Experts
June 7, 2024 - We tested the top-performing wet dry vacuums including cordless and small shop vacs for both wet and dry messes from brands like Ridgid, Craftsman and DeWalt.
Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › appliances › laundry & cleaning › vacuum cleaners › best vacuums of 2026, lab-tested and reviewed
Best Vacuums of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed - Consumer Reports
2 weeks ago - We review the best vacuums you can buy right now—upright, canister, stick, robotic, and handheld—based on our tough lab tests.
CNN
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
2 weeks ago - We tested 25 top shop vacs to see how they fared with wet and dry messes and evaluated their suction power, portability and ease of use. Three came out as the best.
Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › appliances › laundry & cleaning › vacuum cleaners › shop-vac 5430034
Shop-Vac 5430034 Vacuum Cleaner Review - Consumer Reports
September 24, 2025 - We've tested and reviewed products since 1936. Read CR's review of the Shop-Vac 5430034 vacuum cleaner to find out if it's worth it.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/harborfreight › let's talk shop vacs
r/harborfreight on Reddit: Let's talk shop vacs
January 5, 2025 -
Alright, so I've been in the market for a new shop vac. I've Been eyeballing the DeWalt stealth sonic for quite a bit. The 6 Gallon is normally 80 and the 9 gallon is always on sale for 90. Recently, I've been looking into the Bauer shop vac. The 6 Gallon is on sale for a little under $60 with ITC. Some of the reviews say they are stronger and quieter than DeWalt and Rigid.
I'm no professional so this will see general household use. Vacuuming cars and garage clean ups. Probably the occasional liquid clean up as well.
What's everyone's thoughts on the Bauer vacs compared to other options?
Top answer 1 of 5
6
I looked at the Bauer 6 gallon for a while but actually landed on the Hart 6 gallon from Walmart. They were on sale but I was sold on the stainless steel tank, higher HP, and included car cleaning kit. Looks like it’s $39 right now. I can’t speak to noise comparisons though.
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3
I have 3 types. A 5 RIDGID (various sizes), 4 dewalt stealth sonic, and 1 Bauer. The Bauer isn’t bad, but not worth it to me as it is generally priced the same as the others. This is on sale now https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-14-Gallon-6-0-Peak-HP-NXT-Shop-Vac-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-with-Fine-Dust-Filter-Hose-Accessories-and-Car-Cleaning-Kit-HD1401/308343494 All that being said, if I had to start over again, I would get nothing but the Dewalt. It is so quiet compared to the others it’s unbelievable. The noise reduction is unimaginable until you hear it. The wife loves them (in fact she talked me into returning 3 of the RIDGID 16 gallon ones that I got for $60 a piece for 3 of the Dewalts at $90 a piece). I’d get the Dewalt all the way, then the RIDGID then a Bauer.
Vacuum Wars
vacuumwars.com › best-shop-vac-6-5-hp
Best Shop Vac: 6.5 HP Wet/Dry Models Tested | Vacuum Wars
July 2, 2024 - This tool would be best for picking up larger bits of debris mixed in with smaller debris. It wasn’t quite as easy to control, since the attachment was prone to get stuck on the floor if you didn’t maintain a bit of space between it and the floor surface. Regardless, all of the vacuums performed about the same when tested with this type of attachment. Another important test is a shop vacuum’s ability to clean cars.
Top Ten Reviews
toptenreviews.com › home & garden › vacuums
Best shop vacuums 2026: take care of tough cleaning jobs once and for all
July 16, 2024 - Users appreciate its versatility, but some reported issues with noisy operation and flimsy attachments. ... Shark Wandvac WV410BL Power Pet Cordless Vacuum review: Tackle smaller messes with this compact, lightweight handheld vacuum
Real Simple
realsimple.com › best-shop-vacs-7151442
We Tested Dozens of Wet/Dry Vac—Here Are The Top 5 For Tackling Any Mess
March 4, 2025 - For a more budget-friendly option, we like the Armor All AA255 2.5 Gallon 2 Peak HP Utility Wet/Dry Vacuum. It’s a more petite model, but it proved to be as effective as it is affordable.
Autopia
autopia.org › car detailing & finish care › car detailing product discussion
Consumer Reports Review on Wet/Dry Vacs | Autopia Forum-Auto Detailing & Car Care Discussion Forum
February 1, 2007 - Interesting. I've had very good luck with Craftsman wet/dry vacs. Definitely outlasted any Shop Vac I've had.
This Old House
thisoldhouse.com › this old house › tools
Best Shop Vacs
June 19, 2025 - In this review, we recommend the best shop vac for every job and budget, provide expert usage tips, and answer commonly asked questions.
Car and Driver
caranddriver.com › home › parts, gear, tools, and accessories › tested: the best shop vacs you can buy
Best Shop Vacs for 2025, Tested - Car and Driver
March 27, 2024 - If that's the case, this Micro Shop-Vac is the one to grab. It's super compact and easy to move around—perfect for storing out of the way. Size is, of course, the one drawback. But if you need it only for occasional spills, why spend money ...
The Garage Journal
garagejournal.com › forums › the tools › general tool discussion
Recommendation for best small portable shop vac - cordless OR corded | The Garage Journal
September 27, 2025 - Click to expand... I have had the 581H for 10 or so years, use it all the time. It's no replacement for a giant plug in shop vac, but its good for small messes and we use it for vacuuming out the cars.
The Garage Journal
garagejournal.com › forums › the tools › general tool discussion
Best Shop Vac model ever made? | The Garage Journal
November 14, 2023 - I've only owned a few, a 15 gal ... Armor All I've had for 10 years which isn't terrible for small jobs. But about 4 years ago my FIL gave me a metal Shop Vac 600c and it has incredible suction....
Woodsmith
woodsmith.com › woodsmith reviews › woodshop › best shop vacs for heavy-duty cleaning
Best Shop Vacs for 2024 (Our Review)
April 26, 2024 - We asked our tool junky, Deven, to compare his beloved 16-gallon RIGID NXT shop vac with a handful of others and report back with his analysis. Each vacuum was reviewed with candid commentary and his likes and dislikes.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/tools › recommendations for a small shop vac
r/Tools on Reddit: Recommendations for a small shop vac
March 30, 2023 -
I don’t know if I am asking too much of a small vacuum, but here is what I would like it to be able to do. I have a bigger one (14 gallon RIDGID) that I find kind of a pain for smaller jobs.
I would like it to be easy to bring up and down stairs. Although capable of wet use, I would mainly use it for DIY clean up. In that regard, can a smaller one hookup to tools (such as jig saw, sander, maybe even a table saw?)? Obviously, I would also use it for car clean out.
I was thinking of something around 5 gallons. Saw good things about a RIDGID and Vacmaster VF408 or the Beast. Thoughts?
Thanks!