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TechGearLab
techgearlab.com › floor cleaning › vacuum cleaner reviews
Best Shop Vacs of 2026 | Lab Tested & Ranked
Craftsman 16-Gallon
The smaller hose diameter limited ... this shop vac stands out among budget picks and can clean up most small projects for casual DIYers. ... The brush attachment on the Dirt Devil 5-Gallon uses stiff bristles to agitate carpet fibers and lift dirt that has settled in. Credit: Miles Knotek ... The Shark MessMaster is an easy choice for quick clean-ups, like clearing sand from the car after a beach trip. It is the most portable option in ... 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...
Rating: 4.8 ​
Discussions

Recommendation for best small portable shop vac - cordless OR corded
Hello folks, I need a new small portable wet dry vacuum. A few years ago (2018) I purchased a Dewalt DCV581H cordless/corded shop vac... More on garagejournal.com
🌐 garagejournal.com
21
September 27, 2025
Cordless shop vac?
The only cordless vacs I know of that get anywhere near corded are the Milwaukee dual battery dust extractor (not released yet) and Makita 80V dust extractor. Both are M-class dust extractors with auto-cleaning filters, so $$$$. The unreleased Milwaukee can also use batteries or AC power. The wet/dry dual battery Milwaukee and Makita are a bit cheaper, but still $$$ (plus new batteries for you). Here's some links if you're interested and then noping out at the price (note that this is AU dollars, so convert to your local currency, or look them up from your local stores) * https://www.totaltools.com.au/195670-makita-80v-max-aws-m-class-dust-extraction-vacuum-skin-vc006mz02 * https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/0888-22hd * https://www.totaltools.com.au/195206-milwaukee-18v-fuel-23l-wet-dry-vacuum-skin-m18fvc23l0 * https://www.totaltools.com.au/186190-makita-40v-max-brushless-wet-dry-dust-extraction-vacuum-skin-vc003glz02 Most cordless vacs are fine for pressure (around 6-18kPa for small ones, and 15-25kPa for bigger units), but they don't have much flow rate. Pressure is what you need to pull air through small fittings (so attaching to sanders, etc.) and flow rate is what you need to lift heavy debris. The problem with cordless vacs is runtime, so they dial the power down to make sure people get ~30-45min runtime. You'll get mixed opinions because people have different needs. Some vacs will prioritise runtime which is good for some, bad for others. They can also trade-off pressure and flow rate, so some will have low pressure but higher flow rate (good for heavy debris, bad for using small nozzles or sucking up water). If you're the tinkering kind, you could try running vacuums in parallel. So just buy whichever Bosch/Ryobi vacuum you like best. Then if you need more flow rate, buy another and make a manifold/coupler so you can combine their flow rates. You'd prob need 3-4 cordless vacs before you got flow rate equivalent to a corded vac. Overall, you're better off with corded, unless you really need to run cordless. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Tools
5
2
December 30, 2024
Cordless Battery Powered Shop Vac: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly? - The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop Magazine's BBS
Are the shop vac ones even close to a plug in? I have a Dyson V6 stick type that works amazingly well- house, car, you name it. Plenty of suction. They're not cheap new, but you see them all the time at garage sales bc the owners never read the manual and never serviced it. Bought mine for $20 with all the goodies. Parts are inexpensive and plentiful on Amazon. The great thing about standards is there are so many of them. ... It is portable... More on bbs.homeshopmachinist.net
🌐 bbs.homeshopmachinist.net
September 19, 2024
Compact Shop vac recommendation
A lot of the cordless tool companies have small ones that run on rechargeable batteries More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Tools
14
2
January 9, 2024
People also ask

What is a shop vac used for?
Shop vacuums are often found in construction and workshop settings to keep the work area dust and particle-free. Shop vacuums are used in households, especially in garages and basements. They assist in keeping job sites clean by vacuuming sawdust, drywall dust and other debris. Check out the best-selling product, the 12 Gallon 5.0 Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Filter, Locking Hose and Accessories.
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homedepot.com
homedepot.com › garage › shop vacuums
Shop Vacuums - The Home Depot
What's the best-rated product in Shop Vacuums?
The best-rated product in Shop Vacuums is the 14 Gallon 6.0 Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Fine Dust Filter, Hose, Accessories and Premium Car Cleaning Kit.
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homedepot.com
homedepot.com › garage › shop vacuums
Shop Vacuums - The Home Depot
What are the shipping options for Shop Vacuums?
All Shop Vacuums can be shipped to you at home.
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homedepot.com
homedepot.com › garage › shop vacuums
Shop Vacuums - The Home Depot
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Amazon
amazon.com › Best-Sellers-Shop-Wet-Dry-Vacuums › zgbs › hi › 553022
Amazon Best Sellers: Best Shop Wet Dry Vacuums
... Tineco iFLOOR 5 Breeze Complete Wet Dry Vacuum Cordless Floor Washer, One-Step Cleaning for Hard Floors, Edge Clean, Auto Self-Cleaning, Lightweight & Cordless Design ... CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17250 2.5 Gallon 2.5 Peak HP Wet Dry Vac, Portable Shop Vacuum Wet and Dry with Filter Bag, Hose and ...
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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 - But I was looking for something smaller, lighter and more portable, something along the lines of a 2-gallon unit that would tuck away into a cabinet when not being used. ... I have the small M18 and that thing is an awesome little vac. ... I also have the small M18 MIlwaukee vac and love it. I find I do most things with it, if I have a big project I will drag out the corded shop vac but the convenience of the battery vac is so nice.
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The Home Depot
homedepot.com › garage › shop vacuums
Shop Vacuums - The Home Depot
Shop vacuums are used in households, especially in garages and basements. They assist in keeping job sites clean by vacuuming sawdust, drywall dust and other debris. Check out the best-selling product, the 12 Gallon 5.0 Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Filter, Locking Hose and Accessories.
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The Independent
the-independent.com › extras › indybest › home & garden › vacuum cleaners
Best handheld vacuum cleaners 2026, tried and tested by experts | The Independent
4 days ago - From Dyson and Beldray to Gtech and Hoover, I tested the best handheld vacuum cleaners to find the right model for your home.
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SharkNinja
sharkninja.com › shark-messmaster-portable-wet › dry-vacuum › VS101.html
Shark® MessMaster Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum Wet Dry Vacuums - Shark
Shark® MessMaster Portable Wet Dry Vacuum
Meet the ultra-powerful, wet & dry MessMaster. With No Loss of Suction Technology, it handles life’s un-vacuumable messes, from DIY disasters to kid chaos. When you’re done, MessMaster can rinse itself, cleaning the dust bin with just a cup of water.
Price   $169.99
Find elsewhere
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Vacuum Wars
vacuumwars.com
Vacuum Wars – Vacuum Reviews and News You Can Trust
The top rated cordless vacuums, robot vacuums, upright vacuums, shop (wet/dry) vacuums, portable vacuums and carpet cleaners are listed below. For each vacuum category we have provided a budget, midrange and premium option that we recommend. Best Shark Upright Vacuums • Best Robot Vacuum ...
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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 - While we're not quite sure this qualifies as your traditional "shop vac," it is indeed a wet dry vac. As far as portability is concerned, this DeWalt vacuum is the top dog. The cordless design makes this a do-it-all vacuum for small spills.
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Shop-Vac
shopvac.com
Shop-Vac Store - Genuine Shop-Vac Products
Shop-Vac® Portable 2-in-1 Cordless Blower/Vacuum · $31.19 · Shop-Vac® Cordless Spin Scrubber · $26.39 · Shop-Air® 8" Wall-Mounted Desk Fan · $21.59 · Shop-Vac® Portable Spot Cleaner · $149.99 $87.99 · Shop-Vac® 2-in-1 Cordless Car ...
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NYTimes
nytimes.com › appliances › vacuum cleaners › think you’ve got no use for a shop vac? think again.
Think You’ve Got No Use for a Shop Vac? Think Again. | Reviews by Wirecutter
April 4, 2024 - If you think you’ll mainly use a wet/dry vac for small jobs, or you hate futzing with cords, a cordless option we recommend (which I have personally tested and like for quick pickups) is the Greenworks 40V 3-Gallon Wet/Dry Cordless Vac.
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Shop-Vac
shopvac.com › collections › rechargeable-vacs-and-accessories
Cordless Vacs and Accessories | Shop-Vac Store
Shop-Vac is the recognized world leader in wet/dry vacuum cleaners. For more than 40 years, Shop-Vac has manufactured innovative, high quality vacuum cleaners, filters and accessories.
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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 - If that’s what you’re after, the VC 5L Construction Vacuum is a solid addition to your jobsite that has a more portable design than their larger high-performance models like the VC 300-17 X.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/tools › cordless shop vac?
r/Tools on Reddit: Cordless shop vac?
December 30, 2024 -

I've been doing some reading and see some complaints about suction on cordless models. But those complaints are also mixed in with 5 star reviews that say it's the best shop vac ever. So it's hard to know what to believe.

I have Ryobi 18v, Bosch 18v and Milwaukee M12 batteries already. Yeah I know it's a lot of ecosystems but I'm okay with that.

Any feedback on any of those lines and if they have a shop vac that performs well?

Top answer
1 of 5
2
The only cordless vacs I know of that get anywhere near corded are the Milwaukee dual battery dust extractor (not released yet) and Makita 80V dust extractor. Both are M-class dust extractors with auto-cleaning filters, so $$$$. The unreleased Milwaukee can also use batteries or AC power. The wet/dry dual battery Milwaukee and Makita are a bit cheaper, but still $$$ (plus new batteries for you). Here's some links if you're interested and then noping out at the price (note that this is AU dollars, so convert to your local currency, or look them up from your local stores) * https://www.totaltools.com.au/195670-makita-80v-max-aws-m-class-dust-extraction-vacuum-skin-vc006mz02 * https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/0888-22hd * https://www.totaltools.com.au/195206-milwaukee-18v-fuel-23l-wet-dry-vacuum-skin-m18fvc23l0 * https://www.totaltools.com.au/186190-makita-40v-max-brushless-wet-dry-dust-extraction-vacuum-skin-vc003glz02 Most cordless vacs are fine for pressure (around 6-18kPa for small ones, and 15-25kPa for bigger units), but they don't have much flow rate. Pressure is what you need to pull air through small fittings (so attaching to sanders, etc.) and flow rate is what you need to lift heavy debris. The problem with cordless vacs is runtime, so they dial the power down to make sure people get ~30-45min runtime. You'll get mixed opinions because people have different needs. Some vacs will prioritise runtime which is good for some, bad for others. They can also trade-off pressure and flow rate, so some will have low pressure but higher flow rate (good for heavy debris, bad for using small nozzles or sucking up water). If you're the tinkering kind, you could try running vacuums in parallel. So just buy whichever Bosch/Ryobi vacuum you like best. Then if you need more flow rate, buy another and make a manifold/coupler so you can combine their flow rates. You'd prob need 3-4 cordless vacs before you got flow rate equivalent to a corded vac. Overall, you're better off with corded, unless you really need to run cordless.
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1
3 battery systems is nothing, I own the m12 and it is good for little stuff like when the bag of rice spills or vacuuming the counter off after shaving my face but I only get about 12 minutes of run time on high using a 4.0 battery though the suction is pretty decent. The Ryobi rolling vacuum is pretty good my dad has one but it is rather high pitched annoying and quite loud. I have the m18 dual battery shop vac and it is a monster but it still that is king of loud but much better than the Ryobi in my opinion. I get about 25 minutes continuous run time on high with 2 8.0 batteries and the suction is pretty good but it still does not like to suck up heaps of sawdust fast with the 6” floor sucking attachment. I have not used the EGO but if you have OPE I might look into that vacuum as well but every cordless shop vac is going to chew through batteries really quickly. In my opinion cordless rolling shop vacuums are not quite as good as top of the line corded but they are pretty good and the Ryobi rolling vac is not bad but it does have a rather annoying loud high pitch sucking noise. I hope that this helps
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Plumb and Lined
plumbandlined.com › home › the best cordless shop vac – review
The Best Cordless Shop Vac - Review
May 24, 2021 - Since the early 1990s, Milwaukee ... looking for the best cordless shop vac when it comes to performance, design, and price, the 0880-20 might be the one for you....
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Shop-Vac
shopvac.com › collections › wet-dry-vac-small
Wet/Dry Vacs (Small) | Shop-Vac Store
Shop-Vac Wet Dry Vacuum works great for small job site cleanup, workshops, garages, basements anywhere you need a wet dry vacuum.
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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 battery-powered wet/dry vacuum is our best portable shop vac recommendation because it's lightweight but more than powerful enough to tackle messes on various surfaces around our home.
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The Home Shop Machinist
bbs.homeshopmachinist.net › forum › general
Cordless Battery Powered Shop Vac: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly? - The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop Magazine's BBS
September 19, 2024 - Are the shop vac ones even close to a plug in? I have a Dyson V6 stick type that works amazingly well- house, car, you name it. Plenty of suction. They're not cheap new, but you see them all the time at garage sales bc the owners never read the manual and never serviced it. Bought mine for $20 with all the goodies. Parts are inexpensive and plentiful on Amazon. The great thing about standards is there are so many of them. ... It is portable, but mostly because it has wheels.