https://youtu.be/hSN7PXwn1yU FWIW, I just picked up a Dewalt Stealthsonic. Answer from pluvicreous on reddit.com
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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 - For this review, we bought five of the most popular and powerful (6.5 peak horsepower) wet-dry vacuums and put them through all kinds of tests to identify top picks in two categories: best overall and best value. Interestingly, when all the test scores were in, the wet/dry vac that won best shop vac overall took the best value position as well.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/autodetailing › whats the most powerful wet and dry vac
r/AutoDetailing on Reddit: Whats the most powerful wet and dry vac
January 3, 2021 -

My ones finally gone to its grave. So many threads on this. I want the simple best.

Whats got the most vacuum power. I don't want to go over 200GBP 250USD mark.

Thanks in advance guys

EDIT#

I did not expect this much traction, Sorted some bad spelling out and thank you all for the suggestions.

Located in the UK

People also ask

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.

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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.

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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.

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cnn.com
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
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TechGearLab
techgearlab.com › floor cleaning › vacuum cleaner reviews
Best Shop Vacs of 2026 | Lab Tested & Ranked
Craftsman 16-Gallon
If you're someone regularly doing heavy-duty shop work or home renovations that need a vacuum capable of cleaning up the biggest messes, the Craftsman 16-Gallon can handle it all. ... The Craftsman has one of the strongest suction powers of any vacuum we tested. 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 ​
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CNN
cnn.com › reviews
The best shop vacs in 2026, tried and tested | CNN Underscored
2 weeks ago - It’s up to you if the 12-gallon capacity is suited to your specific needs, but we think the Ridgid 12-Gallon NXT HD1200 is the best shop vac for the average homeowner looking for a durable, powerful and easy-to-use machine.
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Cat 6 Tools
cat6tools.com › home › cat 6 tools blog › ridgid shop vac wd19560 comparison test
Ridgid Shop Vac WD19560 Comparison Test
October 25, 2024 - The Ridgid Shop Vac WD19560 compares favorably with three other shop vacuums. In this comparison test the Ridgid Shop Vac came out on top. Even today
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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 - Best Compact: Shark MessMaster Wet Dry Vacuum at Amazon $80 Jump to Review ... After testing 25 shop vacs, this powerful wet/dry vacuum from Craftsman emerged as our favorite.
Find elsewhere
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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 - While many brands did good work converting wet-dry vacuums to battery power but traded off performance, EGO’s team seemed to ask… what can we do because it’s cordless? The answer is the most powerful shop vac we’ve tested, corded or cordless. With EGO’s 56V battery as a power source, it can deliver high airflow and water lift, making it a good fit for nearly every need.
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Woodworking Talk
woodworkingtalk.com › home › forums › tools, materials & safety › dust collection
What's the most powerful small shop vacuum for use with cylone/dust-deputy? (poor man's festool?) | Woodworking Talk
RIDGID 16 Gal. 6.5-Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Detachable Blower, Filter, Hose and Accessories-HD1600 - The Home Depot seems like the smart person's choice. I don't like the size, but the power is a lot higher and I imagine it's quieter ...
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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 - No matter what type of projects you tackle, you’ll find a vacuum that will make for a quick cleanup afterward. ... If you make big messes (like we do), you need a powerful large-capacity shop-type vacuum. The Ridgid made quick work of sucking ...
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Car and Driver
caranddriver.com › home › parts, gear, tools, and accessories › tested: the best shop vacs you can buy
Shop Vac or Bust: The Wet/Dry Vacs That Actually Earn Garage Space
March 27, 2024 - High-power vacuums also excel in wet suction, slurping up liquid and mucky messes much better than a low-power vac. ... Typical shop vacs is capable of picking up liquids, which is a huge advantage over your typical household vacuum.
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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. To find the best shop vacs, we tested several options for how effective they were on different types of debris and surfaces, maneuverability, portability, and how easy they were to use.
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Suction Power Pros
suctionpowerpros.com › home › top 5 strongest shop vacs with highest cfm – (2025 guide)
Top 5 Strongest Shop Vacs with Highest CFM - (2025 Guide)
February 1, 2025 - Overall, Craftsman is the current leader in the strongest wet-dry vac category. ... If you’re looking for the highest quality and most powerful shop vac, Ridgid’s WD1851 model is the best overall choice in this guide.
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Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com › home › product reviews › the best shop vacs i tested for tackling tough messes
I Found the the Best Shop Vacs for Tackling Tough Messes
July 5, 2024 - Ahead, we break down our findings ... for one of these essential shop appliances. Best Overall: Vacmaster Professional Wet Dry Beast Series 5 Gallon Shop Vacuum...
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Global News
globalnews.ca › the-curator › 11297648 › 8-best-shop-vacs-for-heavy-duty-messes
8 best shop vacs for heavy-duty messes - National | Globalnews.ca
September 14, 2025 - A fan-favourite for a reason, this versatile vac handles big cleanups with ease, and the rear blower port adds to its functionality. It’s your workshop’s new MVP. ... If you want raw power, look no further. This monster can handle the nastiest shop messes with ease—and the included accessories make it surprisingly user-friendly.
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Cat 6 Tools
cat6tools.com › home › cat 6 tools blog › most powerful shop vac – 7 ways to improve
Most Powerful Shop Vac - 7 Ways To Improve - Cat 6 Tools
October 25, 2024 - A number of the items below were implemented and dramatically improved the Ridgid Vac shown below, making it one of the most powerful wet dray vac cleaners available. And this was done at little expense.
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Shop-Vac
shopvac.com › products › shop-vac-6-gallon-5-0-peak-hp-wet-dry-vacuum
Shop-Vac® 6 Gallon 5.0 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vacuum | Shop-Vac Store
Powerful 5.0 HP Motor: The 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum with a peak 5.0 HP motor provides impressive suction power, efficiently handling tough cleaning tasks with a high airflow of 110 CFM for both wet and dry debris.
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The Home Depot Canada
homedepot.ca › tools › wet/dry vacuums & accessories › wet/dry vacuums
Wet/Dry Vacuums - Wet/Dry Vacuums & Accessories - Homedepot.ca
This RIDGID 60 Litre (16 Gallon) Professional Wet Dry Vacuum is designed to deliver powerful suction, durable construction, and excellent mobility that Pros demand for the job-site or shop. This vac packs our highest rated 6.5 peak horsepower motor for powerful suction with Scroll Noise Reduction ...
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Popular Science
popsci.com › gear › home › the best shop vacs
The best shop vacs of 2024 | Popular Science
September 19, 2023 - The aforementioned Ridgid WD1450 and the Craftsman 12007 are notably among the shop vacs with the strongest suction at 6.5 HP and boast 14-16 gallon tanks, making them the strongest shop vacuums for big jobs.