Table of Contents
Wet-dry vacuums are an investment needed in just about every home.
Despite how useful these devices are, they can be difficult to shop for. Not only are there many sizes and powers available, but there are many brands that look identical based on description but perform wildly different.
To help you pick out the best wet-dry vacuum for your needs, we took 44 hours to analyze 39 products and 321 consumer reviews.
Based on all of the wet-dry vacuums we assessed, our favorite is the Stanley Wet/Dry Vacuum, allowing it to earn our top pick spot. This is the best overall wet-dry vacuum because it is reasonably priced, decently sized, and offers great accessories for perfect cleaning.
In a rush? Buy it Now on Amazon!
Wet-Dry Vacuum Comparative Table
| Product | Summary | Rating | Price | |
|
TOP PICK
|
Stanley 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
|
|
8.8/10 | See price on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UPGRADE PICK
|
BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum
|
|
9.0/10 | See price on Amazon |
|
BUDGET PICK
|
Stanley 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
|
|
9.0/10 | See price on Amazon |
Our Pick for The Best Wet-Dry Vacuum
Stanley 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Review
The Best Overall
Stanley
The Stanley 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum is a mid sized wet-dry vac that is highly powerful, lightweight, and accessible, which is why we have ranked it as our top pick for the best wet-dry vacuum. There are practically no complaints about this product.
Stanley 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Video Review
What We Think of The Stanley 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
If you want the best overall wet-dry vacuum on the market this year, you need the Stanley 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum. This Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum has a 5 gallon capacity, making it medium sized. Its medium sized capacity is matched with 4 horsepower for optimal suck.
Even pet owners found that the Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum is powerful enough for their messy homes and furry pets. That’s a big statement since pets can make the home unbearably dirty to live in.
At the same time, this wet-dry vacuum is super easy to use. It is stationed on four multidirectional casters for optimal maneuverability. The vacuum comes with a flexible hose, crevice nozzle, floor brush, utility nozzle, reusable dry filter, foam filter, and three extension wands. All of these features make this wet-dry vac highly usable and convenient.
Something we especially like about this wet-dry vac is that it is made from stainless stee. In comparison, most wet-dry vacs are made from plastic, making the device look cheap and easily scuffed. This stainless steel tank looks really nice and withstands time easily.
On top of the power, usability, and stainless steel tank, this Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum is also affordable. Although it isn’t dirt cheap, it is far from being expensive. Most users found the price completely fair for what they paid. Some people even mentioned that they felt the wet-dry vac warranted a higher price tag.
This is one of the best wet-dry vacuums I’ve tried at the price. I was surprised at how powerful it is and all of its accessories. The water filter is very fragile, which is my only complaint. Good item for the price. Worth more money than what I paid for.
francine10
We tried our hardest to find negative reviews about this Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum, but there were basically none. Of course, there were occasional complaints here and there, but we could not find a consistent complaint among the reviews.
In other words, nearly all customers who tried out this Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum were overwhelmed with its effectiveness and positive features. Because of this fact, paired with its numerous fantastic specs, that the Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum is our favorite on the list.
Stanley 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Specifications
- Brand: Stanley
- Horsepower: 4 HP
- Capacity: 5 g
- Weight: 4.08 kg
- Power Source: Corded electric
Stanley 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Highly effective
- Stainless steel base
- Comes with many accessories
- Affordable
Cons
- Small complaints here and there
Our Final Opinion about the Stanley 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.8 Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.8 Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.7 Price:4.7]
Hands down, the best wet-dry vacuum on the market this year is the Stanley 5 Gallon Wet-Dry Vacuum. This wet-dry vacuum is the perfect size for most homes, and it is highly durable and effective. Expect fantastic results with this product.
Our Upgrade Pick for a Wet-Dry Vacuum
BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum Review
The High Performance Pick
Bissell
The Bissell Garage Wet-Dry Vacuum is our high performance pick because not only does it have highly powerful efficiency, but it also comes with a wall mount that makes storage a breeze. As our upgrade pick, it should be no shock that this Bissell is expensive too.
BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum Video Review
What We Think of The BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum
If you need a heavy-duty wet-dry vac and don’t mind splurging, the Bissell Garage Wet-Dry Vacuum is worth your money. The wet-dry vac has a 4 gallon capacity and a 12 amp motor. This motor is especially great at removing fine and heavy debris around your garage or car. The vacuum even converts into a blower when needed for further usability.
What makes this wet-dry vacuum standout amongst the rest is its numerous accessories. It comes with seven attachments, plus an accessory bag and wall mount for the entire system. These accessories ensure that you can easily clean any surface, whereas the wall mount kit keeps your garage neat and orderly. The kit comes with an extra long hose for further convenience.
Needless to say, the Bissell Garage Wet-Dry Vacuum is the best in terms of capabilities and features. You can easily use it throughout your home, but its wall mount makes it especially convenient for cleaning out your car, garage, or workbench.
As you would expect from any product of this caliber, the Bissell Wet-Dry Vacuum is expensive. It comes with the highest price tag on this list as a result. Still, we aren’t upset about the price because it is fair given its efficiency and numerous accessories.
Great suction with an extra long hose that reaches every corner of my garage. Don’t need extension cords or dragging around the ShopVac anymore.
wes o.
There seems to be quality control issues on Bissell’s end as well. According to several customer complaints, the company makes the mistake of shipping out the wrong product all too often. Even though they send the right product if you request it, it takes up more time and energy in the process.
Even with the quality control issues in mind, the Bissell Garage Wet-Dry Vacuum is the best high performance model on our roundup. Because of its numerous accessories and wall mount, this is the perfect wet-dry vac to splurge on.
BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum Specifications
- Brand: Bissell
- Capacity: 4 g
- Weight: 15.06 kg
- Power Source: Corded electric
BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Highly effective
- Comes with many accessories
- Extra long cord
- Wall mount
Cons
Cons
- Expensive
- Quality control issues
Our Final Opinion About the BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum
Quality 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.8 Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.8 Price:4.2]
Because of its numerous accessories and wall mount, the Bissell Garage Wet-Dry Vacuum is our high performance pick. Those looking to splurge will likely be satisfied with this product, but there are quality control concerns to be aware of before purchase.
Our Budget Pick for a Wet-Dry Vacuum
Stanley 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Review
The Budget Pick
Stanley
The Stanley 6 Gallon Wet-Dry Vacuum is highly affordable, but it still offers much of the same power and efficiency as our top pick. The main difference between the two products is the material they’re made from, which is much bulkier and less appealing looking on this budget pick.
Stanley 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Video Review
What We Think of the Stanley 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
Don’t let a budget stop you from buying a household essential like a wet-dry vacuum. The Stanley 6 Gallon Wet-Dry Vacuum is the perfect choice because it is affordable, but it is still effective and useful for around the home.
Like the other Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum we looked at, this model offers maximum suction power, making it suitable for heavy-duty pickups. This power is thanks to its 12 V voltage. It also has a great capacity at 6 gallons.
This Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum comes with numerous features to match. For example, it comes with multidirectional swiveling casters for maneuverability and an on/off switch with waterproof design. The waterproof design ensures that the switch works as it should, even when you are getting into the deep messes. You can easily keep the cord organized too because of the built-in wrap.
As our value pick, this Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum is affordable. It is by far the cheapest model on this list, but you don’t have to worry about it breaking either. There are no reports of it acting poorly, especially in comparison to other products of the same price.
In most respects, this Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum is the same as our best overall pick. The main difference is its base material. Whereas our favorite pick is stainless steel, this one is entirely made from plastic. Not only does the stainless steel look better, but it is more durable. It is because of this fact that we placed the 5 gallon Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum above this one.
Super glad I bought this. It’s not too often that you buy a product and hope that it sucks, but this product really sucks in the way it should! Just what I needed. Good buy.
lindsay s.
One other difference between the two Stanley products is that this budget pick does not come with as many features and additional accessories. If you want more nozzles and hoses, you should go with the other Stanley instead.
Given that the 6 gallon Stanley Wet-Dry Vacuum is so similar to our top pick while being a third its price, it is a no-brainer as a value pick. It is super affordable, yet it still offers highly efficient and accessible features.
Stanley 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Specifications
- Brand: Stanley
- Horsepower: 4 HP
- Capacity: 6 g
- Weight: 6.08 kg
- Power Source: Corded electric
Stanley 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Very efficient
- Cord wrap
- Easy to use
Cons
- Plastic base
- Does not come with many accessories
Our Final Opinion About the Stanley 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.4 Effectiveness 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Price 5.0 out of 5.0 stars
The Stanley 6 Gallon Wet-Dry Vacuum is the perfect choice for those on a budget. Although highly affordable, it comes with the same functionality and efficiency as our top pick at a third of the price.
Alternative Products to Consider
Vacmaster Professional Review
The Jobsite Pick
Vacmaster
The Vacmaster Professional is the ideal wet-dry vacuum for professional use and job site cleanups. It has one of the most effective motors and suction, but it is expensive and has a relatively small capacity for professional use.
Vacmaster Professional Video Review
What We Think of the Vacmaster Professional
If you need a professional wet-dry vacuum that can clean up heavy-duty messes, the Vacmaster Professional is the perfect option. It is equipped with a 5.5 peak horsepower high efficiency motor, making it one of the most powerful wet-dry vacuums on this list. Furthermore, the motor is so powerful that it has superior suction and power even for high waters.
In addition to the high power, this Vacmaster Professional is ideal for jobsites because of its rugged polypropylene tank. This tank is both corrosion and impact resistant, making it more durable than other options. This type of a tank is essential for wet-dry vacuums used on the job.
There are other useful features of the Vacmaster Professional as well. For example, it is highly portable and comes with an integrated onboard storage system. Because of the system, you don’t have to worry about losing any hoses or accessories. They can all neatly fold up on the wet-dry vac.
Another feature of this Vacmaster Professional that makes it ideal for the workplace is that it comes with an 18 foot power cord. This allows you to extend your cleaning and blowing potential up to 25 feet. Given that many workspaces are short on plug ins, this long cord is a great addition.
For the most part, there are no serious complaints about the Vacmaster Professional. Granted, it is a bit pricey, but it isn’t outrageous. Especially if you compare it to other professional wet-dry vacuums, this one is much more affordable than the competition.
Suction power is insane. It is so good that I drilled small holes in the attachments. That’s not a complaint because I would rather have a vacuum that’s too powerful than not powerful enough. Extremely portable and the cord wraps up nice with the bracket. You can wrap up the suction hose too. Best buy for anyone who needs an affordable shopvac.
nathan
One thing we wish we could change about this wet-dry vacuum is its tank capacity. It only has a tank capacity of 5 gallons. Although 5 gallons is plenty for a home, it’s not enough for some job sites. We wish that a wet-dry vacuum that marketed itself as a jobsite pick had a larger size.
Nevertheless, the Vacmaster Professional is the ideal choice if you need a wet-dry vacuum for the job site. Because of its rugged construction and high efficiency design, it can clean up tough messes without causing you a headache.
Vacmaster Professional Specifications
- Brand: Vacmaster
- Horsepower: 5.5 HP
- Capacity: 5 g
- Weight: 6.12 kg
- Power Source: Corded electric
Vacmaster Professional Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- 5.5 HP
- Highly powerful suction
- Rugged construction
- Portable
Cons
- Small capacity for professional use
Our Final Opinion About the Vacmaster Professional
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.9 Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.7 Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.6 Price:4.3]
The Vacmaster Professional should be your go-to choice if you are looking for a wet-dry vacuum for professional usage. Even though it does have a slightly small capacity for professional jobs, its efficiency and portability makes up for it.
DEWALT DXV06P 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac Review
The Home Pick
Dewalt
The DeWalt Wet/Dry Vac is a great choice if you are looking for an effective but standard model to go inside your home. This wet-dry vac is big and powerful enough for messy homes, but apartments and other smaller living areas may find the model too big for convenient storage.
What We Think of The DEWALT DXV06P 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac
If you’re looking for a go to wet-dry vacuum to keep in your home, we recommend the DeWalt. This DeWalt is easy to use, but it is powerful enough for most home messes. Its power comes from a 4 peak horsepower motor, perfect for home use.
The machine is easy to use as well. It comes with rubberized wheels that swivel in all directions. So, you don’t have to worry about maneuverability being an issue. The machine comes with a 10 foot power cord for far away messes and a built-in blower.
Pricewise, the DeWalt is pretty impressive. It isn’t as cheap as our budget pick, but it is definitely on the more affordable end of the spectrum. As a result, most homeowners should be able to welcome this wet-dry vacuum without worrying too much.
Although this is a good home pick, there aren’t too many special features or accessories of the DeWalt Wet/Dry Vacuum. That’s not to say that it is bad. It simply means that it doesn’t add anything special to the purchase, which is why we primarily only recommend it for regular home use.
Love it. All you need for setup is a Phillips screwdriver to put the wheels on. I can’t believe how powerful and quiet this is. Dirt doesn’t stick to the filter and goes right into the bin. Highly recommend.
matthew
Some homes might not be as big of fans about this product because of its large size. Being 6 gallons, the DeWalt is a bit bulky. Not to mention, its swivel casters protrude from the side of the tank, as opposed to below it. This makes the vacuum even wider than its base and more difficult for already cramped spaces.
If you have a home with enough space to store a bulky wet-dry vacuum, we recommend the DeWalt. After all, it is effective, easy to use, and affordable. Even though it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles, most households won’t need them in the first place.
DEWALT DXV06P 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac Specifications
- Brand: DeWalt
- Horsepower: 4 HP
- Capacity: 6 g
- Weight: 6.7 kg
- Power Source: Corded electric
DEWALT DXV06P 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Powerful
- Easy to use
- Affordable
Cons
- Doesn’t come with many accessories
- Bulky
Our Final Opinion About the DEWALT DXV06P 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Price:4.7]
The DeWalt Wet/Dry Vacuum is perfect for regular home use because it is affordable, efficient, and easy to use. If you have a small home or need a product with all the accessories, we recommend going with a different wet-dry vacuum instead.
Dura Vac AA255 Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum Review
The Portable Pick
Dura Vac
The Dura Vac has a 2.5 gallon storage tank and only weighs 3 kilograms. As a result, this is the perfect pick for on-the-go use or cramped storage spaces. People who know they need to use the wet-dry vac frequently will likely want a bigger model.
Dura Vac AA255 Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum Video Review
What We Think of the Dura Vac AA255 Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum
The Dura Vac is a convenient and portable wet-dry vacuum. It is powered with a 2 horsepower motor and comes with a 2.5 gallon storage capacity. Together, these features make the wet-dry vacuum perfect for portable use.
In addition to its small size, this wet-dry vac has a convenient handle, further making transportation easy. Just pick up the wet-dry vacuum and go. Behind the handle, you will find a convenient onboard accessory storage kit for easy organization.
Even though the Dura Vac is small, it still comes with many accessories. For example, it comes with multi-use cleaning capabilities due to the car nozzle, detail brush, and back blower. All of these features ensure that although small, the Dura Vac is still highly usable.
In terms of price, we are a little disappointed with this product. Despite being small and made from plastic, it is more expensive than our budget pick, which is three times the size.
I have a 2 year old and Shar Pei Hound named Spike. This vacuum can clean up his hair off the couch, bed, and car seats. It’s made my home practically hair free. I recommend this for pet owners who want an easy cleaning method. A+ for this!
chris f.
Another drawback of this model is the size itself. Although the mini size is perfect for small apartments or portable use, users looking for a go-to wet-dry vacuum should go with a bigger model. That way, you aren’t constantly going back and forth when dumping out the vacuum’s contents.
Aside from the price and obvious drawback of this mini wet-dry vacuum, the Dura Vac is a good choice due to its portable and compact nature.
Dura Vac AA255 Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum Specifications
- Brand: Dura Vac
- Horsepower: 2 HP
- Capacity: 2.5 g
- Weight: 3.18 kg
- Power Source: Corded electric
Dura Vac AA255 Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Portable
- Compact
- Onboard storage
- Long reach
Cons
Cons
- Expensive for size
- Not suitable for heavy-duty messes
Our Final Opinion About the Dura Vac AA255 Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.6 Price:4.4]
Although small, the Dura Vac is mighty. Because of its compact design, it is perfect for the car or small apartments, but it is not suited for heavy-duty messes.
CRAFTSMAN Wet/Dry Vac Review
The High Capacity Pick
Craftsman
The Craftsman Wet/Dry Vac has a shocking capacity of 16 gallons, making it the best choice for those in need of a high capacity tank. It also has heavy-duty accessories and capabilities, but it is expensive.
CRAFTSMAN Wet/Dry Vac Video Review
What We Think of The CRAFTSMAN Wet/Dry Vac
If you need a heavy-duty or high capacity wet-dry vacuum, the Craftsman is the best choice for you. It has a 6.5 peak horsepower motor and 16 gallon capacity. If you’ve read the rest of these reviews, you’ll know that this is both the most powerful and largest wet-dry vac on the list.
For easy drainage, the Craftsman comes with a built-in oversize drain. The size of this drain allows more water to flow at a time, making the emptying process much faster.
The Craftsman Wet/Dry Vac comes with several accessories, like a dual flex hose, extension wands, car nozzle, utility nozzle, wet nozzle, lock filter, and dust collection bag. The dual flex technology is especially unique because it ensures that the hoses don’t kink. On top of all that, it comes with a built-in blower in the back.
I used this for two months straight, 9 hours a day. It never failed. We got it as a trial run before we purchased a $9000 vacuum pump. Very powerful and an all around great shop vac.
nelson
Although the Craftsman is perfect for heavy-duty jobs, it isn’t right for all homes. For starters, it is expensive. More so, the Craftsman Wet/Dry Vac’s large capacity means it is bulky and heavy. If you don’t have enough arm muscle to move it around, you will get tired quickly. Likewise, storage will not be easy if you have a small apartment or home.
That to the side, the Craftsman Wet/Dry Vac is a good choice if you need a heavy-duty model. Because of its large capacity and powerful motor, it is perfect for all heavy-duty jobs. Just make sure you have enough storage space for it before purchase.
CRAFTSMAN Wet/Dry Vac Specifications
- Brand: Craftsman
- Horsepower: 6.5 HP
- Capacity: 16 g
- Weight: 11.8 kg
- Power Source: Corded electric
CRAFTSMAN Wet/Dry Vac Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- 6.5 HP motor
- 16 gallon capacity
- Many accessories
- Easy pour nozzle
Cons
Cons
- Expensive
- Bulky
- Overkill for most users
Our Final Opinion About the CRAFTSMAN Wet/Dry Vac
Quality 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.6 Design 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Price:4.3]
The Craftsman Wet/Dry Vacuum is perfect for heavy-duty jobs because of its high capacity, large motor, and numerous accessories. Those not in need of a heavy-duty wet-dry vac ought to spend their money elsewhere.
Why Should You Trust Us?
All the recommendations we make on The Good Choice are the result of many hours of research, comparisons, analysis of consumer reviews and, if necessary, expert feedbacks. The products we recommend here are the ones that will best perform their daily tasks, passing all security, reliability and efficiency tests while having an appealing price-quality ratio for everyone.
What are our criteria for judging the products reviewed and selected by The Good Choice?
- Quality: Does the product have a solid construction? Will it be reliable over time? Does it have a good warranty?
- Efficiency: Is the product efficient in its task or do you need to give it some help? Is it for example powerful, fast, quiet?
- Usability: Is the product easy to handle, easy to use and maintain?
- Price: Is the price of the product and/or accessories and/or spare parts reasonable compared to the rest of the market?
In addition to these main criteria, we then establish a list of specific criteria for each product category, detailed a little further down in this article.
In the end, the products we recommend are the ones we would want to buy, and the ones we would also choose for our friends and family.
Things to Know Before Buying a Wet-Dry Vacuum
What is a wet-dry vacuum?
A wet-dry vacuum is a device that can vacuum up both physical debris and liquid. It is an ideal cleaning device for contractors, but it is useful for personal use too.
Is a wet-dry vacuum the same as a ShopVac?
A wet-dry vacuum is more or less the same as a ShopVac. The only difference is that a ShopVac is a specific brand of wet-dry vacuums, whereas the term “wet-dry vacuum” describes the device, not the brand. You can easily find a great wet-dry vacuum that does not belong to the ShopVac brand.
How do wet-dry vacuums work?
Wet-dry vacuums use a motor powered intake fan to create wind flow that picks up any physical debris and dust. With the right filters, they can even pick up water and other debris that you wouldn’t want your regular household vacuum cleaner to touch.
What size wet-dry vacuum should I get?
What size wet-dry vacuum you get depends on your intended usage. If you live in an apartment, you will want a mini vacuum or a small vacuum. A small vacuum could also be good for homes with minimal mess, but medium sized wet-dry vacuums are best for homes. Large wet-dry vacuums are ideal for contractors or those who expect to do a lot of work around their house.
How to Properly Choose Your Wet-Dry Vacuum
For a long time, people only selected a wet-dry vacuum by making sure it belonged to the ShopVac brand. Today, there are many other brands to choose from, but you have to know what factors to consider whenever you are on the hunt.
When you go to buy a wet-dry vacuum, there are five factors you need to consider: typical mess size, horsepower, tank capacity, filters, and features. Let’s look at each one of these wet-dry vacuum factors in more detail.
Typical Mess Size
Wet-dry vacuums come in many sizes, ranging from mini to large. It’s important to get a wet-dry vac that is large enough for your intended needs without taking up too much excess space. You will have your choice of mini, small, medium, or large wet-dry vacuums.
- Mini wet-dry vacuums are ideal for apartments and other small spaces that won’t see a large quantity of debris and water at one time. A mini wet-dry vacuum will be the most compact model.
- Small wet-dry vacuums are best for apartments that may see a good amount of debris or a small home that will see only a little bit of debris or liquid for cleanup. Small wet-dry vacuums are still compact but not quite as compact as the mini model.
- Medium wet-dry vacuums are best for most homes. They are large enough for most regular messes, but they don’t take up too much space either.
- Large wet-dry vacuums are ideal for contractors or homeowners who participate in home DIY projects frequently. Because of how bulky and expensive large wet-dry vacs can be, we only recommend them to those who know they need a large capacity model.
Selecting a wet-dry vacuum based on your typical mess size can help you find a model that fits your needs based on price, mess size, and storage.
Horsepower (HP)
What separates a wet-dry vacuum from a regular vacuum is its high horsepower. Because of its high horsepower, it can suction up bulkier items than your regular vacuum. Low models are between 1 and 4.5 HP, whereas high wet-dry vacs have a horsepower of 6 HP or more. Wet-dry vacs that fall between these two options are considered medium powered.
You want to match the horsepower to your intended use. Regular household use will only need a low to medium ranked horsepower, but contractors and serious DIYers will likely need high horsepower.
Tank Capacity (Gallons)
Although some people swear tank capacity doesn’t matter much, you don’t want to have to keep dumping out your wet-dry vac unnecessarily. So, you want a wet-dry vac that has a decent tank capacity based on your needs.
The tank capacity is largely based on the size of the wet-dry vac. Obviously, many wet-dry vacs will have a smaller tank capacity than large ones. Here is a general breakdown of tank capacity based on wet-dry vac size:
- Mini: 1-2 gallons
- Small: 2-6 gallons
- Medium: 8-14 gallons
- Large: 14-18 gallons
You will want the tank capacity to be large enough so that you don’t have to interrupt your work to dump the wet-dry vac out over and over again. At the same time, you don’t want too large of a tank capacity that is difficult to lug around or store in your home.
Filters
In order for your wet-dry vac to work properly, it comes with a variety of filters that do different jobs. All wet-dry vacs come with filters included, but you will eventually have to buy new filters as your old ones get used.
Make sure that the filters that come with your wet-dry vac are available at stores near you or can be easily found online. Many new wet-dry vac owners make the mistake of purchasing a wet-dry vac with rare filters. This will come back to haunt you when you can’t find new filters to put inside your wet-dry vac.
Features
Finally, the last factor to consider in your wet-dry vac is features, accessories, and more. So that you can get the most use from your wet-dry vac, you want it to come with various attachments, such as wide hoses, extension wands, upholstery brushes, and nozzles.
More so, you want your wet-dry vacuum to come with storage features, such as a handle or a caddy to carry the additional parts. That way, your wet-dry vacuum doesn’t take up any more space than it has to already.
We do our best to provide you with a comparative guide of wet-dry vacuums allowing you to choose the best product possible. If we are missing information or new models, do not hesitate to leave a comment below or to send us a message.
