7 Best Shop Vacs of 2023, Tested by Experts

This 10-gallon shop vac by DeWalt is tried and trusted. Not only is this brand a big hit with our experts due to its solid performance and reliability throughout years of testing (its cordless drill and circular saw also make our recommended lists), but it offers both a powerful and effective clean. Carolyn Forté, Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director at the Institute put this electric corded model through its paces during an extended at-home test. The machine performed superbly across the board, showing serious suction power, thanks to its 5.5 horsepower motor and extra-wide 10-inch nozzle.

“There was no scattering or snowplowing [of debris] during repeated dry tests,” Forte says, which involved vacuuming up oatmeal and baking soda. “I was impressed!” We also found that the shop vac is very easy to operate, great for those that might not have as extensive experience with this type of machine. The 360-degree wheels roll smoothly, the lid is easy to put on and take off and an onboard accessory pouch keeps tools and attachments in order. The cord is a bit of a nuisance, but at 20-feet-long it provides good range, and the machine’s handle doubles as a cord wrap for tidy storage. Like all electric shop vacs, you definitely hear the DeWalt when it’s running at full tilt, “but it's not as high-pitched or irritating as other models we’ve tested,” says Forté.

In the category of vacuums, there's simply no bigger name than Hoover, so our experts were particularly excited to try their hand with this battery-powered shop vac. Our testers found that this vac's 6-gallon tank provides decent cleaning capacity for most homeowners. But, keep in mind that it's not built for serious job sites since it's constructed of less rugged materials. However, a downside our engineer did notice while testing was that “one of the latches that locks the lid in place kept falling off." Also, the storage bands that hold accessories aren’t as effective or user-friendly as other systems, and there’s no drain plug.

That being said, when it comes to handling the primary task of sucking up wet and dry debris, the Hoover handled it quite well, though testers dinged it for the absence of a squeegee on the wet attachment since it left the surface slick even after several passes. Overall, for the at-home DIYer, this Hoover shop vac is a solid value, especially if you already own the brand's ONEPWR battery and charger.

Ryobi's 10-Gallon Shop Vac had no trouble acing our tough 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,” says 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 also features a collapsible handle for easy transport, quick-release latches, on-board storage spaces for accessories and more.

Our experts have now tested several products from Ryobi’s 40-volt line of battery-powered products, from leaf blowers to lawn mowers, and we've been consistently impressed with their performance. This Ryobi comes loaded with features and accessories, like dual-extension wands, a wet filter and a drain plug, which makes 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.

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,” says Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, who tested 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 dry and wet vacuuming, aided by its 2-1/2" wide x 7' long 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.

The compact design, stainless-steel construction and bevy of accessory tools make this corded-electric Stanley shop vac one of the most multi-functional models on the market. Though our experts haven’t tested it in the Lab yet, we're impressed by the specs and technical data. For example, 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 is good for keeping the air clear when vacuuming inside 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 worth a look, especially at this price.

DIYers will definitely want to take a look at this 12-gallon shop vac by Ridgid that's specifically geared towards us, regular people, (as opposed to their commercial-grade shop vacs). It still has a ton of heavy-duty features, including the 5-horsepower motor is capable of moving air at a rate of 140 cubic feet per minute — twice that of other shop vacs.

Many pros swear by Ridgid as a maker of quality tools that are 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 air flow for quieter operation.

You can take your vac wherever you need to go — no wall outlet necessary — when you snag a portable shop vac like this 2-gallon version from Craftsman. Portable shop vacs are designed for smaller jobs, say, clearing crushed cereal from the back seat of the car or cleaning up minor messes in a home studio or wood shop. Given its limited airflow (35 CFM), this Craftsman has more in common with handheld vacuums than other shop vacs in this round-up. “But it still did a decent job sucking up screws and nails in our tests, plus its 20-volt battery pack can be used to power other Craftsman tools from cordless drills to hedge trimmers,” says Scherma. Like all shop vacs, it’s rated for both dry and wet spills, and its True HEPA filter, good for capturing 99.7% of dust and allergens, isn't something you'll find on the typical shop vac.