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The 7 best wet/dry shop vacs, by the numbers that matter
Updated
Short version: for a workshop, I'd pick the Vacmaster 12 gallon. Its listing states 140 CFM and 60 inches of water lift, so you know what you are getting. For floods and remodel mess, the CRAFTSMAN 16 gallon has the biggest tank and a drain. For fine dust in a small vac, the Vacmaster Beast 5 gallon ships with a fine dust filter and a bag. For the car, the Armor All 2.5 gallon is enough.
Not sure which size fits your job? Use the job checker first.
Quick comparison
| Model | Peak HP claimed | Claim in watts | Real watts | Share | Tank | Hose | CFM | Water lift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRAFTSMAN 16 gal | 6.5 | 4,849 W | 1,440 W | 30% | 16 gal | 2-1/2 in | Not on the listing | Not on the listing |
| Vacmaster 12 gal | 5.5 | 4,103 W | 1,416 W | 35% | 12 gal | 2-1/2 in | 140 | 60 in |
| Vacmaster Beast 5 gal | 5.5 | 4,103 W | 1,320 W | 32% | 5 gal | 1-7/8 in | Not on the listing | 82 in |
| DEWALT 6 gal | 4 | 2,984 W | 864 W | 29% | 6 gal | 1-7/8 in | Not on the listing | Not on the listing |
| Stanley 6 gal | 4 | 2,984 W | 1,200 W | 40% | 6 gal | 1-1/4 in | Not on the listing | Not on the listing |
| Vacmaster 5 gal steel | 4 | 2,984 W | 960 W | 32% | 5 gal | 1-1/4 in | 80 | 66 in |
| Armor All 2.5 gal | 2 | 1,492 W | 720 W | 48% | 2.5 gal | 1-1/4 in | Not on the listing | Not on the listing |
"Claim in watts" is peak HP times 746. "Real watts" comes from the amps or watts on each listing. Shop-Vac's own product pages say peak horsepower is a term used for consumer comparison and that its motors do not operate at the peak horsepower shown. Vacmaster's maker page for the 12 gallon model carries the same note.
Peak HP x 746Real watts from the listing's amps or watts
- CRAFTSMAN 16 gal4,849 W1,440 W
- Vacmaster 12 gal4,103 W1,416 W
- Vacmaster Beast 5 gal4,103 W1,320 W
- DEWALT 6 gal2,984 W864 W
- Stanley 6 gal2,984 W1,200 W
- Vacmaster 5 gal steel2,984 W960 W
- Armor All 2.5 gal1,492 W720 W
The picks
Specs and owner feedback checked on Amazon September 19, 2026. Peak HP, amps, watts, CFM and water lift are copied from each listing. Where a listing disagrees with itself, the card says so.
CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP
Get this if you need to pull up a lot of water or clean up after a remodel, and you have the floor space to store a 16 gallon tank. Skip it for car cleaning or a small closet. It is 26 pounds empty and the 2-1/2 inch hose is bulky in tight spots. 6.5 peak HP would be about 4,849 watts. The vac draws about 1,440 watts (12 A and 1,440 W on the listing), which is 30 percent of that. The listing does not give CFM or water lift, so the amps are the only hard power number you get.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- 6.5 peak HP claimed. 12 A, 1,440 W, 120 V on the listing
- 16 gallon tank with an oversized drain
- 2-1/2 in x 7 ft locking Dual-Flex hose, 20 ft cord
- Rear blower port
- Cartridge filter and dust bag included. 69 dB on the listing
- 26 pounds, 3 year limited warranty
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say the suction is strong and that it picks up everything from dust to big messes.
- They complain about: Durability is split. Some report many years of hard use, others say it quit after 20 to 30 uses. Some find the casters too small for the size of the tank, and owners disagree on how loud it is.
Good
- Drain port, so you do not lift a full tank
- Widest hose size here
- Longest cord here at 20 ft, tied with the Vacmaster 12 gallon
Watch out for
- No CFM or water lift on the listing
- Big to store. Some owners find the casters small
- Owner reports on durability are split
Vacmaster VJH1211PF 12 Gallon 5.5 Peak HP
Get this if you want a full size shop vac whose listing tells you the airflow: 140 CFM and 60 inches of water lift. Skip it if you mostly clean cars. The 2-1/2 inch hose and 24 pound body are more than that job needs. 5.5 peak HP would be about 4,103 watts. The vac draws about 1,416 watts (11.8 A and 1,416 W on the listing), which is 35 percent of that. The maker's own page says CFM and lift were measured to an ASTM standard at the end of the included hose, and lists 143 CFM, a little more than the Amazon listing.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- 5.5 peak HP claimed. 11.8 A, 1,416 W on the listing
- 140 CFM, 60 in water lift, 360 air watts on the listing
- 12 gallon tank with a large drain port
- 2-1/2 in x 7 ft hose, 20 ft cord, 27 ft of reach per the maker
- Cartridge filter and dust bag. Converts to a blower
- 24.1 pounds
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners praise the suction, the motor and the large tank. One mentions using it around a pool.
- They complain about: Several owners report the lid clasps breaking after about 14 months. Dust control gets mixed reports, and some mention clogging.
Good
- States CFM, water lift and air watts
- Highest stated airflow here
- Drain port and 20 ft cord
Watch out for
- Several owners report lid clasps breaking
- No noise number on the listing
- Maker's page and the Amazon listing give slightly different CFM
Vacmaster Beast VFB511H 5 Gallon 5.5 Peak HP
Get this if you want strong suction in a vac you can carry, or if you clean up fine dust. It ships with a fine dust cartridge filter and a dust bag, and the maker claims they capture particles down to 1 micron. Skip it for flood cleanup. Five gallons fills fast and there is no drain. 5.5 peak HP would be about 4,103 watts. The vac draws about 1,320 watts (11 A and 1,320 W on the listing), which is 32 percent of that. It has the highest water lift of the picks that state one, at 82 inches.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- 5.5 peak HP claimed. 11 A, 1,320 W on the listing
- 320 air watts, 82 in water lift (20 kPa) on the listing
- 5 gallon tank
- 1-7/8 in x 7 ft hose. 25 ft of reach with hose and cord per the maker
- Fine dust cartridge filter and dust bag included. 72 dB on the listing
- 15.4 pounds
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners call it powerful for its size and easy to move and lift. Car cleaning and dust pickup get good mentions.
- They complain about: Owners report that it tips over easily while in use. Some wish it came with more attachment options.
Good
- Highest stated water lift here
- Fine dust filter and bag in the box
- States air watts and lift, so you can compare it
Watch out for
- Owners say it tips over easily
- No CFM on the listing
- Small tank, no drain
DEWALT DXV06P 6 Gallon 4 Peak HP
Get this if you want a mid-size vac with a 1-7/8 inch hose for general garage and basement cleanup. Skip it if you need a drain port, or if you want CFM and water lift in writing. The listing gives neither. 4 peak HP would be about 2,984 watts. The vac draws about 864 watts (7.2 A on the listing x 120 V), which is 29 percent of that. The listing's wattage line reads 135.5 watts, which cannot be the electrical draw of a 7.2 amp motor. We use the amps.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- 4 peak HP claimed. 7.2 A on the listing
- 6 gallon tank
- 1-7/8 in x 7 ft hose, 10 ft cord
- Cartridge filter. Built-in blower port
- 77 dB on the listing
- 14.77 pounds
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners report strong suction and find it fairly quiet. They mention small basement messes and drywall dust, and say the wheels roll smoothly.
- They complain about: Durability gets mixed reports. Some say it holds up, others say it broke after a year.
Good
- Lowest amp draw of the mid-size picks, so it shares a circuit more easily
- 1-7/8 in hose is a middle ground for debris and tool size
- Owners report smooth rolling casters
Watch out for
- No CFM, lift or air watts on the listing
- The wattage line on the listing does not match the amps
- 10 ft cord
Stanley SL18116P 6 Gallon 4 Peak HP
Get this if you want one vac for the car, the house and small garage jobs, with all three filter types in the box: a reusable dry filter, a dust bag and a foam filter. Skip it for wood chips and chunky debris. The 1-1/4 inch hose is the narrowest size. 4 peak HP would be about 2,984 watts. The vac draws about 1,200 watts (1,200 W on the listing), which is 40 percent of that. The listing's amps line says 3.7 A, which does not match its own 1,200 watts. We use the watts.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- 4 peak HP claimed. 1,200 W on the listing
- 6 gallon tank
- 1-1/4 in x 6 ft hose, 10 ft cord, three extension wands
- Reusable dry filter, dust bag and foam filter included
- Blower port. 80 dB on the listing
- 13.4 pounds, 1 year limited warranty
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it has a lot of suction for its size. One lists dirt, wood fibers, mud, glass and sawdust, and owners like it for the garage.
- They complain about: Durability is split, with some reports of it breaking after 6 months. Some owners wish the cord were longer.
Good
- Dry filter, bag and foam filter all included
- Light for a 6 gallon vac
- Four swivel casters
Watch out for
- Loudest number here at 80 dB
- Amps and watts on the listing disagree
- 1 year warranty, and some owners report early failures
Vacmaster VOC508S 5 Gallon 4 Peak HP Stainless
Get this if you want a light vac for the house and car and you like seeing the real specs: 80 CFM, 66 inches of water lift, 135 air watts in the bullets. Skip it for shop debris. It has a 1-1/4 inch hose and the lowest stated airflow here. 4 peak HP would be about 2,984 watts. The vac draws about 960 watts (960 W on the listing), which is 32 percent of that. The listing also shows a second air watts line of 200 and an amps line of 4.36 that does not match 960 watts. Plan on the smaller numbers.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- 4 peak HP claimed. 960 W on the listing
- 80 CFM, 66 in water lift, 135 air watts per the listing bullets
- 5 gallon stainless steel tank
- 1-1/4 in x 6 ft hose. 16 ft of reach with hose and cord per the maker
- Cartridge filter and foam wet filter included
- 11.66 pounds. 77 dB on the listing
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners like the strong suction, the compact size and the low weight.
- They complain about: The review summary we read was mostly positive. The main complaint is the cord, which several owners wish were longer.
Good
- States CFM, lift and air watts
- Light at under 12 pounds
- Ships with both a dry and a wet filter
Watch out for
- Several owners wish the cord were longer
- Two different air watts numbers on one listing
- Narrow hose, not for chips or chunks
Armor All AA255 2.5 Gallon 2 Peak HP
Get this if your main job is the car, or you want a small vac that lives on a shelf. Skip it for anything you would call a mess. The tank is 2.5 gallons. 2 peak HP would be about 1,492 watts. The vac draws about 720 watts (6 A and 720 W on the listing), which is 48 percent of that. That is the smallest gap on this site, and its amps and watts agree with each other, which is not true of every listing here.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- 2 peak HP claimed. 6 A, 720 W on the listing
- 2.5 gallon tank
- 1-1/4 in x 6 ft hose, 12 ft cord
- Reusable cloth filter and foam wet filter. Converts to a blower
- Car nozzle, detail brush, crevice tool and more per the listing
- 10.99 pounds. 75 dB on the listing
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it has more suction than they expected for its size. They like that it is small enough to store, light, and comes with the attachments they need.
- They complain about: The review summary we read was mostly positive. The main tradeoff is size: a 2.5 gallon tank and a 1-1/4 inch hose are for small jobs only.
Good
- Lowest power draw here
- Car tools in the box
- Small and light
Watch out for
- Tiny tank
- No CFM or water lift on the listing
- Cloth filter is not for fine dust
Before you buy any shop vac
- Find the amps. They are in the spec table or on the rating label. Multiply by 120 for watts. See the calculator.
- Look for CFM and water lift. Only three of these seven listings state either one. See what they mean.
- Pick the hose size for your debris and tools. See hose diameters.
- Check which filters are in the box. Wet pickup needs a foam sleeve. Fine dust needs a fine dust filter. See filters.
- Plan the outlet. The two biggest picks draw about 12 amps. ESFI lists often tripped breakers as a warning sign of an overloaded circuit. Run a big vac on a circuit that is not also feeding a heater or a saw.
- Protect your ears. The listings here give 69 to 80 dB and do not say at what distance. NIOSH sets its recommended limit at 85 dBA averaged over an eight hour workday. A shop vac in a small room with a hard floor can feel louder than its number.