Real data, ranked. No fluff, no filler.

The 10 Best Corded Shop Vacuums

Plug-in wet/dry shop vacs ranked from live Amazon data, from 2.5-gallon car vacs to 16-gallon garage vacs.

Ranked by ToolboxTop10 from Amazon data captured Oct 6, 2026. How we rank

A shop vac picks up sawdust, drywall dust, water, and whatever else would wreck a house vacuum. The best-sellers run from 2.5-gallon carry vacs under $50 to 16-gallon garage vacs around $120. We ranked 10 corded wet/dry vacs on rating, review volume, and features (a blower port, a hose 1-7/8 in. or wider, a drain port, and a stainless tank). Every one of them handles both wet and dry pickup.

Looking for cordless instead? See the 10 best cordless shop vacuums →

Best Overall CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet Dry Shop Vacuum
CRAFTSMAN
CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet Dry Shop Vacuum
4.7 (8,620)
$121.99
View on Amazon →
Best Budget STANLEY SL18116P Wet/Dry Vacuum, 6 Gallon, 4 Peak HP
STANLEY
STANLEY SL18116P Wet/Dry Vacuum, 6 Gallon, 4 Peak HP
4.6 (14,502)
$57.39
View on Amazon →
Money No Object DEWALT DXV12P 12 Gallon 5.5 Peak HP Poly Wet/Dry Vacuum
DEWALT
DEWALT DXV12P 12 Gallon 5.5 Peak HP Poly Wet/Dry Vacuum
4.7 (2,157)
$139
View on Amazon →

Which one is for you?

Where the deals are

The tools ranked here come from CRAFTSMAN, DEWALT, STANLEY, Shop-Vac, Armor All, Vacmaster, and Amazon Basics. Prices on these brands move week to week on Amazon, and the deepest cuts usually land around Prime Day and Black Friday. Every price button on this page opens the live listing, so you always see today's number, not the one we captured on 2026-10-06. If your pick is over budget right now, check back in a few days — CRAFTSMAN and DEWALT rotate through sales and bundle deals often.

Side-by-side comparison

Swipe the table sideways for more columns →

#ToolPriceRatingReviewsTankPeak HPHoseBlowerScore
1CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595$121.994.78,62016 gal6.5 HP2-1/2" x 7 ftYes92
2DEWALT DXV06P$109.994.75,7326 gal4 HP1-7/8" x 7 ftYes87
3DEWALT DXV12P$1394.72,15712 gal5.5 HP2-1/2" x 7 ftYes87
4STANLEY SL18116P$57.394.614,5026 gal4 HP1-1/4" x 6 ftYes83
5CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17250$44.994.410,1912.5 gal2.5 HP1-1/4" x 5 ftYes80
6Shop-Vac 5989305$90.884.43,5375 gal4.5 HP1-1/4" x 7 ftYes79
7Armor All AA255W$64.324.53,3632.5 gal2 HP1-1/4" x 6 ftYes77
8Vacmaster VBVB611PF 1101$74.994.52,2606 gal5 HP7 ftYes76
9Vacmaster VOC508S 1101$62.994.53,0135 gal4 HP1-1/4" x 6 ftNo73
10Amazon Basics VO407S$62.994.42,6824 gal3 HP6 ftNo71
✕VEVOR BJC2411-800-10$31.324.547Dry-only vac sold as a shop vacAVOID

Tap a column heading to sort.

The full ranking

#1
CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet Dry Shop Vacuum
Best Overall
CRAFTSMAN

CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet Dry Shop Vacuum

4.7 8,620 reviews
Score 92/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score94/100 → 42 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score94/100 → 33 pts
  • Features 20% of score85/100 → 17 pts

Has: a blower port, a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose, a drain port. Missing: a stainless steel tank.

Total: 92/100. How the score works

$121.99
Lowest price in our 2 checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
1K+/mo

The big garage vac: 16 gallons, 6.5 peak HP, a 2-1/2 in. hose, and an oversized drain for flooded basements. It's 26 lb and needs floor space, but it swallows sawdust and water that would choke a small vac.

Best for: Sawdust, debris and flooded basements.

Skip it if: You're short on storage space.

Tank
16 gal
Peak HP
6.5 HP
Hose
2-1/2" x 7 ft
Cord
—
Tank material
—
Warranty
3 years

Pros

  • Wide 2-1/2 in. Dual-Flex hose resists kinks and clogs
  • Oversized drain empties water without lifting the tank
  • Rear blower port and a 3-year warranty

Cons

  • 26 lb and about 27 in. tall, so it takes real storage space
  • The listing shows two wheels, so it pulls rather than rolls freely
#2
DEWALT DXV06P 6 Gallon 4 Peak HP Poly Wet/Dry Vacuum with Blower
DEWALT

DEWALT DXV06P 6 Gallon 4 Peak HP Poly Wet/Dry Vacuum with Blower

4.7 5,732 reviews
Score 87/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score94/100 → 42 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score90/100 → 32 pts
  • Features 20% of score65/100 → 13 pts

Has: a blower port, a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose. Missing: a drain port, a stainless steel tank.

Total: 87/100. How the score works

$109.99
Same price in both of our checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
800+/mo

A compact 6-gallon vac with a full-size 1-7/8 in. hose, rubberized casters, and a blower port. It's the one to buy if you want a jobsite-size hose on a vac you can lift into a truck.

Best for: A jobsite-size hose on a vac you can lift into a truck.

Skip it if: You need a drain port.

Tank
6 gal
Peak HP
4 HP
Hose
1-7/8" x 7 ft
Cord
10 ft
Tank material
Poly
Warranty
—

Pros

  • 1-7/8 in. x 7 ft hose, wider than any other vac this size on the list
  • Rubberized casters and a 10 ft cord with a wrap
  • Two extension wands, cartridge filter, and dust bag included

Cons

  • About twice the price of the STANLEY 6-gallon
  • No drain port
#3
DEWALT DXV12P 12 Gallon 5.5 Peak HP Poly Wet/Dry Vacuum
Money No Object
DEWALT

DEWALT DXV12P 12 Gallon 5.5 Peak HP Poly Wet/Dry Vacuum

4.7 2,157 reviews
Score 87/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score94/100 → 42 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score80/100 → 28 pts
  • Features 20% of score85/100 → 17 pts

Has: a blower port, a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose, a drain port. Missing: a stainless steel tank.

Total: 87/100. How the score works

$139
Same price in both of our checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
700+/mo

DEWALT's 12-gallon vac with 105 CFM, a 2-1/2 in. hose, a 20 ft cord, and a large drain port. It's the pick for shops and jobsites where you move around a lot and pick up heavy debris.

Best for: Shops and jobsites where you move around and pick up heavy debris.

Skip it if: You have a small garage; it's bulky.

Tank
12 gal
Peak HP
5.5 HP
Hose
2-1/2" x 7 ft
Cord
20 ft
Tank material
Poly
Warranty
3 years

Pros

  • 20 ft cord, the longest on the list
  • 105 CFM airflow and a 2-1/2 in. x 7 ft hose
  • Large drain port and blower function, 3-year warranty

Cons

  • 23 lb and bulky for small garages
  • The listing's bullet points are thin, so check the spec table for details
#4
STANLEY SL18116P Wet/Dry Vacuum, 6 Gallon, 4 Peak HP
Best Budget
STANLEY

STANLEY SL18116P Wet/Dry Vacuum, 6 Gallon, 4 Peak HP

4.6 14,502 reviews
Score 83/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score92/100 → 41 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score100/100 → 35 pts
  • Features 20% of score35/100 → 7 pts

Has: a blower port. Missing: a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose, a drain port, a stainless steel tank.

Total: 83/100. How the score works

$57.39
Same price in both of our checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
3K+/mo

The most-reviewed shop vac on Amazon: a 6-gallon, 4 peak HP vac with a rear blower port for under $60. It suits garage, car, and small-shop cleanup where you don't need a big tank.

Best for: Garage, car and small-shop cleanup for under $60.

Skip it if: You vacuum wood chips or drywall; the narrow hose clogs.

Tank
6 gal
Peak HP
4 HP
Hose
1-1/4" x 6 ft
Cord
10 ft
Tank material
—
Warranty
1 year

Pros

  • 6-gallon tank for less than most 2.5-gallon vacs cost
  • Rear blower port, three extension wands, and a foam wet filter in the box
  • About 16 ft of reach from the 6 ft hose and 10 ft cord

Cons

  • Narrow 1-1/4 in. hose clogs sooner on wood chips and drywall chunks
  • 1-year warranty, shorter than CRAFTSMAN, DEWALT, and Shop-Vac
#5
CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17250 2.5 Gallon 2.5 Peak HP Wet Dry Shop Vacuum
CRAFTSMAN

CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17250 2.5 Gallon 2.5 Peak HP Wet Dry Shop Vacuum

4.4 10,191 reviews
Score 80/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score88/100 → 40 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score96/100 → 33 pts
  • Features 20% of score35/100 → 7 pts

Has: a blower port. Missing: a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose, a drain port, a stainless steel tank.

Total: 80/100. How the score works

$44.99
Lowest price in our 2 checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
7K+/mo

A 6.7 lb carry-around vac for cars, workbenches, and small spills. It sells more per month than any other vac we looked at, and it doubles as a blower.

Best for: Carrying to the car or upstairs, with a 3-year warranty.

Skip it if: You clean up big wet spills; 2.5 gallons fills fast.

Tank
2.5 gal
Peak HP
2.5 HP
Hose
1-1/4" x 5 ft
Cord
—
Tank material
—
Warranty
3 years

Pros

  • 6.7 lb with a carry handle, easy to take to the car or up the stairs
  • 3-year warranty, long for a $45 vac
  • Blower function

Cons

  • 2.5-gallon tank fills fast on wet jobs
  • 5 ft hose and three small accessories, fewer than most here
#6
Shop-Vac 5989305 5 Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vacuum with Blower Function
Shop-Vac

Shop-Vac 5989305 5 Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vacuum with Blower Function

4.4 3,537 reviews
Score 79/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score88/100 → 39 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score85/100 → 30 pts
  • Features 20% of score50/100 → 10 pts

Has: a blower port, a stainless steel tank. Missing: a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose, a drain port.

Total: 79/100. How the score works

$90.88
Same price in both of our checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
1K+/mo

A 5-gallon stainless vac from the brand that named the category, with a full dolly, rear blower port, and three extension wands.

Best for: A stainless vac from the original brand with a 3-year warranty.

Skip it if: You need reach; the cord is 6 ft.

Tank
5 gal
Peak HP
4.5 HP
Hose
1-1/4" x 7 ft
Cord
6 ft
Tank material
Stainless steel
Warranty
3 years

Pros

  • Stainless steel tank with a full-circumference dolly
  • Rear blower port, plus cartridge filter, foam sleeve, and filter bag
  • 3-year warranty

Cons

  • 6 ft cord, the shortest on the list
  • About $28 more than the Vacmaster 5-gallon stainless vac
#7
Armor All AA255W 2.5 Gal 2 Peak HP Wet/Dry Utility Vac
Armor All

Armor All AA255W 2.5 Gal 2 Peak HP Wet/Dry Utility Vac

4.5 3,363 reviews
Score 77/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score90/100 → 40 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score84/100 → 30 pts
  • Features 20% of score35/100 → 7 pts

Has: a blower port. Missing: a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose, a drain port, a stainless steel tank.

Total: 77/100. How the score works

$64.32
Same price in both of our checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
4K+/mo

A small car-and-garage vac that ships with 13 accessories, including a car nozzle, dust brush, and squeegee nozzle. It converts to a blower.

Best for: Car detailing with 13 accessories.

Skip it if: You need suction power; it's the weakest here.

Tank
2.5 gal
Peak HP
2 HP
Hose
1-1/4" x 6 ft
Cord
12 ft
Tank material
—
Warranty
—

Pros

  • 13 accessories, the most of any vac here
  • 12 ft cord on a 2.5-gallon vac
  • On-board hose and accessory storage

Cons

  • 2 peak HP is the weakest motor on the list
  • Costs more than the CRAFTSMAN 2.5-gallon, which has a 3-year warranty
#8
Vacmaster VBVB611PF 1101 6 Gal 5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable Blower
Vacmaster

Vacmaster VBVB611PF 1101 6 Gal 5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable Blower

4.5 2,260 reviews
Score 76/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score90/100 → 41 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score80/100 → 28 pts
  • Features 20% of score35/100 → 7 pts

Has: a blower port. Missing: a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose, a drain port, a stainless steel tank.

Total: 76/100. How the score works

$74.99
Same price in both of our checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
500+/mo

A 6-gallon vac whose motor head lifts off to become a handheld leaf blower (190 mph max). It suits anyone who wants to clear a garage floor or driveway with the same tool.

Best for: Clearing a garage floor or driveway with a detachable blower.

Skip it if: You want published hose and cord specs.

Tank
6 gal
Peak HP
5 HP
Hose
7 ft
Cord
—
Tank material
—
Warranty
—

Pros

  • Detachable blower, rated to 190 mph
  • 70 CFM airflow and 10 accessories
  • On-board hose, cord, and accessory storage

Cons

  • Hose diameter and cord length aren't stated on the listing
  • Warranty term isn't given on the listing
#9
Vacmaster VOC508S 1101 5-Gal 4 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vac
Vacmaster

Vacmaster VOC508S 1101 5-Gal 4 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vac

4.5 3,013 reviews
Score 73/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score90/100 → 41 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score83/100 → 29 pts
  • Features 20% of score15/100 → 3 pts

Has: a stainless steel tank. Missing: a blower port, a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose, a drain port.

Total: 73/100. How the score works

$62.99
Same price in both of our checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
1K+/mo

A 5-gallon stainless steel tank and a 135 air watt motor for about $63. It comes with a cartridge filter for dry pickup and a foam filter for wet jobs.

Best for: A stainless tank and separate wet and dry filters for about $63.

Skip it if: You want a blower port.

Tank
5 gal
Peak HP
4 HP
Hose
1-1/4" x 6 ft
Cord
10 ft
Tank material
Stainless steel
Warranty
—

Pros

  • Stainless steel tank at a poly-tank price
  • Separate cartridge (dry) and foam (wet) filters included
  • 16 ft of total reach

Cons

  • The listing doesn't mention a blower port
  • Warranty term isn't given on the listing
#10
Amazon Basics Wet Dry Shop Vacuum Cleaner, 4 Gallon, 3 Peak HP, Stainless Steel
Amazon Basics

Amazon Basics Wet Dry Shop Vacuum Cleaner, 4 Gallon, 3 Peak HP, Stainless Steel

4.4 2,682 reviews
Score 71/100
Why this score
  • Star rating 45% of score88/100 → 39 pts
  • Number of reviews 35% of score82/100 → 29 pts
  • Features 20% of score15/100 → 3 pts

Has: a stainless steel tank. Missing: a blower port, a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose, a drain port.

Total: 71/100. How the score works

$62.99
Same price in both of our checks since Sep 30, 2026
Check price on Amazon
4K+/mo

A 4-gallon stainless vac with a locking hose, a cloth dry filter, and a foam wet filter. It's a solid home and garage vac and one of the category's biggest sellers.

Best for: Home and garage cleanup with a stainless tank.

Skip it if: You need a long cord; it's 8 ft.

Tank
4 gal
Peak HP
3 HP
Hose
6 ft
Cord
8 ft
Tank material
Stainless steel
Warranty
—

Pros

  • Stainless steel tank
  • Locking hose, reusable cloth filter, and foam wet filter
  • On-board accessory storage

Cons

  • 8 ft cord, short for a floor vac
  • No blower port, and the hose diameter isn't listed

How we rank

Every tool gets one score from 0 to 100, weighted 45% on its star rating, 35% on how many people have reviewed it (more reviews = more confidence the rating is real), and 20% on the features that matter for the job. The list is ordered by that score. Best Overall is our pick for the best all-around, ready-to-use tool; Best Budget the best value at or under $60; and Money No Object the one to buy if price is no object.

The features score is built from a blower port (35%), a wide (1-7/8 in. or larger) hose (30%), a drain port (20%), a stainless steel tank (15%), capped at 100. The review-count score is on a log scale, so each tenfold jump in reviews adds the same amount, and 15,000 or more reviews gets full marks. Open Why this score on any tool to see its numbers.

What changed

We re-check every listing on this page on a rotation. The most recent changes:

Buyer's guide

What does "peak HP" mean on a shop vac?

Peak horsepower is a motor rating measured with no load, and it isn't what you get while vacuuming. It's useful for comparing vacs from the same brand, but airflow (CFM) says more about suction. DEWALT lists 105 CFM for the DXV12P, for example, and Vacmaster lists 70 CFM for the VBVB611PF.

What tank size should I get?

2.5 to 4 gallons is enough for cars, stairs, and small spills, and those vacs are light enough to carry. 5 to 6 gallons covers most garage and workshop cleanup. Go to 12 to 16 gallons for flooded floors, renovation debris, or a woodshop, and pick one with a drain port so you don't have to lift a full tank of water.

Does hose diameter matter?

Yes. A 1-1/4 in. hose fits tight spots and car interiors but clogs on wood chips, leaves, and drywall chunks. A 1-7/8 in. or 2-1/2 in. hose moves more air and swallows bigger debris. If you do a lot of workshop cleanup, buy the wider hose.

Do I need to change the filter for wet pickup?

Usually. Most vacs use a paper or cloth cartridge for dry dust and a foam sleeve for water, and running water through a paper cartridge ruins it. Check which filters come in the box: the Vacmaster VOC508S and Amazon Basics both include a foam wet filter.

Poly tank or stainless steel?

Stainless tanks resist dents and cost a little more. Poly tanks are lighter, can't rust, and are what most of the bigger vacs use. Both hold water and debris the same way, so choose on size and features first.

Tools to avoid

Not everything in the search results deserves your money. This one would rank dead last on our scale — here's the listing to walk past, and exactly why.

✕ Avoid
VEVOR Dry Vacuum Cleaner, 2.6 Gallon 2.5 Peak HP Portable Shop Vac, 800W
VEVOR

VEVOR Dry Vacuum Cleaner, 2.6 Gallon 2.5 Peak HP Portable Shop Vac, 800W

4.5 47 reviews   $31.32

It shows up in wet/dry shop vac searches at shop vac prices, but it's a dry-only vacuum. It can't handle the spills and flooded floors most people buy a shop vac for, and the CRAFTSMAN 2.5-gallon does wet, dry, and blowing for about $14 more.

Why we'd skip it

  • It's a dry vacuum. The title says "Dry Vacuum Cleaner", the style is listed as "Dry", and its only filter is a dirt separator, with no foam wet filter. Water pickup, the main reason to own a shop vac, is off the table.
  • The listing can't agree on its own motor: the title says 2.5 peak HP and the first bullet says 2.6 HP.
  • Its 4 ft hose is the shortest we found, 1 to 3 ft shorter than every vac on the ranked list.
  • It claims to cover "3.7x more than traditional vacuums" without saying which vacuums or how that was measured.
See the listing on Amazon (so you recognize it)
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