When you are looking for the perfect way to clean your garage, workspace, or workshop, it seems like the cleaning process is never totally finished. With the constant movement of tools, supplies, etc. it seems like there is always debris and dust lying around somewhere that you missed, even if you just cleaned it.
The difference between having a clean shop and the cleanest shop is all in the shop vac that you are using to clean up. Today, we are going to look at some of the top performing shop vacs on the market, and give you a breakdown of the features, pros, and cons of each.
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Comparison Of The Best Shop Vacs For Dust Collection
IMAGE | PRODUCT NAME | RATING | FIND NOW |
 | WORKSHOP Wet Dry Vac WS1600VA | ||
 | Craftsman XSP 12 Gallon | ||
 | Dustless Technologies | ||
 | Shopvac 5950800 | ||
 | Vacmaster 5 Gallon |
IMAGE | PRODUCT DETAILS |
| | WORKSHOP Wet Dry Vac WS1600VA |
| | Craftsman XSP 12 Gallon |
| | Dustless Technologies |
| | Shopvac 5950800 |
| | Vacmaster 5 Gallon |
Best Shop Vacs For Dust Collection Reviews
WORKSHOP Wet Dry Vac WS1600VA
If you are looking for a reliable, large, vacuum that comes with a lot of great attachments and features, you are going to really like the Workshop WS1600VA. It comes with a 2 ½ inch diameter and 7 foot hose that is perfect for sucking up dust and debris around your shop. The hose locks perfectly onto the vacuum and all of the attachments so that you don’t have to worry about it falling off or sliding off.
What we love about the hose is that it isn’t stiff like some hoses. It offers 180 degree flexibility to it is great for getting tight corners, and anywhere that you can imagine. The vacuum has on site storage for your attachments so that they are always within arms reach. It also includes a blowing port that you can use to blow your shop clean.
What We Liked
- A massive, 16 gallon storage container that is great for cleaning large shop floors
- Runs on AC power, and is easy to plug in and use anywhere
- Comes with a cartridge filter
- Also comes with two extension wands that you can use for a variety of different cleaning circumstances
- Locking technology that keeps your hose locked tight to the vacuum, and your extensions locked tight to the hose
- Includes a car nozzle so that you can get a good deep clean of the floor of your car
- Easy to drain when vacuuming wet materials
What We Didn't Like
- Seems to suck up dust well, but could use more suction for larger debris
Craftsman XSP 12 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac
This Craftsman vacuum is another large shop vacuum with a 12 gallon tank, and it is great for sucking up dust, debris that is large or small, wet or dry. It comes with a few different attachment heads for a variety of different surfaces and circumstances. This vacuum provides about 120 volts of power and weighs in at almost 25 pounds, so you know that it is sturdy and durable.
We also really like that this vacuum comes with a one year warranty from Craftsman, so if you have any issues with it, you can get assistance from the manufacturer.
What We Liked
- Large 12 gallon tank that is great for both wet and dry debris
- Powerful vacuum that uses 120 volts to suck up debris and dust
- Comes with two different attachment heads for cleaning in a variety of areas and circumstances
- Uses 9-16 gallon wet or dry filter bags- Reasonably priced
- Also functions as a blower so that you can blast debris out of your shop
What We Didn't Like
- The internal filter on this vacuum is fixated strangely within the vacuum
- When the vacuum is running, it doesn’t have a rear filter on the vacuum, so powerful air blows out the back and can cause dust and debris to blow around.
Dustless Technologies 16003 Wet/Dry Vacuum
The Dustless Technologies 16003 vacuum is an impressive model that remedies the mess that some vacuums can create. In terms of clean up, most vacuums will get the job done. The only troublesome part is after you are done vacuuming, and their is a mess of dust and debris inside of the vacuum that you need to dispose of. This model from Dustless is super easy to clean, after you are done using it.
It is able to switch from wet to dry vacuuming work without having to switch between dry and wet filters, which is a nice touch. This vacuum works great on concrete floors, and has no problem cleaning up drywall debris and dust. The filters that it uses are reusable and washable, which is another nice touch. This vacuum is specifically designed to clean up seriously small dust particles without a problem, and without the mess of your traditional shop vacuum.
What We Liked
- Cleans up even the smallest of dust particles with no issue at all (down to .3 microns)
- Efficient filters for cleaning up both wet and dry mess, without having to switch out the filter
- Contains waste and dust in a clean and compact manner, so that you don’t have a massive mess inside your vacuum, to clean up after you are done vacuuming
- Filters that you can rinse, wash, and reuse with ease
- Super quiet
- Comes with a variety of tools that store right on the unit
What We Didn't Like
- The suction is excellent for picking up small particles of dust, but lacks when it comes to picking up heavier objects.
- Limited reach when it comes to the cable and the hose, so you may need an extension cable
- Pretty expensive in comparison to other models
Shopvac 5950800 Wet/Dry Vacuum
This Shopvac model is another reliable vacuum for picking up dust and small debris in your workshop or garage. This vacuum is actually a little smaller than some of the other vacuums that we have looked at, but can still hold 8 gallons of dust and debris. This vacuum comes with an eight food hose that locks on to the base of your vacuum so that you don’t have to worry about it coming loose, while vacuuming.
It also has a six foot long power cord, which is a great start for reaching across your workspace. This vac includes carry handles on the sides and the top, so that it is easy to carry around and transport. It also has a filter minder that helps you maintain your filter so that you don’t wreck it. Comes with a 10 inch nozzle that is great for both wet and dry cleanup. It also comes with a crevice gulper nozzle, collection bag filter, and cartridge filter.
What We Liked
- Large 8 gallon capacity
- Includes two different nozzles that are great for a variety of different cleaning circumstances, including cleaning up wet or dry mess
- Comes with an 8 foot hose that locks onto your vacuum
- Great for indoor and outdoor use
- Comes with a 3 year motor warranty
What We Didn't Like
- Smallest capacity vacuum in the bunch
- Doesn’t offer a lot of distance in the power cord or the vacuum tube
Vacmaster VJC507P 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
The Vacmaster 5 gallon vacuum is by far the smallest and most compact vacuum that we are going to take a look at today. That being said, this would be ideal for smaller workshops, garages, etc. and is going to be really easy to store in a small place. It comes with a six foot hose and an eight foot cord, with a wrap for the cord. It also comes with a three piece extension wand, and a noise diffuser to muffle the noise of the vacuum. This vacuum also includes a reusable cloth filter and a reusable foam sleeve.
It has onboard storage for all of your attachments, and a blower function to add another cleaning element to your vacuum. This model also comes with a three year warranty
What We Liked
- Compact and easy to store and use
- Includes a six foot hose and a three piece extension wands
- Includes a noise diffuser to keep your vacuum significantly quieter than normal
- Blower function that’s great for clearing debris
- Onboard storage for all of your attachments
- Reusable filter included
What We Didn't Like
- Works pretty well, but not as well as other name brands in the same price range
- Small design makes it great for smaller shops, but not great for larger ones
How to Choose the Best Shop Vac for Dust Collection
First off, what criteria should you be looking for in the best shop vacuum for you?
Cord and Hose Length
The first thing that we recommend looking at is both the power cord and hose length. You want to make sure that you have enough distance to be able to plug in your vacuum and clean the entire garage without a shortage in cord or hose.
Ability to Clean up Dust
Since we are taking a look at the best vacuums for cleaning up dust, you want to make sure that the vacuum you are looking for is equipped with powerful enough suction and the right filtration to get your shop clean. Make sure that your vacuum has enough power to suck up the dust and debris in your shop, and the right nozzles and heads to do so.
Size
How big is your workspace? You want to make sure that you have a big enough vacuum container so that you don’t have to empty out your vacuum multiple times when cleaning your shop. Make sure that you get a big enough vacuum for your shop space.
Conclusion
So in the end, what’s the best value when it comes to the best shop vacuum for dust collection?This was a really close race for us, but in the end we really liked the Workshop Wet Dry Vacuum the best. When it comes to getting the best bang for your buck, this massive, powerful vacuum offers you absolutely everything that you could need in a quality shop vacuum, at a really reasonable price Workshop is a company that you can trust, that brings another quality shop vacuum to the table. Although, the Dustless Technologies vacuum was a close second, you can’t beat the price of the Workshop Wet Dry Vac.