Photo: Ryobi
Day to day cleaning can be extremely troublesome without the right tools and machinery at your disposal. In the time of need, there is no better friend than the best cordless shop vac that is not just handy but also extremely powerful to effectively draw out the dirt from every nook and corner.
Since these appliances are portable and comes with flexible hose, you can increase their reach. The biggest advantage is that over a standard vacuum cleaner, these are more powerful and can pick up wet as well as dry dirt.
Let’s take a look at some of the best options on the market.
7 Best Cordless Shop Vac – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Ridgid WD0319-VT1708 (Best Overall) |
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 | 2. Craftsman CMCV002B (Best Budget) |
| |
 | 3. DeWalt DCV517B (Best Small) |
| |
 | 4. Milwaukee 0880-20 (Best Portable) |
| |
 | 5. Makita XLC02R1B (Best Wireless) |
| |
 | 6. DeWalt DCV580H (Best from DeWalt) |
| |
 | 7. Ryobi P3240 (Standard Design) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Ridgid WD0319-VT1708 (Best Overall)
|
2. Craftsman CMCV002B (Best Budget)
|
3. DeWalt DCV517B (Best Small)
|
4. Milwaukee 0880-20 (Best Portable)
|
5. Makita XLC02R1B (Best Wireless)
|
6. DeWalt DCV580H (Best from DeWalt)
|
7. Ryobi P3240 (Standard Design)
|
1. Ridgid WD0319-VT1708 – Best Overall
Photo: Ridgid
- Batteries: 18V
- Air Volume: 66 CFM
The reason this is the best overall product is its powerful performance with the maximum suction power of 66 CFM. It is generated through 18V batteries that are extremely capable of releasing the suction for 30-minutes constant with adjustable power.
Unlike many other models, this product has the largest bag capacity of 3-gallons. What we liked the most is the expandable wand that can large from 2 – 7-feet, giving you flexibility of use.
It is a dry/wet vac to be most resourceful and has storage space for all the accessories inside the unit itself. The performance of this model is simply unbeatable and you can use the vac to clean any surface in the house or a car. The only missing thing is a warranty.
Pros:
- Extremely powerful
- Storage space inside the vac
- Give flexibility of use
- Large tank capacity
Cons:
- No warranty
2. Craftsman CMCV002B – Best Budget
Photo: Craftsman
- Batteries: 20V
- Air Volume: 35 CFM
If you are on a budget then go with this amazing product from Craftsman. The price of this model is suitable than its counterparts and yet you get unbeatable performance.
The 20V batteries are exceptional in performance. They trap 99.7% dust and allergens from the surface at the suction speed of 35 CFM. The HEPA filter installed in the vac is washable and reusable.
There is a 7-feet 8-inches long hose that allow you to take the vac to some distance, especially if you are cleaning a car, the hose will enter every nook and corner effectively.
Then there is a 2-gallon tank which is sufficient for one-time cleaning. The shop vac comes with 3-year warranty and there are multiple accessories like crevice tool and HEPA filter. The drawback is that you will have to purchase hose battery and charger separately.
Pros:
- Most economical product
- Suitable for thorough cleaning
- Reusable HEPA filter
- 3-year warranty
Cons:
- Hose battery and charger not included
3. DeWalt DCV517B – Best Small Cordless Shop Vac
Photo: DeWalt
- Batteries: 20V
With the dimensions of 8.44 x 6.38 x 17-inches, this is among the smallest cordless shop vacs you can find online. It comes with high-performance 20V batteries.
The ergonomically constructed body makes sure that your hands don’t feel tired while holding the vac for a long time.
There is HEPA wet/dry filter that traps 99.97% dust at 0.3 microns. The filter is washable and reusable which makes this product more resourceful.
The 1/2-gallon tank will collect all the substantial dirt in one go, limiting your trips to dumpster to the minimum. Then there are dual clean-up modes that you can use through front utility nozzle or an extended heavy-duty rubber hose.
The runtime of this model is great and it comes with 3-year warranty making it one of the most considerable options in the cordless shop vac review. The only thing that might disappoint some buyers is that battery is sold separately.
Pros:
- Small profile
- Washable filters
- Ergonomic body for easy holding
- Comes with 3-year warranty
Cons:
- Battery is not included in the pack
4. Milwaukee 0880-20 – Best Portable
Photo: Milwaukee
- Batteries: 18V
- Air Volume: 45 CFM
The Milwaukee 0880-20 deserves all the praises but especially for its extremely compatible weight for those who like to take the vacs anywhere and everywhere. This is the best portable cordless shop vac with overall weight of 2.2-pounds.
The performance is ensured through 18V batteries that generate suction power of 45 CFM. The overall runtime you get in single charge is of 30-minutes.
Another great thing about this model is the built-in blower port that can be used to clean the garden and yards as well. The highly efficient HEPA filter is washable and reusable.
It has a toolbox design that doesn’t just give great storage space but is very easy to carry. Another great thing is the 5-year warranty of this model. It is quite considerable only that its plastic construction is not too durable. This model can break too soon.
Pros:
- Extremely lightweight
- 5-year warranty
- In-built storage space
- Reusable HEPA filter
Cons:
- Construction could have been better
5. Makita XLC02R1B – Best Wireless
Photo: Makita
- Batteries: 18V
- Air Volume: 46 CFM
This one is different from others on the list and is a completely handheld design with no hose, making it the best wireless shop vac. You can take the entire unit for cleaning the surface with a redesigned floor nozzle for ultimate cleaning.
The performance is ensured through 18V battery and 46 CFM air volume which unapologetically sucks away all the dirt it comes across.
The maximum runtime is 15-minutes and the bagless 2-stage cloth filtration system allows for quick and easy cleaning. The product is pretty lightweight with 2.7-pounds overall weight. Also, it has 3-year warranty from the manufacturer.
About the things that you might not like, this one is not suitable for wet dirt and debris. Plus, the cost of this model is relatively more than the counterparts.
Pros:
- Handheld and wireless design
- High performance
- 2-stage filtration
Cons:
- Costly
- Not suitable for wet waste
6. DeWalt DCV580H – Best DeWalt Shop Vac
Photo: DeWalt
- Batteries: 18/20V
- Air Volume: 31 CFM
DeWalt is one of the leading brands in vacuum cleaners. If you are supremely brand cautious then this is the best DeWalt model for purchase.
It has high performance of 31 CFM generated by 18/20V batteries. There is adjustable battery power. The filter is washable and reusable and will last for a long time before demanding replacement.
The design is ergonomic and there is on-board hose and accessory storage for easy carrying. The hose length is 5-feet which could have been better for extended reach.
Pros:
- High brand value
- Adjustable battery power
- Reusable filter
- Ergonomic design
Cons:
- Hose length could have been better
7. Ryobi P3240 – Standard Shop Vac
Photo: Ryobi
- Batteries: 18V
- Air Volume: 45 CFM
From Ryobi, this is a standard shop vac with 18V battery for great performance. The suction power or air volume of this product is 45 CFM and it is suitable to capture wet and dry dirt.
The product comes with a 6-feet long hose to increase its reach. Also, the design is done in such a way that you get complete storage on board. The overall weight of this model is 10.9-pounds and handy enough to carry places.
To increase its capacity of catching dirt, this model has got a 3-gallons tank. There is an in-built blower as well that can be used to clear the yard and garden area to blow away the leaves and substantial dirt.
This is a great product overall except that you will have to make a separate purchase of battery and charger.
Pros:
- Great performance batteries
- 3-gallons tank capacity
- Wet/dry vac
- Comes with a blower
Cons:
- Battery and charger not included
How to Buy the Best Cordless Shop Vac
Photo: Makita
As we proceed with the cordless shop vac review, we will discuss some of the important tips on purchasing the best option. Every element related to a shop vac makes a difference. Overall, you have to keep each feature and specification of a shop vac in dire consideration if you don’t want to end up with a disappointing model.
1. Battery
The cordless vacuum cleaners are battery powered. This way, there is no hose that can restrict the working of a cordless shop vac.
The best battery-operated shop vac is the one that gives maximum runtime and stable performance. Most of the high-performance machines comes with 18V or 20V batteries.
The 20V batteries have exceptional power, and they give a long runtime of 30 – 45-minutes at stretch. The ones with the batteries also have a cord that is used to recharge these batteries for continual usage. Most of the shop vacs have lithium-ion batteries.
While selecting a shop vac, you need to make sure to keep the battery, its life, time it takes to recharge, and the performance in consideration.
2. Suction Power
Suction of a vacuum cleaner is an important aspect as far as the performance is concerned. It is the capacity of a shop vac to suck the dirt and debris and at a certain power.
Most of the machines have different levels of suction power. This way, you can handle delicate things on lower power while targeting the stains and densely inhibited dirt on higher power.
For different vacuum cleaners, the suction power is measured in different units like watts, amps, and CFM (cubic feet per minute).
In this post, you will find the air volume given in CFM. It represents the power of airflow from surface to the bag. Basically, it is the quantity of air sucked by the vac in 1 minute. As the CFM value of a shop vac increases, its performance increases simultaneously.
The CFM range in various shop vacs will vary from 31 to 96 CFM. Therefore, the simplest mantra to identify the best battery powered shop vac is to check for its CFM.
The Ridgid WD0319-VT1708 shop vac has the best suction power of 66 CFM and it will give you the best performance.
3. Hose
Since hose is the connector of the main unit and its mouth that will be used to remove the particles from a surface, it is an essential part to consider while purchasing.
Since the shop vacs have a smaller profile and transportable bodies, the hose size is also not too massive. Most of the hose that you get with these products will constant. These can be anywhere between 3 – 9-feet in length.
Also, the diameter of the hose is larger than general hoses. That is why, these are able to clear the toys and other relatively bigger elements from the surface as well. It can be 1-1/4-inches and more. You can select the version according to the need.
4. Portability
One of the best things about cordless shop vacs is that the machines are pretty lightweight. Most of these will be under 20-pounds in weight and handy enough that you can take them anywhere for cleaning.
The tank capacity and construction give the heft to the shop vacs. You have to make sure to buy a handy and lightweight product you can be carried to anywhere for cleaning like the Makita XLC02R1B shop vac as the main unit merely weighs 2.7-pounds. It is pretty handy and portable.
5. Warranty
The shop vacs come in routine use. If you are purchasing one, it is not for storage purpose. You will be using the machine every day and relying a lot on it.
In such a case, if the machine decides to go fritz on you, the trouble becomes larger than anything else. It’s not like these machines are too economical that you will readily replace them with another.
Therefore, it is essential to buy a product that comes with a promising warranty. Most of these products come with 3 – 5 years of warranty which will keep your purchase secure for this much time. In this duration if anything goes wrong with the machine, you can get it fixed from the manufacturer.
The Milwaukee 0880-20 shop vac gives you 5-years of prolonged warranty on all the parts of the vacuum cleaner. This is among the safest purchases online.
Conclusion
So, as we conclude the cordless shop vac review, we would like to highlight some unmissable options.
The Ridgid WD0319-VT1708 shop vac, with its high suction power and expandable hose wand stands at the number one position of the best overall. This one has received a lot of appreciation from the buyers.
If you want a powerful alternative that is petite enough to get inside limited spaces then consider the best small cordless shop vac, the DeWalt DCV517B shop vac since it has smaller profile but extremely powerful performance.