9 Best Shop Vacs for Cleaning a Workshop

Buying a Workshop Vacuum

A DIY workshop doesn’t need to be immaculate, but sawdust and project debris can pose tripping and breathing hazards. While a clean workshop is safer and more enjoyable to work in, who wants to spend hours hunched over a broom and dustpan? And that old-school method is almost useless when cleaning up water or slurry.

Enter the venerable shop vacuum!

Workshop vacuums come in various shapes and sizes, all with the same goal: Keeping your work area debris-free. When choosing a workshop vacuum, consider these factors.

Mobility. If you have a large shop, look for a vacuum on wheels so you can move it around easily. If it’s a small shop, go for a model that’s lightweight and storable so it doesn’t take up valuable floor space when not in use.

Durability. Metal bodies can withstand more of a beating than plastic, but they’re heavier. Crush-resistant, kink-free hoses keep the air flowing. Dust-proof covered power switches prevent grime and dust from clogging the switch.

Storage capacity. The larger the storage drum, the less often you’ll need to clean it out. That will also determine how heavy it gets.

Power. Compare air movement in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Many manufacturers also tout the horsepower (hp) of their motor, but that’s secondary because a well-designed motor can draw more suction with less power.

Wet/dry option. Not all shop vacuums can handle wet material. But it’s a common feature, usually requiring some adjustments to the filter and/or storage drum. If you expect to vacuum wet debris only occasionally, that’s fine. But if you work with wet slurry from tile cutting, look for a unit that’s adept at both.

Compatibility. If you own a table saw, miter saw or other power equipment, you can use a shop vacuum for dust collection. Shop vacuums fill up faster than a true dedicated dust collection system, but they’re far more affordable. Look for a hose size that matches your equipment’s dust port or can accept an adapter.

Noise. Operating volume isn’t a detail all manufacturers include with their product descriptions, so you may need to do a little sleuthing to identify a good fit. Check reviews for comments about noise, remembering lighter-weight models with thinner bodies muffle less noise than more robust units. Look for ratings in decibels (db); normal conversation is around 60 db.

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