NOTE: We may earn money from links on this page, but we only recommend products we know will make your life easier.
While shop vacs can provide incredible cleaning performance, they're often restricted to areas with outlets.
That isn't always ideal.
Luckily, there are some powerful cordless shop vacs that can deliver the same kind of performance but with more flexibility.
Read our review of the best cordless shop vacs on the market.
DEWALT fans will love the powerful DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Wet-Dry Shop Vacuum for its great performance and durability.
Weight: 8 pounds
Rating: 4.5/5
Dimensions: 17.25 x 12.31 x 13.12 inches
Pros:
Cons:
The DEWALT shop vac offers great performance for a small machine. It's capable of holding up to 2 gallons of debris and waste. You can even store water inside of the drum. That makes it ideal for unclogging toilets or picking up other waste. It has a CFM rating of 31 which is great for a small vacuum.
One of its greatest features is its HEPA filter. Besides being able to trap dust and dirt within the filter easily, it can also be taken out and washed. This allows you to use the filter several times before needing to replace it.
The vacuum works off of a 20-volt battery. You need to buy the battery and charger separately.
DEWALT also put some effort into ensuring their hose was made of high-quality materials. It's designed to be not crushable and resistant to kinks. This makes operating the hose efficient and easy. The rest of the vacuum is durable as well. Handling is easy and you don't have to worry about it easily becoming damaged.
Several users of this vacuum find that it's simple to use and performs well for its size. The hose locks tight and feels good. It's easy to carry around the house. Some voiced confusion over the placement of the exhaust vent since it blows air where you're attempting to suck.
The MOOSOO 4 in 1 Portable Shop Vacuum For Car Detailing uses a 2-stage motor for longer-lasting motor life and quieter cleaning.
Weight: 6.61 pounds
Rating: 4.5/5
Dimensions: 15 x 12.8 x 11 inches
Pros:
Cons:
The MOOSOO shop vac offers everything you need in a corded shop vac. It can function as a vacuum, blower, and for lifting water. It also comes with two different speeds. This allows you to maximize the runtime on the battery. Its higher-powered setting gives stronger suction but typically only runs for about 18 minutes. The low-powered setting can still clean up messes quite well and also gives the vacuum a runtime of 30 minutes.
Considering that this vacuum is smaller, you're likely only going to be using it for smaller jobs. Because of that, the 30-minute lifespan of the battery is adequate for most needs. When the battery runs out of juice, you can plug it into the charge port to be charged back up.
This vacuum also uses a HEPA filter. It traps dirt and dust within the filter instead of letting them escape back out into the air. You can also remove the filter and wash it. This extends the filter's life and keeps you from having to buy them frequently.
The MOOSOO vacuum also has slightly larger storage than other cordless vacuums. It has a 2.65-gallon drum which allows you to carry even more inside of it.
Finally, it operates using a brushless motor. This type of motor makes running the vacuum quieter. It also makes the motor more efficient and prolongs its life.
Beginner woodworkers and homeowners find that this vacuum is ideal for tackling small cleaning jobs or cleaning smaller homes. It works well in picking up dirt, dust, and pet hair from both bare floors and carpet. A few didn't like that they had to remove the battery in order to charge it.
The larger capacity of the Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ 6 Gallon Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum makes it a great choice for larger clean-ups.
Weight: 20 pounds
Rating: 4.5/5
Dimensions: 23.2 x 17.2 x 14.1 inches
Pros:
Cons:
This Ryobi vacuum is an ideal choice for big clean-ups. The 6-gallon tank can hold a lot of dirt and dust. You can easily clean a few rooms before needing to empty it. Because it works as a shop vac, you can also lift that much water. This vacuum is also stronger than some of the other models. It has a CFM rating of 80. It can deliver strong suction and cleaning performance.
One of the unique features of this vacuum is its no-tip wheels. It's designed in such a way that it can run over cords, or other uneven terrains, without tipping over. They're also designed for 360-degree mobility. The vacuum easily moves with you no matter what direction you're pulling it in. Although a little heavier than some of the other cordless vacuums, the wheels make it easy to move around.
It comes with several different cleaning tools and attachments. They can be easily stored within the accessory compartment on the vacuum.
Reviewers found that this was one of the most powerful battery-powered shop vacs they've ever used. They enjoy using it on their cars or to clean out their garages. It's easy to use and the battery lasts for some time. They found that it runs just as well as some of the corded shop vacs but at a cheaper price.
The Stanley Wet/Dry 6 Gallon Shop Vac, Black delivers strong suction and powerful performance.
Weight: 13.4 pounds
Rating: 4.5/5
Dimensions: 13.8 x 13.8 x 20.47 inches
Pros:
Cons:
This STANLEY vacuum classifies as a corded vacuum, but its extremely long power cord and extension wands make it practically cordless. You're able to reach almost every aspect of your room, garage, or car with this vacuum. Because it offers flexibility with strong performance, you'll be able to clean thoroughly without any problems.
Part of its appeal is its large 6-gallon drum. This makes it an ideal choice for homeowners that have a lot of dirt to pick up. You can also use it to blow leaves out of the garage or sawdust out of the workshop. It can even lift water and remove it from an area.
Its great performance is due to its 4-Peak horsepower. This offers a strong suction of 75 CFM. That makes it ideal for picking up small to medium-sized messes.
It also has different cleaning tools that can help you clean practically everything. It has a floor brush for your carpets and bare floors, an upholstery tool for your car seats and furniture, and several other tools for both indoor and outdoor cleaning.
Many use this vacuum in place of other vacuums. The performance outshines them. A few found that it works well for car detailing. Others love using it in their home or to remove sawdust from their workshops. A few had problems with the clips latching down on the bags.
The CRAFTSMAN 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum is the perfect choice for heavy-duty use.
Weight: 26 pounds
Rating: 5/5
Dimensions: 21.03 x 23.8 x 26.7 inches
Pros:
Cons:
If you want power, then you need this CRAFTSMAN shop vac. Its 6.5-Peak horsepower motor is capable of producing 177 CFM. That's incredibly strong suction. That makes it able to tackle your toughest jobs. It's also able to be used for dry vacuuming, lifting water, and blowing debris out of the area. Thanks to its strong suction, you can expect powerful performance no matter how you're using it.
It also has sizable storage with its 16-gallon drum. When you need to clean a job site, garage, or dusty room, this vacuum has storage for you.
Another ideal feature of this vacuum is its large drain. When you lift water, you don't want to have to wait a long time for it to drain from your vacuum. The large drain on this vacuum ensures it's able to safely release water a lot faster.
You can also expect high-quality cleaning tools and attachments with this vacuum. They can be stored on the vacuum for easy clean-up.
Several reviewers love the strong performance that this vacuum provides. It was able to tackle some of the hard jobs they had for it. A few had problems with the filter clogging.
A cordless shop vacuum is a great choice for those who need a lot of maneuverability. Whether you're detailing cars, cleaning up your workshop, or getting into tight areas, sometimes a corded shop vac won't do.
When you need to go to areas away from outlets like in a tent or on a sailboat, a cordless shop vacuum can deliver the same kind of cleaning performance without the hassle of outlets.
If you want durability, strong performance, and long-lasting motors, then you need to consider the high-quality cordless shop vacs made from CRAFTSMAN.
