7 Shop Vacs That Also Blow Leaves and Dust, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: A 9 gallon, 5 peak HP shop vac that names its blower function and ships with attachments.

The DXV09PA is a 9 gallon heavy-duty wet-dry vacuum rated at 5 peak HP, sold with attachments and an explicit blower function in the listing. Expect to pay $100 to $200, and it is aimed at contractors and frequent heavy use.

It takes first place because it is the only product here that states the blower function in the name. A named blower mode means the maker designed the exhaust port for it, rather than leaving you to reroute a hose and hope. The 9 gallon tank also copes with sawdust or a flooded basement longer than a 4 gallon unit. Against the DXV04T, you gain capacity and a bigger set of tools, but you give up the lighter, easier-to-carry body.

Buy it if you use a shop vac weekly, or you need to clear a driveway, deck or workshop quickly. It is bulky for stairs, so skip it if you keep your vacuum in a closet.

Tank

9 gallons

Motor

5 peak HP

Blower

Named blower function

Extras

Attachments included

Our verdict: A portable 4 gallon, 5 peak HP corded DEWALT for job sites that need dual-purpose power.

The DXV04T is a portable corded wet-dry vacuum with a 4 gallon tank and a 5 peak HP motor. It is positioned toward job sites needing dual-purpose power, and it sits in the $50 to $100 bracket.

It lands second because it gives you the same motor figure as the 9 gallon model at a smaller size. A 4 gallon tank is easy to carry up a ladder or into a van, and the lower cost makes sense for a tool you toss in a truck. The tradeoff is capacity: wet cleanups and sawdust fill it quickly. The listing does not spell out a blower mode as plainly as the DXV09PA, so confirm the exhaust port before relying on it.

Pick it if you work on small jobs, in cars, or on stairs, and want the DEWALT build. If you need a big wet pickup, step up a size.

Tank

4 gallons

Motor

5 peak HP

Power

Corded, portable

Price tier

$50 to $100

Our verdict: A 6 gallon, 4 HP Stanley with the strongest blower airflow in the budget bracket.

The Stanley SL18116P is a 6 gallon wet-dry vacuum rated at 4 HP, in black. Expect to pay $25 to $50, and it is the pick for buyers who want strong blower airflow without paying DEWALT prices.

It lands third because it offers the best capacity and blower reputation for the money, though the build is lighter than the DEWALTs. Plastic latches, a thinner hose and a basic cord are typical at this price, and you should expect them to wear sooner. The 6 gallon tank is a good size for a garage, where a 4 gallon fills too fast and a 9 gallon is too big.

Buy it if you need a blower for leaves, a patio or a workbench, and you do not want to spend much. For daily professional use, buy the DEWALT.

Tank

6 gallons

Motor

4 HP

Blower

Strong airflow

Price tier

$25 to $50

Our verdict: An 8 gallon Vacmaster with a self-cleaning filter, good for fine dust and a workshop.

The Vacmaster Professional VDK811PW is an 8 gallon wet-dry vacuum with a self-cleaning filter. Expect to pay $50 to $100, and the listing does not give a horsepower figure.

It lands fourth because the filter is the headline. Fine dust clogs a shop vac filter quickly, and a self-cleaning system lets you shake or pulse debris loose without opening the tank. That matters in a woodworking shop, where drywall dust and sanding dust choke pleated cartridges. The listing is thin on motor and blower details, so confirm the exhaust port, and know that Vacmaster is lesser-known than DEWALT or Stanley.

Choose it for a workshop where dust is the problem. Skip it if blower performance is the main thing, because the listing does not promise it.

Tank

8 gallons

Filter

Self-cleaning

Class

Professional line

Price tier

$50 to $100

Our verdict: A 4 gallon, 3 HP stainless shop vac for garages, cars and small apartments.

The Amazon Basics wet-dry vacuum has a 4 gallon stainless steel tank and a 3 HP rating, in grey and black. Expect to pay $50 to $100, and it suits smaller spaces.

It lands fifth because it is a sensible, plain machine with fewer standout features. A stainless tank resists dents and rust better than a plastic drum, which matters if you use it for water or leave it in a damp garage. A 3 HP rating sits below the DEWALT and Stanley, so it will pull less on heavy debris. The listing does not describe a blower mode in detail.

Buy it for car interiors, small garage cleanups and wet spills in an apartment. Look elsewhere for a serious blower.

Tank

4 gallons, stainless

Motor

3 HP

Finish

Grey and black

Price tier

$50 to $100

Our verdict: A 2.5 gallon, 2.5 peak HP Craftsman, the cheapest way to get blower function.

The Craftsman CMXEVBE17250 is a compact 2.5 gallon wet-dry vacuum rated at 2.5 peak HP. Expect to pay $25 to $50, and it is aimed at buyers who want a blower function for less.

It lands sixth because the tank is small and the motor figure is modest. A 2.5 gallon tank is fine for a workbench or a car, and tiring in a garage, where you will empty it after a single dust pass. The small body makes it easy to store on a shelf, which counts for something. Compared with the Stanley, it costs about the same but holds less than half as much.

Buy it for light duty and a cheap blower on a patio or deck. Skip it for flooded floors.

Tank

2.5 gallons

Motor

2.5 peak HP

Brand

Craftsman

Price tier

$25 to $50

Our verdict: A 1.5 gallon, 2 peak HP portable for car interiors and light first-time use.

The Armor All AA155 is a 1.5 gallon portable wet-dry vacuum rated at 2 peak HP, in orange. Expect to pay $25 to $50, and it is aimed at first-time buyers.

It lands last because the tank and motor are the smallest in the group. A 1.5 gallon tank is a car vacuum, not a garage vacuum, and it fills within a few minutes of real cleanup. Its portability and low price make it a fine first shop vac, and a good spare for a vehicle. The listing does not describe blower details.

Buy it for the car and tight spaces. For anything bigger, buy a larger tank.

Tank

1.5 gallons

Motor

2 peak HP

Form

Portable

Price tier

$25 to $50