Updated October 2026
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A shop vac for a garage or basement is a corded wet/dry canister: plastic drum, hose, cartridge or foam filter, and a motor that will pick up sawdust, drywall chunks, and a spilled bucket. Peak horsepower on the carton is a lab motor figure, not how it cleans. Tank gallons are drum volume, not usable fill. We match manufacturer specs to the Amazon listings we link. Prices move, so this page does not print street prices; check current price and seller on Amazon before you buy.
Shop-Vac branded canisters and the Vacmaster 12-gal Beast are not in the buy list. The Ridgid 12-gal NXT is a Home Depot exclusive. We are not sending you to a third-party Amazon listing for it.
Quick verdict
Best overall: Craftsman CMXEVBE18595 — 16-gal tank, 6.5 peak HP, manufacturer 130 CFM, 2-1/2 in Dual-Flex hose, oversized drain. The default garage vac if you want capacity. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Check price on Amazon
Best 12-gal garage can: Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 — 12 gal, 6.0 peak HP, 2-1/2 in × 7 ft Dual-Flex hose, rear blower port, 20 ft cord. Craftsman does not publish a CFM figure for it. Check price on Amazon
Best portable: Vacmaster Beast 5-gal — 5.5 peak HP, 102 CFM, 82 in water lift, 320 air watts, 12 lb. Manufacturer lists $109.99. Check price on Amazon
Best 12-gal on Amazon: Vacmaster Blue Line VBV1210 — 12 gal, 5 peak HP, 106 CFM, detachable 210 MPH blower. This is Blue Line, not Beast. Check price on Amazon
Best budget: Stanley SL18116P — 6 gal, 4 peak HP, 1-1/4 in hose. Check price on Amazon
Home Depot exclusive: Ridgid HD1200 12-gal NXT — 5.0 peak HP, manufacturer 144 CFM, 2-1/2 in locking hose. Confirm the store price. No Amazon link.
Comparison
| Model | Best for | Tank | Peak HP | Notes | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craftsman CMXEVBE18595 | Best overall garage | 16 gal | 6.5 | 130 CFM (mfr); 2-1/2 in Dual-Flex; oversized drain | Check price on Amazon |
| Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 | 12-gal garage | 12 gal | 6.0 | 2-1/2 in Dual-Flex; no CFM published; 20 ft cord | Check price on Amazon |
| Vacmaster Beast VFB511H | Best portable | 5 gal | 5.5 | 102 CFM, 82 in lift, 320 AW; 12 lb | Check price on Amazon |
| Vacmaster Blue Line VBV1210 | Best 12-gal Amazon | 12 gal | 5 | 106 CFM; detachable blower; large drain | Check price on Amazon |
| Stanley SL18116P | Best budget | 6 gal | 4 | 75 CFM (Stanley); 1-1/4 in hose; 10 ft cord | Check price on Amazon |
| Ridgid HD1200 NXT | Home Depot exclusive | 12 gal | 5.0 | 144 CFM (Ridgid); 2-1/2 in locking hose; not an Amazon buy | Home Depot only |
The Vacmaster Professional Beast 12-gal (VJH1211PF) is a real manufacturer SKU with published 143 CFM. We could not match it to the right Amazon listing, so it is not in this buy list.
Craftsman CMXEVBE18595 — best overall
If you want one vac that lives in a garage and does not fill up twice in a demolition afternoon, this is it. Sixteen gallons, 6.5 peak HP, a 2-1/2 in Dual-Flex hose, an oversized drain, and a rear blowing port. Craftsman publishes 130 CFM. Peak HP is a dynamometer motor figure; gallons are drum volume. The Amazon listing is B0B6412553. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Homeowners and remodelers who need a large drum for drywall, sawdust, leaves, and a basement puddle. The 2-1/2 in Dual-Flex hose is the clog-resistant size. An extra-long 1-1/4 in × 11 ft hose is in the box for a car or a tight corner. Qwik Lock filters, onboard storage, and car / utility / wet nozzles, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush come in the kit.
Who it’s not for. Anyone who wants a vac they carry up stairs every weekend. Skip the drain and a wet 16-gal drum is a two-person dump. A workbench or a hatchback is the Beast 5-gal.
Specs that matter. 16-gal drum. 6.5 peak HP. 130 CFM (Craftsman). 2-1/2 in Dual-Flex hose plus 1-1/4 in × 11 ft hose. Oversized drain. Rear blower. Qwik Lock cartridge. 3-year limited warranty. Amazon listing B0B6412553.
Caveats. Confirm the seller at click. 6.5 peak HP is not six horsepower at the hose. Use a wet-rated filter before you suck water. If you can pick up the Ridgid 12-gal NXT at Home Depot and you want locking fittings, that is the other garage-sized option here.
Vacmaster Beast VFB511H — best portable
The small vac with published numbers that mean something. Vacmaster rates the Professional Beast Series VFB511H 0201 at 102 CFM, 82 in of water lift, and 320 air watts, tested to ASTM at the hose end. Five-gallon drum, 5.5 peak HP, 11 amp / 120V, 1-7/8 in × 7 ft hose, 18 ft cord, 12 lb. Manufacturer list is $109.99. Amazon listing B0D2D3CGV8. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Apartment shops, car interiors, a single bench, and anyone who will carry the vac to the mess. 82 in of lift is the sealed-suction number on this list. The high-efficiency cartridge and dust bag are rated to 1 micron. Nine accessories ship in the box, including car, utility, and crevice tools plus a foam wet filter. It converts to a blower. Five-year limited warranty.
Who it’s not for. A demolition day or a shop that fills a drum with planer chips. Five gallons is drum volume; a bag makes usable capacity smaller. The 1-7/8 in hose clogs on chunks a 2-1/2 in hose would swallow. The 12-gal Beast is not in this buy list.
Specs that matter. 5 gal. 5.5 peak HP. 102 CFM / 82 in lift / 320 air watts (ASTM, hose end). 11 A, 120V. 1-7/8 in × 7 ft hose. 18 ft cord. 12 lb. 5-year limited. Amazon listing B0D2D3CGV8.
Caveats. Peak HP is the lab figure Vacmaster footnotes on every page. 102 CFM on a 1-7/8 in hose is not the same airflow as 106 CFM on the Blue Line’s 2-1/2 in hose. Use the foam filter for wet pickup.
For a closer look at the portable pick, read our Vacmaster Beast VFB511H shop vac review.
Vacmaster Blue Line VBV1210 — best 12-gal on Amazon
This is the 12-gal Vacmaster sold on Amazon, not a Beast. Model VBV1210, Blue Line, 5 peak HP, 106 CFM, 60 in water lift, 270 air watts, 10.5 amp motor, 2-1/2 in × 7 ft hose, 15 ft cord, about 20.5 lb. Amazon listing B0023EY052. Check current price and seller on Amazon. The powerhead lifts out as a handheld blower Vacmaster rates at 210 MPH.
Who it’s for. Garage owners who want a mid-size drum, a 2-1/2 in hose, a drain, and a blower they can take to the driveway without dragging the tank. The kit includes extension wands, utility / crevice / car / concentrator nozzles, a blower adapter, an air/noise diffuser, a standard cartridge, and a foam wet filter.
Who it’s not for. Anyone shopping the Beast 5-gal for published lift and a lower price, or anyone who thought this was the 12-gal Beast (143 CFM on the manufacturer page). If the live price feels high for a 12-gal poly can, check the Ridgid NXT at Home Depot before you pay Amazon for Blue Line.
Specs that matter. 12 gal. 5 peak HP. 106 CFM / 60 in lift / 270 air watts (ASTM, hose end). 10.5 A. 2-1/2 in × 7 ft hose. 15 ft cord. Detachable blower, 210 MPH. Large drain. Amazon listing B0023EY052.
Caveats. Amazon resolved a related catalog URL to this same VBV1210 page; use B0023EY052. Standard cartridge, not the Beast’s 1-micron bag setup. Same wet-filter rule as the others.
Stanley SL18116P — best budget
The cheap vac that is still a real wet/dry, on Amazon listing B00IS94BWS. Six-gallon poly tank, 4 peak MAX HP, rear blower port, 10 ft cord with a wrap, swivel casters, accessory holder. Stanley lists 75 CFM on the SL18116P page. The hose is 1-1/4 in × 6 ft — the small-diameter kit, not a 2-1/2 in shop hose. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. A first vac for a small garage, a car kit, or a weekend of dust you do not want in the house vac. Flip-up handle, water-resistant switch, foam filter plus a reusable dry filter and a dust bag in typical kits. Fine for screws, sawdust, and a spilled gallon if you stay ahead of the drum.
Who it’s not for. Anyone who already wants a 2-1/2 in hose or a 12–16 gal drum. 1-1/4 in clogs on chips. Six gallons is a short session on a table saw. The 10 ft cord is the shortest here. If the live Amazon price is close to the Beast’s, buy the Beast.
Specs that matter. 6 gal poly. 4 peak MAX HP. 75 CFM (Stanley). 1-1/4 in × 6 ft hose. 10 ft cord. Rear blower. Casters. Amazon listing B00IS94BWS. Made by Alton under license.
Caveats. Confirm you are on the SL18116P. Stanley’s spec table has listed a 5-gal / 5 ft hose — trust the 6-gal, 6 ft kit in the overview. Swap filters for wet work.
Ridgid HD1200 NXT — Home Depot exclusive, not an Amazon buy
The Ridgid 12-gal 5.0 peak HP NXT (HD1200 / 50313 family) is the 12-gal we would rather you pick up at Home Depot than order from a stranger on Amazon. Ridgid rates it at 144 CFM, 9 amps, 120V, with a 2-1/2 in × 7 ft Tug-A-Long Dual-Flex locking hose and a 15 ft cord. Built-in drain, blower port, polypropylene drum, Qwik Lock filter. The included filter is the VF4000 general-debris cartridge. We did not capture a Home Depot price on this check, so confirm it on the HD page or in the aisle.
Who it’s for. Shoppers already in a Home Depot, or anyone who wants locking 2-1/2 in fittings that do not pop off mid-floor. The NXT kit includes two locking extension wands, an NXT Max floor tool with wet shoe, and an NXT Max car nozzle. Fine-dust (VF5000), HEPA-media (VF6000 / VF8000), wet (VF7000), and Size A bags (VF3502 and kin) are a real parts aisle.
Who it’s not for. Anyone we would send to Amazon. Marketplace listings for this Ridgid exist. They are third-party or unverified, not first-party stock of a Home Depot exclusive. We are not linking those.
Specs that matter. 12 gal. 5.0 peak HP. 144 CFM (Ridgid). 9 A. 2-1/2 in locking Dual-Flex hose, 7 ft. 15 ft cord. VF4000 Qwik Lock. Drain. Blower. Model HD1200.
Caveats. Price not captured here — check Home Depot. Peak HP and gallons get the same footnotes Ridgid prints on the page. 144 CFM is a manufacturer airflow number; we did not run a hose-end test. If HD is out and you need a 12-gal this week, the Amazon option is the Vacmaster Blue Line, not a gray-market Ridgid.
Buying guide
Ignore peak HP. Read CFM, hose size, and lift. Peak horsepower is a motor dyno number. Craftsman, Vacmaster, and Ridgid all say the motor does not run at the peak figure on the carton. Useful comparisons: Craftsman 130 CFM (mfr) on a 2-1/2 in hose, Ridgid 144 CFM (mfr) on a 2-1/2 in locking hose, Vacmaster Blue Line 106 CFM / 60 in lift, Beast 102 CFM / 82 in lift, Stanley 75 CFM on a 1-1/4 in hose. Water lift matters for liquids and long hose runs. CFM matters for moving chips. A 2-1/2 in hose clogs less than 1-7/8 in or 1-1/4 in.
Tank size is reserve, not power. Five gallons is a portable can. Six is the same idea with a yellow lid. Twelve gallons is the garage default. Sixteen is the “I just cut a wall out” drum. All of those gallons are tank volume. Filters and bags eat capacity. A full wet drum is heavy — buy a vac with a drain if you plan to pick up water (Craftsman, Blue Line, Ridgid). For a garage-size middle ground, the Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 12-gallon wet/dry vac covers most shop cleanup without the bulk of a 16-gallon unit.
Wet vs dry filters. Dry cartridge or bag for dust. Foam or a dedicated wet filter for water. A soaked paper filter collapses and can damage the motor. Empty and dry the drum after a wet job. Fine drywall or sander dust wants a bag plus a tight cartridge; the Beast’s 1-micron bag claim and Ridgid’s VF5000 / VF6000 options are the honest fine-dust path here. None of these is a certified HEPA extractor for silica rules.
Blower ports vs detachable blowers. Every vac here can blow. The Blue Line is the one whose motor lifts out as a handheld 210 MPH blower. The others use a rear port and the vac hose. Fine for a deck. Not a backpack blower.
Where to buy. Amazon for Craftsman, both Vacmasters, and Stanley. Home Depot only for the Ridgid NXT. If an Amazon Ridgid or a “12-gal Beast” bundle looks cheap, it is probably the wrong SKU or a third-party box.
FAQ
Which shop vac should I buy in 2026? If you want one Amazon vac for a garage, get the Craftsman 16-gal — 130 CFM (mfr), 2-1/2 in hose, drain. If you want something you can carry, get the Vacmaster Beast 5-gal. If you are already in a Home Depot, look at the Ridgid 12-gal NXT.
What size shop vac do I need? Car and apartment: 5–6 gal (Beast or Stanley). One-car garage and a miter saw: 12 gal (Blue Line or Ridgid). Demo, flood cleanup, or a table saw that makes piles: 16 gal (Craftsman). Size the hose to the debris. Chunks want 2-1/2 in.
Can a shop vac pick up water? Yes, that is the wet half of wet/dry. Use the foam or wet filter, not a dry paper cartridge. Stop when the float shuts the intake. Drain the drum — do not try to dump 12–16 gallons over a utility sink. Unplug it first.
Is peak HP the same as suction? No. Peak HP is a laboratory motor output. Suction at the hose is CFM and water lift. Vacmaster publishes both to ASTM at the hose end (Beast 102 / 82, Blue Line 106 / 60). Ridgid publishes 144 CFM. Craftsman publishes 130 CFM. Stanley publishes 75 CFM. Compare those, not “6.5 HP vs 4 HP.”
Should I buy the Ridgid at Home Depot or a Vacmaster on Amazon? Same 12-gal class, different stores. Ridgid: 144 CFM (mfr), locking 2-1/2 in hose, Qwik Lock filters, HD exclusive — confirm the aisle price. Vacmaster Blue Line: 106 CFM, detachable blower, on Amazon. Do not buy a third-party Amazon Ridgid to “save a trip.”
Do I need a HEPA shop vac? Not for leaves, screws, and shop-floor chips. For fine drywall or sanding dust, add a bag and a fine or HEPA-media filter (Ridgid VF5000 / VF6000, or the Beast’s high-efficiency bag). For OSHA silica on a paid job, this page is the wrong category — you want a certified extractor, not a garage shop vac.
We don’t list live prices; check Amazon for the current price and seller. Manufacturer prices, CFM, water lift and peak HP figures are the manufacturers’ published ratings.