Craftsman Vacuums
Craftsman has 2 vacuums on The Vacuum List, all wet-dry shop vacs, priced from ~$85 to ~$150. The flagship of the lineup is the Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac. Compare the full lineup below.
Sears registered the Craftsman name in 1927 and sold the brand to Stanley Black & Decker in 2017, which is why Craftsman wet/dry vacs now share a parent with DeWalt. The two here are both corded poly-tank shop vacs at opposite ends of the size range, and both carry a 3-year limited warranty.
The 6-gallon CMXEVBE17584 ($85) is the grab-and-go unit: 3.5 peak HP, a 1-7/8 inch by 7-foot hose, a Qwik Lock pleated paper filter, swivel casters and a 123-inch cord, about 10 feet. The 16-gallon CMXEVBE17595 ($150) steps up to 6.5 peak HP, a wider 2-1/2 inch hose, a cartridge filter plus a foam sleeve for wet pickup, an oversized drain, a rear blower port and a 246-inch cord, about 20.5 feet. Peak HP is a startup figure, so the hose diameter and tank size say more about how the two differ in use.
Owners of the 16-gallon model credit its airflow and wide hose with clearing wood chips and demo debris without clogging, and say it doubles as a real tool for basement water. The same owners describe it as heavy and awkward once full, bulky to store, and in need of regular filter shaking on dusty jobs because nothing cleans the filter for you. If storage space is tight or the vac has to go up and down stairs, the 6-gallon is the more practical of the two, at the cost of a short cord.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, craftsman.com, craftsman.com
Craftsman · Wet-Dry Shop Vac
~$150
Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac
- Suction
- 6.5 HP
- Power
- Corded
- Filter
- Cartridge filter plus foam wet filter
- Carpet
- Hard floor
- Pet hair
Best for Whole-garage cleanups and wet/dry jobs needing real tank capacity
Check price →
Craftsman · Wet-Dry Shop Vac
~$85
Craftsman 6 Gallon 3.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac
- Suction
- 3.5 HP
- Power
- Corded
- Filter
- Qwik Lock pleated paper filter
- Carpet
- Hard floor
- Pet hair
Best for Basement, car trunk, and small garage cleanups on a budget
Check price →Craftsman vacuums: common questions
Who makes Craftsman shop vacs now?▾
The Craftsman brand has belonged to Stanley Black & Decker since it bought the name from Sears Holdings in March 2017. The wet/dry vacs listed here are sold under that ownership with a 3-year limited warranty.
Does the 6-gallon Craftsman CMXEVBE17584 have a blower port?▾
Craftsman's product page for the CMXEVBE17584 does not list a blower port, while the 16-gallon CMXEVBE17595 page does. If you want to blow leaves or clear a deck with the exhaust, the larger unit is the one to choose.
How long is the cord on Craftsman's wet/dry vacs?▾
Craftsman lists 123 inches, about 10 feet, for the 6-gallon CMXEVBE17584 and 246 inches, about 20.5 feet, for the 16-gallon CMXEVBE17595. The short cord on the small unit often means an extension cord in a larger garage.