DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless/Corded Wet/Dry Vacuum vs Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac
Quick take: The Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac costs $49 less.
Which one to buy
The DeWalt costs $30 more and does far less vacuuming, and that is fine if you only need what it does. The DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless/Corded at $180 is a bare tool with a 2-gallon tank that runs from a DeWalt battery or a wall outlet, built for truck beds, benches and quick passes. The Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP at $150 is a full garage shop vac. Both carry 3-year warranties.
On suction the gap is large. DeWalt lists 31 CFM, and its owners call that weak by shop-vac standards, saying it struggles with pet hair, car interiors and fine drywall dust, and that its washable HEPA filter clogs fast and chokes airflow further. Its 5-foot hose and small tank limit it to spot cleanup. Craftsman owners credit their machine with 190 CFM of measured airflow and a wide 2-1/2 inch hose that resists clogging, plus enough tank for basement floods and demo dust.
The DeWalt wins on convenience. Its owners like running it off a drill battery or a cord with no other change, say it is quiet for its class, and praise onboard storage that keeps the tools attached. The Craftsman's owners report the opposite trade: heavy and awkward when full, a big storage footprint, no automatic filter cleaning, and filters sold mainly through Lowe's.
If you need to clean a garage, a shop or a flooded floor, the Craftsman is the clear buy and the cheaper one. The DeWalt makes sense only as a grab-and-go companion for someone already carrying DeWalt batteries, and budget for a battery and charger if you are not.
DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless/Corded Wet/Dry Vacuum
Worth it if you already own DeWalt batteries and want a small, quiet vac for truck-bed and bench cleanups.
Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac
Suits real garage, shop and wet cleanup; it costs $30 less and moves far more air.
| Spec | DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless/Corded Wet/Dry Vacuum | Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$199 | ~$150 |
| Type | Wet-Dry Shop Vac | Wet-Dry Shop Vac |
| Suction | 31 CFM | 6.5 HP |
| Battery | — | Corded |
| Navigation | — | — |
| Filtration | Gore Wet/Dry HEPA filter, washable and reusable, 99.97% at 1 micron | Cartridge filter plus foam wet filter |
| Cordless | Yes | No |
| Bagged | No | No |
| Noise | — | — |
| Dustbin | 2 gal | 16 gal |
| Water tank | — | — |
| Self-empty dock | No | No |
| Auto mop washing | No | No |
| Hot water washing | No | No |
| Obstacle avoidance | No | No |
| Carpet detection | No | No |
| Auto mop lifting | No | No |
| Multi-floor mapping | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Dimensions | — | — |
| Weight | — | — |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
Pros & cons
DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless/Corded Wet/Dry Vacuum
- ✓Runs on a 20V MAX battery or plugs into the wall — genuine dual-power flexibility
- ✓Gore HEPA filter rated 99.97% at 1 micron, and it's washable
- ✓Small and light enough to keep in a truck cab for quick spills
- ✓3-year limited warranty plus 1 year of free service
- ✓One owner reported 4 years of daily jobsite use with no failures
- ✗Battery and charger sold separately — the real cost is much higher than the tool-only price
- ✗Battery runtime is the top owner complaint; roughly 24 minutes in independent testing on a mid-size battery
- ✗2-gallon tank empties often on anything beyond a quick job
- ✗HEPA filter clogs fast on fine dust like drywall sanding and needs frequent cleaning
- ✗No published weight or dimensions
Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac
- ✓16-gallon tank handles a full garage cleanup without emptying mid-job
- ✓Strong suction and a generous attachment set for the price, per owner comparisons
- ✓Three-way filtration: cartridge, foam wet sleeve, and a removable dust bag
- ✓20.5-foot cord reaches most of a garage without an extension
- ✓Craftsman brand is confirmed actively selling new, not discontinued despite ownership changes
- ✗Only a 3-year warranty — owners repeatedly flag this against Ridgid's lifetime coverage
- ✗Craftsman sells several near-identical 16-gallon SKUs with different bundles; easy to order the wrong one
- ✗No published noise rating, weight, or dimensions
- ✗Long-term ownership reports for this exact SKU are thin online
DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless/Corded Wet/Dry Vacuum vs Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac: common questions
Can the DeWalt cordless vac replace a full-size shop vac?▾
Its owners say no. With 31 CFM listed and a 2-gallon tank, it handles sawdust and small spills but struggles with fine drywall dust and bigger jobs. The Craftsman's 16-gallon tank and higher airflow are built for whole-garage cleanups.
What does the DeWalt really cost?▾
The $180 price is for the bare tool, with no battery or charger. If you do not already own DeWalt 20V MAX packs, the total climbs well past the Craftsman's $150, which plugs in and is ready to go.
Which is easier to store and carry?▾
The DeWalt, by a wide margin. It is small enough for a truck cab and keeps its tools onboard. Craftsman owners say the 16-gallon unit takes real floor space and is heavy and awkward to move once full.