DeWalt 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac vs Shop-Vac 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac
Quick take: The Shop-Vac 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac costs $36 less.
Which one to buy
The DeWalt 6 Gallon Poly at $75 and the Shop-Vac 5 Gallon at $74 are both budget wet/dry vacs with washable filters and blower ports, so the gap shows up in suction and warranty. DeWalt publishes 4 peak HP and 80 CFM; Shop-Vac lists 2.5 peak HP, and its owners say testing put its pull force among the weakest in its class and its water lift near the lowest they'd recommend. They describe it as fine for wood chips, light debris, cars and quick spills, but not for heavier material or anything like a flood.
The Shop-Vac's case is warranty and storage. It carries a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser under home use, against DeWalt's 3 years, and its owners like the accessories stored on the back and the blower trick. They also say the accessory holders feel flimsy and the wrapped cord can catch the tank latch. One conflict to check: retailers describe easy-roll casters, while its owners describe it as carry-only with no wheels.
DeWalt owners call its suction respectable for everyday workshop and wet jobs, while saying it is not the most powerful shop vac and that its poly tank lacks the toughness of DeWalt's steel models. Their main warning is to never run it without the filter seated.
For anything beyond car interiors and small spills, buy the DeWalt; it has more tank, more stated airflow and casters you can count on. Pick the Shop-Vac if your jobs really are small and a lifetime home-use warranty matters more to you than pull.
DeWalt 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac
Made for general garage and wet cleanup; it offers stronger stated suction and a larger tank for $1 more.
Shop-Vac 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac
The better pick for cars and small spills if its lifetime home-use warranty matters more than suction.
| Spec | DeWalt 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac | Shop-Vac 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$110 | ~$74 |
| Type | Wet-Dry Shop Vac | Wet-Dry Shop Vac |
| Suction | 4 HP | 2.5 HP |
| Battery | Corded | Corded |
| Navigation | — | — |
| Filtration | Washable and reusable cartridge filter | Reusable dry filters plus foam sleeve, washable |
| Cordless | No | No |
| Bagged | No | No |
| Noise | — | — |
| Dustbin | 6 gal | 5 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 | 19.5 x 15.5 x 16.5 in | — |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs | — |
| Warranty | 3 years | Lifetime |
Pros & cons
DeWalt 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac
- ✓Under 15 lbs — easy to lift into a truck bed or up a step
- ✓Washable, reusable cartridge filter instead of disposable ones
- ✓Built-in blower port doubles as a basic blower
- ✓3-year limited warranty plus 1 year of free service
- ✓Rubberized casters roll easily on concrete and gravel
- ✓Widely stocked at Home Depot, so replacement filters and hoses are easy to find
- ✗No published noise rating
- ✗Some owners question whether the 4 HP figure reflects real running power
- ✗6 gallons fills up fast on bigger cleanup jobs
- ✗Running it without the filter seated will damage the motor — an easy mistake to make
Shop-Vac 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac
- ✓Recognizable original Shop-Vac brand, actively manufactured new under current ownership
- ✓Lifetime warranty for the original purchaser under home use
- ✓Both filters (dry cartridge and foam sleeve) are washable and reusable, not disposable
- ✓Rear blower port and easy-roll casters included
- ✓Competitively priced against Craftsman and Stanley at the same capacity
- ✗Manufacturer spec page and the Amazon listing disagree on peak HP (2.5 vs 3.0) — don't read too much into either figure
- ✗Essentially no accumulated review history yet on this specific SKU
- ✗No published noise rating, weight, or dimensions
- ✗5-gallon tank fills quickly on anything beyond a small job
DeWalt 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac vs Shop-Vac 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac: common questions
Which has stronger suction, the DeWalt or the Shop-Vac?▾
The DeWalt, on paper and by owner reports. It lists 4 peak HP and 80 CFM against the Shop-Vac's 2.5 peak HP, and Shop-Vac owners say testing found its pull force among the weakest in its size class.
Does the Shop-Vac 5 Gallon have wheels?▾
Retailers describe easy-roll casters, but its owners describe a carry-only unit with no wheels. Check the box or the retailer's photos before buying if rolling matters. The DeWalt has rubberized swivel casters.
Is the Shop-Vac's lifetime warranty a reason to buy it?▾
It is its strongest point. The lifetime warranty covers the original purchaser under home use, while the DeWalt has a 3-year limited warranty plus 1 year of free service. Weigh that against the Shop-Vac's lighter suction.