Craftsman 6 Gallon 3.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac
Wet-Dry Shop Vac
~$85

Craftsman

Craftsman 6 Gallon 3.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac

This is Craftsman's entry-size unit — a 6-gallon tank with 3.5 peak HP, the smallest and weakest motor in the brand's current lineup, but plenty for basement cleanup, garage spills, or emptying out a car trunk. Swivel casters and rear wheels give it real mobility despite the small footprint, and it ships with the same Qwik Lock pleated paper filter and attachment set as the rest of the Craftsman line. The honest caveat right up front: the 10.25-foot cord is noticeably shorter than the 20-foot cords on Craftsman's bigger units, so plan your outlet location before you buy. Craftsman's official specs don't mention a rear blower port for this model, unlike the larger 12- and 16-gallon units, so don't expect leaf-blowing duty from this one. Owner discussions specific to this exact SKU are thin online — most of what's out there is generic Craftsman-vs-competitor chatter rather than long-term reports on this size — so treat this as a solid budget pick backed by a 3-year warranty rather than a deeply proven one.

Approx. price
~$85
Suction
3.5 HP
Filtration
Qwik Lock pleated paper filter
Best For
Basement, car trunk, and small garage cleanups on a budget
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Specifications

Qwik Lock pleated paper filter
Type
Wet-Dry Shop Vac
App Control
No
3 years
Model
CMXEVBE17584

Highlights

6-gallon compact tankSwivel casters3-year warranty

Pros

  • Compact and light enough to keep in a car trunk or small closet
  • Swivel casters and rear wheels for real mobility despite the small size
  • Affordable entry point into the Craftsman lineup
  • 3-year limited warranty
  • Pleated paper filter and attachment set included

Cons

  • Smallest, weakest motor in the current Craftsman lineup at 3.5 peak HP
  • 10.25-foot cord is notably shorter than Craftsman's larger units
  • No blower function mentioned in official specs, unlike the bigger models
  • No published noise rating, weight, or dimensions
  • Long-term owner reports for this exact SKU are thin online
Craftsman 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac

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

Ridgid · Wet-Dry Shop Vac

~$79

Ridgid 3 Gallon NXT Portable Wet/Dry Vac

Suction
5 HP
Power
Corded
Filter
VF3500 cartridge filter (VF3700 wet filter sold separately)
Carpet
Hard floor
Pet hair

Best for Workbench and small-job cleanup where a full-size tank is overkill

DeWalt 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac

DeWalt · Wet-Dry Shop Vac

~$75

DeWalt 6 Gallon Poly Wet/Dry Vac

Suction
4 HP
Power
Corded
Filter
Washable and reusable cartridge filter
Carpet
Hard floor
Pet hair

Best for DIYers who want a light, portable jobsite vac

Stanley · Wet-Dry Shop Vac

~$75

Stanley 6 Gallon 4 MAX HP Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum

Suction
4 HP
Power
Corded
Filter
Foam filter
Carpet
Hard floor
Pet hair

Best for Occasional DIY use on a tight budget

Shop-Vac 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac

Shop-Vac · Wet-Dry Shop Vac

~$74

Shop-Vac 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac

Suction
2.5 HP
Power
Corded
Filter
Reusable dry filters plus foam sleeve, washable
Carpet
Hard floor
Pet hair

Best for Budget-conscious buyers who want the original shop vac name

Ridgid · Wet-Dry Shop Vac

~$99

Ridgid 9 Gallon 18V Cordless NXT Wet/Dry Vac

Suction
82 CFM
Runtime
69 min
Filter
VF4000 General Debris Filter
Carpet
Hard floor
Pet hair

Best for Ridgid 18V tool owners who want a cordless shop vac without a new battery system