The 8 Best Cordless Shop Vacuums January, 2021 (And 2 Others)
Our list showing the newest cordless shop vacuums includes only shop vacuums that obey to these rules:
- The shop vacuums listed here must be able to handle wet and dry pickup and must be battery-operated and cordless
- The list may include some backpack models
The List:
Many users who gave the M18 high-scoring reviews praised its toolbox style and built-in accessory storage which make for a compact overall design. One user noted that none of its accessories stick out when stored, so they did not need to worry about it getting snagged while being carried. Another one liked how it can use other batteries from their other Milwaukee tools and specifically bought it for that reason.
A common complaint about the M18 was the fact that it lacks a 110V cord to let it connect to a power outlet, which means the only way to use it is to actually buy a separate battery (We encourage you, however, to look at the other good choices on this page, as some of them are hybrid, meaning they also include a standard power cord). Even with a fully-charged battery, users found that it only runs for about 10-11 minutes. However, even those who are critical of the M18 still approved of its overall performance, which is why, when our shopping algorithm crawled over 4577 reviews, it found it to gather an average of 5 stars.
With an overwhelming amount of positive reviews, the M18 scored high enough that our system ranked it as the number one cordless vacuum with a 99 confidence level (More on confidence levels), a good example that sometimes good things can come in a small, toolbox-shaped package (Learn how we rank items).

Milwaukee M18 Cordless

DeWALT DCV581H

RYOBI 18V ONE Plus 3 Gallon Wet Dry Vac


What we like:
- That it comes with a wet dry HEPA filter sounds like a good start
- We kind of like that we can use it with the power cord (goodbye dead batteries), but we are frustrated that the battery does not come with it

DeWALT DC515B 18-Volt

More cordless shop vacuums, sorted by the latest model first:
At only 12.3 inches wide and 13.1 inches tall, the DCV580's compact build makes it small enough to be carried around the shop or at home. Its 5-foot crush-resistant hose can lock on to its side exhaust port, converting it into a blower. The hose can be modified further using the crevice tool and wide nozzle tool attachments included in the bundle, a classic, though.
The vacuum is compatible with DeWALT's 20-volt MAX Lithium-ion battery or the 18-volt XPR batteries, both of which are used to power other DeWALT cordless tools. Several users noted that a fully-charged battery has enough power for about 20-30 minutes of use. This is a bare tool, so both battery options (and their respective chargers) have to be purchased separately or obtained from other DeWALT tool bundles.

DeWALT DCV580 Cordless Shop Vac


