Researched comparisonLast updated September 2026 · How we review
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Quick Answer
The Vacmaster VJH1211PF is the lowest price at $92.75, and Vacmaster’s product page lists a 2 year warranty. The Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 ($129.99) lists 6.0 peak HP and a 3 year limited warranty on the Craftsman product page. The DeWalt DXV12P ($139.00) lists 5.5 peak HP and a 3 year limited warranty on the DeWalt product page. The Shop-Vac 5761311 ($139.99) has a stainless steel tank, lists 6.0 peak HP, is the lightest at 22.9 pounds on its Amazon listing, and its product page lists a limited lifetime home use warranty.
- DeWalt DXV12P: best for buyers who want a 12 gal poly tank with 5.5 peak HP and a 3 year warranty.
- Craftsman CMXEVBE17594: best for buyers who want 6.0 peak HP and the longest cord here (about 20.5 ft), with a 3 year warranty.
- Shop-Vac 5761311: best for buyers who want a stainless steel tank, 6.0 peak HP and the lowest weight here (22.9 lb), with a limited lifetime warranty for home use.
- Vacmaster VJH1211PF: best for budget-minded buyers who want a 12 gal polypropylene tank at the lowest price, with a 2 year warranty.
Prices as of September 30, 2026, 6:27 pm CT.
A good wet/dry vac earns its spot in a garage the first time you clean up spilled coolant, sawdust, or a flooded floor. This comparison puts one 12 gallon corded model each from DeWalt, Craftsman, Shop-Vac, and Vacmaster side by side on price, motor rating, power cord, weight, and warranty, so you can compare like for like.
How We Chose
We picked four well known brands that each sell a 12 gallon corded wet/dry vac on Amazon, so tank size is matched. Peak horsepower is a manufacturer rating and not a reliable measure of suction, so treat the difference between 5.5 and 6.0 with caution. We did not compare suction, noise, or filtration because the listings do not give matching numbers. Specs come from each manufacturer’s product page (DeWalt, Craftsman, Shop-Vac, and Vacmaster, whose page is on its parent company Cleva’s store). No page gave a weight, so weights come from the Amazon listings. Tank materials differ: the DeWalt and Vacmaster listings describe poly and polypropylene drums, and the Shop-Vac uses stainless steel. We left out the Ridgid VAC1200 because it was sold by a third-party seller at $249.99 when we checked. Warranty terms come from the manufacturer’s own website where it names the model or product line, then from the Amazon listing, and we say so where neither gave a length. This is a researched comparison, not a hands-on test, so we make no claims about how well any of these pick up or how long they last beyond what each listing states. All four were available on Amazon at the time we checked. Prices are Amazon prices checked in September 2026 and can change.
The Lineup
Prices as of September 30, 2026, 6:27 pm CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Amazon may show a different seller than the brand or Amazon.com. Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
DeWalt DXV12P 12 Gal. 5.5 HP Poly Wet/Dry Vacuum
$139.00 as of Sep 30, 2026, 6:27 pm CT on Amazon
Best for: buyers who want a 12 gal poly tank with 5.5 peak HP and a 3 year warranty.
DeWalt is a leading professional tool brand. The listing describes a 12 gallon yellow poly drum with a 5.5 peak HP motor and a 20 foot power cord, and it comes with a hose and accessories. The listed weight is 23.2 pounds. The listing did not state a warranty. DeWalt’s product page lists a 3 year limited warranty. It is available on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Craftsman CMXEVBE17594 12 Gallon 6.0 Peak HP Wet Dry Shop Vacuum
$129.99 as of Sep 30, 2026, 6:27 pm CT on Amazon · 3 year warranty
Best for: buyers who want 6.0 peak HP and the longest cord here (about 20.5 ft), with a 3 year warranty.
Craftsman is a well known tool brand. The listing states 6.0 peak HP, a 12 gallon drum, a 20 foot power cord, a rear blower port, and a 2-1/2 inch by 7 foot Dual-Flex hose. It includes two extension wands, utility, car, and wet nozzles, a filter, and a dust bag. The Craftsman product page lists a 3 year limited warranty, and the listing gives a weight of 24.3 pounds. It is the second lowest price here, and is available on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Shop-Vac 5761311 12-Gallon Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum, 6 Peak HP
$139.99 as of Sep 30, 2026, 6:27 pm CT on Amazon · stainless steel tank, lightest
Best for: buyers who want a stainless steel tank, 6.0 peak HP and the lowest weight here (22.9 lb), with a limited lifetime warranty for home use.
Shop-Vac is one of the best known names in wet/dry vacs. The listing describes a stainless steel tank, 6 peak HP, a 100 CFM blower function, a 7 foot hose, a 20 foot cord, a locking hose inlet, and on-board cord and accessory storage. The listed weight is 22.9 pounds, the lowest of the four, and the Shop-Vac product page lists a limited lifetime home use warranty for the original purchaser. It is available on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Vacmaster VJH1211PF 12-Gal 5.5 Peak HP Heavy-Duty Wet/Dry Vac
$92.75 as of Sep 30, 2026, 6:27 pm CT on Amazon · lowest price
Best for: budget-minded buyers who want a 12 gal polypropylene tank at the lowest price, with a 2 year warranty.
Vacmaster is a long running shop vacuum brand. The listing states a 12 gallon polypropylene tank, 5.5 peak HP, a 20 foot power cord, and 27 feet of cleaning reach with the hose and cord. It includes 9 accessories, including a cartridge filter and dust bag, and has on-board storage for the hose, cord, and accessories. The listed weight is 24.1 pounds. The listing did not state a warranty. The Vacmaster product page lists a 2 year limited warranty. It is the cheapest here, and is available on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Our Take
If you want the lowest price from a known brand, the Vacmaster is $92.75, and its product page lists a 2 year warranty. If you want a longer warranty, the DeWalt and Craftsman product pages list 3 years, and the Craftsman is the second cheapest. If you want the lightest unit with a stainless tank and a limited lifetime home use warranty, the Shop-Vac fits. The DeWalt and Shop-Vac are priced at the top of the group, within a dollar of each other.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What size shop vac should I buy for a garage?
A 12 to 16 gallon vac is a common size for a garage. It holds enough for a typical spill or a workshop cleanup and is still easy to move. Larger tanks mean fewer trips to empty but take more storage space.
Does peak horsepower matter?
Peak horsepower is a manufacturer rating that is not a reliable way to compare suction. Airflow and water lift are better measures when a listing gives them. Because the numbers here are not stated the same way, we did not use them to rank the vacs.
Can I use a shop vac for both wet and dry messes?
Yes, these are sold as wet/dry vacs. Before picking up liquid, check the manual for which filter to use, because some dry filters are not meant to get wet.
How often should I change the filter?
It depends on what you pick up. Fine dust such as sawdust or drywall clogs a filter quickly, and a dust bag helps. Clean or replace the filter when suction drops.
