The Best Portable Shop Vacuum

When it comes to needing to get some heavy-duty cleaning done, nothing beats the convenience and versatility a shop vacuum brings. If you read our top 10 best shop vacuums guide, we saw some very high-quality models at affordable prices. But what about portable shop vacs in particular? Today took the time to review some of the best portable models in the market to help your traveling and on-the-go needs, covering different price points to give you some options as well. The benefits of a portable shop vac are endless, and the intended use of your model will determine how big or small you’ll have to go. We found some of the best models in each price point as well as gallon capacity to give you some options.

The best portable shop vacuum

Armor All AA255

If you are looking for one the best portable shop vacuums that will give you some reliability and efficiency, then the Armor All AA255 is just the right choice. With a 2.5 gallon bucket and the possibility for both dry and wet cleaning, this is a versatile and capable vacuum that isn’t necessarily the biggest and baddest, but also quite budget-friendly if you wanted to save some money. Aside from the solid build with a convenient handle on top to help with carrying, it comes with several different hose attachments so that you can precisely clean all the nooks and crannies (especially in your car). The Armor All AA255 can be converted into a blower and also comes with an automatic shut down feature, so you don’t have to worry about the overflow. A built-in diffuser of noise and air ensures quiet and highly efficient functioning. It also made it in our best shop vacuum under $100 article.

Vacmaster VBV1210

Here’s another one of the best portable shop vacs for household needs. The Vacmaster VBV1210 is versatile and affordable, and its numerous attachments and long hose (7 feet) and cord (12 feet) will enable easy and convenient usage – definitely one of the best portable shop vacuum models to choose from if you have the cash. It comes with a diffuser of air and noise for efficient and quiet function as well as additional utility and a blower nozzle. The blower comes with 210 mph speed, which will enable top blowing function (quite convenient if you foresee yourself needing this). With its max 5 HP engine, you can count on having all the power you need for precise and full vacuuming. The Vacmaster VBV1210 enables both wet and dry vacuuming and is a little bigger than others in this guide, but it is still definitely portable for those on-the-go.

Shop-Vac 2030100

Shop-Vac’s 2030100 is often stated by many to be the best portable shop vacuum for your home if you are looking for a an efficient and well-built vacuum that comes with both wet and dry function. Its 1.5 gallon bucket will carry around a decent amount of water to perfectly clean the entire home or office. It is super lightweight, which will help you to conveniently carry it around the home and easily store it in a restricted space (thanks to the added wall mount bracket). With several different vacuuming hose attachments, you can easily and conveniently clean all the difficult spaces and angles to make your home or office clean. The Shop-Vac 2030100 is probably one of the best portable shop vac models for smaller homes where there are restricted storage areas.

RIDGID VAC1200

If you are looking for a larger (12 gallon vacuuming unit) and capable vacuum cleaner, then the RIDGID VAC1200 is the best portable shop vacuum you can take into consideration. It has a spacious volume unit that can provide up to 5 HP, and thanks to its rugged design and durable materials, it can conveniently serve you in your home, office or garage. It is the best portable shop vac model for a variety of usages, both home and professional. The wheels of this capable vacuum turn all the way around to help with lugging the unit around to reduce fatigue and help with your work flow. The fact that it comes with both wet and dry vacuuming options means you can use it in several different ways and at different demanding locations (shops, work sites, restaurants, homes, etc.). It isn’t too expensive either, usually finding its way in the middle price-point as compared to other portable shop vacuums.

Vacmaster VF408

Last but not listed here for any particular reason, the Vacmaster VF408 is a solid portable shop vacuum stated by many to be reliable and quite powerful. Thanks to its wet and dry vacuuming function and voluminous 4 gallon vacuuming unit, it gives you some more space than others. It’s relatively high 5 HP engine provides a lot of the suction power you need to precisely clean your area, and several different attachments for the hose enable you to reach some spots you may not be able to grab normally. It also has some convenient wheels attached as well as a handle to help move it around if your intended application will entail some mobility. If this is not enough to persuade you that this is one of the best portable shop vac models, let’s also mention the fact that it comes with a long hose (7 feet) and cord (18 feet) so that you will have all the maneuverability you need for extensive and thorough cleaning wherever you’ll find yourself.