Best Shop Vac For Dust Collection (Reviews Complete Guide)

When looking for a high-quality vacuum, you will probably want something that can handle a wide variety of messes. For that reason, shop vacuums are ideal because they can pick up almost anything and keep on working. Whether you need one to clean up after working in the garage, or you want a quick and easy way to keep all of your surfaces clean, the best shop vacs for dust collection are going to make your life so much better. If you’ve never thought about getting a shop vacuum before, now is the perfect time to upgrade.

Top 5 Best Shop Vac For Dust Collection Reviews

Shop-Vac 5989300 5 Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Wet Dry Vacuum

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As far as brands are concerned, this company is synonymous with these kinds of machines, so you know that you’re getting a quality cleaner. In this case, this model is designed for all sorts of cleaning, but it works well for both liquid spills and dust collection. Let’s see what it can do for you.

First of all, the powerful 4.5-horsepower motor allows you to work uninterrupted. Also, it has a five-gallon tank, so you can go longer without having to empty it as well.

Even though this is a wet/dry shop vac, it still uses bags to ensure that all dust and allergens are trapped effectively. To ensure that you get the best cleaning power, this Shop Vac For Dust Collection vacuum comes with a foam filter for wet messes and a dry filter for dirt and dust.

Other features that we appreciate about this vacuum include a collection of six different attachments. Which are casters on the bottom that allow you to roll the machine to any room.  

Also a floor cleaning head that works on all hard surfaces. Although we would prefer for this Shop Vac For Dust Collection to work on carpets as well, it’s still a fantastic machine. Also, you get a comprehensive three-year warranty.

PROS

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    Durable stainless steel design
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    Five-gallon capacity
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    Wet/dry capable
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    Onboard storage for tools
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    Six attachments included
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    Rear blower port for convenience
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    Quick-release lid for emptying
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    Foam sleeve filter for wet messes

CONS

  • The hose can clog easily
  • Not designed for carpeted floors
Craftsman XSP 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Blower

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This vacuum is designed for those who want to tackle the biggest and toughest jobs, from construction to carpentry. So if you are a DIY enthusiast or you like to work in the garage, then you will probably love this Shop Vac Dust Collection unit.

When compared to other models, you can see the difference right away. First, this model has a massive 6.5-horsepower motor. This allows you to pick up all kinds of messes, from dust to liquids to more substantial pieces like drywall, wood parts, and even junk metal.

As long as it fits through the hose, it can be collected. That being said, pay attention to the dust filter as it can clog quickly when you’re picking up piles of dirt (i.e., sawdust). Nonetheless, with a 16-gallon capacity, you won’t have to empty the canister very often. The other great thing about this vacuum is that it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

So, if you ever do have problems with this Shop Vac Dust Collection unit, call Craftsman and see how you can get it fixed. This warranty is a testament to the quality that you’re getting, so feel free to vacuum with (relative) impunity.

PROS

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    Durable construction
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    Wet/dry capability
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    Blower function
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    Five attachments included
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    High-quality dust filter provided
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    Cleans all kinds of materials
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    Drain valve for quick emptying
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    Seven-foot hose

CONS

  • In rare cases, the unit may overheat and shut off unexpectedly
  • Sometimes the filter may clog

3. Vacmaster 8 Gallon HEPA Vac with 2 Stage Motor - shop vacuum dust collection system

Vacmaster 8 Gallon HEPA Vac with 2 Stage Motor

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So far, we’ve been looking at models that work well for both dust collection as well as standard cleaning. However, if you want a Shop Vacuum Dust Collection System unit from Vacmaster is a serious contender. With a state-of-the-art filtration system and a robust two-stage motor, you can kiss any and all dust goodbye without every worrying about the vacuum blowing it back into your face.  

Overall, this machine is designed to pick up tiny particles. If you’re worried about allergens or other minuscule items in your air, then this is the vacuum to buy. It has a three-stage filtration system that is HEPA certified, so you get the best performance out of anything else we’ve seen so far.

Other features of this Shop Vacuum Dust Collection System that we appreciate are the floor cleaner attachment, the extra long 10-foot hose, and the eight-gallon capacity that allows you to clean longer without having to empty the canister. Also, this model comes with a one-year limited warranty.

PROS

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    Durable polypropylene construction
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    Powerful two-stage motor
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    HEPA filtration system
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    Fine-dust collection bag
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    Extra long 30-foot power cord
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    Eight attachments provided

CONS

  • Not designed for wet spills
  • Suction is not suited for larger materials and pieces
WORKSHOP Wet Dry Vac WS1400CA High Power Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner

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As far as Shop Vacuum Dust Collection units goes, it's usually better to get a machine that is built for that specific purpose. However, this wet/dry vacuum from Workshop is made to not only collect fine dust particles from the air but more significant pieces as well as liquids with ease. When compared to other wet/dry units on this list, we like what this model has to offer. 

First off, the motor on this vacuum is incredible. It provides six horsepower so that you get maximum suction, and it ensures that you don’t have to worry about dirt or liquid spills ever again. With a 14-gallon capacity, it also enables you to work longer before you have to empty the container. One exciting feature of this particular vacuum is the onboard storage.

There is a handlebar at the top with a bag that holds all of your accessories, keeping them within arm’s reach. This Shop Vacuum Dust Collection unit also comes with two large back wheels so that you can pull it up and down stairs much more easily. Finally, this model has a remarkable five-year limited warranty, so you know it’s excellent.

PROS

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    Durable construction
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    Powerful six-horsepower motor
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    Wet/dry capable
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    Seven-foot dual flex hose
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    Accessory and hose storage
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    Six attachments provided
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    High-quality filtration system

CONS

  • New filters can be expensive
  • Storage caddy can get in the way when moving the vacuum

5. Dustless HEPA Wet Dry Vacuum - best hepa shop vac

Dustless HEPA Wet Dry Vacuum

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Our final vacuum is the ultimate machine for shop vac dust collection. In fact, it’s primary purpose is to keep harmful particles out of the air, which means that it does it better than most. The HEPA Shop Vac from Dustless Technologies is by far one of the best shop vacs for dust collection, and here’s why. 

First of all, this machine is certified by OSHA to be safe for hazardous materials, such as asbestos and silica. This is because of the way that it traps these items inside its high-quality filtration system. Obviously, we recommend wearing the proper safety gear, if you are dealing with such hazardous materials, but it’s nice to know that this vacuum is built specifically to handle them. Overall, even though this machine can also work on liquid messes, it’s still the best for dust collection. 

PROS

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    Durable construction
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    16-gallon capacity
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    Wet/dry capable
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    Four attachments provided
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    Safe for hazardous materials
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    Drain valve for easy emptying
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    Quiet operation (79 dB)
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    12-foot hose

CONS

  • Heavier than most other vacuums
  • In rare cases, the hose may disconnect on its own while cleaning

When it comes to shop vac dust collection, we have to say that our top pick is either the HEPA Vacuum from Dustless Technologies or the Vacm​​aster. Both of these units are designed specifically to trap dust and other allergens, making them a fantastic choice for that reason.

However, if you want something more versatile, then we highly suggest that you buy the Workshop Wet/D​​ry Vacuum instead. Not only is it great for shop vac dust collection, but it works well for all other kinds of cleaning, too.

How to Choose the Best Shop Vac for Dust Collection

Motor

Depending on the kind of spills you clean up on a regular basis, you want to find a vacuum that has the suction and the power to handle them all. Shop vac motors are rated by horsepower, so look for one that has sufficient horses to take care of all of your cleaning needs. For smaller jobs, two to three HP is decent, but you may want four or five if you have to deal with larger messes regularly. The one thing to remember, however, is that a more powerful motor will make the machine louder, so be aware of that.

Wet/Dry Capabilities

One of the best things about shop vacuums is that they are usually designed to handle both liquids and dirt. Again, our primary focus right now is dust collection, but you should also be able to pick up spills when they happen. Pay attention to if your shop vac has this capability, as not all units do.

When comparing wet/dry shop vacuums, also look at the kind of filters that they use. For dust collection, it’s imperative that they come with a HEPA-style filtration system so that the particles don’t wind up back out into the air. Many vacuums with wet and dry features also have a separate filter for liquids so that you aren’t using the same components for both kinds of messes.

Bag vs. Bagless For Shop Vac Dust Collection

Another standard feature of shop vac dust collection is that they don’t use bags to collect dirt and dust. Usually, models that have a wet/dry capability are like this since bags will be hard to manage when you’re picking up water and other liquids. 

There are pros and cons to both types of vacuums, so it’s imperative that you weigh those before you make a final decision. If dust collection is your only concern, however, then we highly recommend a bagged model because that will ensure that all of the dust stays trapped inside. Emptying a bagless vacuum can be a hassle because everything will spill out at once.

dustless shop vac

The downside to having bags, however, is that it’s another expense that you have to manage. Also, if you run out of bags, you have to get more before you can start cleaning, which can be a hassle sometimes. Nonetheless, when it comes to trapping dust and other allergens, bags are usually better. A dustless bag for the shop vac is one of the options for consideration when choosing the right one for your needs. 

Portability and Agility 

As you will notice, many of the best shop vac for dust collection come with a cleaning hose. Unlike upright units, you have to capture the mess with the hose, rather than pushing the whole machine around the floor. While this does make the process much easier when cleaning multiple surfaces, there are some things you want to keep in mind.

First, pay attention to the length of the hose. If it’s too long, then you will lose suction since it has to travel farther. On the other hand, a hose that's too short will limit your cleaning range. Typically speaking, if your hose is over six feet, you want a more powerful motor to compensate for the distance.

Second, see if the vacuum has wheels. This will make it easier to move from place to place, and it will allow you to clean uninterrupted. However, if you want to bring the whole unit onto a table or countertop, then wheels can be a liability (if they can’t lock in place).

Finally, pay attention to the length of the power cord. Like the hose, this will provide you with enough agility so that you can reach wherever you like. Sure, you can fix this with a decent extension cord, but that's an extra step that you don't want to have to worry about.

That concludes the reviews on the best shop vac for dust collection hope it given you a better insight, and help in your buying choices. 

About the Author David Perez

I have a passion for clean floors and living areas, so it is no surprise that I know a lot about vacuum cleaners and how to clean different surfaces. Sharing this knowledge gives me a lot of pleasure which is why I started this blog and I hope everyone who needs help will find the help they are looking for here.

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