5 Best 10-Gallon Shop Vac - Buying Guide and Reviews
Contents
A shop vac makes life a lot easier since cleaning up stops being the time-consuming task it was when your grandmother used a broom and a mop to clean up messes that we end up with in everyday life. Shop Vac has taken cleaning up messes to a new level with their strong wet and dry vacuums that can handle just about anything from a broken glass on the floor to a mountain of sawdust in your workshop or a flooded basement. The 10-gallon shop vacs are very versatile tool for such cleanups. Its big storage capacity means it will take up more and makes it effective especially when dealing with liquids like a flooded basement.
The suction of a 10-gallon shop vac is quite impressive, those included in this list range from 3.0 to 6.5 horsepower motors which is quite strong and with the right hose diameter you would be able to suck up just about anything with ease. This guide will ensure you get enough relevant information to make a choice on a 10-gallon shop vac.
5 Best 10 Gallon Shop Vac Comparison
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How to choose a 10-gallon Shop Vac
Like any other shop vac, what you are going to use the shop vac for will be one of the overriding factors in making a choice. While all shop vacs are able to suck up debris, certain features will make them best suited for particular situations so think first about how you will be using the product and what you will use it on more frequently.
Hose
The hose may play a big part in determining how you will be able to use the shop vac. Take into consideration the following:
- The length of the hose will determine the reach you will have, the longer the hose, the farther you can go away from the unit itself.
- The diameter of the hose too is an important factor, the narrower the diameter, the more the suction but at the same time it will mean you will be limited on the size of debris you can suck up without clogging. Narrow hose are best for liquids.
Accessories
The range of accessories you have at your disposal will determine how much you are able to do. The more the accessories, the better. It also helps if you do not have to spend more on buying accessory tools. Some of the accessories you should ensure are available include:
- Gulper tool for sucking liquid
- Extension wands
- Crevice tool
- Squeegee tool
Wheels
10 gallons can prove to be very heavy to carry around so when the tank is full it is best that the shop vac has wheels so that you can just push it to the place you are going to dump the waste.
Filters
Filters are very important especially when dealing with dust. The filters will prevent dust from escaping into the atmosphere and they also protect the motor. HEPA filters are the best filters for fine dust and to keep the quality of the air good but there are also other high-quality filters that can do just about the same thing.
Price
Let’s face it, a 10-gallon shop vac is not what you look for when you want a budget wet and dry vacuum but that does not mean you will have to break the bank to own one. It is best to check out different prices to find one that will fit within your budget. Like with most products, expensive does not guarantee quality so ensure you have quality before you start considering the price. But also remember Shop Vac tries to ensure that their products are affordable and worth every cent and more spent.
Durability
It should be important that you have a product that will last long. Check out the warranty on the 10-gallon shop vac you intend to buy. It should be at least 1 year but if you can get 3, that is even better. Also, read other reviews by people who have owned the product for a while to find out what they say about the durability of the product.
Benefits of a 10-gallon shop vac
- The big capacity gives you more time vacuuming and less time emptying
- They have strong suction which will suck up just about every kind of debris
- Most of them are easy to use
- They are ideal for workshops as well as homes.
Recommended Best 10-Gallon Shop Vac Reviews
Shop-Vac 9256010 Stainless Steel Wet Dry Vacuum
Editor Rating:
For a heavy duty shop vac, this is what you can choose. It has powerful suction which makes it ideal for cleaning up work sites, garages, basements and anywhere that may need strong vacuuming. Its stainless steel body makes it quite durable and it can take mistreatment and still carry on working well. There is a large storage basket for storing all the accessory tools and even more that you may need as you do the vacuuming and the 2 large wheels and 2 small ones make it easy to move it around on different terrain.
Highlighted Features
- 6.5 peak horsepower motor
- 18-foot cord
- Onboard tool storage
- Stainless steel body
- 10 gallon Filter bag and cartridge filter
- Large rear wheels and small swivel-enabled front wheels
- 8-foot hose and 1.25 in diameter
- Versatile accessories including gulper tool, extension wands, dual surface selector nozzle, crevice tool, and round brush.
Pros
- It is made from stainless steel which makes it hard and durable
- The long power cord gives sufficient reach as you vacuum
- The large storage basket enables you to keep every tool in one place
- The filter bag can be upgraded to 14 gallons
- It is easy to move it around because of the combination of large and small wheels
Cons
- The top handle does not fold so storage under a low sink is not easy.
Editor Rating:
This is a shop vac with no particular use, It can be your jerk of all trades as it can do just about anything around the workshop or at home. It comes with all the standard features for a wet and dry vacuum and the manufacturer insists on pointing out that it has a fireproof seal but none of the user reviews seems to mention when you will need to use that since you will not try to vacuum as your house or workshop is burning down. All in all, it is a good 10-gallon shop vac at a reasonable price.
Highlighted Features
- 6.5 peak horsepower motor
- 8 -foot hose with 1.25 diameter
- Rear accessory tool basket
- 4 small wheel with swivel
- Top carry handle
- High-quality cartridge
- Filter
Pros
- It is very easy to use
- It comes with a variety of tools to make the vacuuming easy
- It has a large storage basket at the back to keep everything in one place
- Powerful suction that can handle anything from fine dust to larger debris like nails and nuts
- It drains liquids fast
- Easy to move around using the wheels
Cons
- You need to unplug the electric cord when the bucket needs to be emptied.
Editor Rating:
This shop vac may not be as powerful as the first 2 10-gallon shop vacs but it still has strong suction and it is not as loud as the other 2. Not that you can use it while someone is sleeping, but in comparison to the others, it is more regulated. You can use it for both wet and dry debris but it proves quite good when it comes to fine dust.
It comes with a variety of accessories which makes it effective for cleaning different surfaces its cord may not be so long, but when it comes to storage, that is a good thing.
Highlighted Features
- 3.5 peak horsepower motor
- 7-foot hose with 3 extension wands
- Onboard accessory storage
- Multiple filtration
- Top carry handle
- Small swivel-enabled wheels for mobility
- Regulated noise level
Pros
- Strong suction but lightweight for easy use
- Hard body which makes it more durable
- It has a number of accessories and there is room for storage onboard
- The motor has a regulated sound level compared to other 10-gallon shop vac
- It can be moved around easily as well as stored easily
Cons
- The hose diameter is a bit small so it clogs with large debris
- Power cord is only 6 feet
Editor Rating:
If you have been having a problem with stability of other 10-gallon shop vac, then you will appreciate this one, it is one of the more stable ones since it is designed to be short thus less risk of tipping over. It has powerful suction and would make a good wet and dry vacuum for the home.
It is also quieter than most shop vacs and its cost is well worth the money and more. With a 3 year warranty, you know you are getting a durable product that works great.
Highlighted Features
- 4 peak horsepower motor for strong suction
- Quite operation
- 3-year warranty
- Low center of gravity to prevent tip over
- Can be converted into a blower
- Onboard tool storage
- Top and side handles plus small wheels for easy mobility
- 8-foot hose
Pros
- The unit is stable so it will not tip over when you pull it by the hose
- Durable shop vac with a 3-year warranty
- It is not as loud as many other shop vacs
- It has strong suction able to deal with most household waste and debris
- It comes with onboard storage for the variety of accessory tools
- It can be used as a blower
Cons
- The cord is short so you need to buy an extension cord to have more reach.
Editor Rating:
This 10-gallon shop vac is a heavy duty vacuum able to handle any of your toughest cleaning requirements. Its powerful motor will suck up debris very fast. It is built from stainless steel to add durability to it and the extension wands too are made of steel. You will appreciate the 2 big wheels on the rear which make it much easier to navigate unlike the all swivel kind which are always failing to move in a straight line. But you need to be able to spend more than on any other shop vac on this list.
Highlighted Features
- Strong 6.5 horsepower motor that delivers strong suction
- 10-gallon tank capacity
- 18-foot power cord for wide movement
- 8-foot hose and different accessory tools
- Onboard storage basket for the tools
- 2 large and 2 small wheels
- Top handle, as well as side, handle for pulling or pushing
- Stainless steel tank which increases durability
- Disposable filter bags
Pros
- The unit is easy to move around
- The suction power is of industrial level so big messes are cleaned quickly
- Long power cable and hose make it easy to reach different parts of the cleaning site
- This shop vac can be used for so many different vacuuming needs
- The tank is easy to clean and is durable
Cons
- It is a bit pricier than all other 10-gallon shop vacs on this list.
Final Verdict
10-gallon shop vacs give you more power and larger storage than 6 or 8-gallon ones but you will also need to spend a slightly more to have them. For a person with a big home or a large workshop, they provide a good option for a main vacuum. Some of these on this list a best suited for workshops while others are good for home use. You may want to go with the quieter kind for home use and the neighbors and pets will be grateful. Though you should know that generally, shop vacs are louder than your ordinary vacuum cleaner since they have stronger suction.
