When buying a wet dry vac, you are choosing a versatile cleaning machine for a wider range of applications than a general home vacuum.

Unlike a standard vacuum we use at home which can only pick up dry materials, a wet dry vacuum, some people call it shop vac, has the ability to tackle dry as well as wet messes.
Shop vacs commonly are more sturdier, heavy duty, they generate powerful suction, some can pick up shark items that might damage a standard vacuum, such as a nail. And they feature larger capacity. You can easily find 6,8,10,12,16 gallon shop vac on the market, even vacuums with capacity of over 20 gallons. But a standard dry vacuum usually holds less than 1 gallon.

There are different types of wet dry vacuum cleaners, some are corded, some are cordless; some are handheld, some are upright, some can be wall mounted; some are for home use while some are commercial, industrial shop vacs for plumbers and workers;some are for woodworking,dust collection,and some are good for water removal.
And there are also many brands to choose from. For people who have no personal preference, you can have a look at the products from DeWalt,Stanley,Craftsman,Shop-Vac,Ridgid,Milwaukee,Festool,Vacmaster,etc., these are the top rated brands.

If you don’t have the time to do the research, below are some of the best selling items you can take into consideration. They are relatively good quality vacs on the market.
And of course, you should always know your cleaning needs first to choose the best one that fits your needs.

Craftsman CMXEVBE17595 – a large capacity shop vac for garage, shop and on the jobsite.

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The Craftsman CMXEVBE17595 is a 16 gallon 6.5 peak horse power heavy-duty wet dry vacuum which is designed for garage, shop and on the jobsite, best for home projects and renovations.
It has 2-1/2-in diameter cleaning tools, 7 ft. hose, built-in drain for emptying liquids, built-in blower port, onboard attachments storage, comes with 2 extension wands, 1 utility nozzle, car nozzle, wet nozzle, dust collection bag.
It is rated at 190.8 CFM and 12 amps. For the noise level, it is rated 71.8 decibels with the hose attached.
The retail price usually is less than $100, this is inexpensive when compared to a standard vac.
You can use it for multi surface – gutters,carpet or hard floors such as concrete, tile floors,hardwood,etc.

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If you want a larger job site shop vac that are mainly for large projects, you can also consider the 20 gallon model CMXEVBE17596.

2 DeWalt DXV10P – perfect size vac for most cleaning jobs.

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If you think a 16 or 20 gallon shop vac is too big and too loud, but still want one that can handle both small and serious work,you can consider a smaller one, such as a 10 gallon vac.

The DeWalt DXV10P 10 gallon shop-vac has a 5.5 peak horse power motor, 20 ft. power cord, built-in blower port, built-in drain,built-in storage bag,built-in hose wrap,features aluminum casters, rubber wheels, waterproof power switch. Comes with 1-7/8″x7′ hose, 2 extension wands, 1 cartridge filter, dust bag, floor nozzle, utility nozzle, crevice nozzle.

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3 Vacmaster VF408 – a compact size shop vac with HEPA filter for house use.

image from manufacturer

Not every time you need a large wet dry vacuum, sometimes, a compact one is a better choice to get the small jobs done, such as the Vacmaster VF408.
The VF408 is under $100, if you are looking for an affordable wet dry vacuum, this one is a good choice. It has a 4 gallon tank, can be used with or without a bag, comes with tools for different jobs. If you want a wet dry vac with HEPA filter to prevent spreading dust in the house, then this vac might meet your needs, because it uses a HEPA exhaust filter.

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To learn more, you can download the manual – http://www.vacmaster.com/content/VF408Manual.pdf

4 DEWALT DCV581H – a small size and portable wet dry vacuum

image from manufacturer

If what you need is not only a small one, but also a portable one that you can move it around freely without being limited by the cord, you can consider a cordless, such as the little DEWALT DCV581H or the Milwaukee 0880-20.
The DEWALT DCV581H can be used as a corded with an AC outlet, or a cord free with an 18v or 20v MAX battery.
It has a 5 ft. hose, a crevice tool, wide nozzle tool,HEPA filter, and 31 cfm.
It is a little shop vac, holds only 2 gallons. Its suction is so so. But it is convenient for quick pick ups such as removing drywall dust without dragging out your bulky full size machine.
You can use it to vacuum saw dust, sand dust, car interiors, boat cleaning, floor mats, general home use, etc.
This one can also be used as a blower.

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If you need a smaller vac, there are mini items on the market, such as the DeWalt DCV517 which holds only 0.5 gallons, this mini handheld wet dry vac is convenient for small jobs when it is a pain to drag out the bulky shop vac.

P.S.
If you need one for removing spills, pet urine odor and stains from carpet, then a wet dry vacuum does not fit, what you need is a carpet washer, such as the (#ad) Bissell Big Green or the (#ad) Hoover Carpet Cleaner FH50251.