DeWalt Portable Wet Vacs: Handheld, 2-Gallon or 6-Gallon?

Best for
Car interiors and quick wet spills

Best for
Jobsites needing corded or cordless flexibility

Best for
Cordless garage cleanups with a big tank

The DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Wet Dry Shop Vac 6 Gallon (DXCVXA06B) is the biggest cordless option in this guide. Its 6-gallon tank is meant for small to medium jobs like sawdust, car interiors and household spills, and it runs on the DeWalt 20V MAX battery system with no outlet needed. A built-in blower mode clears leaves and debris from driveways and patios.

It rolls on four wheels, has a carry handle and onboard accessory storage. The kit is generous: hose, elbow, two extension wands, cartridge filter, foam filter, disposable dust bag, floor nozzle and crevice nozzle. The listing mentions semi-automatic filter cleaning, a washable filter, a 75 dB noise level and a 3-year limited warranty with 1 year of free service. It is sold as a tool only, so battery and charger are extra. Note that the listing does not fill in a brand field, though the title names DEWALT.

This DeWalt cordless wet dry vac suits a garage where the nearest outlet is always in the wrong place. If you do not own 20V MAX batteries, the corded DXV04T avoids that extra cost. For more on this format, see our DeWalt cordless wet dry vacuum guide.

• 6-gallon tank, 20V MAX cordless
• Blower mode
• Four wheels, onboard storage
• 3-year limited warranty

Best for
Corded workshop use with steady power

The DEWALT DXV04T Portable 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac is the corded choice. It uses a toolbox-style design with an easy carry handle, a 4-gallon tank and a 5 peak horsepower motor that DeWalt says provides the suction needed for most cleanup jobs. Onboard storage holds the attachments, including the extension wand.

This listing is a bundle. Alongside the DeWalt vac, it includes a vacuum brush attachment from a separate accessory maker, listed as model WS17801A, whose bristles lift dust from crevices. The filter type is cartridge and the power source is corded electric. The listing does not give hose length, weight or noise level.

The DeWalt DXV04T 4 gallon suits a workshop or garage with outlets nearby, where unlimited runtime matters more than portability away from power. If you want to go cordless, the 6-gallon DXCVXA06B is the closest match in size.

The DEWALT 20V MAX Shop Vacuum Wet and Dry 2 Gallon (DCV581H) is the flexible middle option: it runs cordless on a 20V MAX battery or plugged in with a cord. DeWalt pitches its 2-gallon tank for jobs like emptying a toilet or a clogged pipe.

It comes with a HEPA filter that is washable and reusable, a wide gulper nozzle and a crevice tool, plus a 5-foot by 1-1/4-inch hose. Integrated storage keeps accessories together. The listing gives two power levels and an 80 dB noise level, and recommends it for hard floors, bare floors and garages.

The DeWalt DCV581H suits plumbers, DIYers and anyone who wants cordless convenience with a cord as backup. It gives way to the 6-gallon model for bigger spills.

• Corded or cordless operation
• 2-gallon tank, HEPA filter
• 5 ft x 1-1/4 in hose, gulper nozzle, crevice tool

The DEWALT 20V MAX Hand Vacuum (DCV517B) is the small wet and dry option. Its Gore HEPA wet/dry filter traps 99.97% of dust at 0.3 microns, and the half-gallon tank has a heavy-duty latch for easy emptying.

Two cleanup modes let you use the front utility nozzle or an extendable heavy-duty rubber hose. The filter is washable with a tap or a rinse, and a large on and off switch is easy to hit with one hand. It runs on 20V MAX packs and is sold bare.

The DeWalt DCV517B hand vacuum suits car interiors, spilled drinks near a gaming setup and quick workbench cleanups. For anything bigger than a small puddle, move up to the 2-gallon DCV581H.

• HEPA wet/dry filter
• Front nozzle or rubber hose
• 1/2-gallon tank, washable filter

The ReliaRoads 20V Cordless Wet/Dry Shop Vac is a third-party vacuum, model RCSV-20, sold as compatible with DeWalt 20V MAX batteries. It is not made by DeWalt, and battery and charger are not included. It is the only wet dry vac for DeWalt battery owners in this list from another brand.

ReliaRoads claims 45 CFM airflow and 12.1 kPa of suction, with a 2.65-gallon collector. The hose is 1-1/4 inch in diameter and 6.56 feet long, and the kit includes a multi-purpose nozzle, crevice tool, sofa brush, extra-long crevice tool and a mini filter cartridge. It has a blower function, a washable filter, two power levels and a 70 dB listed noise level. The listing mixes surface recommendations, citing carpet while pitching it for workshops too.

This suits DeWalt battery owners who want a mid-size wet dry vac and accept a third-party brand. For a genuine DeWalt option in a similar size, the DCV581H is the match.

Best for
Drywall dust and screws, dry only

The DEWALT 20V Handheld Vacuum (DCV501HB) is here for comparison, but be clear: it is dry only. DeWalt designs it for jobsite debris from drywall dust and sawdust to screws, nails and small stones, with 46 CFM of performance and HEPA filtration for fine dust like concrete and drywall.

It weighs 6.8 pounds, has a belt clip that mounts on either side, an LED light and a stick vacuum mode. DeWalt claims up to 214 minutes of runtime per charge and up to 15 tank fills using a DCB205 battery. The kit includes an extension tube, flexible hose, crevice nozzle, round brush, gulper brush, floor nozzle and accessory bag. It lists 87 dB noise.

Pick the DeWalt DCV501HB for dry cleanup where runtime and attachments matter. If liquids are involved, choose the DCV517B or one of the shop vacs instead.