The 10 Best Wet-Dry Vacuums of 2024, Tested by PEOPLE

Nov 10, 2024

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Our top pick is the Bissell TurboClean Wet-Dry Vacuum for its effective cleaning, maneuverability, and user-friendly features

Olivia is a writer and content creator that has written about a wide range of subjects, including health, beauty, relationships, culture, and music. When she's not working, you can find her perusing coffee shops, reading, or catching up on reality TV.

In This Article

People / Henry Wortock

Vacuuming and mopping are two chores that most of us do everything in our power to put off.

That’s why a wet-dry vacuum combo is a game changer. Not only does it completely eradicate one step, but it also minimizes the amount of equipment you have to stuff into a closet. Depending on things like the layout of your space, whether you need a special vacuum for pet hair or allergies, and how many people live in your home, the features you’ll get the most out of will vary.

Dyson's newest wet-dry vacuum, the Dyson WashG1, will be available this fall for $699.99. We're testing the WashG1 and will update this story with our results.

We’ve taken out the guesswork by putting 27 wet-dry vacuums to the test. We conducted thorough testing that closely mimicked real-life, at-home use and ranked each product on ease of setup, effectiveness, maneuverability, ease of emptying, and more. Keep scrolling for our top picks from Bissell, Dyson, and Tineco starting at $145.

Effectively cleaned wet and dry debris simultaneously

Easy-to-use self-cleaning function means minimal manual cleanup

Lightweight and easy to maneuver

Small water tank

Struggled with larger debris

The Bissell TurboClean won our vote for best overall because of how easy it is to maneuver and how well it transitions between wet and dry messes. During testing, it struggled with vacuuming up larger food pieces but was able to effectively clean both wet and dry debris. While you’re cleaning, water is dispensed automatically, so you can both sanitize and vacuum surfaces at the same time.

After cleaning, emptying the waste tank was just as easy. Although water and debris go to the same place and have to be emptied altogether, the vacuum comes with a tool to strain out food, so you can pour water down the sink drain and throw the rest in the trash. The self-cleaning feature was also quick to use.

The main drawback we found with this one was that the tank that keeps the dirty water is pretty small, so you may have to interrupt your cleaning process throughout to empty it. However, the sleek design and user-friendly features make this one well worth it.

Weight: 8.37 pounds | Dimensions: 27.44 x 13.03 x 10.67 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 17 ounces

Works well on carpet

Quickly cleans hardwoods and tile without vigorous scrubbing

Moves from surface to surface and around furniture with ease

Motor is loud while turned on

Cord gets in the way while cleaning

The Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam did a great job of moving from surface to surface. It took just under 40 seconds to clean up messes on tile, and although there were some pieces of cereal left behind on the hardwoods that were stuck to the floor, it took less than two minutes to clean them. It also moved around furniture with ease — from chair legs to corners to couches, it slid from surface to surface without too much hassle. When used on carpet, it left the surface fully dry after cleaning, so we were able to walk on it immediately.

There are a few reasons it ranked as runner-up to the Bissell TurboClean. The vacuum itself is remarkably loud. It was so loud that we couldn’t hold a conversation or watch TV while using it. Also, it is a corded model, which means you’ll have to carefully choreograph your movements around the house.

Weight: 12.5 pounds | Dimensions: 11.61 x 13.78 x 26.14 inches | Battery Life: N/A | Capacity: 28 ounces

There are a lot of bonuses to a wet-dry vacuum, like fewer appliances to store and fewer steps in your process. If you like the idea of robot vacuums, consider getting one with wet-dry capabilities. In our testing, they all generally did a good job of cleaning up messes, but we didn’t find any to be as effective as using a mop or vacuum on its own. However, if you want to minimize cleaning supplies and have hardwood or tile floors in your home, vacuum-mop combos are a functional option that will get the job done.

Strong suction that efficiently cleaned hard surfaces

Quiet motor means you can watch TV or have a conversation while using it

Maintained a charge throughout testing, even though it was on the highest setting the whole time

Vacuum setting isn’t as strong and doesn’t transition from wet to dry easily

This vacuum from Black and Decker won our vote for the budget category because, although it’s on the cheaper side of the vacuums we tested, it performed remarkably well. We were impressed by the strength of the suction and how efficiently it cleaned up all messes during testing. Throughout the testing process, it maintained a charge and only lost about 25 percent of battery power, even though we kept it on the highest setting the whole time.

The biggest drawback is that transitioning from the mop to vacuum settings is tedious. If you’re going from wet to dry, you have to empty the tank and clean it; otherwise, you’ll get your carpet wet. This would be better suited for people who won’t use the vacuum setting as much. Considering the excellent battery life and strong suction, we found the price to be a steal.

Weight: 11 pounds | Dimensions: 11.41 x 10.55 x 42.52 inches | Battery Life: 25 minutes | Capacity: 20 ounces

Strong suction across tile and hardwood

Sleek design makes it easy to get under furniture and in tight corners

Strong battery life

Rollers are difficult to adjust when there are obstructions

Mobile app is difficult to use

One thing we loved most about the Roborock Dyad Pro was its excellent battery life. It kept a charge throughout all the cleaning tests, and once we were done, it still had an 80 percent charge. We were also impressed by how well it did on all the surfaces, from hardwoods to tile. When maneuvering it around pieces of furniture and from room to room, it was easy to maintain control without using too much force.

The main con we noticed was that whenever there was a blockage in the canister, the rollers were hard to remove to clear the obstruction. Additionally, Roborock has an app that allows you to control features on your device from a distance, like self-cleaning and self-drying modes. However, we couldn’t get the app to successfully work, so we were unable to test this feature. It also doesn’t work on carpet, so you’ll have to use a regular vacuum to clean these areas.

Weight: 10.58 pounds | Dimensions: 14.2 x 12.7 x 45.7 inches | Battery Life: 43 minutes | Capacity: 30 ounces

User-controlled solution dispenser limits product waste

Easy to guide around sharp corners and edges of furniture.

Works well on carpets

Lacks a brush roll dryer which means waiting between cleaning wet and dry messes

Suction levels struggle in the deep grooved surfaces

This wet-dry vacuum by Bissell won our vote for pet owners because of how easy and hassle-free it is to use. If your home endures extra wear and tear due to pets, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to pull in and out as needed. The user-controlled solution dispenser eliminates wasted product, and the vacuum's design makes it easy to steer. During testing, we could turn the head about 60 degrees without changing hand positions to clean around chair legs.

While the suction worked well across our tests, we noticed that it struggled in the deep grooves of hardwood floors, so the milk spill seeped deep inside and was hard to fully clean. While it does work on carpet, we found that it struggled over certain spots, especially because the brush rollers were still wet from the previous cleaning session. If you’re switching from vacuuming to mopping across different floor types, this is something to keep in mind, as it will definitely prolong your overall process.

Weight: 10.5 pounds | Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.5 x 25 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 12-15 ounces

Good maneuverability around tight edges and corners

Quiet while in use

Water reservoir is easy to clean

Cleans a variety of wet and dry messes efficiently

Struggles with sticky and clumpy messes

Leaks after use and even while upright

We liked this wet-dry vacuum by Tineco because of its easy assembly. From taking it out of the box to filling the reservoir with water and cleaning solution, getting it ready to clean was simple. It was also a breeze to maneuver from space to space while cleaning, especially around tight edges and corners. It cleaned wet and dry messes quietly and efficiently, requiring just a few passes to get everything picked up. However, it did struggle with stickier or clumpier textures and left some residue behind, even after several passes.

Another drawback is that the water reservoir is difficult to reattach after filling it up. The vacuum itself also leaks after use, even when upright, so you’ll have to manually clean the floor wherever you leave it.

Weight: 8.82 pounds | Dimensions: 11.81 x 11.61 x 43.39 inches | Battery Life: 25 minutes | Capacity: Not listed

Efficiently cleans up stubborn messes like pet hair and small debris

Adjustable features give your space a customized clean

Self-cleaning and emptying keep maintenance hands-free

Struggles in narrow spaces

Leaves streaks behind on some surfaces after mopping

If you’re looking for something with customizable settings that’s (mostly) hands-free, the Ecovacs Deebot vacuum-mop combo is a great pick. Featuring smart-mapping technology and auto-adjusting suction, it’s extremely intuitive and can clean a variety of surfaces. Through the Ecovacs app, you can program the device to recognize different floor types throughout your house — the “mapping” process took roughly 20 minutes after the device was unboxed and charged.

During testing, we were impressed with how well it picked up things like pet hair, grass, and dust bunnies. After cleaning, the device returns to its docking station where it empties collected debris and cleans the mop heads.

While this vacuum does a good job detecting changes in surface type and maneuvering around walls and furniture, its width makes it difficult to get through narrow spaces. Also, we noticed that on surfaces like vinyl flooring, water spots were left behind after mopping.

Weight: 51 pounds | Dimensions: 19.13 x 24.99 x 20.98 inches | Battery Life: 170 minutes | Capacity: Not listed

Good maneuverability under cabinets

Quick self-cleaning feature

Quiet while in use

On the heavier side

Short battery life

We appreciated how efficiently this one cleaned up wet and dry messes with just a few passes. It also maneuvered well around furniture and under cabinets, although it did take a little extra force to clean up debris caught underneath furniture.

What we loved most about this model was the self-cleaning feature — it took just 30 seconds and was extremely quiet. The water tank was easy to empty, and there was no debris stuck on the vacuum rollers after using this feature.

The main drawback is that it’s fairly heavy — this isn’t ideal for pulling out to clean small, day-to-day messes and is better for weekly deep-cleaning sessions. Also, our cleaning test used up about 50 percent of the battery, so depending on the size of your home, you may need to pause your process to recharge.

Weight: 11 pounds | Dimensions: 45 x 11 x 9 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 14 ounces

Quiet while in use and during self-cleaning process

Long battery life

Senses wet versus dry messes and adjusts suction and power levels accordingly

Doesn’t work on carpets

Difficult to deep-clean between uses

This wet-dry vacuum was the quietest model we tested, both while it was being used and during the automated self-cleaning process. Although it’s quiet, it doesn’t lack in performance. This vacuum did a great job cleaning up messes on hardwood and tile. (It doesn’t work on carpet.) There was nothing it couldn’t pick up thanks to the fact that it’s designed to separate wet versus dry messes and adjust accordingly.

When maneuvering around furniture, it was able to suck up hard-to-grab debris, and it was generally easy to maneuver around chair legs and corners. Throughout all of this, the vacuum, which has a 35-minute battery life, maintained its charge, and by the time the testing period was over, it still had 70 percent left.

Aside from not working on carpet, the main con we noticed is that deep-cleaning the machine was a tedious task. However, we feel that it’s worth the investment, especially considering how swiftly and quietly it moves.

Weight: 13.6 pounds | Dimensions: 11.31 x 8.5 x 43.1 inches | Battery Life: 35 minutes | Capacity: 17 ounces

Did a nice job cleaning up wet messes on hard floors

Strong suction on carpet cleaned up messes with ease

Easy to maneuver around and under furniture

Struggled to suction larger food debris on hard floors

Shut off at certain points when the tank was clogged with food debris

This wet-dry vacuum by Dyson won our vote for those looking to make a bigger investment. The mop feature did well on tile and hardwood floors when it came to liquid spills, but it struggled with bigger food debris like cereal and eggshells. We suspect this is because the waste tank is on the smaller side and lost suction power the more it filled up, even shutting off at certain points. Aside from that, we liked that the display screen tells you exactly how much water is left in the tank as you’re cleaning.

While the wet setting didn’t wow us, we were impressed by the dry vacuum. The suction was so strong that we were able to efficiently clean the carpet in under 30 seconds on the lowest setting. Throughout our tests, the minimalistic and lightweight design made it easy to maneuver under furniture and around tight corners. This is definitely one of the more expensive vacuums we tested, but we had to include it because of how well its dry vacuum setting works — it could easily replace a regular vacuum in your home.

Weight: 9 pounds | Dimensions: 49 x 10 x 10.6 inches | Battery Life: 60 minutes | Capacity: 26 ounces

Since we first published this story, we have continued to test new products and discovered additional standouts to recommend.

For those looking for a hands-free option that will clean your floors while you’re away from the house (or even sleeping!), you’ll appreciate our new robotic pick, the Ecovacs Deebot T20. It has GPS technology that maps out your entire home and can program itself to recognize the floor types in each room. If you live in a small space or want something lightweight and easy to handle, we recommend the Tineco Go H2O Sense, which maneuvered nicely around tight edges, in corners, and under furniture. We also found a new favorite in the Ryobi One+ — the self-cleaning process took just 30 seconds, the fastest of all the wet-dry vacuums we’ve tested.

As new products emerge on the market, we will update this story accordingly, so you can be as informed as possible when shopping.

Regardless of your priorities, everyone wants a wet-dry vacuum that’s effective and thorough. Besides researching user reviews and looking to PEOPLE Tested for the lowdown on your next big purchase, there are certain specs you can look at on a product’s page to determine how effective it will be. Looking at suction power and self-cleaning features will help you determine a vacuum-mop combo’s efficiency. Stronger suction power means a quicker cleaning process, and a solid self-cleaning feature makes for less maintenance between uses. The Bissell TurboClean won our vote for best overall because of how seamlessly it cleans wet and dry messes and the speed and efficiency of its self-cleaning setting.

We're going to be honest: We were impressed with the wet-dry vacuums we tested, but if you have space in your home (and your budget) to invest in a great vacuum cleaner and an easy-to-use mop, those two devices will give you a better clean than a wet-dry vacuum on its own.

Can you use a wet-dry vacuum on all surfaces? What about carpet? Good questions. It depends on the product. We found that many models with the capability to work on hard surfaces and carpets struggled between the two and were not equally effective on both floor types. For some surfaces, an electric scrubber may work better. The Bissell CrossWave worked equally well on carpet and hardwood and moved effortlessly between surfaces. It also left the carpet fully dry after cleaning, which is a big plus. Check the wet-dry vacuum you’re considering to make sure that it's appropriate for the flooring in your home.

A noisy vacuum is frustrating for a lot of reasons, and a quieter vacuum can make a world of difference. It’s also a sign that your vacuum is of higher quality — quieter vacuums are generally made with better parts and more advanced technology. This is something you should think about when purchasing a new vacuum. The Dreametech H11 is a great option if the noise level is a concern for you, as it was by far one of the quietest vacuums we tested.

Nobody likes having to lug a heavy vacuum around, especially if your home has multiple stories. And if you live in a smaller space or don’t like clutter, something light that’s easy to put in a closet or corner will impact how your home looks and feels. If any of these situations apply to you, then you should focus on the dimensions and weight of the vacuum you’re considering, so you can have a clear picture of how much space it would take up or how it would feel to carry it around your home. The Tineco Go H2O Sense is extremely lightweight and did a great job moving from room to room during testing without too much hassle.

If you have a larger home, having a cordless wet-dry vacuum is ideal for cleaning from room to room. However, choosing one with a strong battery life is key for efficiency. If you have more ground to cover, the last thing you want is to break up your process to recharge. It’s a good rule of thumb to check the product description of the wet-dry vacuum you choose to make sure it has ample battery life. We loved the Roborock Dyad Pro because, after testing, it still had nearly 80 percent of its battery power left.

All of the wet-dry vacuums we tested cost between $150 and $950. Things like power source, features, size, weight, and brand name all factor into the cost. However, this is more of a luxury item, so you should expect to spend at least a couple hundred dollars.

People / Eric Brockob

We tested each wet-dry vacuum with carefully thought-out simulations of how it would feel to use a vacuum in your home, from start to finish.

People / Henry Wortock

Olivia Avitt is a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE who has written about a wide range of home topics, including car vacuums, area rugs, ceiling fans, and mattresses. For this piece, she thoroughly reviewed the insights provided by the PEOPLE Tested team to give you the most important information for each product, so you can save time shopping and find the perfect vacuum for your needs. Our tests included detailed, methodical simulations that closely mimicked real-life use, so we could provide the most realistic and thorough reviews possible. Each vacuum was rated for ease of setup, noise level, effectiveness, maneuverability, portability, ease of cleaning, and value.

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.