The 9 Best Wet-Dry Vacuums of 2024, Tested by PEOPLE

Oct 28, 2024

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

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.

We’ve taken out the guesswork by putting a wide variety of wet-dry vacuums (23 to be exact!) to the test, rating them on their ease of setup, noise level, effectiveness, maneuverability, portability, capacity, ease of emptying, and value. Keep scrolling for our top picks from Bissell, Dyson, Tineco, and more starting at $130.

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 effectively cleaned up both wet and dry debris, and although it struggled with vacuuming up larger food pieces, it still cleaned up the messes in each test. During testing, we used the Bissell cleaning solution that you can purchase separately, and although it’s not required, we found that it was useful and elevated the experience. The sleek design and self-propelled steering were also a big reason this one won us over.

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 depending on the size of your home, 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, especially at the under-$150 price.

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

Easily moves from surface to surface

Battery-operated

Affordable yet effective

Noisy when in use

Difficult to use on carpeted areas

Besides the easy setup that took just under two minutes out of the package, the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 has dual tanks that separate fresh water from dirty water so that you aren’t using dirty water while cleaning. From tile to hardwoods, the suction was excellent and managed to not only clean up liquid messes but also suck up heavy debris within the first 30 seconds of going over any given spot on the floor. We did notice that for more oily or sticky spots, the button to release extra water and cleaning solution was needed and came in handy.

One con that we noticed was that it was a little bit harder to use on the carpet and needed a little more force of hand. Aside from that, we found that when the vacuuming feature was on, it let out a high-pitched whirring noise, and that could get annoying, especially if you have a lot of ground to cover. However, this vacuum has a lot of great features that we love, from the self-cleaning bristles to the easy-emptying water reservoir and the battery-operated motor.

Weight: 10.03 lbs. | Dimensions: 10.63 x 11.61 x 44.10 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 39 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 like the idea of minimizing 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 with this one is that transitioning from the mop to vacuum settings is a little 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 $200 price to be a steal.

Weight: 11 lbs. | 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 tight corners

Strong battery life

Rollers are difficult to adjust when there are obstructions

Mobile app is difficult to use

The Roborock Dyad Pro is our top cordless pick in large part because of its excellent battery life. It managed to keep a charge throughout all of the cleaning tests, and once we were done, it was still just under 80 percent charged, so it could easily do several other cleaning sessions on a single charge. We were also impressed by how well it did on all the surfaces we tested, from grout to hardwoods to tile.

The main con we noticed was that whenever there was a blockage in the canister, the rollers were hard to remove to clear whatever the obstruction was. Additionally, Roborock has an app that is meant to allow you to control different features of 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.

We found that this vacuum worked nicely across varied hardwood surfaces and had a strong suction that cleaned up both wet and dry messes with ease. It doesn’t work on carpets, so you’ll have to use a regular vacuum as well if your home has carpeted areas.

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

Thorough on all surfaces

Easy to empty and clean

Cordless and has a strong battery life

High price point

Hard to fit into tight corners and under furniture

The Tineco Floor One S5 did a great job at picking up wet and dry messes at the same time. Between soggy cereal, slimy egg yolks, and crunchy egg shells, this vacuum performed extremely well for all our tests, even in hard-to-reach places like tile grout lines. We also liked that it easily slid under the table and around chairs and table legs.

With that being said, there were some places, specifically along the edge of low furniture, where the suction wasn’t as strong as we would have liked and would’ve required manual cleaning with a rag. Although it was not the best with awkward corners and angles, we barely used 20 percent of the full battery life during our tests, so you can easily get several cleaning sessions out of one charge.

We also loved how simple aftercare is on all fronts — emptying the bin was very easy, and we barely got our hands dirty. We also tried out the self-cleaning process, which made the manual deep-cleaning process even easier. Features like the self-cleaning mode were a huge time saver and made overall maintenance of the device easier. This vacuum is at a higher price point that may not be for everyone, but if your budget allows for the luxury price point, the advanced technology makes it worth the purchase.

Weight: 17.37 lbs. | Dimensions: 10.75 x 10.24 x 43.31 inches | Battery Life: 35 minutes | Capacity: 27 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 the mess on the 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.

Moving onto the carpet, it did even better than the Ecowell. It also moved around furniture with ease — from chair legs to corners to couches, it slid from surface to surface without too much hassle. It also left the carpet fully dry after cleaning, so we were able to walk on it immediately.

The main cons we noticed were pretty big ones. The vacuum itself is remarkably loud. It was so loud, in fact, that nobody in the room could have a conversation or watch TV while it was running. Also, it is a corded model, which means you’ll have to carefully choreograph your movements so as not to get caught up while cleaning.

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

We all know what it’s like to have to endure the slog of using a big and bulky vacuum and how tiring it is. But the Bissell CrossWave X7 makes that a thing of the past. For one, the user-controlled solution dispenser means you’re in control of how much cleaning solution you use, which eliminates wasted product. Also, the design of the vacuum itself made it very easy to steer. During testing, we were able to turn the head about 60 degrees without changing hand positions so that we could clean around chair legs, which is often an impossible task.

While the suction worked well in general across all the tests, we did notice that it struggled in the deep grooves of the hardwood floor, so the milk spill seeped deep inside and was hard to fully clean up. Also, while it does work on carpet, we did find 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 lbs. | Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.5 x 25 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 12-15 ounces

Excellent suction across both tile and hardwood floors

Lots of high-tech features

Quiet motor

Pretty expensive

Small water tanks have to be emptied frequently

If you’re looking for a wet vacuum with lots of bells and whistles, you’ll love this one from Tineco. It has excellent suction across both hardwood and tile floors and manages to detect the type of mess it’s cleaning up without any user input required to change settings. Whether it’s oily mayo or crunchy cereal, we found that it didn’t take much to effectively clean each surface.

It also has high-tech features, like the ability to determine what direction you’re going with the vacuum and adjust the wheels to make movements easier. While there were some moments where this feature made using the device a little bit awkward, it is a cool feature to see put into practice. Even with all these qualities at work, the vacuum still manages to stay relatively quiet.

The biggest con was the small water tanks. Throughout the test, we had to either empty the dirty water or refill the fresh water every few minutes, so you’ll most likely experience disruptions while cleaning, depending on the size of your home.

Weight: 11.31 lbs. | Dimensions: 10.43 x 10.24 x 43.7 inches | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Capacity: 29 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 the tile and hardwood floors when it came to liquid spills, but it struggled with bigger food debris like cereal and egg shells. We suspect this happened because the waste tank is on the smaller side, got full quickly, and lost suction power the fuller it became, even shutting off at certain points. This works okay as a wet vacuum, but it’s definitely better suited for liquid spills as opposed to bigger messes. 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 all of 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 on our list because of how well its dry vacuum setting works — it could easily replace a regular vacuum in your home.

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

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.

Since we first published this story, we have continued testing new products and found a couple new standouts to recommend. For example, the Bissell TurboClean won our vote for Best Overall for how easy it is to maneuver and its ability to transition between wet and dry messes with ease. We also found a new favorite budget option from Black and Decker, which manages to have superior battery life and suction power at just under $200. Finally, we found our new favorite for those looking to make a big investment with the Dyson V15s. Its strong suction makes vacuuming up dry messes quicker and easier than ever before, and its lightweight and simple design makes it easy to maneuver from room to room. As new products emerge on the market, we will continue to update this story accordingly, so you can be as informed as possible when shopping

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, so if it isn’t too noisy, it’s most likely built to last. This is something you should think about when purchasing a new vacuum. The Black and Decker Wet-Dry Vacuum 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 just don’t like clutter, something light that’s easy to put in a closet or in a 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.

Regardless of your priorities, everyone wants a wet-dry vacuum that’s effective and cleans up messes thoroughly. 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. For example, in the case of wet-dry vacuums, important considerations are the capacity of the water tanks and suction power. If a vacuum has a smaller water tank, it will empty faster, which means you’ll have to pause frequently throughout the process to refill. The suction power of a vacuum determines how effectively it can deep clean. Some models automatically adjust the suction power based on the mess.

We're going to be honest: We were somewhat 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 deep clean than a wet-dry vacuum on its own. If you really want to splurge, consider upgrading to a steam mop.

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. Our most versatile wet-dry vac pick, 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.

The tank capacity will determine how frequently you’ll need to refill (and empty) your wet-dry vacuum tank. The capacity of the tank is an important consideration, depending on the size of your home. Some wet-dry vacuums have a single tank, while others, like the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 Wet-Dry Vacuum, have two tanks, one for clean water and one for dirty water.

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.

Olivia Avitt has written about a wide range of subjects, including the best 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 lowdown on the pros and cons of each product so you can save time shopping and find the perfect vacuum for your needs. All of 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.