Safe
9
Best Power Stations for Shop Vac
We tested 33 portable power stations against the Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak) (1392W running / 4176W surge). 12 passed our True Surge protocol — 36% compatibility rate.
Tight
3
With Soft-Starter
0
Incompatible
21
○ Device source: Engineering Est.
Derived from variant list (max of variants). Running worst case = Shop-Vac SVX2 (1392W at 11.6A). Surge worst case = Shop-Vac SVX2 (4176W). Surge estimated using 3x motor-load multiplier policy (no OEM starting watts published for any shop vac in this class).
Our Top Picks
9 compatible models rankedRanked by value, balance, and endurance from 9 compatible generators.
Best Budget Safe
Explorer 2000 Plus
Running 3,000W
Surge 6,000W
Capacity 2,042 Wh
Weight 61.5 lbs (27.9 kg)
Carry Two-person recommended
Runtime 1h
Best Overall Safe
Pecron E3600LFP
Running 3,600W
Surge 7,000W
Capacity 3,072 Wh
Weight 79.4 lbs (36.0 kg)
Carry Two-person recommended
Runtime 1.5h
Best Runtime Safe
Delta Pro Ultra
Running 6,000W
Surge 12,000W
Capacity 6,144 Wh
Weight 182.1 lbs (82.6 kg)
Carry Two-person recommended
Runtime 3.1h
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our methodology
Runtime at a glance
How long each station runs a Shop Vac on a single charge (after 0.70 real-world derate)
Delta Pro Ultra X 6,144 Wh 3.1h
Delta Pro Ultra 6,144 Wh 3.1h
DELTA Pro 3 4,096 Wh 2.1h
Yeti Pro 4000 3,993.6 Wh 2h
Anker SOLIX F3800 3,840 Wh 1.9h
Delta Pro 3,600 Wh 1.8h
Pecron E3600LFP 3,072 Wh 1.5h
Explorer 3000 Pro 3,024 Wh 1.5h
Safe
Showing top 8 by runtime. See full table below for all 12 stations.
What to Know About the Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)
Power Profile
Running range: 1200W (10A) to 1392W (11.6A) depending on motor size. Estimated surge range: 3600W to 4176W at 3x running (motor-load multiplier — no shop vac manufacturer publishes starting watts). Voltage: 120V AC for all residential models.
Real-World Usage
Shop vacs draw near-maximum rated power continuously while running. Unlike power tools that cycle between cuts, a shop vac runs steady until you release the trigger or switch. At 1 hour daily use, energy consumption ranges from 1200 to 1392 Wh.
Pro Tip
Peak HP is meaningless for power station sizing — a '6 HP' vac may draw less amps than a '5.5 HP' model. Always check the nameplate amperage. Motor startup surge is the primary compatibility concern: a shop vac that draws 1200W running may need 3600W briefly at startup. Size for surge capacity first.
Full Compatibility Matrix
All 33 generators tested against the Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak) (1392W / 4176W).
| Power Station | Running W | Surge W | Capacity | Weight | Verdict | Runtime | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Pro Ultra X | 12,000 | 24,000 | 6,144 Wh | 187.4 lbs Two-person recommended | Safe | 3.1h | View |
| Delta Pro Ultra | 6,000 | 12,000 | 6,144 Wh | 182.1 lbs Two-person recommended | Safe | 3.1h | View |
| DELTA Pro 3 | 4,000 | 8,000 | 4,096 Wh | 113.5 lbs Two-person recommended | Safe | 2.1h | View |
| Yeti Pro 4000 | 3,600 | 7,200 | 3,993.6 Wh | 115.7 lbs Two-person recommended | Safe | 2h | View |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 3,840 Wh | 132.3 lbs Two-person recommended | Safe | 1.9h | View |
| Delta Pro | 3,600 | 7,200 | 3,600 Wh | 99.2 lbs Two-person recommended | Safe | 1.8h | View |
| Pecron E3600LFP | 3,600 | 7,000 | 3,072 Wh | 79.4 lbs Two-person recommended | Safe | 1.5h | View |
| Explorer 3000 Pro | 3,000 | 6,000 | 3,024 Wh | 63.9 lbs Two-person recommended | Safe | 1.5h | View |
| Explorer 2000 Plus | 3,000 | 6,000 | 2,042 Wh | 61.5 lbs Two-person recommended | Safe | 1h | View |
| AC200MAX | 2,200 | 4,800 | 2,048 Wh | 61.9 lbs Two-person recommended | Tight | 1h | View |
| DELTA 2 Max | 2,400 | 4,800 | 2,048 Wh | 50.7 lbs Heavy carry | Tight | 1h | View |
| Explorer 2000 v2 | 2,200 | 4,400 | 2,042 Wh | 39.5 lbs One-person carry | Tight | 1h | View |
| Zendure SuperBase V4600 | 3,800 | 3,800 | 4,608 Wh | 121.3 lbs Two-person recommended | Fail | N/A | View |
| Elite 200 V2 | 2,600 | 3,600 | 2,073 Wh | 53.4 lbs Heavy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| AC200L | 2,400 | 3,600 | 2,048 Wh | 62.4 lbs Two-person recommended | Fail | N/A | View |
| Yeti 1500X | 2,000 | 3,500 | 1,516 Wh | 45.6 lbs Heavy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| DELTA (Gen 1) | 1,800 | 3,300 | 1,260 Wh | 30.9 lbs One-person carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| AC180 | 1,800 | 2,700 | 1,152 Wh | 36.2 lbs One-person carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,500 | 3,000 | 1,070 Wh | 23.8 lbs One-person carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| SOLIX C1000 | 1,800 | 2,400 | 1,056 Wh | 28.4 lbs One-person carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| DELTA 2 | 1,800 | 2,700 | 1,024 Wh | 26.5 lbs One-person carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| DELTA 3 Plus | 1,800 | 3,600 | 1,024 Wh | 27.6 lbs One-person carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| VTOMAN Jump 1500X | 1,500 | 3,000 | 828 Wh | 36.2 lbs One-person carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| SOLIX C800 Plus | 1,200 | 1,600 | 768 Wh | 24.0 lbs One-person carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| AC70 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 768 Wh | 22.5 lbs One-person carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| RIVER 2 Pro | 800 | 1,600 | 768 Wh | 18.3 lbs Easy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| Explorer 500 | 500 | 1,000 | 518.4 Wh | 13.2 lbs Easy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| RIVER 2 Max | 500 | 1,000 | 512 Wh | 13.4 lbs Easy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| SOLIX C300 | 300 | 300 | 288 Wh | 9.0 lbs Easy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| Explorer 300 Plus | 300 | 600 | 288 Wh | 8.4 lbs Easy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| EB3A | 600 | 1,200 | 268.8 Wh | 10.1 lbs Easy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| RIVER 2 | 300 | 600 | 256 Wh | 7.7 lbs Easy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
| RIVER 3 | 300 | 600 | 245 Wh | 7.7 lbs Easy carry | Fail | N/A | View |
Why 64% of Power Stations Fail
21 of 33 generators tested cannot safely run this device. Here's why.
Startup surge too high
The Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak) draws 4,176W at startup, 3.0× its running watts. Most portable power stations can't handle this inrush.
Model Variants
Different models have different power requirements. Check the specific report for your exact model.
DeWalt DXV10P (10-Gal, 5.5 HP, 2-Stage Quiet)
Running: 1,200W
Surge: 3,600W
Vacmaster Beast VFB511B (5-Gal, 6 HP Peak, Compact)
Running: 1,320W
Surge: 3,960W
Frequently Asked Questions
How many power stations can run a Shop Vac?
Out of 33 portable power stations we tested, 12 can safely run a Shop Vac (9 with full safety margin, 3 at tight margin). 21 are incompatible.
What specs should I look for to run a Shop Vac?
Your power station needs at least 1,392W continuous output and 4,176W surge capacity. We recommend a safety buffer of 15% above these minimums for reliable operation.
How do we test compatibility?
Every pairing is evaluated using our True Surge protocol: we compare OEM-verified running watts, surge watts, and voltage requirements against each power station's published specs, with load-profile-specific safety buffers applied. Read our full methodology.
What size power station do I need for a shop vac?
Only if your power source can supply at least 1392W continuous and 4176W surge at 120V. Lower-amperage models (10A) are more compatible with mid-range power stations.
Compare these models
Side-by-side comparisons for the top picks on this page.