Shop-Vac 1 Gallon Cordless Wet/Dry Vac (5430081)

At 3.40 lb (1.54 kg), the Shop-Vac 1 gallon cordless wet/dry vac (item 5430081) is one of the two lightest wet/dry vacuums in our catalogue by weight, and its 15-minute runtime is the price of that small size. Shop-Vac sells two cordless 1-gallon models with near-identical names, and this page covers the 5430081, the one rated 20V Max. Below are its specs, what comes with it, and the limits of a tank this size.

Shop-Vac 1 gallon specs and kit contents

Spec	Listed value
Item number	5430081
Power	Cordless, 20V Max
Airflow	45 CFM (1.27 m3/min)
Sealed pressure	30 in water lift (about 7.5 kPa)
Peak air watts	200
Runtime	15 minutes
Charge time	3 hours
Tank	1 gallon (3.8 L)
Hose	4 ft x 1.25 in (1.22 m)
Pickup	Wet and dry
Mounting	Wall-mount bracket and tool holder included

The kit lists a crevice tool, a gulper nozzle, a round brush, a wall-mount bracket, a wall-mount tool holder and a charger. For filtration Shop-Vac lists a foam sleeve and a collection bag but no replacement part numbers, so if you are shopping for a filter or bags, match them to the label on your own unit rather than the 1-gallon name; Shop-Vac makes two models in this size class. The listing does not say whether the foam sleeve is washable or whether anything is HEPA-rated, and the battery's amp-hour rating is not published.

Weight is the reason to look at it

The 1.54 kg weight (about 3.4 lb) puts this model in the top 10% of lightest wet/dry vacs in our catalogue, where the median is 12.81 lb (5.81 kg), so it weighs a fraction of the typical shop vac. One caveat: the weight figure comes from a retailer listing, not the manufacturer's page, so treat it as a close guide rather than a Shop-Vac specification.

Think workbench, car interior or a small spill rather than a garage floor or a flooded corner. That is our reading of the specs, not a manufacturer claim.

Runtime and suction limits

The 15-minute maximum runtime is in the bottom quarter of wet/dry vacs in our catalogue, where the median is 49.5 minutes, and a three-hour charge follows each use. No spare battery is listed with the kit. Sealed suction of 7.5 kPa is also in the bottom quarter, against a catalogue median of 17.65 kPa. Sealed suction is only one rating, and airflow (45 CFM) is separate, but both are manufacturer figures and not our measurements.

A 1-gallon tank also fills fast with anything bulky or wet. Noise level and the battery's capacity are not published.

5430081 versus 5430029

The two 1-gallon cordless Shop-Vac models share a 3.8 L tank, a 4 ft hose, a 15-minute runtime and a three-hour charge on Shop-Vac's pages. The electrical rating and item number set them apart: the 5430081 is rated 20V Max with 45 CFM of airflow, while the 5430029 is rated 16 V with 37.4 CFM. A listing that shows 16 V or the number 5430029 is the other model.

Our source records disagree on whether the 5430081 has a blower function, and Shop-Vac's page does not list one, so ask the seller if that matters to you. Marketplace listings may also show a much higher wattage than Shop-Vac's own figure. Go by the manufacturer's numbers and the item number.

Who it may suit and what to look at instead

This suits someone who wants a vacuum they can hang on a wall and grab for small spills, crumbs and debris in a shop, garage or car, since it is one of the two lightest wet/dry models in our catalogue (by weight: 3.40 lb (1.54 kg)). It is a poor match for anything longer, because a maximum runtime of 15 min is weaker than most wet/dry models in our catalogue.

If a task regularly takes longer than 15 minutes, look at a bigger cordless model such as the 6-gallon 5430030, which lists two batteries, or at a corded wet/dry vac in our wet vac category. You can browse the range on the Shop-Vac vacuum cleaner brand page.

To compare sellers and check what a listing should include, use the live offers list further down this page. The Shop-Vac wet/dry vac with detachable leaf blower has its own page.

Buying the Shop-Vac 1 gallon cordless 5430081: how to avoid the wrong model

The biggest risk with this vac is ordering its lookalike. Shop-Vac makes two cordless 1-gallon models, and this page covers the 5430081, the one rated 20V Max with 45 CFM. A listing showing 16 V, or the number 5430029, is the other model. Marketplace listings may show a much higher wattage than Shop-Vac's own figure, so go by the item number.

Check what comes with it. The kit lists a crevice tool, a gulper nozzle, a round brush, a wall-mount bracket, a wall-mount tool holder and a charger, plus a foam sleeve and a collection bag. No spare battery is listed, and the battery's amp-hour rating is not published. Sources disagree on whether it has a blower, so ask the seller if that matters.

The 3.40 lb (1.54 kg) weight is retailer-listed rather than a Shop-Vac figure.

When you read the live offers list, compare only entries for the same code. Amounts run from $74.99 to $94.15 at present, and seeing them side by side makes a mismatched model easier to spot.

Where to go next

Shopping for spares? The replacement filters and bags guide explains matching.

See how a shop vac handles water or the garage vacuum page for workshop use.

Another cordless Shop-Vac wet/dry vac. The Shop-Vac peak horsepower wet/dry vacuum has its own page for specs and live offers.