DeWalt DCV581H Review

Name: DeWalt DCV581H
Brand: DEWALT

A sharp-looking machine that leaves a lot to be desired in the suction and airflow departments

DeWalt DCV581H Review — Credit: Laura Casner

Price: $160 List

Manufacturer: DEWALT

By Nick Miley ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ January 11, 2022

Contributions From: Austin Palmer

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#8 of 8

Dry Work - 40% 4.0
Wet Work - 30% 4.0
Battery Life - 20% 8.0
Convenience - 10% 5.0

$136 at Amazon

Our Verdict

The DeWalt 18/20V MAX is an interesting wet/dry machine that has many innovations that would otherwise be quite appealing except that the machine isn't very good at, well, vacuuming. The MAX struggled in both the wet and dry vacuuming analyses, as well as much of the convenience evaluation. That said, this machine does have one heck of a battery life, and it accommodates both 18 and 20-volt batteries. However, it is so poor at picking up unwanted debris that the value of these components is moot. Check out our full cordless shop vacuum review to see which models we loved.

REASONS TO BUY

Long battery life

HEPA rated filter

Well-designed floor attachment

REASONS TO AVOID

Poor suction

Poor airflow

Loud

Our Analysis and Test Results

The main features that make this model a standout in its cohort are its effective floor tool attachment, long runtime, a battery adaptor. It can handle either an 18 or 20-volt DeWalt battery cell and has an auxiliary power cord. Unfortunately, the accolades stop there. However, this model's exceptionally poor suction and airflow are more memorable, which means it's not very good at vacuuming. Added to the poor vacuuming is a super-high price, providing good reasons to look elsewhere for a cordless shop vacuum.

dewalt dcv581h - it's all about the air channels. this well thought out floor... — It's all about the air channels. This well thought out floor attachment keeps the air flowing and the sawdust moving.
Credit: Laura Casner

Likes

At 39 minutes, 40 seconds of runtime on a 20-volt, 5 amp-hour battery, the DeWalt 18/20V MAX offers one of the longest-lived batteries in the class. A real positive, to be sure. It's also an advantage that the machine has an 18-volt adaptor that will allow the user to run either battery type. Additionally, the DeWalt has an auxiliary power cord — a nice touch for prolonged jobs. We like the included HEPA-rated filter, which helps keep the air a bit cleaner.

This machine will accommodate the brand's 18 and 20-volt batteries. So, if you already own DeWalt cordless tools, you're all set.

Credit: Laura Casner

Another advantage that the DeWalt offers is a floor attachment tool that works well on hard surfaces. Despite this model's minimal suction and airflow, the gaps in the contact surface of this attachment allow the air to keep moving and the unwanted liquid or debris to shoot up into the canister.

Dislikes

The overriding problem with the 18/20V MAX is that its motor is incredibly underpowered for the tasks it's intended to tackle. We could go into all the vacuuming tests that this machine flopped. However, it's more telling to state the machine's suction and airflow stats. We tested the unit's suction — which is measured in the number of cubic inches of water lift the motor can produce. The DeWalt checked in at an abysmal 16 inches water lift. Yikes!

This machine's airflow is also quite low. The manufacturer's rating is 31 cubic feet per second, a rate that is at the bottom of the class. Contrary to popular belief, suction alone does not a good vacuum make. It is the combination of suction and airflow that moves unwanted items from the floor up into the vacuum canister. So, the fact that this model has poor suction and airflow goes a long way in explaining why it performed poorly in most of our wet and dry vacuuming evaluations.

Should You Buy the DeWalt DCV581H?

This machine may catch your eye because of the well-known DeWalt name brand. However, we were disappointed in the overall performance of this vacuum. Paired with its higher-than-average price tag, we do not think this is the right vacuum for most people. We recommend looking elsewhere for your project cleanup tools.

What Other Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Should You Consider?

The DeWalt is one of the lowest scoring vacuums in our review, so you can purchase almost any other machine and come back with better results. Some of our favorites include the Craftsman CMCV002B, which has above-average results in almost every metric, and the Kobalt KWDV, which has one of the top dry work scores combined with a lower price tag.

Side-by-Side Comparison

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