Stanley 6-Gallon Review

The Stanley 6-Gallon shop vac stands apart from other budget options due to its strong suction, assortment of tools, and portability. At an attainable price, it packs more power than other models with a sub $100 price point that we tested. This makes it great for hobbyists looking for a higher-performing vacuum that won't break the bank.

Airflow & Suction Power

For its small size, the Stanley surprised us with higher-than-anticipated airflow and suction power. With a calculated airflow of 102 cubic feet per minute and a measured suction power of 50 inches, it has the highest specs for a smaller capacity vacuum. We attribute this power to its four-horsepower motor. This is the most powerful motor in our lineup for any vacuum with a canister capacity under 10 gallons.

The small yet powerful motor gives it great lift, and it was able to pick up more dense objects like bolts, gravel, and small rocks. The suction power was overwhelmed only when the opening of the hose was fully submerged in thick woodchips and bark debris. Only then did it start to bog down and clog. Primarily limited by its relatively narrow hose diameter of 1.25 inches, the Stanley is best suited for medium to smaller messes. But for most projects, the Stanley has plenty of power to pick up whatever mess you may encounter.

Floor Cleaning

The Stanley's surprisingly high suction power translated into solid floor cleaning performance. Our dry cleanup test consisted of picking up two gallons of mixed debris, including wood chips, gravel, and bark pieces, without any attachment. The Stanley clocked a time of 135 seconds, once again being near the top of the pack for small volume shop vacs. In our wet mess cleanup, it sucked up two gallons of muddy water in 14 seconds.

We then tested the Stanley on a variety of surfaces to test its floor cleaning performance on thick carpet, thin mats, and concrete floors. On hard surfaces and thin mats, it pulled all debris off quickly and efficiently, leaving nothing behind. But once working in thicker carpet, it often required a couple of passes to fully remove all debris from deeper fibers. For a budget option, the Stanley has adequate floor cleaning capabilities that left us satisfied for most projects. However, if you're regularly cleaning up big messes or in thick carpet, it might lack that higher-end performance found in a more expensive option.

Tool Use

The Stanley comes equipped with five attachments: two extension wands, a floor nozzle, a crevice nozzle, and a utility nozzle. We particularly appreciated the crevice nozzle, an attachment not often seen in budget shop vacs. This was great for cleaning out dusty corners in the garage or hard-to-reach crannies in the car. The floor nozzle is constructed with stiff bristles on the back half of the attachment that help lift debris and create a firm seal for better suction on carpets and floor mats.

The utility nozzle was the most versatile attachment, and we found ourselves using it the most for cleaning up everything from piles of sawdust in the workshop to muddy floors in the garage. While the narrow 1.25-inch hose diameter was apparent when trying to vacuum up larger debris, the attachments were never a source of clogging and greatly increased the shop vac's utility and versatility. For a budget shop vac, the Stanley comes equipped with simple, yet effective tools, that didn't leave us wanting for any others.

Portability

Weighing in at 11.2 pounds, the Stanley is not the lightest vacuum in our lineup, but it is still almost a third as light as the heaviest. It isn't overly bulky, and the relatively small canister size makes it easy to store if you're tight on space. The handle on top of the motor doubles as power cord storage and is useful for picking up the vacuum and carrying it to the next project.

A standout feature of the Stanley is the casters located around the outside of the canister. This gives it stability and increased rolling performance on firm surfaces. We particularly appreciated this design when rolling over wood chips and debris that would cause other budget shop vacs to get stuck. The top of the casters also serves as a friction-fit tool storage. Every tool can be secured to the vacuum and remains in place during transit to the next project. The only hindrance to this vacuum's portability is its lack of a hose storage system. This leaves the hose to dangle loosely around the canister, often getting in the way or underfoot while moving the vacuum around the workspace.

Should You Buy the Stanley 6-Gallon?

The Stanley 6-Gallon is perfect for the hobbyist looking for a higher-performing vacuum while still at an attainable price point. It's versatile enough for shop cleanup or household use but still has enough capacity and suction power for medium-sized projects. Contractors, professionals, and heavy-duty DIYers might find this vacuum not up to the biggest jobs due to its small canister size and narrow hose diameter. For everyone else, the Stanley is a capable option at a price point that won't break the bank.

What Other Shop Vacs Should You Consider?

If the Stanley left you wishing for a wider diameter hose for tackling bigger debris, the Ridgid 14-Gallon's 2.5-inch hose and strong suction power make it perfect for bigger messes. While at a similar price point, the Dirt Devil 5-Gallon has a smaller footprint, making it perfect for storing when tight on space.