Best vacuum cleaners for builders to clean up dust and debris

When you're tackling a home renovation or DIY project there’s one guarantee, you'll need to clean up afterwards. And the best vacuum cleaners will help ensure that whatever mess is left lying around will soon become a distant memory.

When renovating a house a standard everyday vacuum cleaner just won’t cut it. It simply can’t cope with the layers of dust, broken plaster, and general debris and rubble. It also won’t like any liquid spills that need to be cleared up straight away. A wet and dry vacuum will be much more accommodating.

Here we roundup our top picks for vacuum cleaners that are ready to take on the task of clearing up behind you or your builder.

The Quick List

Short on time? Our handy quick list contains an overview of the best vacuum cleaners in our roundup. Use the quick links to skip down the page and find more detailed reviews of the vacuum you're most interested in:

The best overall vacuum cleaner

Henry is an instantly recognisable vacuum brand, but not only is he a design icon, he's also a robust and easy to use vacuum cleaner for a renovation site. With strong suction and a number of different fittings, you'll find it no problem to vacuum even larger bit of debris.

The HVR160 is a slightly more compact model, which makes it slightly lighter than other versions of Henry, but with the same suction power and same 10 metre cord. This means it has a slightly smaller dust bag than its larger contemporaries, such as the Henry HVR200-11 vacuum cleaner available from Amazon, but its 6 litre capacity is more than generous enough. Just remember to pick up extra dust bags to make sure you're not caught short.

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The best vacuum cleaner for dust

If you're searching for the best vacuum cleaner for builder's dust, you'll likely come across wet and dry vacuums. These vacuums are super powerful, and are designed with suction that makes them great for dust and rubble, but also liquid, whether that be water that's pooled in your weather-exposed extension or paint spills.

Karcher's WD4 vacuum is a perfect example, designed to handle the sorts of mess that a standard home vacuum couldn't. It comes with plenty of accessories for all kinds of jobs, and these can all be stored on the vacuum itself, making it a handy cleaner to have around your building site.

It also has a large 20-litre capacity, and an innovative filter system that makes it easy to switch between its wet and dry functions without changing bags like many vacuums.

However, the cord is quite short on this model at just 5 metres, and with its large capacity comes an increased size that can make storage more difficult, but it's perfect for keeping in a garage or similar.

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The best vacuum cleaner for plaster and clay

Makita, the popular power tool brand, may not be your first thought for a vacuum cleaner, but it's VC3011L model is a great choice for a busy site. This wet and dry vacuum is powerful enough to pick up heavy materials as well as dust, including gypsum used in plaster, soft wood, plasterboard, and even chippings from worktops such as Corian.

Of course, with this extra power comes a higher price tag, and even when you find a deal on a Makita VC3011L, you'll find it's around four times the price of the cheapest heavy duty vacuums you'll find on Amazon or in a DIY shop. Plus, it's not as adaptable for general house cleaning.

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The best budget vacuum

In our opinion, this Vacmaster wet and dry vacuum cleaner is one of the best buys for beating builders' dust. Not only is it a powerful and robust vacuum that holds its own against Henry and all the other vacuums on this list, but it has some interesting extra functions that you can take advantage of.

The blower function can be used as a leaf blower and also to pump up air mattresses — a nice feature to have, but not necessarily a key concern for your building project. However, the power take off is something we think all vacuums should have for the DIY inclined.

A power take off socket is basically where you can plug your power tool (think your best mitre saw or corded drill) and when you power on your tool, it will cause the vacuum cleaner to turn on too. You can connect it up to reduce the amount of dust, sawdust and debris and avoid a major clean-up later on.

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The best vacuum cleaner for liquids and spills

Charles is another member of the Numatic vacuum cleaner family; however, unlike Henry, this cleaner is both a wet and dry vacuum. Though the Charles CVC370-2 is a lot larger with a capacity of up to 15 litres of dry matter, it's actually lighter (when empty) than the smaller Henry vacuums, while packing in a powerful 1060W motor that ensures it packs a punch that can be used for everything from light cleaning of your home to unblocking drains.

The best vacuum cleaners for builders' dust all tend to be this type of hosed products, yet the size and where the hose protrudes from cleaner can make storage tricky, especially when space is in short supply.

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Best cordless vacuum cleaner

If you want a lightweight and portable wet and dry vacuum, ideal for clearing small spills and dust then this small but mighty offering from Makita could be just what you need. It won’t be able to deal with heavy duty cleaning, but it's ideal for small jobs.

It comes with a neat carry handle and only weighs 4kg. There is the option for a carry handle for easier use. But the hose length means you won’t be able to stray too far from the body. At full stretch it's only just over a metre in length.

The bonus of any cordless tool is that you can take it anywhere without the worry of looking for a power outlet to use. But, your runtime is restricted, on the high setting you get more suction, but only for around 30 minutes. On the low setting you get double the time, but obviously less suction power. And, you will need to factor in the cost of the battery and charger if you don’t already own any Makita cordless tools.

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How to choose the best vacuum cleaners

Not sure what you're looking for in a vacuum cleaner that's up to the job of tackling tough mess creating from a building project. Here's what you should consider:

• Price: While professional vacuum cleaners sometimes come at a high price, it's worthy shopping around to find the best vacuum cleaner deals in order to keep the cost of your house renovation down.
• Bagged vs bagless: A bagged vacuum cleaner means you'll need to buy dust bags separately, but this is easier to empty when full without having to interact with the dust and mess itself
• Power: The stronger the vacuum's motor, the more suction it will have. This will make all the difference when vacuuming up debris from a renovation project.
• Weight: Consider how heavy the vacuum is and how easy it is to transport from room to room. If it's too heavy, you'll be unable to use it in some areas, such as the stairs.
• Cord length: A short cord means limited movement and more unplugging of the vacuum, something that can be particularly irksome when you've only got a few sockets live during a renovation.
• Wet and dry vacuums: Many powerful vacuums suited to building mess are wet and dry. In most systems, you'll need to change bags in order to use the wet function, but it's a useful tool to have at your disposal for water-based issues.
• Storage: Many vacuum cleaners with good suction are large and can be difficult to store. You might even consider this as part of your renovation, ensuring there's a dedicated space in the utility room for vacuum cleaner storage.

It's also worth noting that most of these vacuums are perfectly suited to domestic life after your renovation project has ended.

How we test vacuum cleaners

Choosing the best vacuum cleaner for builders' dust and debris is no easy task, but the Homebuilding & Renovating team is here to guide you through the process with our hands-on experience and rigorous testing procedures.

In our reviews, we delve deep into key features:

• Evaluating the convenience of bagged versus bagless systems and the cleanliness of the emptying process.
• Measuring the motor strength and suction efficiency for handling renovation debris.
• Testing the weight and portability across challenging spaces.
• Gauging the practicality of cord lengths, especially in socket-limited renovations.
• Assessing the ease of switching between wet and dry functions.
• Considering the storage requirements of high-suction vacuums, ensuring they fit seamlessly into your cupboards or garage.

Our passionate team has an in-depth understanding of the leading vacuum brands and the unique demands of DIY and home improvements. So, you can trust in our insights to ensure you're equipped with the best tools for your brilliant home renovation project.