Stealth vs DeWalt StealthSonic Wet/Dry Vacuums: Which One Deserves Your Money?

Introduction

If you are shopping for a wet/dry vacuum, two options from the same manufacturer make an interesting comparison: the Stealth 5 Gallon 5.5 HP wet/dry vacuum, typically found for around $80 to $90, and the DeWalt StealthSonic 12 Gallon wet/dry vacuum, listed at $139 and frequently seen on sale. Despite the size and price difference, they share enough DNA that choosing between them is genuinely tricky.

This comparison looks at real power draw, water pickup speed, and build quality to help you decide which one fits your workshop.

Power Draw: Neither Vacuum Lives Up to the Horsepower Claim

Both vacuums are marketed as 5.5 horsepower, but measured power draw tells a different story. Plugged into a watt meter, the Stealth drew around 1,500 watts, dropping into the 900s when the hose was blocked by hand. The DeWalt drew around 950 watts, dropping into the 800s under the same test.

Since horsepower can be estimated from wattage, it should come as no surprise that neither vacuum actually delivers 5.5 horsepower. What is surprising is that the smaller Stealth pulled about 100 more watts than the larger DeWalt StealthSonic. With a 5 gallon tank versus a 12 gallon tank, you might expect the two to draw similar power, or the Stealth to draw less, but that was not the case.

Design Similarities and a Hose Quirk

These two vacuums are made by the same company, and the family resemblance is easy to spot. The leg and caster layouts are similar, both have a drain port at the front of the drum, and the hoses behave in a comparable way when they kink.

The differences show up in the details. The DeWalt uses metal casters where the Stealth uses plastic, and its build quality feels a step above. The hose on the Stealth also ends in an odd fitting that cannot be removed, which is worth knowing if you plan to use aftermarket attachments.

Water Pickup Test: A Clear Gap in Suction Speed

To see whether the hose size or anything else made a real difference, both vacuums were given the same water pickup test using 2 gallons of water, limited by the 5 gallon tank on the Stealth.

The Stealth cleared the water in roughly 5.84 seconds. The DeWalt finished in about 3.84 seconds. That is close to twice the water evacuation speed out of the DeWalt, which points to a meaningful difference in real-world suction performance, not just marketing numbers.

Overall Buying Advice

So which should you buy? The Stealth at $80 to $90 is the budget-friendly option and draws more raw watts, but the DeWalt StealthSonic at $139 (and often less on sale) offers a larger 12 gallon tank, better build quality with metal casters, a larger hose, a front drain, and significantly faster water pickup. If noise matters to you, the StealthSonic branding also points to a focus on quieter operation, though that is a factor you may want to weigh based on your own priorities.

For light-duty shop cleanup on a budget, the Stealth gets the job done. For heavier wet pickup, durability, and a more refined overall package, the DeWalt StealthSonic is the stronger pick if it fits your budget, especially when found on sale.

Conclusion

Both vacuums share a manufacturer and plenty of design cues, but they serve different needs. The Stealth is the affordable compact choice with surprisingly high power draw, while the DeWalt StealthSonic justifies its higher price with capacity, build quality, and much faster water evacuation. Match the choice to how often and how hard you will work the vacuum, and either can be a solid workshop companion.