What size power station for a wet/dry shop vacuum?

It needs a station with at least 1,200 W of continuous output (starting watts not published, so the check uses running watts). At the default 85% efficiency it takes about 706 Wh of rated capacity for its typical 30 min a day, and 1,412 Wh for 1 hour of use. 43 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it. The smallest one that keeps it going for 1 hour of use is the Goal Zero Yeti 1500 (1,505 Wh).

Updated October 6, 2026

1,200W
Continuous output
Not published
Surge to start it
706Wh
Capacity for its typical 30 min a day
1,412Wh
Capacity for 1 hour of use
43 of 54
Stations that power it

Watts

Typical figures for this type, from the sources at the foot of this page. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Running, typical: 1,200 W
Running, low to high: 900 W to 1,440 W
Starting: Not publishedmotors often need 2 to 3 times their running watts to start
Typical use a day: 30 minhours the motor actually runs
Average draw while on: 1,200 W
Voltage: 120 V

Assumes the motor runs the whole time; real use is often less.
Starting watts not published; motors often need 2 to 3 times their running watts to start.

Explained in: Watts vs watt hours, explained, How to read an appliance label for watts and Starting watts explained.

The math

Worked with the typical figure, as the calculator does it.

Output1,200 W running, so the station's continuous output must be at least 1,200 W.
SurgeStarting watts are not published, so the surge check uses the 1,200 W running figure.
Average draw1,200 W: the running watts count for every hour it is on, as if the motor never paused.
A typical day1,200 W × 30 min = 600 Wh a day.
Typical 30 min a day1,200 W × 30 min = 600 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 706 Wh of rated capacity.
1 hour of use1,200 W × 1 h = 1,200 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 1,412 Wh of rated capacity.
On the Goal Zero Yeti 15001,505 Wh × 0.85 = 1,279 Wh usable, ÷ 1,200 W = 1.1 h of use.

Stations that run it

Every power station in the data with this appliance alone plugged in, at 85% efficiency. Type the running watts from your own label and the table works it out again.

Running watts

Typical 1,200 W, from 900 W to 1,440 W. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

43 of 54 power stations run it at 1,200 W.

Power stations for a wet/dry shop vacuum at 1,200 W
Power station	Can it power it	Running time	Output	Start surge
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2	Runs it	44 min of use	1,800 W	3,600 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic	Runs it	44 min of use	1,800 W	3,600 W
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2	Runs it	44 min of use	2,000 W	3,000 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3	Runs it	44 min of use	1,800 W	3,600 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus	Runs it	44 min of use	1,800 W	3,600 W
Pecron E1000LFP	Runs it	44 min of use	1,800 W	3,000 W
DJI Power 1000	Runs it	44 min of use	2,200 W	4,400 W
Anker SOLIX C1000	Runs it	45 min of use	1,800 W	2,400 W
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2	Runs it	45 min of use	1,500 W	3,000 W
BLUETTI AC180	Runs it	49 min of use	1,800 W	2,700 W
ALLPOWERS R1500	Runs it	49 min of use	1,800 W	3,000 W
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus	Runs it	54 min of use	2,000 W	4,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti 1500	Runs it	1.1 h of use	2,000 W	3,600 W
Jackery Explorer 1500 v2	Runs it	1.1 h of use	2,000 W	4,000 W
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra	Runs it	1.1 h of use	1,800 W	3,600 W
ALLPOWERS R2500 V2	Runs it	1.4 h of use	2,500 W	4,000 W
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2	Runs it	1.4 h of use	2,200 W	4,400 W
Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2	Runs it	1.5 h of use	2,400 W	4,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max	Runs it	1.5 h of use	2,400 W	4,800 W
Pecron E2400LFP	Runs it	1.5 h of use	2,400 W	4,000 W
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2	Runs it	1.5 h of use	2,400 W	4,000 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus	Runs it	1.5 h of use	3,000 W	6,000 W
OUPES Mega 2 Pro	Runs it	1.5 h of use	2,500 W	not published
DJI Power 2000	Runs it	1.5 h of use	3,000 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2	Runs it	1.5 h of use	2,600 W	not published
Anker SOLIX F2600	Runs it	1.8 h of use	2,400 W	2,800 W
BLUETTI Apex 300	Runs it	2.0 h of use	3,840 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 300	Runs it	2.1 h of use	2,400 W	4,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra	Runs it	2.2 h of use	3,600 W	7,200 W
Anker SOLIX F3000	Runs it	2.2 h of use	3,600 W	7,200 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus	Runs it	2.2 h of use	3,600 W	7,200 W
Pecron E3600LFP	Runs it	2.2 h of use	3,600 W	7,000 W
ALLPOWERS R3500	Runs it	2.2 h of use	3,200 W	6,000 W
ALLPOWERS R4000	Runs it	2.4 h of use	3,600 W	6,000 W
BLUETTI Elite 400	Runs it	2.7 h of use	2,600 W	5,200 W
Anker SOLIX F3800	Runs it	2.7 h of use	6,000 W	9,000 W
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus	Runs it	2.7 h of use	6,000 W	9,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000	Runs it	2.8 h of use	3,600 W	7,200 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3	Runs it	2.9 h of use	4,000 W	8,000 W
OUPES Guardian 6000 V2	Runs it	3.3 h of use	6,000 W	9,000 W
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus	Runs it	3.6 h of use	7,200 W	14,400 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra	Runs it	4.4 h of use	7,200 W	10,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X	Runs it	8.7 h of use	12,000 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 10 Mini	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 200 W. Needs 1,200 W to start; this station peaks at 300 W.	none	200 W	300 W
Jackery Explorer 240 v2	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 300 W. Needs 1,200 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.	none	300 W	600 W
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 600 W.	none	600 W	1,200 W
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 600 W. Needs 1,200 W to start. Its surge rating is not published, and its 600 W continuous rating is lower.	none	600 W	not published
Jackery Explorer 300 v2	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 300 W. Needs 1,200 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.	none	300 W	600 W
Goal Zero Yeti 300	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 350 W. Needs 1,200 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.	none	350 W	600 W
Goal Zero Yeti 500	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 500 W. Needs 1,200 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W.	none	500 W	1,000 W
DJI Power 500	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 1,000 W. Needs 1,200 W to start. Its surge rating is not published, and its 1,000 W continuous rating is lower.	none	1,000 W	not published
Jackery Explorer 600 v2	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 500 W. Needs 1,200 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W.	none	500 W	1,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti 700	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 600 W. Needs 1,200 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W.	none	600 W	1,000 W
BLUETTI Elite 100 mini	Cannot power itNeeds 1,200 W running at once; this station gives 700 W. Needs 1,200 W to start; this station peaks at 1,050 W.	none	700 W	1,050 W

Add it to the runtime calculator with the rest of your list

What moves the number

A larger tank usually means a larger motor: 900 W to 1,440 W across the sizes in our sources, the top figure for a 16 gallon vac. No start figure is published, so the surge check uses the running watts.

Questions

How many watts does a wet/dry shop vacuum use?

About 1,200 W while running, from 900 W to 1,440 W across the models in our sources. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Can a portable power station run a wet/dry shop vacuum?

Yes. 43 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it on its own. It takes at least 1,200 W of continuous output.

How long will a power station run a wet/dry shop vacuum?

It depends on the battery. At 85% efficiency the smallest station that powers it, the BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 (1,024 Wh), gives about 44 min of use. The largest, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X (12,288 Wh), gives about 8.7 h of use.

Does a wet/dry shop vacuum need extra watts to start?

Its starting watts are not published, and motors often need 2 to 3 times their running watts to start. Without a published figure the site checks the start at the 1,200 W running figure, so leave headroom above that on your station.

Sources

Researched from these pages, then checked against them a second time.

Generator Wattage Worksheet (Generac) generator maker guide, checked October 6, 2026
12 Gallon NXT Wet/Dry Vac | RIDGID Tools maker product page, checked October 6, 2026
16 Gallon NXT Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable Blower | RIDGID Tools maker product page, checked October 6, 2026
RT0600 6 Gallon NXT Wet/Dry Vac | RIDGID Tools maker product page, checked October 6, 2026

We read published figures and do the math; we do not measure appliances. The methodology states every formula on this page. Capacities are rated watt hours: 1,000 Wh rated gives 850 Wh usable at the default.