Dust collectors are an important tool for any workshop or industrial setting, as they help to keep the air clean and safe to breathe by removing dust and other particles from the air. There are many different dust collectors available on the market, so it can be overwhelming to try and find the best one for your needs. That's why I've compiled a list of the 9 best dust collectors out there, to help you make an informed decision and choose the right one for your workshop or industrial setting. Whether you need a small, portable dust collector for your home workshop or a larger, more powerful one for an industrial setting, I've got you covered in this article. So without further ado, let's dive in and take a look at the 9 best dust collectors available.
You will find a lot of articles and videos talking about all kinds of factors when considering buying a dust collector. Most manufacturers offer varying degrees of these factors. But like any other tool, your buying decision should always boil down to use. And in my experience, the most important factor to look for in a dust collector is its suction power.
Generally, a 1.5 HP motor or more should be what you’re looking for if you’re gonna be serious about woodworking. With a few exceptions, any dust collector lower than 3/4 HP is inefficient for industrial woodworking machines like table saw, bandsaw, joiner, planer, sanders, etc. Under 3/4hp there is not enough suction to remove debris quickly so the wood chips will just pile in the tube and eventually clog it.
I’ve personally used all of the dust collectors on this list. I’ve gone with quite a few dust collectors courtesy of different furniture schools and companies that I've worked for. I own/owned some of the ones on the list too.
Specs
Motor: 2 HP
CFM: 1550
Number of Ports: 2
Weight: 98 pounds
$480.00
Best Value Dust Collector
Let’s start with the best value on my list, the Shop Fox W1666 Dust Collector. For the sheer price-to-performance ratio of this machine, you can’t go wrong. It offers plenty of power 2hp motor with an air suction capacity of 1,550 CFM. That’s a good amount of power for its price. Plus, it’s fairly quiet for a 2hp motor. Its filtration system is slated at 2.5 microns with a decent-sized bag capped at 5.4 cubic feet! There are after-market upgrades if you want it to filter up to 0.5 microns.
This machine gobbles up everything. Dust and even small pieces of wood are easy peasy for the Shop Fox W1666.
One of the good things about the Shop Fox W1666 Dust Collector is that it can be set up for multi-machine use. Its impeller is made of steel, not plastic like some of the cheap ones! I haven’t seen anyone complain about this dust collector’s impeller getting loose over time. I’m willing to bet that this dust collector in my shop will last for a very long time.
Setup is quick and easy, Shop Fox does a good job with the instructions. Something some manufacturers still can’t match. The Shop Fox W1666 Dust Collector has a safety key to prevent kids or even pets from accidentally switching it on. It is very easy to move around despite its size. It’s good value for the money. It’s good enough that I still keep mine.
Pros:
Powerful motor
Great price
Well-built
Easy to assemble
Straightforward and simple
Cons:
Wheels on bottom could be better
Specs
Motor: 3 HP
CFM: 1240
Number of Ports: 2
Weight: 242 pounds
$2,649.99
Best Dust Collector for the Money
If you have the money, buy the Jet JCDC-3 Cyclone Dust Collector.
As I said in the introduction of this list. For me, the most important factor in buying a dust collector is horsepower. And out of all the dust collectors I’ve personally used, the Jet JCDC-3 Cyclone Dust Collector at my buddy Tommy Mac's shop and it is the best. It’s also the most expensive on the list. It’s around the three thousand dollar mark depending on where you get it from.
The Jet JCDC-3 Cyclone Dust Collector has a 3 HP motor that can suck in the heaviest particles. This dust collector also has bells and whistles that some don’t have. It has a remote control for easy operation. It’s good practice to leave dust collectors on right after using the equipment. Dust might still be suspended in the air. The remote allows the use of a timer so you don’t have to stay around to turn it off. It has a quick-release collection drum for easy cleaning up. To top that, it can clean 99% of 2-micron particles and 86% of 1-micron particles!
This Jet product really sucks! (pun intended). It has one of the best cyclone systems that separates heavy debris from the particles that need to be filtered. Heavy debris is contained in a humongous 66-gallon tub. Perhaps this system explains why I’ve never heard about any clogs with it, ever.
The Jet JCDC-3 Cyclone Dust Collector was designed for heavy-duty use. You can use it for hours on end and it will work the way it’s supposed to. And, while most dust collectors only have 3-year warranties, Jet offers woodworkers a 5-year warranty to give you peace of mind.
Pros:
Can pick up really small particles easily
Stylish design
Reasonable price point
Tolerable noise
The optional wheel set inclusion is a plus factor
Cons:
The materials used in the remote could have been better
Specs
Motor: 2 HP
CFM: 1500
Number of Ports: 2
Weight: 69 pounds
$949.99
It doesn’t look too nice BUT It does the job for half the price.
The Vevor 2HP Dust Collector does what you need it to do and it doesn’t break the bank. It’s sold at just about $950 at the time of this writing.
This dust collector’s 2hp motor is powerful enough for all work. Suction power is at 1,059 CFM. It has its own separator between huge debris and small particles that go to its filter. The filter is rated at 99% filtration for up to 3 microns. It has a good enough sized 13.2 Gallon Collection Drum. It might not be as big as the others but this dust collector is designed to be on the practical side. It can easily be moved around too.
The Vevor 2HP dust collector has a Y-connector too if you’d like to go for a multi-suction setup.
Pros:
The motor can be easily replaced if necessary in the future
Efficient in doing its job by separating chips from dust
Affordable price
Simple to use
Excellent dust filtration ability saves time and effort
Cons:
The exterior design seems to be a bit odd
4. JET DC-1200VX-BK3 Vortex Cone Dust Collector, 30-Micron Bag Filter, 1200 CFM, 3Ph 230/460V (710703K)
Specs
Motor: 2 HP
CFM: 1500
Number of Ports: 2
Weight: 69 pounds
$949.99
Powerful Motor BUT With a Caveat
Jet produces some of the best tools on the market. And I would say that the Jet DC-1200vX-BK3 Vortex Cone Dust Collector is best for a specific niche, the beginner woodworker. This dust collector has a powerful 2hp motor rated at 1,200 CFM. The only caveat? It can only filter up to 30 microns. I’ve always liked Jet products and would usually recommend at least 1 product from Jet.
Pros:
Motor is power-efficient
Decent speed
User-friendly
Design is top-notch
Durable and is built to last
Cons:
The limitation of 30 microns could be its greatest downside
Specs
Motor: 1.5 HP
CFM: 1280
Number of Ports: 2
Weight: 92.8 pounds
$472
Small But Sucks (But in a Good Way)
I know right, I did tell you that there are a few exceptions to my 2HP rule. This is one of them, the Shop fox W1685. It’s the less powerful version of the best-value dust collector I listed. Even though it only has 1.5 hp, it’s rated at 1,280 CFM. It matches even some of the 2hp motor dust collectors! I was surprised at how powerful this dust collector is when I used first used it.
What else does it offer? Like the others I recommend on this list, this 1.5 hp might mouse has a y-connector for your multiple suction needs. It can filter up to 2.5 microns. It’s a rather small size at 5.4 cubic feet perfect to roll around a small shop.
Pros:
Jam-packed with safety features
Portability at its finest
Enough suction power for small work area
Installation is a breeze
Budget-friendly
Easy to clean
Cons:
Too small to accommodate mid-sized to large-sized rooms
6. JET DC-1100VX-5M Vortex Cone Dust Collector, 5-Micron Bag Filter, 1100 CFM, 1Ph 115/230V (708658K)
Specs
Motor: 1 HP
CFM: 1100
Number of Ports: 2
Weight: 7.83 pounds
$749.99
JET’s Version of Small But Terrible
Here’s another small but terrible dust collector, the Jet DC-1100VX-5M Vortex Cone. It’s a product of Jet so I always expect the quality to be top-notch. There’s a 5-year warranty in it, take that as peace of mind. Just look at its 1hp motor, it produces 1100 CFM for that matter. It has one of the best filters around at 5 microns. That means it can filter out 98% of particles!
The Jet DC-1100VX-5M Vortex Cone might be small but it does its job well. It sucks everything. I used this in a small shop it’s light and perfect for moving around.
Pros:
Easy-to-understand mechanisms
The extended warranty will give customers peace of mind
Professional-looking design
Cleaning the tool can be done with minimal efforts
The price point is reasonable
Cons:
Somehow complicated to setup
Specs
Motor: 1.5 HP
CFM: 868
Number of Ports: 2
Weight: 7.83 pounds
$1390
Well Made (It’s Grizzly!) But Expensive
The Grizzly Industrial G0860 1.5hp Portable Cyclone Dust Collector is well made. It’s the quality that I always expect from the Grizzly brand.
Like what its name implies, this dust collector is made to move around. It has a small 1.5hp motor that only has 868 CFM suction power. It only has a 20-gallon bag, perfect for its size and function. It does have a great filtration system at 1 micron!
One of the best parts of the Grizzly Industrial G0860 1.5hp Portable Cyclone Dust Collector is the quick-release handle. Dust collectors aren’t judged solely on their suction power but also on ease of cleanup. After all, you don’t want the dust released into the air when it’s time to dispose of it! This unit has a remote control so it is also high up there for ease of use and functionality.
This unit is quite noisy though for its size. If you have a very small shop, make sure you have ear protection too. I think it’s a bit expensive for its size too. It costs almost $1,400. But again, it’s a Grizzly and this one is built for portability. I already have a bigger shop but if your shop has limited space, the Grizzly Industrial G0860 1.5hp Portable Cyclone Dust Collector is an excellent choice.
Pros:
Suction power is more than enough
Easy to use and install
Durable
Comfortable to use due to its remote control
Highly-mobile
Cons:
Pricey
Vibrates more than its counterparts
Specs
Motor: 1.5 HP
CFM: 1100
Number of Ports: 2
Weight: 29.9 pounds
$999.99
It's a JET
I can’t get enough of Jet products I know. The Jet DC-1100VX-CK Vortex Cone Dust Collector might just have a 1hp motor but it sucks particles at 1,100 CFM. It has even more suction power than the Grizzly Portable Dust Collector. And unlike the Grizzly, the Jet dust collector is a quieter machine in my opinion. It has a pretty good 2-micron filter, a gift to your lungs.
If you have a better budget and have a small shop, I would go for the Jet DC-1100VX-CK Vortex Cone Dust Collector. The 5-year warranty from Jet is tough to beat. Any Jet product has good build quality. It’s also quiet but powerful. If your woodworking shop is not using big equipment that produces big debris, this should be perfect for the job.
Pros:
Instructions are given for easier assembly
Efficient
Reasonable price tag
Quiet operation without compromising power
Easy to use
Cons:
The exterior look is not that promising
Specs
Motor: 1 HP
CFM: 800
Number of Ports: 1
Weight: 55 pounds
$360
Best for the Hobbyist
If you’re on a very tight budget, the Shop Fox W1727 1hp Dust Collector is for you. It only has a 1 hp motor with an 800 CFM suction capacity. It is lightweight at 55 lbs. For the cost of just $360, it has a good enough 2.5-micron filtration system.
I would use this if I’m just starting out and just a hobbyist. I believe that woodworking is for everyone and that Shop Fox made a really good dust collector in this. It does what it’s supposed to for less cost.
Pros:
Users will not fall short of suction power
Mechanisms are not complicated
Lightweight making it super mobile
Maintenance is easy
Affordable pricing
Cons:
The exterior look is not that promising
There's my best dust collector list. The things I've written here are all based on personal experience. I've used more but I think this is an exhaustive list for every type of woodworker out there. No matter what your budget is, please get a dust collector. It will save your life and will pay for itself in the long run. There's a wide selection of dust collectors out there. I hope my list would help you decide which one to invest in. An investment in a dust collector is an investment in your health and shop too.
Disclaimer: I only recommend products that I have used myself or have in my workshop. All opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.