Ryobi 40V 10-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Review

June 22, 2022

The Ryobi 40V 10-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleans the Mess Without the Stress

Over the last two years, we’ve seen some awesome Ryobi tools make their debut on both the 18V ONE+ and 40V platforms. We’re particularly happy to see the Ryobi RY40WD01 40V 10-gallon wet/dry vacuum, which promises a significant bump in power over previous Ryobi models. While that sounds good on paper, we wanted to put it to the test and find out for ourselves.

Ryobi 40V 10-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Performance

This Ryobi 40V vacuum delivers more power than you might expect from a battery-powered shop vac. Ryobi claims up to 75% more suction compared to the Ryobi P770 18V 6-gallon vacuum. Both move 80 CFM of air, but the Ryobi RY40WD01 couples that with 50 inches of water lift. Using the two vacuums side-by-side, you can really tell the difference quickly. The P770—while a decent product—just doesn’t have the same amount of pickup as its 40V “bigger brother”.

Ryobi includes multiple options for hose and accessory storage. They securely hold the 8-foot hose as well as the attachments in place—even when moving the vac all over our shop. This vacuum comes with two clamps that attach to the rear and let you store and secure the extensions vertically.

The Ryobi RY40WD01 vacuum includes a cartridge filter for dry applications and a foam filter for when you have to pick up water.

Furthermore, the Ryobi RY40WD01 gives you both squeegee and bristled inserts for the fan nozzle to help clean wet and dry messes. The design of each allows for enough airflow through the head to let you glide over wet or dry surfaces and let the vacuum pick up anything in its path.

Noise Level

Ryobi has done a great job of producing some remarkably quiet tools. This 40V wet/dry vacuum operates at 65 dB on Low and only 72 dB on High! While it’s not officially part of their Whisper series, we believe it has a place there. At the very least it deserves an honorable mention for being both exceptionally quiet and powerful.

Ryobi RY40WD01 Runtime

With a 40V 6.0Ah battery, this cordless shop vac ran for 21 minutes and 23 seconds on High and nearly 1 hour and 4 minutes on Low. That’s a huge improvement from the 18V P770 6-gallon vac. With that kind of cordless runtime, you’ll have plenty of time to clean up your shop floors and still have enough juice for the workbench too!

Ryobi cordless 10-Gallon Wet Dry Vacuum — Chris is sad to have to clean up his mess from testing the best cordless reciprocating saws but he’s happy he gets to use an efficient battery-powered vacuum!

Ryobi RY40WD01 40V 10-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Design Notes

Hose and Accessory Management

Ryobi makes it very easy to stow the 8-foot hose directly on the vacuum power head. The flexible hose wraps and locks securely into the top of the while the nozzles and accessories slide into molded plastic slots.

The 8 ft. x 1-7/8 in. flexible hose has a twist-lock connection that fits securely into the drum to avoid accidental disconnection during use. If, like me, you tend to pull your vacuum around by the hose, you know the importance of this feature!

Additional Features

IPX4 water-resistant battery compartment
Quick-release lid latches
Large drain plug lets you quickly empty the tank

Ryobi 40V 10-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Price

The Ryobi RY40WD01 retails for $199 as a bare tool. It comes with both wet and dry use filters, an 8-foot kink-resistant hose, two 15.5-inch extension wands, a crevice nozzle, floor nozzle, accessory clips, and four casters. Ryobi backs this vacuum with their 3-year limited warranty.

The company told us they would release a kit option in the near future. That will include all the same accessories as well as a 4.0 Ah battery and charger. We don’t have kit pricing info yet, so be sure to check back with us periodically for updates.

The Bottom Line

There really isn’t much not to like about the Ryobi 40V 10-gallon wet/dry vacuum. The hose and accessory management systems are top-tier and the performance completely met or exceeded any preconceived expectations I held. The only fly in the ointment for me is that I wish it had a Hybrid power system. With that said, its impressive cordless runtime and capable suction power make it a compelling option for both homeowners and professionals on the go.