Cordless Dust Collection: Milwaukee vs DeWalt vs Makita Vacs

Cordless dust collection used to be a compromise. The suction was weak. The capacity was tiny. The batteries drained fast.

That is not true anymore. Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita all make cordless shop vacs that work well alongside their cordless tool platforms. This guide compares the three and tells you when cordless makes sense.

The Three Main Systems

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 0882-20

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL cordless vac is specifically designed to pair with M18 FUEL circular saws, routers, and sanders. It uses a 32mm hose, which matches the 32mm dust ports on Milwaukee M18 tools directly.

This means no adapter needed from tool to vac. Plug in the hose and go. It also features a tool-activation mode that starts the vac automatically when the paired tool runs.

The 2.4-liter canister is small. For quick jobs and cleanup, it is fine. For a full day of sanding or sawing, you will empty it several times. The HEPA filter upgrade (sold separately) is worth it for fine dust capture.

Best for: Milwaukee M18 users who want a tool-matched cordless system with no-adapter convenience.

DeWalt DCV517B (20V MAX, compact)

The DCV517B is DeWalt's compact cordless vac. It uses a 1-1/4 inch hose (smaller than most). The 1.9-liter capacity is the smallest of the three systems.

It works well for general cleanup and light dust capture from cordless saws and sanders. The smaller hose size means you need a 1-1/4" to 32mm adapter to connect to most DeWalt 20V tools. This is a minor inconvenience that most users tape over with masking tape rather than buy an adapter.

Best for: Light-duty use, cleanup, and anyone who already owns 20V MAX batteries.

DeWalt DCV586B (FLEXVOLT 60V, full-size)

The DCV586B is DeWalt's serious cordless vac. The FLEXVOLT 60V platform has the power to compete with corded units. The 7.6-liter capacity handles all-day work. The 1-7/8 inch hose matches standard shop vac accessories.

This is a full shop vac that happens to run on battery. The tradeoff is battery drain. A 9Ah FLEXVOLT battery gives about 45 to 60 minutes of run time. Keep two batteries charged for longer sessions.

Best for: Job sites with no power, or anyone who wants a full-size cordless shop vac without compromise.

Makita XCV04Z (18V LXT X2, compact)

The Makita XCV04Z uses two 18V LXT batteries (36V combined) for serious suction. The 2-liter canister is compact but reasonable for tool-connected dust capture. It uses a 1-7/8 inch hose, which matches standard shop vac accessories and connects to Makita 36mm tool ports with a step-down adapter.

Makita is the only brand in this list that uses 36mm tool ports, so even the brand-matched vac needs a 36mm → 1-7/8 inch adapter on the tool side. A minor inconvenience, but worth noting.

Best for: Makita LXT users who want a compact cordless system for job sites.

Makita XCV10Z (18V LXT X2, full-size)

The XCV10Z is Makita's large cordless vac. At 8 liters, it handles all-day work. It includes a HEPA filter as standard, the best filtration spec of any of the units listed here.

It uses a 1-7/8 inch hose like its smaller sibling. With a 36mm to 1-7/8 inch adapter on the tool side, it connects to all Makita LXT and XGT tools.

Best for: Makita users who want HEPA filtration standard and a large cordless capacity.

When to Choose Cordless Over Corded

Cordless makes sense when:

• You work on job sites without power outlets (new construction, outdoor work)
• You move between rooms frequently and cord management is a problem
• You already have the battery platform and extra batteries to spare
• Your jobs are under 2 hours and battery capacity is not a concern

Corded makes more sense when:

• You work in a shop with power outlets nearby
• You run all-day sessions and cannot interrupt for battery swaps
• You want the strongest suction (corded units still outperform at the top end)
• You do not already own the battery platform (buying batteries for a vac alone is expensive)

Hose Adapter Situation by Brand

When you connect a cordless vac to a power tool, both sides of the connection matter:

• Milwaukee M18 tools (32mm port) to M18 vac (32mm hose): no adapter needed
• DeWalt 20V tools (32mm port) to DCV517B (1-1/4" hose): needs 32mm to 1-1/4" adapter
• DeWalt 20V tools (32mm port) to DCV586B (1-7/8" hose): needs 32mm to 1-7/8" adapter
• Makita LXT tools (36mm port) to XCV04Z or XCV10Z (1-7/8" hose): needs 36mm to 1-7/8" adapter

GulpDust makes all these adapters. Use the configurator to select your tool and your vac, and we will show you the exact part.