Compare the collection system, not just the shared filter
Original schematic links both models to one dry-filter symbol but connects only 0970-20 to the listed bag and modular base.
0880-20
- 0880-20 with 58-14-0074d3 M18 manual; older combined-model guidance is not assumed.
- M18 battery operation; no mains operating lead.
0970-20
- 0970-20 with 58-14-0218d2 manual; US model scope.
- M18 battery operation with High/Off/Low switch positions.
Shared
M18 supply and the listed dry-filter identity.
Different
Bag listing, controls and modular connection.
Decide
Choose the feature that solves a real workflow problem.
Shared filtration does not imply a shared bag holder or storage interface; numbers are documented specifications, not a test ranking.
Begin with the question that changes the choice
If both machines can already use an approved M18 battery you own, battery branding no longer settles the decision. Ask what interrupts your current cleanup: carrying separate boxes, emptying loose debris, reaching a control, or running out of collection space. Each points toward a different feature. Buying the model with the larger suction headline without naming the problem can leave the workflow unchanged.
The 0880-20 is a compact toolbox-style vacuum. The 0970-20 is explicitly PACKOUT-compatible and has High/Low control. A rectangular shape on the first machine does not establish the locking interface of the second. If modular transport is the reason for changing, verify the intended base and modules rather than relying on a photograph of loosely stacked cases.
Read the specifications without inventing a performance ratio
Swipe or scroll horizontally to see all columns.
| Published item | 0880-20 | 0970-20 |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal tank capacity | 2 gallons | 2.5 gallons |
| Airflow | 45 CFM | 50 CFM |
| Suction | 32 inH2O | 47 inH2O |
| Operating control | On/Off | High/Off/Low |
| Dry filter | 49-90-1900 | 49-90-1900 |
| 49-90-2016 bag listing | Not listed | Listed |
| PACKOUT compatibility | Not established by toolbox shape | Explicitly listed |
The airflow and suction figures describe different conditions. They do not produce a valid percentage improvement in floor-cleaning speed or imply that both maxima occur together. The nominal half-gallon difference also does not guarantee that you can recover that much more liquid before the float responds. Do not turn these rows into a measured score that the documents do not provide.
Decide whether bagged collection is a real requirement
The official 49-90-2016 bag listing names 0970-20 and 0960-20, not 0880-20. If a documented disposable-bag workflow matters for permitted dry material, this is a concrete distinction. It is more useful than assuming the shared 49-90-1900 filter proves that all collection components are common.
Before buying, consider what you actually empty and where. A bag may simplify handling, but it still has to be installed correctly, used within its limits and disposed of appropriately. It is not a reason to collect a material the machine or the task assessment excludes. Do not purchase 0880-20 intending to add the other model’s holder with adhesive, cuts or improvised screws.
Treat wet pickup as a changeover on both machines
The matched manuals remove the dry filter for wet collection and retain the float cage. Wet foam 49-90-2015 is listed for both, with an explicit recommendation in the 0970-20 wet-operation section. Follow the actual machine and accessory instructions, not a general rule copied from DEWALT compact vacuums that retain their wet/dry filter.
For either choice, plan a stable upright position and a short, safe emptying route. The float closing suction requires you to switch off; it is not proof of motor shutdown. A larger tank does not eliminate the need to stop when pickup changes, and a storage stack must not interfere with reaching the switch or removing the battery.
Test the proposed arrangement without running the vacuum
Imagine a permitted household cleanup around storage shelves. Place the empty, isolated machine where it would stand, route the hose and check access to the farthest point. Can you reach the switch and open the battery compartment without moving another box? Can the tank be removed for emptying without an awkward lift? This dry rehearsal can reveal whether the modular option helps or merely makes a simple task more cumbersome.
If a separate small body already fits your routine, 0880-20 may be sufficient. If verified modular transport, a listed bag arrangement or High/Low control solves a specific problem, 0970-20 offers documented differences worth considering. Neither statement is a price, reliability or hands-on performance ranking.
Reject mismatched packages before deciding
Confirm exact model, document revision, included hose/nozzles and genuine filter condition. A used package with missing latches or an improvised bag conversion should not be treated as equivalent to a complete machine. Keep battery and charger cost separate if the advertised package does not include them.
Finally, preserve the material boundary. A filter label and a product-page reference to selected dust-control applications cannot be generalized into permission for unknown renovation dust. Choose a documented complete system for that work. This comparison helps select between two compact cleanup arrangements, not certify either one for every dust-producing tool.
Models referenced