By Martin Harris.

Festool Dust Extractors Compared: CT 15, CT 26, CT 36, and Midi

Festool's corded dust extractors in the US run from the compact CT 15 and CT MIDI I, which hold about 4 gallons, up through the CT 26 EI (6.9 gallons), the CT 36 EI (9.5 gallons), and the CT 48 EI AC (12.7 gallons). Every model is HEPA certified and lists the same 96 inches of static water lift. What changes is the bin size, Bluetooth, and whether the filter cleans itself.

For a woodworker in a garage running a sander, a track saw, and a router, the CT 26 EI is the model I would look at first. It holds enough to get through a long sanding job, weighs about 31 pounds, and costs less than the CT 36. This page compares the lineup using Festool's published specs. For other brands in this class, see my best dust extractor for woodworking roundup.

What changed in Festool's lineup

In February 2025 Festool released a new generation of its mid and large extractors, the CT 26, CT 36, and CT 48 EI. Festool's announcement lists touch controls in place of the old dials, a built in Bluetooth connection, and an automatic mode that turns on as soon as the extractor is switched on. In that mode it starts with a corded tool plugged into its outlet, or with a Festool cordless tool through a Bluetooth battery pack or the optional remote.

If you see listings for a CT 26 E or CT 36 E without the "I," those are the previous generation. Used and closeout units can still be good buys, but make sure you know which one you are pricing. On the AutoClean (AC) models, Festool says you can set the cleaning interval to 15, 30, 60, or 120 seconds in its app. Festool also announced a CT MIDI I AC with AutoClean for June 2025. I could not confirm US availability, so it is left out of the table below.

Current Festool extractor specs

Sources: Festool specifications as published on Festool USA product pages and by Festool dealers Rockler, Acme Tools, Tool Nirvana, and Tool Nut; Festool's 2025 announcement of the CT 26/36/48 EI generation. Every model lists 96 in. static water lift (24,000 Pa) and 350 to 1,200 W power draw. Checked September 2026.

How to read these specs

A dust extractor is a vacuum built to pull dust straight off a hand tool. It moves a small volume of air through a narrow hose with a lot of suction. A dust collector does the opposite, moving a large volume of air through a wide hose with less suction. That is why a Festool lists 130 to 138 CFM while a garage dust collector lists over 1,000. My page on dust collector vs shop vac covers which tools need which.

• Max CFM is the most air the motor moves with nothing restricting it. At the end of a hose and a sander pad, it will be lower.
• Static water lift measures suction. It is how many inches the vacuum can lift a column of water up a tube. All of these list 96 inches, so suction strength does not separate them.
• HEPA certified means the filter captures at least 99.97% of particles at 0.3 micron. Festool dealers list these as full unit certified, which means the whole machine is sealed so dust can't slip around the filter.
• Container vs bag volume. The container is the size of the tub. The filter bag inside holds a bit less. The CT 26 EI lists a 6.9 gallon container and a 6.3 gallon bag.

CT 15 HEPA: the smallest and simplest

The CT 15 holds 4 gallons, weighs 24.69 pounds, and comes with an 11.5 foot, 27 mm anti-static hose. It has a tool activated outlet, so it switches on when your corded sander starts, plus touch controls and five suction levels. Tool Nut lists this model as having no Bluetooth, so it will not start from a cordless tool on its own. Tool Nirvana listed it at $449 when I checked in September 2026. It fits a woodworker with one corded sander, or anyone who wants a HEPA vacuum for cleanup and small jobs. You can find the Festool CT 15 HEPA on Amazon.

CT MIDI I HEPA: small, with Bluetooth

The CT MIDI I is the same size class as the CT 15, with a 4 gallon container, 130 CFM, and 24.91 pounds. The difference is Bluetooth. It can start and stop from a Festool Bluetooth battery pack or the Bluetooth remote (part 202098), both sold separately. If you run Festool cordless sanders or a cordless track saw, that saves a trip to a switch on every cut. Both the CT 15 and CT MIDI I use the same SELFCLEAN bag. You can find the Festool CT MIDI I HEPA on Amazon.

CT 26 EI HEPA: the one most woodworkers mean

The CT 26 EI steps up to a 6.9 gallon container and 138 CFM at 30.64 pounds, with Bluetooth and touch controls from the new generation. A Festool dealer lists its noise at 62 to 72 dB(A). It has a tool triggered outlet, so it starts when you switch on a corded tool plugged into it.

This is the size I would buy for a garage woodworking shop. It holds about 70% more than the CT MIDI without the jump in footprint of the CT 36. This site lists it at $799 as of 2026-10-24, and prices change. Check the Festool CT 26 HEPA at Lee Valley. My sander dust collection guide explains how to set suction for different sanders.

CT 36 EI HEPA: more bin for long jobs

The CT 36 EI holds 9.5 gallons and weighs 31.75 pounds, only about a pound more than the CT 26. Rockler lists it at 14 by 25 by 23.4 inches, with a 25 foot power cord, a 27/32 mm by 3.5 meter smooth hose, a SYS-Dock with T-LOC for locking a Systainer (Festool's stacking tool case) on top, and 979 square inches of filter surface. The tool outlet is rated for up to 2,400 watts. Rockler listed it at $999 when I checked in September 2026. It makes sense if you sand a lot of large panels, run a router with it, or also use it for shop cleanup, where the extra volume means fewer bag changes. You can find the Festool CT 36 EI HEPA on Amazon.

AutoClean: CT 36 EI AC and CT 48 EI AC

AutoClean is Festool's self cleaning main filter. At a set interval, the machine pulses air backward through the filter to knock off the fine dust caked on it. That keeps suction up when you are making a lot of very fine dust, like sanding MDF, drywall, or paint. On the CT 36 EI AC and CT 48 EI AC, Festool lets you pick 15, 30, 60, or 120 second intervals in its app. The CT 48 EI AC lists 12.7 gallons, 137 CFM, and 37.26 pounds.

In the US dealer listings I checked, AutoClean shows up on the CT 36 and CT 48 only, and I found no CT 26 AC for this market. For most hardwood sanding, the SELFCLEAN bag catches the bulk of the dust before it reaches the main filter, and the standard CT 26 or CT 36 is enough. If you sand a lot of MDF, read is MDF dust dangerous and consider the AC model. You can find the Festool CT 36 EI AC HEPA on Amazon and the Festool CT 48 EI AC HEPA on Amazon.

Bag and filter costs

Festool's SELFCLEAN bags are fleece bags that catch particles down to 5 microns. They work as a pre-filter, which means they stop most of the dust before it reaches the main HEPA filter, so that filter lasts longer. Here is what Woodcraft charged for 5 packs when I checked:

Source: Woodcraft product listings, September 2026. Prices change. Main HEPA filter prices vary by model, so check with your dealer.

Warranty

Festool USA's warranty all-inclusive covers its power tools, including dust extractors, for 3 years from purchase. It includes wear parts such as carbon brushes and bearings, with shipping both ways paid by Festool. You need to buy from an authorized US dealer and register the tool within 30 days to get the full coverage. Registration is free.

Who each model fits

• CT 15 HEPA: one corded sander, small projects, and cleanup, at the lowest Festool price.
• CT MIDI I HEPA: a small shop built around Festool cordless tools that should start the vacuum on their own.
• CT 26 EI HEPA: most garage woodworkers running a sander, track saw, and router.
• CT 36 EI HEPA: heavy sanding, larger projects, or double duty as the shop cleanup vacuum.
• CT 36 EI AC or CT 48 EI AC: lots of MDF, drywall, or finish sanding where fine dust coats the filter fast.

Alternatives to a Festool

Festool's advantages are low noise, the Systainer dock, and Bluetooth with its own cordless tools. If those don't matter to you, other HEPA extractors do the same core job. Prices below are street prices from this site's data as of 2026-10-24.

• DeWalt DWV012 ($650): a 10 gallon extractor with automatic filter cleaning, a cheaper route to self cleaning.
• Bosch VAC090AH ($600): a HEPA extractor in the 9 gallon class.
• Fein Turbo I ($320): a compact, quiet HEPA extractor.
• Makita VC4210L ($819): the largest bin in this group, for long sessions.
• Oneida Dust Deputy Deluxe ($120) on a good shop vac: a cyclone that catches most dust before the vac filter, for the lowest total cost.

For the shop vac route, see my best shop vac for woodworking list. Keep in mind that an extractor is for hand tools. A table saw or planer needs a real dust collector, which I cover in my complete guide to small shop dust collection.

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