If you’ve thought of getting a vacuum sealer, take advantage of this excellent opportunity from FoodSaver – 32% off a starter kit with one of their best models. Here’s what you get:
FoodSaver FM2100 Vacuum Sealer
11 x 10′ Vacuum Seal Roll
Three 1-quart pre-cut vacuum seal bags
Two 1-gallon pre-cut vacuum seal bags
Accessory Hose
My individual vacuum sealer reviews give you an in depth look, but these comparison charts may be the best place to start. They let you compare models side-by-side to help you choose the best machine for your needs. Save time and shop smart!
This page covers a lot, so it’s quite long. Please use our Table of Contents to skip straight to the info you’re looking for!
Vacuum Sealer Types – A Brief Explanation
Researching food vacuum sealers on the web can be confusing because of all the various ways these machines can be classified. You’ll find that the term “commercial vacuum sealers” is applied to everything from tabletop chamber models to massive industrial machines. We take a different approach.
Our focus is on vacuum sealers of all types that are considered suitable for average home use. Three main things will influence your choice:
- the food types you plan to seal
- frequency of use
- available space
The top rated vacuum sealers are grouped accordingly in the charts below. You can scroll down the page or click a link to skip straight to the type you’d like to see:
- Chamber Vacuum Sealer Comparison Chart
- Channel (External) Vacuum Sealer Comparison Chart
- Handheld & Basic Vacuum Sealer Comparison Chart (Models under $75)
Anyone brand new to the concept of vacuum sealing may want to start at the bottom of this page and read “About Vacuum Sealers” first.
→ For pros, cons, and complete details on a particular model, click any of the “Read Review” links in the charts below.
(back to top)Chamber Vacuum Sealer Comparison Chart
For frequent use and top performance, chamber vacuum sealers are fast, efficient, and produce the best results. They work well on either dry or liquid foods and do the best job of removing air to give your packaged foods a very long shelf life. These models are for those who want to invest in a high quality machine for heavy duty use. (To get a general overview you might also like to see About Commercial Vacuum Sealers.)
 (click to view on Amazon) |  (click to view on Amazon) |  (click to view on Amazon) |
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| Model | VacMaster VP210 Chamber Vacuum Sealer | VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer | PolyScience 300 Series Chamber Vacuum Sealer |
| Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | |
| Exterior Dimensions | 14" x 20" x 15" | 14" x 20" x 15" | 18.5" x 14" x 14.5" |
| Chamber Size | 11.25" x 15.25" x 5" | 11.25" x 15.25" x 5" | 13.8" x 12" x 4.3" |
| Weight | 72 lbs. | 84 lbs. | 50.7 lbs. |
| Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Controls | Digital | Digital | Digital |
| Seal Bars | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Seal Bar Length | 10" | 10" | 12.25" |
| Maximum Bag Size | 10" x 13" | 10" x 13" | 12" x 14" |
| Works for marinating/ infusion | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works for Liquids | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pump | Dry Rocker Piston | 1/4 HP rotary oil pump | Dry piston |
| Pressure Indicator | Yes | Yes | Pre-sets |
| Adjustable Vacuum | Yes | Yes | Pre-sets |
| Adjustable Seal | Yes | Yes | Pre-sets |
| Warranty | 1 Year Ltd. | 1 Year Ltd. | 1 Year Ltd. parts/labor 90 Days Ltd. unit replacement |
| Average Customer Rating | 4.7 | 4.7 | 3.9 (< 20 reviews) |
| Price Range | Under $1,150 | Under $1,100 | Under $1000 |
| See Today's Price on Amazon | Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price |
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Channel Vacuum Sealer Comparison Chart
UPDATE: For the most recent information on all FoodSaver brand vacuum sealers, please see the following:
Compare FoodSaver GameSaver Models (all models in the GameSaver line)
Compare FoodSaver Models (all other FoodSaver models, from top-of-the-line to small handhelds)
The above links will open in a new tab or window so that you don’t lose your place here.
These external vacuum sealers are in the mid-price range and are suitable for average use. Performance varies between models, but some produce very good results on most foods. Liquids can be a bit trickier, and in some cases they need to be frozen before processing, so plan on a little extra time and work on your part. If you’ll be packaging a lot of very liquid foods, be sure to look at the models that include an accessory port that allows you to attach a vacuum hose.
Note on the Weston Pro: If you’re considering the Weston Pro 2300, you may also want to see our comparison chart for the Weston Pro 2300 vs. VacMaster Pro350 & VacMaster Pro380. Both VacMaster models have virtually the same features as the Weston, plus they both have an accessory port.
 See it on Amazon |  See it on Amazon |  See it on Amazon |  See it on Amazon |  See it on Amazon |  See it on Amazon |  See it on Amazon |
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| Model | Weston Pro-2300 Vacuum Sealer #65-0201 | FoodSaver V4400 Vacuum Sealer (V4440 is Same Model) | FoodSaver 4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer | FoodSaver FM5200 2-in-1 Automatic Vacuum Sealer | FoodSaver FM 2100 | FoodSaver FM2435-ECR | FoodSaver 31161366 Space Saving Vacuum Sealer |
| Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | ||||
| Operation | Manual or Auto | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Exterior Dimensions | 15.3" x 23" x 9" | 7.85" x 16.14" x 7.09" | 16" x 7.875" x 6.75" | 9.3" x 17.6" x 9.6" | 16.3" x 9.2" x 4" | 18.4" x 6.5" x 11" | 12.2" x 5.7" x 4.3" |
| Weight | 14.4 lbs. | 10 lbs. | 10 lbs. | 8.7 lbs. | 6.6 lbs. | 7.7 lbs. | 3.2 lbs. |
| Maximum Bag Width | 15" | 11" | 11" | 11" | 11" | 11" | 8" |
| Moist/Dry Food Settings | Yes (manual) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Drip Tray is Removable | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Roll Storage | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bag Cutter | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Manual | Yes | No |
| Vacuum Hose | None | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Sold Separately |
| Accessory Port | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Setting for Delicate foods | Yes (manual) | Yes | Yes (manual) | Yes (manual) | Yes (Seal-Only) | Yes (Seal-Only) | No |
| Warranty | 2 Year Ltd. | 5 Year Ltd. | 5 Year Ltd. | 5 Year Ltd. | 5 Year Ltd. | 5 Year Ltd. | 5 Year Ltd. |
| Average Customer Rating | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| Price Range | Under $450 | Under $250 | Under $250 | Under $200 | Under $150 | Under $150 | Under $125 |
| See Today's Price on Amazon | Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price |
Handheld & Basic Vacuum Sealer Comparison Chart
Please note that the images in the table below are not in proportion to each other. The handheld models are actually much smaller than the countertop models. You can get a better idea of size by looking at the dimensions listed, or by clicking one of the links to view the product on Amazon.
These are the least expensive vacuum sealers available, and they work well for casual users who don’t do volume processing or require top performance for long term food storage. If you’re just getting into vacuum sealing or only anticipate occasional use, you may find that one of these models will suit your purposes.
 (click to view on Amazon) |  (click to view on Amazon) |  See it on Amazon |
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| Model | NutriChef Vacuum Sealer | Nesco VS-02 | FoodSaver 31161370 |
| Type | Countertop | Countertop | Handheld Cordless |
| Dimensions | 14.1 x 6 x 3 | 18.3" x 5.1" x 11.8" | 4.33" x 6.5" x 11.42" |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs. | 7 lbs. | 8 oz. |
| Cordless | No | No | Yes |
| Maximum Bag Width | 11.8" | 11.8" | N/A |
| Moist/Dry Food Settings | Yes | Preset | No |
| Removable Drip Tray | No | No | No |
| Roll Storage | No | Yes | No |
| Bag Cutter | No | Yes | No |
| Vacuum Hose | Included | Sold Separately | N/A |
| Accessory Port | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Setting for Delicate Foods | No | No | No |
| Warranty | 1 Yr. Ltd. | 1 Year Ltd. | 1 Year Ltd. |
| Average Customer Rating | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Price Range | Under $100 | Under $70 | Under $50 |
| See Today's Price on Amazon | Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price |
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About Vacuum Sealers
A quick search of the web will turn up many detailed explanations of how the various types of vacuum sealers work, but here’s a quick overview.
External vacuum sealers include both the clamp style countertop models and handheld units. They are referred to as “external” because the part of the bag or container holding the food you are sealing remains outside of the machine. Only the part of the container that is being sealed comes in contact with the vacuum sealer. You will either position the edge of that bag to be sealed onto the sealing strip, or insert a vacuum hose into the container. The machine then sucks the air out of the container and seals it.
With a chamber vacuum sealer, the entire container holding the food is placed inside the machine, and both air removal and sealing are achieved internally. The process itself is somewhat complex, but the end result is that chamber vacuum sealers work much more efficiently because they are capable of a producing a much higher vacuum pressure than external machines. Higher pressure means you can remove more oxygen, which gives you better (longer) shelf life and allows for vacuum marination. Chamber models work well with liquids because air is removed from the entire chamber, keeping pressure equal both inside and outside the food pouch so that liquids stay put. Also, some sous vide lovers claim that a chamber food sealer also gives you better flavor penetration (but other sous vide fans are perfectly happy with the less expensive countertop models).
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Richard says
Good information. Thank you. I seem to only buy food saver. I’m into my seventh year of their higher end machine. I started reading your articles because it’s getting closer to the end of my food savers life span and I might try a different brand. We use it to seal potato chip bags all the way down to ritz cracker tubes, if you take them out of the package with enough packaging to slide into the machine, that is. We even take the cereal bags out of the box and seal them after each use and return them into their boxes. Of course none of the items get any air removed. They are only sealed so no more air gets in. I originally bought my first one for sealing my beef jerky. I’ve been making, and sometimes selling my beef jerky, for forty plus years and found that it stays a really long time properly sealed and in the freezer. The problem I have with it is that the bags puncture easily with jerky made in a dehydrator so I can only shrink them so much.