8 snow blowers to keep your home and driveway clean this winter
To find the best snow blowers, I spoke with snow and ice management experts who told me how to find a durable option.
Troy-Bilt Storm Gas Snow Blower
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$1,229.00
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To learn more about all of the important aspects to consider when choosing a snow blower, I spoke with snow and ice management experts for their advice. Here’s everything they recommend I keep in mind when making this list:
The different stages of a snow blower simply refers to the mechanical power and work that a snow blower uses to maneuver the snow. The higher the stage, the more powerful it is and the more efficiently it can handle large depths of snow, according to Lou Manfredini, a home expert at Ace Hardware.
“Single-stage uses a rotating blade to grab the snow and then propel it from the chute,” he says. “These machines are agile and can handle snow falls of up to 12 inches really well. Two-stage units have a rotating blade to grab the snow and then another one to propel the snow.” Additionally, a two-stage snow blower is ideal for cleaning up large home properties, according to Manfredini.
"Three-stage snow blowers are designed for the toughest conditions and can handle deep, dense snow,” says Canete. All snow blowers have an auger, which is a part of the appliance that breaks up the snow, making it easier to throw and move, according to Canete. This type of power is more suited for long-term and large area maintenance.
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All of the snow blowers below have at least 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon, or at least 100 reviews at a major retailer like Home Depot, Lowe’s or Ace Hardware*.
All of the snow blowers below have at least 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon, at least 100 reviews at a major retailer like Home Depot, Lowe’s or Ace Hardware* or are from brands we’ve covered in the past.
The Ego Power electric snow blower has a 4.3-star average rating from 1,839 reviews on Amazon, is available in both a single- and two-stage version, and has a high-efficiency brushless motor. The auger has a 21-inch width at the bottom and it can throw snow as deep as 8 inches, meaning it’s ideal for quickly clearing out snow from sidewalks or small pathways around your home as far as 35 feet, according to the brand. It also has a push-to-start button, which is a lot easier than using a pull option on a gas appliance, for example, and multiple speed controls. The front of the machine also has two headlights, so you can clear out your driveway in the evening or at dusk.
You can start this electric snow blower from Ryobi by pressing a button, and thanks to the powerful brushless motor, it has a runtime of 30 minutes and a long motor life, according to the brand. It has a single lightbar at the front, a folding handle, an adjustable snow chute so you can control the direction of the snow and a strong auger that can throw snow up to 25 feet. It also has airless tires, so you don’t have to worry about them going flat “when working around sharp objects or on rough, unpaved surfaces,” says Canete. It has a 4.1-star average rating from 1,232 reviews at Home Depot and works on snow up to 10 inches deep.
The Greenworks snow blower, which has a 4.1-star average rating from 1,274 reviews on Amazon, has a clearing width of 16 inches and a depth of 8 inches, so you can use it to clear out the walkway leading to your front door or the sidewalk in front of your home. It can throw snow up to 20 feet, according to the brand, and the snow chute on top rotates 180 degrees making it easy to maneuver the snow. Plus, it collapses so you can store it under a workbench or next to a garage wall.
This electric snow blower has a 100-foot power cord and powerful steel auger with a rubber lining which helps lift snow off the ground, making it easier to throw the snow up to 25 feet. It has a clearing width of a foot and a half and depth of 10 inches, so it can handle days worth of snowfall and moves over 700 pounds of snow per minute, according to Westinghouse. It also comes with a stick for clearing out any snow stuck in the chute or auger, which Canete says is a major benefit because you don’t have to risk injury by putting your hand in the appliance. The appliance also has a 4.7-star average rating from 238 reviews at Home Depot.
If you live in an area that gets multiple feet of snow every year, the Snow Joe snow blower handles snow up to 13 inches deep and can throw it over 25 feet. With 4-star average rating from 5,390 reviews on Amazon, it has a durable and fully steel auger that quickly loosens the snow before pushing out through the rotating shoot on top. It weighs a little over 34 pounds, but thanks to the wheels on the back, it’s easy to maneuver across the ground.
This gas-powered snow blower has a clearing width of 18 inches and can clean snow as deep as one foot. With 4.3-star average rating from 1,567 reviews at Home Depot, it has a thorough auger that clears up snow all the way to the pavement, according to the brand, so there’s little residual snow leftover. You can rotate the snow chute using the lever and collapse it for easier storage. Since it isn’t electric, it requires non-ethanol fuel, according to Toro.
This snow blower from Troy-Bilt has a 26-inch clearing width and a 20-inch depth capability, the largest of all the appliances on this list. The auger is also serrated to help break up even firm snow on pavement or concrete. It also has a long snow chute that you can rotate up to 200 degrees and the tires have added traction to help them move through tough snow.
This snow blower has a snow chute on the front that rotates 190 degrees, allowing you to angle where you want the snow moved to. It has a clearing path width of 21 inches and it moves across with the help of an auger. The handles on the side collapse, making it easier to store. The wheels are 7 x 2 inches and it clears snow up to 13 inches deep, according to the brand.
Below are a few tips based on guidance I received from both Canete and Manfredini when it comes to shopping for a snow blower, regardless of which type you want.
Start by deciding on a gas-powered or electric snow blower, because this will determine the type of maintenance and work you’ll have to do after buying. Electric snow blowers are relatively quiet compared to gas, they require charging and/or a power cord, and they’re generally better for the environment according to Canete.
Gas snow blowers call for a particular type of fuel rather than charging, they don’t have a power cord but are often heavy compared to electric models. Which one you choose is based on your lifestyle, but if you’re new to the appliance, an electric may be easier to operate because they’re more straightforward. Also, remember that just because a snow blower is labeled as having an “electric start” doesn’t mean that it’s an electric machine.
If you only get minimal snow buildup around your home each year, then a single stage is a more appropriate choice. If you get many feet of snow and/or have a large surface area to clear, such as a driveway, then choose a two-stage snow blower with an extra wide clearing width and tall depth (at least 12 inches).
Canete also recommends looking for snow blowers with helpful safety features, such as LED lights, tire chains (for cutting through snow), a chute-clearing stick, a snow blower enclosure to shield you from getting hit with snow, airless tires and heated handles. Some of these won’t be available all together in every appliance, but decide which ones are best suited for your preferences.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
*Any inclusion of Ace Hardware in this story was made independently of Manfredini, who we only consulted for shopping tips and guidance. We did not ask Manfredini for product recommendations.
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about many types of home appliances and accessories like vacuums and heated blankets. I also cover kitchen and cleaning topics for the site. I spoke with a snow and ice management expert as well as a home appliance expert for this story.
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