The best snow blowers

The best snow blower overall

If you want to remove snow from flat, paved surfaces as quickly and effortlessly as possible, the is the best.

There are a few features that make the (model #36002) stand out. First, it’s not a traditional single- or two-stage blower. It’s more of a hybrid.

It has a single helical auger that moves 10 times faster than your usual two-stage blower. This sends the snow up to 40 feet away. The Personal Pace self-propel system moves the snow blower at your walking speed. And, a joystick allows you to adjust the chute direction and angle. The clearing width is 24 inches and the snow cut depth is 16 inches.

Toro sent me this snow blower to test in late 2018. The blower was delivered on a pallet by a semi-truck. The instructions for setting it up are pretty simple, and I had it up and running within half an hour of cutting into the box. 

With this SnowMaster, I found the chore of removing snow to be enjoyable. It self-propels to match my gait, the joystick works smoothly for discharging the chute, and it could handle my gravel driveway and city sidewalks.

Like many things these days, there’s a companion smartphone app. The MyToro app is a good concept but it needs improvement. The coolest function is it can automatically track how many hours you’ve used your Toro equipment and let you know when to perform maintenance. But for this function to work, you need to purchase the optional Portable Usage Calculator (PUC). I think Toro should have thrown this accessory in for free, but you can easily do this manually with pen and paper.

I’ve still been using this SnowMaster it has held up well after sitting in storage over summers. Read more in my full review.

Customers found the equipment to be easy to use and have a good size and weight. They also found that the Personal Pace function made the snow blower easy to maneuver.

Pros: Moves at your pace, fast, handles wet snow well, three-year limited warranty

Cons: May have trouble with uneven surfaces, smartphone app isn’t that useful

The best on a budget

The WEN 5662 Snow Blaster Electric Snow Thrower is ideal for homeowners who are tired of shoveling and want a simple, affordable unit that clear walks and small paved driveways.

The WEN 5662 Snow Blaster Electric Snow Thrower is an electric, single-stage blower that relies on electricity provided by an extension cord. So, if you have a long driveway, this may not be a reasonable solution. But, for small jobs, it can be great with its 18-inch clearing width and 13.5-amp engine that is supposed to clear 490 pounds of snow per minute. The thrower only weighs about 39 pounds and is backed by a two-year warranty.

The WEN can handle even snow piles with ease, and that’s it’s quieter than a gas model. It’s compact enough to store in a small garage or shed, and it’s effective at clearing deep snow in one pass. If the snow is too wet or heavy, however, this machine tends to struggle, and the chute can get clogged. One annoying feature may be the safety switch that requires resetting when it turns off.

Pros: Affordable, lightweight, no need for gas, easy to assemble

Cons: Clogs if the snow is too wet, have to mind the cord (not included)

The best single-stage snow blower

The Toro Power Clear 721 E Gas Snow Blower is lightweight, self-propelled, and has a “guaranteed to start” warranty for the first two years.

At 87 pounds, the Toro Power Clear 721 E Gas Snow Blower is incredibly light for a gas-powered snow blower. This, along with the Power Propel self-propel system, make this single-stage unit easy to move around.

Another cool feature is the Toro “Guaranteed to Start” warranty, which states that the blower will start on the first or second pull every time in the first two years. If not, the company will fix it for free. The hard-plastic body has a 21-inch width, and the tough plastic auger makes constant contact with the surface for efficient clearing.

Though this model may have trouble with larger quantities of snow, it’s maneuverability makes it great for tight driveways and regular maintenance. It also won’t get clogged or bogged down by heavy wet snow thanks to its tough auger. Be mindful, however, if you have any gravel paths or rocky terrain as single-stage snow blowers can throw rocks and other small objects that may get pulled in.

Pros: Compact, lightweight, easy to maneuver, self-propelled, two-year full “Guaranteed to Start” warranty

Cons: Not meant for heavy snowfalls, manual chute adjustment

The best cordless electric snow blower

If you don’t want to bother with gas and snow in your area is measured in inches instead of feet, then the EGO Cordless Electric Snow Blower is your best bet.

For a battery-powered snow blower, the EGO SNT2102 Cordless Electric Snow Blower can do a lot. It has a 21-inch clearing width and can handle snow up to 10 inches deep.

There are also two bright LED lights that will help you clear your drive before taking off for work in the morning. The SNT2102 comes with two 5.0 Ah batteries. The batteries last up to 45 minutes, and the charger takes 45 minutes to charge each battery. So, you may want to consider picking up extra batteries if you have a lot of area to clear.

Because it’s battery-powered, it’s much quieter than its gas counterparts. You also won’t have to deal with fumes or refilling the tank. The push-button start is also quite the luxury for those accustomed to yanking pull cords to no avail season after season.

Pros: Runs quiet, no need for gas, features headlights, easy to assemble and store, lightweight

Cons: Not self-propelled, only runs for about 30-45 minutes at a time (but charges quickly)

What to consider when buying a snow blower

When buying a snow blower, you should first consider where you want the power to come from. There are three main sources: gas, corded electric, and cordless electric or battery.

• Gas snow blowers are the most popular, most powerful, and most expensive option. They also typically need more maintenance than the other two options.
• Corded electric blowers are generally the least expensive and don’t pollute, but just like a corded lawnmower, you have to mind the cord as you work, and it’s not recommended for longer driveways due to the inherent cord-length limitations.
• Battery power avoids the cord problem, but batteries only last for so long before they need to be recharged. You can buy extra batteries so that you have enough to complete your job, but they are usually quite expensive.

Snow blowers are either single-stage, two-stage, or three-stage.

• A single-stage snow blower (also referred to as a snow thrower) has an auger that moves very fast and sends the snow flying out of the chute in one step.
• Two-stage blowers have augers that feed the snow into the chute where a propeller throws the snow.
• Three-stage devices have augers that feed the snow into the center where it is chopped up and fed into the propeller

Snow blowers with multiple stages tend to cost more, but they can also handle heavier-duty jobs and throw the snow farther.

Check out more great winter guides

• The best snow shovels
• The best snow and ice melt
• The best winter boots for men
• The best winter boots for women