Best Rated Snow Blowers For 2023 [Top 5 Reviewed]

Waking up at 5 AM on a cold winter morning just to shovel the snow out of your driveway in order to get to work is no fun. If you know what we are talking about, maybe it’s time to consider buying a snow blower. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the best rated snow blowers in the market today.

If you have spent your childhood in an area with heavy snowfall, you probably remember one of those heavy, incredibly loud gasoline-powered snow throwers that took ages to start. Luckily, this is not your only option anymore. Gas-powered snow throwers are now much more compact, quieter, and easier to control.

Electric alternatives on the other hard have also become very popular, so you can find a large number of electric and cordless snow blower models. There is a lot to choose from indeed, but we hope our list will help you make the right decision. For those of you who wants to jump straight to our final verdict, here are our top picks.

We’ve researched and tested various models from all of the most popular manufacturers. While choosing our top picks, the most important factor was overall performance. However, we have also considered the functionality, durability and the price in relation to quality.

We have included both gas-powered and electric snow blowers on our list. If you are not sure which type you want, this is an opportunity for you to compare them and weigh out their pros and cons. These are the top 5 snow blowers:

The Squall 208cc from Troy-Bilt makes clearing out the snow easier than ever before. This model features a 208cc 4-cycle overhead valve gas engine. With that much power and 21 inches of clearance width, a snowstorm will never catch you unprepared again.

Don’t worry, you won’t have to start the engine by pulling a cord like with older models running on gas. It also comes with an electric starter. A push of a button is all you need to do to get the machine going. The capacity of the gas tank is 0.5 gallons.

This Briggs & Stratton model is one of the most powerful single-stage snow thrower you can find. Just like the Troy-Bilt snow blower, it’s powered by a 4-cycle OVH gas engine with a displacement of 208cc.

This engine is part of the Briggs & Stratton 950 Snow Series. It has an advanced heat-management system which allows them to start smoothly even at extremely low temperatures. The only downside is that there is no electric start, an old-school recoil start is needed instead.

This electric snow blower from Greenworks is the perfect eco-friendly alternative to gas-powered snow blowers. You’ll never have to worry about gas or oil, and there is definitely much less maintenance.

Don’t underestimate its power just because it’s electric. The 13-amp motor is capable of clearing out 10-inch deep snow and throwing it up to 20 feet away. With the intake width of 20 inches and a 180-degree rotating chute, you’ll be able to clean your driveway in no time. This snow thrower is also less noisy and much easier to start than the traditional gas type.

PowerSmart makes high-performance snow blowers with generally lower prices than similar models made by their competitors. The DB2401 is one of the best they have to offer.

What really makes this model stand out is the fact that it doesn’t need any fuel or cords. You just need to charge the battery, and you’ll be ready to go. The battery in question is a 40-volt Lithium rechargeable type. It will allow the snow blower to operate for about 30 minutes in one charge.

This EGO single stage snow blower is powerful and effective, even on snow that has iced over. The best thing about it? It runs on batteries. It comes with two 5.0 Ah batteries.

According to the user manual, the machine will run for an hour if using both batteries, but we know from experience that they can last even longer. You can also use only one battery if you are cleaning just a small area.

What a good snow blower needs to do is pretty clear. It needs to clear the snow. However, with such a wide range of models with different features available online, shopping for one can have you feeling like you are shopping for a new car.

So how to choose? Before you start browsing, you should ask yourself a couple of questions in order to understand what to look for. What is the size of the area you need to clear?

Consider the length and width of your driveway and any other areas you want to clear. If you only plan to clear a small area, almost any snow thrower will do the job. However, for long driveways and big yards getting a more powerful unit might be advisable.

The climate you live in is also a very important factor. What kind of snow will you need to clear?  Is it just occasional light snow or heavy, wet, or frozen snow? Where do you plan to store your snow blower when it’s not in use? Once you have the answer to all of these questions, it’s time to start looking for the perfect one.

Should you get a gas or an electric one? If it’s electric should it be one with a cord or a battery powered one? There is a couple of basic types of snow blowers, and they all have their pros and cons. Here is everything you need to know about the different types of snow blowers:

Gas vs Electric

The most important decision when buying a snow thrower is choosing between gas-powered and electric. Traditional snow blowers have been gas-powered, but electric alternatives are becoming more and more popular.

Gas powered blowers still have some undeniable advantages. In short, these are their pros and cons:-

Electric Snow Blowers 

Electric snow blowers work best in areas with light to moderate snowfall. They are generally less expensive and more lightweight. They are also more compact which means they require less storage space. This makes them perfect for people who need to use their snow blower only occasionally.

These blowers will either be powered by a cord or by batteries. Various manufacturers use different types of rechargeable batteries for their snow blowers, but Lithium batteries are the most common.

Meanwhile, the pros and cons of this type of snow blowers include:

In the end, it all comes down to personal choice. Gas snow blowers can be very powerful, and they come in various sizes. There are single-stage, two-stage, and 3-stage gas snow blowers. 

Electric snow blowers, on the other hand, come only in the form of a single-stage snow blower.

Single-stage Snow Blowers 

Single-stage snow blowers are the simplest type. They operate using one auger which scrapes the snow off the ground and sends it up through the chute. They are usually recommended for areas with moderate snowfall. 

These type of blowers will be able to deal with the average snow depth of 6 inches with ease. However, many of them can handle even more. Our top pick, the Squall 2100 from Troy-Bilt, is powerful enough for 13 inches deep snow.

Single stage snow blowers are made for driveways, sidewalks and other small areas. They are very easy to use, although most of them work only on flat surfaces. This is because the blades of the auger of these blowers come directly in contact with the ground.

They are smaller and lighter than the two-stage and three-stage, which is a big advantage. If you are dealing with moderately deep snow, a snowblower that’s too heavy will only slow you down. 

Many models also feature a compact design for easy storage. If you have limited storage space and/or you don’t plan to deal with extreme conditions, a single-stage snow thrower will most likely satisfy your needs.

1-stage and 3-stage Snow Blowers 

Two-stage snow blowers have an extra part called the impeller. It’s a fan-like device located behind the auger that throws the snow out. With the 3-stage snow blowers, there is another auger added to make them even more effective. 

These machines are much more powerful than single-stage models, so collecting densely packed or frozen snow is no problem. They also stand higher from the ground compared to single stage snow blowers. This makes them perform better on uneven terrains such as dirt or gravel.

Dual-stage and three-stage snow blowers are generally much larger and heavier. They have wider clearance and taller intake heights. These machines are much more robust and more difficult to maneuver because they are made for professional use. 

They are designed for large areas and high-capacity jobs that need to be done quickly. For this reason, they are too big for typical household needs.

The Engine

The amount of snow a snow blower can process at a time will depend on how strong the engine is. The first thing you’ll need to decide is whether you want a gas-powered or an electric engine.

We’ve covered the pros and cons of both types earlier in this guide. If you have decided to go with gas, you have two options: a 2-cycle gas engine or a 4-cycle gas engine. Many people avoid 2-cycle engines because they require you to mix oil with gasoline in exact amounts.

Starting Mechanism

Any electric snow blower can be started with just a push of a button. When it comes to those that uses gas, it’s a bit different. All older models have a starting mechanism much similar to that of a lawnmower. 

You start them by pulling a cord. Fortunately, recoil start is no longer your only option. Many models now have an electric start which means you start them with just a push of a button.

Clearance Width

The clearance width is the width of the path your snow blower will be able to clear in one pass. The wider the clearance, the lower the number of passes you’ll need to clear an area which also means you’ll need less time.

However, wider blowers are also bigger and heavier which makes them harder to maneuver. To get an idea about the clearance width that’s right for you, consider the width of your driveway and how many passes you will need to clear the area.

Intake Height

The intake height indicates the snow depth the machine will be able to handle. Intake heights start from 4 inches on the most basic electric shovels while the largest, professional-grade best snow blowers have intake heights of 2 feet or more.

The intake height you will need on your snow blower depends on how much snow you’ll have to deal with. Consider how deep the snow usually gets in your area and go a few inches taller, just to be safe.

Throwing Distance

Chute Controls  

The chute is the part through which the snow blower discharges the snow. Almost every best snow blowers comes with an adjustable chute, but the way you control the chute varies from model to model. On the most basic models, you’ll need to adjust the chute manually. There is usually a handle on the chute itself which allows you to move it from left to right.

Some more advanced models come with automatic chute controls. They usually have buttons which allow you to control the direction of the chute. Automatic controls are more convenient, but they are also much more likely to break down at some point.

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