Best Snow Blowers in 2026

Winter comes around every year, and with it comes massive amounts of snow, depending on which part of the country you reside in. Being inside snow can be fun. It’s an excellent time to experience it, and many memories were made in the white. But it becomes a chore when it stacks up so much that you can’t even see the dry ground, and you have to clear it out.

Yes, shovels are effective against snow on the stairs and narrow walkways, but you’ll need something much higher when dealing with a patio, steep driveways, or a wide two-car driveway. In this situation, you need something bigger to remove snow faster and more effectively.

Fortunately, these great machines are called snow blowers – or sometimes snow throwers. With these machines, you can cover a larger area, clearing up massive amounts of snow compared to a shovel, and finish your snow clearing job in very little time. They are also straightforward to use and handle, especially self-propelled models.

There are various kinds and brands of snow blowers out there, each with its perks and specialties. So, we made a quick guide to help you pick the right snow blower for your needs.

Our list is carefully curated after long and thorough research, hands-on testing, and expert recommendations. These best snow blowers have a substantial edge over other gas powered models, battery powered models, and electric models currently on the market.

Types of Snow Blowers

Electric-powered Snow Blower

It is the best type of snow blower when you need convenience because they’re powered by an electric motor rather than a gas engine or battery. They’re the perfect pick if you need to clear light snow, moderate snow, or minimal snowfall on medium-sized paths and sidewalks. Electric-powered snow blowers are lightweight and suitable for clearing snow from decks and steps without creating fumes.

These electric models use a friction disc for drive transmission. They are ideal for city dwellers and work well on smooth, uneven surfaces, or even gravel driveways. They’re also affordable and require minimal engine maintenance, but they don’t have as much power as gas blowers. You’ll just need a quality extension cord and proper off-season storage.

Gas-Powered Snow Blower

Gas powered snow blowers are the most powerful models on the market. They use robust gas engines and can handle deep and heavy snow, packed snow, or wet snow. These gas models feature an auger drive for transmission and are perfect for rural use, long two car driveways, or steep inclines. Gas-powered snow blowers generally have better power and performance compared to electric models.

They can cover large areas and throw snow far away from your path, but larger machines also need enough power for deep snow, and power steering helps offset how weight and overall design affect maneuverability. Some even have adjustable skid shoes, electric start systems, and power steering for easier handling in cold weather.

Cordless Snow Blower

A battery powered snow blower is the best option if you don’t want a tethered cord. It lets you go wherever you need to, clearing snow from uneven terrain or steep driveways with ease. These battery powered models are great for lighter snowfalls and can toss snow efficiently without cords getting in your way. Just make sure you choose one with enough battery life and clearing width for your property.

Different Styles of Snow Blowers

There are several styles of snow blowers to choose from, depending on how much snow your area gets and your specific snow conditions.

Single-stage Gas

Single stage snow blowers are commonly used for light snow or a few inches of accumulation. These single stage blowers use horizontal auger blades to scoop and throw snow out through the discharge chute in one motion. They work efficiently for clearing snow from driveways, sidewalks, and uneven surfaces. However, they are not suitable for gravel driveways due to the auger’s contact with the ground.

However, single stage models can struggle with deep snow or heavy snowfall, as they may require multiple passes to clear dense snow.

Two-stage Gas

Two stage snow blowers (or two stage models) are more powerful than single-stage units. They use a two stage system that includes an auger to gather snow and an impeller to toss snow through the chute at greater distances. Two-stage snow blowers can throw snow more than 35 feet, depending on power and snow weight.

These two stage blowers are excellent for deep snow, wet snow, and packed snow, and they can clear gravel driveways or uneven terrain. Many two stage snow blowers include electric starters, adjustable steel chute, and power steering for easy handling. They make snow clearing quick and effective, even in heavy snowfall.

Three-stage Gas

Three stage snow blowers are the most powerful type available. They use a high-speed accelerator to throw snow and ice faster than standard two stage blowers. These stage snow blowers are perfect for deep and heavy snow, wet snow, and large gravel driveways. Three-stage snow blowers feature an auger, impeller, and an accelerator that processes heavy snow for enhanced throwing distance.

If you often deal with heavy snow, three stage snow blowers will clear it snow quickly and effortlessly, even on uneven surfaces and steep inclines.

1. Ariens Deluxe 28

The Ariens Deluxe 28 is the machine we would put most homeowners on. At $1,649 it is not the cheapest here, but it is the one that keeps going.

A 252cc Ariens AX powerplant drives a 28-inch housing with a 200-degree chute rotation, and the all-steel construction is what the brand’s reputation rests on. It is a two stage snow blower that handles a long drive without drama, and a two stage model this well built is rare at the price, and the dealer network behind it is the best in the business for parts.

One correction from our previous version. We listed this as the “ST28DLE Deluxe” with a 306cc engine. That designation is long retired, and 306cc belongs to the Deluxe 28 SHO — a separate, more powerful model at $1,799. The base Deluxe 28 is SKU 921070 with the 252cc engine.

Features

• 252cc Ariens AX engine

• Clears 28 inches

• 200-degree chute rotation

• Electric start

• All-steel housing and chute

2. Husqvarna ST 224

The Husqvarna ST 224 is the value pick among the gas machines, and at around $1,199 it undercuts everything else here with comparable capability.

A 208cc engine drives this 24-inch two stage snow blower with power steering, a friction disc transmission giving six forward speeds and one reverse, and X-trac tires that find grip on packed snow and ice. At 198.6 lbs it is manageable for most people to turn at the end of a run.

This entry absorbs two from our previous list. We had the ST224P at number one and the ST224 at number seven — they are effectively the same machine, and the P version is now discontinued. We also described it as having a cleated track-drive system, which it never had: Husqvarna’s residential range is entirely wheeled, and the tracked models are the commercial ST 424T and ST 427T.

Features

• 208cc engine, clears 24 inches

• Power steering

• Six forward speeds, one reverse

• Electric start

• Weight: 198.6 lbs

3. EGO Power+ SNT2405

This is the entry our previous guide was missing entirely, and it is the biggest change in this category. The EGO SNT2405 is a 24-inch two stage snow blower running on 56V batteries, and it does genuinely compete with gas. As a snow thrower in EGO’s lineup, the 24-inch 2-Stage model is widely praised for ease of use and strong performance in both light and heavy snow.

It clears a 24-inch path through a 20-inch intake, throws up to 50 feet, and uses variable-speed self propelled drive with reverse. The chute works from a 200-degree rear-mounted lever you can reach without letting go. The $1,649 kit includes two 7.5Ah packs and a rapid charger.

Runtime is the question everyone asks. EGO quotes an 18-car driveway with eight inches of snow on one charge; independent testing in normal conditions lands around an hour. That is enough for most suburban properties, and there is no gas engine maintenance, no fuel stabiliser and no pull cord at minus ten.

Features

• 56V battery powered, 2-stage

• Clears 24 inches through a 20-inch intake

• 200-degree rear chute control

• Self propelled with variable speed and reverse

• Two 7.5Ah batteries and rapid charger included

4. Cub Cadet 2X 26 IntelliPOWER

This is one of the most versatile two stage blowers for heavy snowfall, with a 243cc IntelliPOWER engine, a 26-inch cut and a 21-inch intake height. It costs $1,449.

This two stage model has push-button electric start with recoil backup, trigger-operated steering assist that makes turning genuinely easy, and a 200-degree remote overhead crank plus a remote single-lever pitch control. Adjustable skid shoes handle gravel driveways and uneven terrain.

A correction worth making clearly: our previous version called this the “2X 26 HP” and described it as having 26 horsepower. “2X 26 HP” is a retailer’s model-number string, not a power rating. The 26 refers to the clearing width in inches. No walk-behind snow blower on the market has anything close to 26 hp.

Features

• 243cc IntelliPOWER engine

• Clears 26 inches through a 21-inch intake

• Trigger power steering

• 200-degree remote chute crank

• Push-button electric start

5. Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890

If you deal with steep driveways or ice under the snow, a track drive changes everything, and the Storm Tracker 2890 is the accessible way into that. At $2,129 it is the most expensive gas machine here and worth it on a slope.

A 272cc engine drives a 28-inch housing, and the tracks give grip that wheels simply cannot match on an incline or hard-packed ice. Deep snow on a slope is where it pulls away from everything else here. Heated grips come as standard, which you will appreciate by February.

Our previous version tangled two different machines together. The tracked 272cc model is the one carrying the Tracker name; the 357cc engine we quoted belongs to the Troy Bilt Storm Arctic line, which is wheeled. The Arctic Storm 30 we referenced is discontinued, replaced by the Arctic Storm 3010 XP at $2,579 — a 30-inch wheeled machine with an electric four-way chute control and heated grips, and a good alternative if you want width rather than grip.

Features

• 272cc engine, clears 28 inches

• Track drive for steep driveways and ice

• Heated handles

• Electric start

• Adjustable chute

6. Cub Cadet 3X 26 IntelliPOWER

Our previous guide explained three-stage machines at length and then failed to include one. This fixes that.

The 3X 26 uses a 357cc IntelliPOWER engine and adds the accelerator that defines the style, spinning around ten times auger speed to pull slush through and feed the impeller. The result is noticeably faster progress through deep and heavy snow than a comparable machine manages.

It clears 26 inches with a 21-inch intake, has trigger steering and a 200-degree chute crank, and costs $1,899. There is also a 3X 26 TRAC version if you want the accelerator and a track drive together.

Features

• 357cc IntelliPOWER engine

• Three-stage with high-speed accelerator

• Clears 26 inches through a 21-inch intake

• Trigger steering assist

• 200-degree chute crank

7. Ryobi RY408150 Whisper Series

The Ryobi 40V 22-inch is the value cordless pick at $1,499, and testers rate it highly — in one 2026 roundup it took best overall among cordless machines.

It is a two stage snow blower with a steel auger, which matters: testers found it coped with hard-pack and even worked on gravel, which is unusual at this size. Self propelled drive with variable speed, a 180-degree chute and a 45-foot throw round this two stage model out, and the kit ships with two 8Ah batteries.

Ryobi quotes 30 minutes or about 20 car spaces. Expect less at full auger and drive speed, and note the Whisper Series name is earned — the noise difference against a gas machine at seven in the morning is the thing neighbours notice most.

Features

• 40V battery powered, 2-stage

• Clears 22 inches, steel auger blades

• Self propelled with variable speed

• 180-degree chute, 45-foot throw

• Two 8Ah batteries included

8. Toro Power Clear e21

The Toro Power Clear e21 replaces the corded Ryobi from our previous list and is the pick for a small property. At $849 it is the cheapest machine here by a wide margin.

It is a 21-inch single stage snow blower running on Toro’s 60V Flex-Force platform, with no extension cord to manage and no gas engine to winterise. Runtime is 40 to 60 minutes, which is far more than a short drive and a path will need.

Keep its limits in mind. As a single stage model it is for paved surfaces, not gravel, and it will struggle with the kind of heavy snowfall the two-stage machines above eat. For lighter snowfalls on a modest drive it is exactly enough, and it stores in a corner of the garage without taking up as much space as a full-size two- or three-stage model.

Features

• 60V battery powered, 1-stage

• Clears 21 inches

• 40 to 60 minutes of run time

• No cord, no engine maintenance

• Weight suits lifting and easy storage

Best Snow Blower Guide & FAQs

Speed Control

You should be able to control the pace at which the machine works. Most two-stage units give six forward speeds and one or two reverse, which lets you crawl through a drift and then move at a moderate speed down a cleared section.

Chute Control

Being able to direct the chute easily matters more than people expect, especially on a drive with curves and bends where you need to drop the snow precisely. A remote crank or a single lever beats reaching down to the chute every time, and an electric four-way control is better still.

Electric Start

An electric start makes getting going effortless on a cold morning, and almost every machine on this list has one. Battery models sidestep the question entirely — they start on a button every time, which is one of the quiet advantages of going cordless.

Heated Handles

Nobody thinks heated handles matter until their hands start to go numb. They keep your grip warm through a long clearing session, and on a tracked or wide machine where the job takes a while they are worth paying for.

LED Headlights

If you clear before dawn or after dark, headlights are not a luxury. Buy a machine that has them rather than planning to work by porch light.

Shear Pins

Our previous guide never mentioned these, and it should have. They are soft sacrificial bolts holding each auger flight to the shaft. When the auger hits a rock, a frozen chunk or a rolled-up newspaper, the pin snaps so the shaft keeps turning and the auger gearcase survives. A two-dollar part fails instead of a four-hundred-dollar gearbox.

You will know one has gone when the machine starts pushing snow rather than processing it, or the auger stops while the engine runs on. Keep spares in the garage, and use the part specified for your model. A hardware-store bolt will not shear at the rated load and sends the shock straight into the gearbox instead.

Worth noting: Toro’s Power Max line uses an anti-clogging system and advertises no shear pins at all, which is a genuine point of difference if the idea bothers you.

Gravel Driveways

If your drive is gravel, buy a two or three stage machine and set the skid shoes properly. Lowering the shoes raises the housing, and the usual guidance is around half an inch of clearance under the scraper bar on gravel against an eighth of an inch on asphalt or concrete, which also keeps the auger blades off the stones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the average price of a snow blower?

It depends on the style. A single-stage battery machine starts around $850, mainstream two-stage gas models run $1,200 to $1,700, and tracked or three-stage units reach $2,100 to $2,600. Premium tracked machines from Honda go well past $3,000.

Q: How long will a standard snow blower last?

A well-maintained gas machine will run for 15 to 20 years. Change the oil annually, drain or stabilise the fuel before off season storage, keep spare shear pins on hand and check the skid shoes each autumn. Battery machines have fewer wear items but the packs will need replacing eventually.

Q: Is using snow blowers safe?

They demand respect. The auger and impeller cause serious hand injuries every winter, and almost all of them happen the same way: someone reaches into a clogged chute. Never do that. Shut the engine off, remove the key, wait for everything to stop turning and clear the blockage with the plastic tool supplied — never with your hand, even with the machine off.

These are not machines for children to operate at all. Keep children and pets well away from the discharge area while one is running, and treat the thrown snow as capable of carrying hidden stones and ice.

Conclusion

The best snow blower is the one matched to your property. A gas snow blower, a battery powered snow blower and an electric model all clear snow quickly within the limits they are built for, and all three make the snow clearing far less of a chore.

If we had to choose: the Ariens Deluxe 28 is the best all-round buy, the Husqvarna ST 224 is the value gas pick, the EGO SNT2405 is the cordless machine to have if you want to leave gas behind, and the Toro Power Clear e21 is plenty for a small drive. Every one of these handles the full range of snow conditions it is designed for, from packed snow to wet snow and heavy snowfall.

8 Best Snow Blowers in 2026