Home & Garden Home The 6 Best Electric Snow Blowers of 2023 Be ready for the next snow storm. By Arricca SanSone Arricca SanSone Hiram College Georgia Southern University Arricca SanSone is a health and lifestyle writer, specializing in home, kitchen, and gardening. She has written for Dotdash Meredith since 2019. Learn about our editorial process Updated October 4, 2022 Fact checked by Andrew Whalen Fact checked by Andrew Whalen Hamilton College Andrew is a commerce editor for Treehugger and The Spruce Pet. His writing has appeared on Popular Science, Inverse, Newsweek, and Vice. Learn about our fact checking process Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home & Garden Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Green Living Thrift & Minimalism Sustainable Eating We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. The most eco-friendly way to clear your walks and drives after a big storm may be shoveling snow, but it's certainly not the easiest. It's also not for everyone, especially if you have a health condition that doesn't allow for heavy lifting, an extra-long driveway, or live in an area with constant snowfall. Sometimes, getting the job done demands a snow blower. Single-stage blowers scoop and throw the snow in one motion. They’re compact and more light-weight than two-stage units, which have an auger that collects the snow and an impeller which blows it out the chute (thus, in two stages). Two-stage snow blowers are heavier, but they generally are better suited for deep snow loads. An added consideration are the batteries included with your snow blower, since heavy snow will drain batteries faster than light, fluffy snowfalls. Either way, an electric snow blower creates less air and noise pollution than diesel or gas powered options. If you are in the market for a snow blower this year, it's a good idea to shop sooner rather than later, as it's common for models sell out early in the season. Ahead are our top picks for the best electric snow blowers for keeping winter in check. The Rundown Best Overall: EGO Power+ Peak Power Snow Blower at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: Snow Joe SJ623E Electric Snow Thrower at Walmart Jump to Review Best Heavy-Duty: Toro 60V Max Power Electric Snow Blower at Home Depot Jump to Review Best Corded: Greenworks Corded Snow Thrower at Walmart Jump to Review Best Single-Stage: RYOBI Cordless Single Stage Snow Thrower at Home Depot Jump to Review Best Lightweight: Toro Power Curve Corded Electric Snow Blower at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall EGO Power+ Peak Power Snow Blower With Steel Auger Lowes View On Amazon View On Ace Hardware View On Lowe's Dimensions: 38 x 22 x 35 inches | Weight: 50.6 pounds | Power Source: Battery If you’re looking for a large blower for a reasonable price, this one has a 21-inch clearing width and 13-inch clearing height so you’ll be able to speed through winter storm clean ups, making it our top choice overall. With its steel auger, it's a single-stage machine that can handle dense snow and ice. It throws snow up to 40 feet too, so you can put snow where it’s out of the way. Two LED headlights make it easy to see what you’re doing in the early morning hours, and the folding handle allows for more compact storage. The EGO Power+ Peak Power Snow Blower comes with a charger and two batteries rated to clear a 12-car driveway (or you can swap them out for even larger capacity batteries). EGO has a universal battery design, so these batteries are also compatible with other EGO machines, including lawn mowers and chainsaws. It comes with a 5-year limited warranty. Price at time of publish: $749 Best Budget Snow Joe SJ623E Electric Single Stage Snow Thrower Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Best Buy Dimensions: 54.5 x 19 x 26 inches | Weight: 33.7 pounds | Power Source: Corded This small budget pick is ideal for areas of the country that don’t regularly get huge snow totals. It has an 18-inch clearing width with a 10-inch deep intake height, so it’s best for small to mid-sized driveways and walks. It can throw snow up to 25 feet away with a discharge chute that can be adjusted up to 180 degrees. Should it clog, there’s also an on-board chute clean-out tool. Weighing less than 34 pounds, The Snow Joe SJ623E Electric Single Stage Snower Thrower is still a relatively lightweight option. It features a push-button start, halogen headlight, and comes with a two-year warranty. Should you encounter any problems, Treehugger's editors have found Snow Joe/Sun Joe brands to have excellent customer service. Price at time of publish: $159 Best Heavy-Duty Toro 60V Max Power Max 2-Stage Snow Blower Home Depot View On Home Depot Dimensions: 56 x 24.6 x 44 inches | Weight: 172 pounds | Power Source: Battery The intake on the Toro 60V Max Power Max 2-Stage Snow Blower has 24 inches of clearing width and 20 inches of intake height, making it one of the largest electric snow blowers available. This powerhouse can clear a parking lot of up to 24 spaces on one charge of its two included batteries, so you won’t run out of power during big snow-clearing events. While two battery ports are a common enough electric snow blower feature, the Toro 60V Max Power has three, enabling you to tackle up to 45 parking spaces after an optional upgrade to the batteries. Plus, the batteries are interchangeable with other battery-powered Toro 60-volt tools. Additional features of the Toro 60V snow blower include a 45-foot throw, with an easily adjustable chute, LED headlights and a limited, 3-year warranty. Price at time of publish: $1,599 Best Corded Greenworks 13 Amp 20-Inch Corded Snow Blower Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon Dimensions: 31 x 21.6 x 37 inches | Weight: 30 pounds | Power Source: Corded If you’re looking for a lightweight machine for occasional storms, this small, corded unit can throw snow up to 20 feet (and its chute can be adjusted 180 degrees). With a 20-inch clearing width and a 10-inch intake height, the Greenworks corded snow blower may not clear drive ways as efficiently as other snow blowers in this roundup, but at only 30 pounds almost anyone can operate it. It's also a relatively affordable option. Additional features include dual LED lights and a 3-year limited warranty. Price at time of publish: $177 The 7 Best Leaf Mulchers of 2023 Best Single-Stage RYOBI 40V HP Brushless 21-inch Cordless Single Stage Snow Thrower Home Depot View On Home Depot Dimensions: 54.5 x 21.25 x 38.5 inches | Weight: 48.5 pounds | Power Source: Batteries Hitting a sweet spot between our budget and best picks, the RYOBI 40V Brushless 21-inch Snow Thrower is a convenient single-stage option with enough power for most users who aren't in need of a beefier two-stage blower. With a 13-inch intake height and 21-inch clearing width, the RYOBI is able to tackle big storms, throwing snow 35 feet with its 180-degree adjustable chute. But its also relatively compact, with collapsible handles that make it a cinch to fold down for storage. The RYOBI 21-inch snow thrower's brushless motor powers a variable speed augur, so you can balance between speed and battery life. The RYOBI 40V snow thrower comes with two batteries (which also work with other RYOBI 40-volt tools) and a 5-year limited warranty. Price at time of publish: $599 Best Lightweight Toro Power Curve 18-Inch 15 Amp Corded Electric Snow Blower Amazon View On Amazon View On Menards.com Dimensions: 20 x 24 x 25 inches | Weight: 25 pounds | Power Source: Corded This lightweight blower is a great option for places with light snowfall or smaller jobs. With an 18-inch clearing width and 12-inch intake height, you’ll be able to throw snow up to 30 feet and manage minor storms more efficiently than with a shovel. The large 6-inch wheels make it more maneuverable than other models, and its compact size makes it a good choice for walkway and decks or small drives. The Toro Power Curve 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric Snow Blower comes with a two-year limited warranty. Price at time of publish: $459 Final Verdict The EGO Power+Peak Power Electric Snow Blower is our pick for best overall snow blower for its powerful snow clearing ability at a reasonable price point. If you need something heavier duty, than the Toro 60-Volt Power Max 2-Stage Cordless Electric Snow Blower is ready to tackle heavy storms and whole parking lots. What to Look for in Electric Snow Blowers Corded vs. Cordless Corded blowers allow you to run the machine until you get the job done, but you have to be careful about getting tangled, and you will be tethered to an outlet. This makes them most suitable for small driveways and light to moderate snow. Battery-operated cordless machines allow you to go anywhere, but you may want to invest in a backup battery or two so you don’t get stuck with a half-finished job, especially if your area regularly receives big snow storms. Many cordless models have optional high-capacity batteries, which can help you get the most run time out of your snow blower, but they are an added cost. Augur Width or Clearing Width The smaller the clearing width, the more passes it will take you to clean walks and drives. Electric snow blowers typically clear paths from 18 to 24 inches wide. But while a wider clearing width may offer more efficient snow clearing, users more focused on walkways, stairs, and narrower spaces might opt for narrower options. You may also want to consider how much space you have to store the machine when deciding what overall width is best suited to your needs. Intake Height This is how much depth your blower can handle in one pass. If your area regularly gets big storms, a taller intake is better. While a snow blower will be able to handle snow up to the depth of its intake height, keep in mind that deeper snow will also eat through batteries faster. Compatibility with Other Battery-Operated Tools If you already have other battery-operated tools such as leaf blowers or mowers, consider getting the same brand of snow blower so all your tools are able to use the same chargers and batteries. Toro and RYOBI in particular have a wide ecosystem of tools that you might already employ. Frequently Asked Questions Are electric snow blowers safe? As long as you follow basic instructions, they can be operated safely. If you have an electric snow blower, don’t touch the appliance plug with wet hands or while standing in water. Rubber boots may offer some protection. Make sure you always know where your cord is when working, and never leave your snow blower unattended when it’s running. And although battery-operated blowers are quieter than gas-powered, wear hearing protection because some units run at 100 decibels or higher (well past the threshold for hearing damage).Also, always wear gloves and safety goggles, and keep your hands and face away from the augur and chute. Don’t use your hands to clear a clog! Make sure kids and pets are indoors or not in the area when clearing snow because you may inadvertently pick up rocks or other objects that will be launched along with the snow. Can you use an extension cord with an electric snow blower? Follow the manufacturer recommendations; if you can’t find your owner’s manual, search for your model number online. If the manufacturer says it’s okay, use only an outdoor, all-weather rated extension cord. Typically, the maximum recommended length is 100 feet, but pay attention to the minimum wire gauge required as well (which is listed as 12 or 14 AWG). What is the difference between a snow thrower and a snow blower? Generally speaking, “snow thrower” refers to a single-stage machine that scoops and throws the snow in one motion. A “snow blower” often refers to a two-stage machine that has an auger that collects the snow and an impeller that blows it out of a chute. However, many people call both types of devices snow blowers. Are snow blowers bad for the environment? The most eco-friendly way to clear snow is with a snow shovel and muscle power, although that isn’t always feasible for a variety of reasons. Electric snow blowers are generally better for the environment than gas or diesel snow blowers because they produce less air pollution, have no chance of gas spills, and are quieter to operate. If your home runs on clean energy like wind or solar, an electric snow blower can be operated without emitting any greenhouse gas emissions. However, any new electric device is associated with upfront carbon emissions, or in other words, the energy required to manufacture a product. That’s why it's important to only buy what we need, care for it properly, use it for as many years as possible, and recycle it at the end of its useful life. Why Trust Treehugger? Treehugger wants to help you choose tools that won’t spew noise and pollutants into the environment. Arricca SanSone specializes in writing about home, shelter and gardening. She researched the market based on information from CPSC, reader reviews, warranty periods, and product value. She also has dug out of more snowstorms than she can count. The 5 Best Electric Mowers of 2023 View Article Sources “Occupational Noise Exposure.” United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration. CPSC Safety Alert. “Snow Thrower Safety.” U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.