The best snow blowers in 2021
- A quality snow blower should efficiently clear snow, require minimal effort, and last through many winters.
- Our top choice is the Toro Power Clear 821 QZE Gas Snow Blower because it can match your pace and effortlessly handles all types of snow.
- If you're not quite ready to buy a snow blower but still need to clear snow, check out our guide to the best snow shovels.
When winter is in full swing and snowstorms are frequent, it's time to pull out the right tool for the job - the snow blower. This type of snow-removal equipment clears snow quickly with minimal effort, making it a must-have for anyone who lives in a place where snowdrifts are common.
To find the best snow blowers, we researched and combed through hundreds of buyer and expert ratings and reviews of dozens of models. Our guide features throwers that have a track record of performance, durability, and, ease of use. If you're not sure where to start, jump to the bottom of this guide to read up on what to consider when buying a snow blower.
Here are the best snow blowers in 2021
- Best overall: Toro Power Clear 821 QZE Gas Snow Blower
- Best on a budget: WEN 5662 Snow Blaster Electric Snow Thrower
- Best single-stage: Toro Power Clear 721 E Gas Snow Blower
- Best cordless electric: EGO SNT2102 Cordless Electric Snow Blower
- Best space-saving: Toro Power Shovel Electric Snow Thrower
If you want to remove snow from flat, paved surfaces as quickly and effortlessly as possible, the Toro Power Clear 821 QZE Gas Snow Blower is the best.
Pros: Electric start, moves at your pace, handles wet snow well, two-year full warranty
Cons: May have trouble with uneven surfaces
There are a few features that make the Toro Power Clear 821 QZE Gas Snow Blower stand out. It has an electric push-to-start button, which helps contribute to its simplicity, and it also has a powerful engine that allows you to easily slice through even the thickest snow.
Its powerful engine allows it to send snow up to 40 ft away. The self-propelled power system moves the snow blower at your walking speed, while also keeping it in constant contact with the ground. A quick-shoot trigger switch allows you to adjust the chute direction and angle. The clearing width is 21 inches and the snow cut depth is 9 inches.
The snow blower is also very lightweight at only 96 pounds. It is specifically designed to be easy to store; the front handle folds down to lessen the amount of space it takes up in your home.
Customer reviews note that the equipment is easy to use, lightweight, and easily storable, and the snow blower is adept at removing both heavy and wet snow.
The best on a budgetThe WEN 5662 Snow Blaster Electric Snow Thrower is ideal for homeowners who are tired of shoveling and want a simple, affordable unit that clears walks and small paved driveways.
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 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 large snow piles with ease, and 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.
The best single-stage snow blowerThe Toro Power Clear 721 E Gas Snow Blower is lightweight, self-propelled, and has a "guaranteed to start" warranty for the first two years.
Pros: Compact, lightweight, easy to maneuver, self-propelled, two-year full "Guaranteed to Start" warranty
Cons: Not meant for heavy snowfalls, manual chute adjustment
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.
The best cordless electric snow blowerIf 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.
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)
For a battery-powered snow blower, the EGO Power+ 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.
The best space-saving snow blowerThe Toro Power Shovel Electric Snow Thrower is about the size of a standard snow shovel, but it has the power to clear snow up to six inches deep with its powerful auger.
Pros: Won't take up much space, clears moderate snowfall with ease, thin enough to use on steps, throws snow up to 20 feet
Cons: Must remain plugged in, can't handle deep snow, can't direct where snow is thrown
The Toro Power Shovel is a wonderful snow-clearing tool for a variety of applications. If you live in an area that receives only moderate snowfall a few times a year, it might be the only snow blower you need. It handles snowfall of up to six inches with ease, plus its small footprint makes it agile enough to clear steps — something a full-size snowblower will never be able to do. That ability alone makes it worth its pretty affordable price tag, in our opinion. If you have a full-sized blower, consider adding this one to your toolkit for detail work.
Its small size also makes it easy to store, and it's electric so you don't have to worry about keeping a full gas can around or being caught without when an unexpected storm hits. Being tethered to an outlet can be limiting, though, so make sure to invest in a good weather-safe extension cord. We don't recommend clearing large swaths of snow with this machine, so a good 100-footer should do just fine.
The Power Shovel has a strong auger that can move up to 300 pounds of snow per minute, throwing it up to 20 feet. One downside to this compact machine is that it throws the snow directly out in front of you, and there's no way to direct the snow elsewhere. We suggest strategically determining your snow clearing path so you don't end up accidentally reburying the stairs you just cleared.
What to consider when buying a snow blowerWhen 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 blowers 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.
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