The 5 Best Snowblowers for Digging Yourself Out This Winter

Winter is almost here, and for many of us, that means the chance of snow in the forecast is going up. Will you be ready for whatever weather is headed your way? Now's the perfect time to check out what you've got in the garage or shed and prepare for the months ahead. The Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting widespread wintry weather with dramatic swings.

If you’re tired of shoveling, need to replace an aging snowblower, or are looking for something bigger and better, a new snowblower could take some of the chill out of snow removal and might be the best way to manage the cold, snow-filled months ahead. Whatever your mission, we have snow removal options right here.

Our recommendations run the gamut of sizes and include both battery- and gas-powered models. Read on to find the best machine to help you clear snow more quickly and efficiently.

• Best Overall Electric: Ego Power+ Two-Stage 24-Inch Snowblower​
• ​Best Value Gas Two-Stage: Champion 24-Inch 209 cc Two-Stage Snow Blower​
• Best Value Electric Single Stage: Ryobi 40-Volt 21-Inch Single-Stage Electric Snow Blower​
• Best Electric for Medium-Sized Properties: Ego Power+ 21-Inch Single-Stage Electric Snow Blower​
• Best Gas for Medium-Sized Properties: Toro 21-Inch Single-Stage 252-cc Gas Snow Blower​

We are gearing up for our 2026 snowblower testing, and the models below represent several of the models we’ll be evaluating. These models represent the breadth of options available right now and are some of the most reliable and effective you can buy.

When we test snowblowers ahead of snowfall season, we use wet sawdust to evaluate how these machines perform. We had a load delivered to our office and mixed with water until we arrived at a snow-like consistency. When we first conducted this test, we weighed one cubic foot of our imitation snow and found it was exactly 21 pounds. Average wet snow weighs about 20 pounds per cubic foot, so we were in the right ballpark.

Once the test area was set up, we ran the machines through the sawdust just like we would if we were blowing snow off our driveways. It’s important to note that wet sawdust, while it is similar enough for testing purposes, is not snow. It’s heavier than most snow and less slippery. So our test is a bit tougher on these machines than the snow most users will encounter. We should also note that cordless models are more sensitive to the heavier material than the gas machines. We fully expect these machines to perform better when used in actual snow.

The steel-framed Power+ is very much like gas-powered units of its size, except for the electric motor and two 56-volt, 7.5-Ah batteries. Those two things give the Power+ some distinct advantages in the noise and weight departments, being both quieter and lighter than its gas-fueled counterparts. Using it won’t hurt your hearing or wake the neighbors, and you won’t be laboring to move it around in the garage to store.

Ego claims a run time long enough to clear an 18-car driveway—that’s an area about 130 by 12 feet—of 8 inches of snow. This may be true with light, dry powder, but keep in mind that the heavier and wetter the snow, the shorter the run time. Clearing our test area of sawdust—significantly heavier than all but the wettest snow—used up between 25 and 30 percent of the battery. It’s important to note that we operated the auger in turbo mode to throw the sawdust as far as possible, a distance of 31 feet, but it does have a variable-speed control. So you can adjust the auger as needed for the conditions and to preserve battery.

Using the Power+ is a breeze. With a differential in the axle and its relatively light weight, we found it very easy to maneuver. We like how freely the discharge chute moves through its 200-degree arc. But with a separate control for the deflector, it’s not as quick to adjust on the fly. Other features include four LEDs, adjustable plastic skid shoes that won’t mar garage floor coatings or walkway pavers, and adjustable handle height. The Power+ is one of very few cordless snowblowers with two stages, and overall, we were impressed with its capabilities. It threw wet sawdust well, which means it will have no problems in real snow.

Snowblowers are an investment, but whereas many two-stage snow blowers are priced over $1,000, this model from Champion Power Equipment lists at $899. Even at this lower price, it carries a number of features others have, including push-button electric start, a self-propelled drive system, remote chute control, and an LED headlight.

With a 24-inch width and a 20.5-inch height, it can handle deep snowfall, and the height is adjustable, so you can set it to handle gravel paths without damaging the blades. Plus, 180-degree turning wheels help make tighter turns. The 209-cc engine is slightly less powerful than some of the two-stage gas snowblowers we’ve reviewed, but that still should be enough to tackle deep snowbanks.

Ryobi power tools do a good job of making things a bit more affordable, and this single-stage cordless snow blower is no exception. With a list price of $849, it’s a few hundred dollars less than comparable blowers, but it’s sized to handle moderate snowfall. It offers a clearing path of 21 inches wide and 11.5 inches high and can throw the snow up to 35 feet away.

This model comes with two 40-volt, 8-amp-hour batteries, which should keep things running for up to 2.5 hours, though that can decrease depending on how deep and wet the snow gets. The other benefit of this model is that you can use its batteries with any other Ryobi 40-volt power tools, making them useful for other work you have around the house in just about any season.

Ego claims its 21-inch Power+ snow blower can throw snow up to 40 feet with a 180-degree, adjustable chute, which is pretty far for a cordless machine. In the wet sawdust test, we were able to throw material 24 feet—longer distances are certainly achievable with lighter, drier snow. It took the Power+ 4 minutes 16 seconds to clear the sawdust down to the pavement in our area test.

Like most single-stage blowers, the Power+ is not self-propelled. In our dense, heavy sawdust, pushing the machine required some effort to make forward progress. It’s not a bad thing, though, as it makes it easier to prevent the machine from digging in too deeply and bogging down. In wet or ice-packed snow, we expect you’ll have to put in a similar effort.

The Power+ has a variable speed auger, so we were able to adjust speed for the conditions and conserve battery when less power was needed. There isn’t too much to worry about in the battery department, since it comes with two 5-Ah batteries, enough to clear 8 inches of snow on a 12-car driveway—that’s six cars long by two cars wide.

The Power+ comes with a dual-port charger, so the two batteries can be charged simultaneously to get you ready for the next round faster. Ego rounds things out with front-mounted LEDs for low-light and dark conditions, plus an easy folding handle for stowing the unit when not in use.

This single-stage snowblower from Toro is well-suited for medium-sized properties that get guaranteed snowfall each year, but don’t present a ton of ground to cover—just a driveway and some sidewalks. Its 212-cc engine should cut through even wet snow and it can throw it up to 40 feet away. Plus, it’s self-propelled to help you push through the snow.

It also simplifies things with some smart controls like a trigger and slide that can change the direction of the discharge chute and push-button electric start. This blower is aimed at clearing snowfall up to 9 inches, so northern regions that see more severe snowstorms may want to opt for a two-stage model, but this model will work well if you only have a few moderate snow events each winter.

Gas- or Battery-Powered

The big limiting factor for cordless battery-powered snowblowers is how long they’ll run. If the battery dies, there are two options: Put a second battery in, if you have one, or put it on the charger and wait. Battery options do have their advantages, though. They produce no fumes, emit very little noise, are simple to operate, and can be stored anywhere in your home. There is also very little maintenance required with them.

Large gas snowblowers can easily handle snow 20 inches deep or more and, with enough gas, run for hours on end. And if you do run out of gas, just add fuel and keep going. The downsides with gas models are that they're noisier, do produce fumes, and require routine engine maintenance.

The choice comes down to how much snow you typically get, and how much space you have to clear.

One-Stage or Two-Stage

Much like the choice between gas or battery power, choosing a single- or two-stage machine has a lot to do with snow volume and the area to be cleared. Single-stage blowers are so called because they have one curved paddle that collects the snow and ejects it through the chute. This is the limiting factor in how far the snow can be thrown, as well as the volume that can pass through the machine.

Single-stage units are simple to operate, lightweight, easy to maneuver, and typically less expensive than two-stage machines. Two-stage units have a horizontal auger that collects snow and pushes it to a separate, rotating impeller that ejects it. Two-stage machines can throw snow 30 to 60 feet, which makes it easier to clear large areas without piling snow that you’ll just have to move again.

Drive Systems

The main purpose of a drive system is to adjust and convert engine revolutions per minute to an appropriate speed to drive the machine forward in various conditions. There are two basic types of transmissions: friction disc and hydrostatic.

Friction-disc transmissions are simple, mechanical devices that employ a rubber edged wheel that presses on the face of a large pulley. By repositioning the wheel on the face of the pulley, the machine will speed up or slow down—closer to the center for slower, close to the outside edge for faster. Snowblowers with friction discs will often have six forward speeds and two reverse, controlled by a lever on the dashboard. And these machines typically have a live axle, which means both wheels are attached to a solid axle and will always spin at the same rate.

Hydrostatic transmissions pump hydraulic fluid through hydraulic motors, which convert the flow to mechanical rotation. On these machines, drive speed is independent of engine speed and there is no fixed number of “speeds.” The lever controlling speed can be positioned at any point in its range. “Hydro”-drive machines are capable of slower speeds than those with friction disc drives, which is good for very deep or heavy snow. Due to the complexity of hydrostatic transmissions, they can be significantly more expensive than friction-disc units.

There are two features that help improve steering. The first uses triggers under each handle to control clutches that disengage the wheel on the corresponding side. The opposite wheel continues to drive, turning the machine in the direction of the stopped wheel. The other feature incorporates a differential gear on the axle, which allows the wheels to spin at different speeds.

Tracks or Wheels

Tracks provide greater grip and stability, which make them very good on slopes, loose surfaces like gravel, or areas that tend to get icy snowpack. They are often easier to keep going nice and straight. Wheels work well in most situations but can often slip on hills and small patches of ice. It takes more parts to manufacture a track drive than a wheeled drive, so tracked units tend to be more expensive. In the end, the decision comes down to budget and terrain.