2018-2019 Snow Season

What Is The Best Snow Blower For Me? – All Your Questions Answered Here!

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“Best” means different things to different people. Some of you ask Google, “What is the best snow blower for me*?” Some of you look at Amazon’s best-selling snow blowers, while others read every word of Consumer Reports Recommended List.

Here is a list of the most common questions that people have asked over the last three years to help them find the best snow blower. Take your time and read through the questions. I’ve also included a suggestion for a snow blower that will work well in that situation. It’s just a suggestion based on experience so feel free to continue the discussion in the comments below if you have a different snow blower in mind.

Finding the “Best” snow blower for you can be an overwhelming task. You have over 400 gas and electric snow blowers available in the U.S. In addition, different parts of the country have different amounts of snow, get different types of snow and each one of you has a different size area and type of surface to clean so some snow blowers may work for you but many won’t. But, MovingSnow is here to help.

What is the best snow blower for me?

NOTE: Links to retail sites are affiliate links. When you click on the link and buy something from that site I make a small commission from that sale.

Yes, There really is a snow blower built for you. You may also want to read this article to after reading this list: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS

How did you like the list? Please let me know in the comment section below?

  1. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Snow Blower – The 20 Best Snow Blower List
  2. Best cheap 24-inch snow blower – Best Cheap 2-Stage Snow Blowers 2018-2019
  3. Best value 24-inch snowblower without power steering for most people – Ariens Compact 24 or Toro 824 OE
  4. Best value snow blower without power steering – Troy-Bilt Storm 2860 28 in. 243cc
  5. Best value snow blower with power steering for most people – There are four – Troy-Bilt  Storm 2890 | Toro Power Max 826 OXE 37799 | Ariens Deluxe 28 921046 | Cub Cadet 2X 28″ HP
  6. Best 24-inch Residential Snow Blower on the Market – Ariens Platinum 24 SHO EFI
  7. Best 26-inch Residential Snow Blower on the Market – Cub Cadet 2X 26 HP | Toro Power Max 826 OXE 37799
  8. Best 28-inch Residential Snow Blower on the Market – Ariens Platinum 28 SHO RapidTrak
  9. Best 30-inch Residential Snow Blower on the Market – Ariens Platinum 30 SHO
  10. Best Value Single Stage Residential Snow Blower – Toro Power Clear 721 E 21 in.
  11. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Single Stage Residential Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Squall XP 21 in. 208cc
  12. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Single Stage Residential Snow Blower for most people – Toro SnowMaster
  13. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Single Stage Commercial Snow Blower – Ariens Commercial SS 21 in. 208cc
  14. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best 2-Stage Snow Blower for most people – Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO
  15. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best 3-Stage Snow Blower for most people – Cub Cadet 3X 28
  16. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Cordless Single Stage Electric Snow Thrower – Right now there is none that I can recommend.
  17. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Cordless 2-Stage Electric Snow Thrower – Snow Joe ION8024-XRP 24-Inch
  18. Easiest To Use Snow Blower – Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE
  19. Easiest To Use 2-Stage Snow Blower – Cub Cadet 2X 24 | Craftsman 88640 24 | Husqvarna ST224P
  20. Easiest To Use Large Frame Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 in. | Ariens Deluxe 28 | Toro 928 Model 38840
  21. Best Snow Blower for a small driveway – Troy-Bilt Storm 2460
  22. Best Snow Blower for 2 car, 60-foot driveway – Husqvarna ST224P | Ariens Compact 24 in. | Troy-Bilt Storm 2460
  23. Best Snow Blower for 2 car, 80-foot driveway – Troy-Bilt | Cub Cadet |Ariens Deluxe 28 |
  24. Best Snow Blower for 2 car, 100-foot or longer – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 in. | Ariens Deluxe 28 | Toro 928 Model 38840
  25. Best Snow 2-Stage Blower for my 105 lb spouse (small/short) – Cub Cadet 2X 24
  26. Best snow blower for my bad back. – Cub Cadet 2X 24
  27. Best 24 Inch Snow Blower for heavy, wet snow – Ariens Platinum 24 | Ariens Platinum 24 EFI
  28. Best 26 Inch Snow Blower for heavy, wet snow – Cub Cadet 3X 26
  29. Best 28 Inch Snow Blower for heavy, wet snow – Ariens Platinum 28 | Toro Power Max HD
  30. Best 30 Inch Snow Blower for heavy, wet snow – Ariens Platinum 30 |  Toro Power Max HD
  31. Best Value 32-36 Inch Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 34. |  Toro Power Max HD
  32. Best snow blower for long single car driveways – 28-inch models are the easiest for long driveways
  33. Best snow blower for large areas – 30-36 inch works well.
  34. Best Starting Snow Blower – Any Ariens with EFI –
  35. Fastest Snow Blower – Ariens RapidTrack 28 Hydro Pro
  36. Fastest Snow Blower For Your 2-car Midwest Driveway – Toro SnowMaster 824 QZE
  37. Biggest/Baddest/Highest capacity snow blower – Ariens Professional 36 Hydro EFI More Capacity than the Honda  HS1336iAS
  38. Best Commercial Snow Blower – 5 Best Commercial Snow Blowers 2018
  39. Quietest 24 inch Gas Snow Blower – Sears Craftsman 88789
  40. Quietest 26 inch Gas Snow Blower – Sears Craftsman 88694
  41. Quietest 28 inch Gas Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Storm 2890
  42. Best Wheeled Snow Blower For Steep, Paved Driveways – Ariens Deluxe/Platinum | Toro Power Max HD
  43. Best Snow Blower For Steep Gravel Driveways – 6 Best Track Snow Blowers For 2018-2019
  44. Best 24 Inch Snow Blower without power steering – Ariens Compact 24 in.
  45. Best 26 Inch Snow Blower without power steering – Troy-Bilt 2665
  46. Best 28 Inch Snow Blower without power steering – Troy-Bilt Storm 2860 28 in. 243cc
  47. Best 24 Inch Snow Blower with power steering – Ariens Platinum 24 EFI
  48. Best 26 Inch Snow Blower with power steering – Cub Cadet 2X 26″ HP Model 31AM5CVS710 | Power Max 826 OXE Model 37799
  49. Best 28 Inch Snow Blower with power steering – Ariens Platinum 28 | Toro Power Max HD
  50. Best 30 Inch Snow Blower with power steering – Ariens Platinum 30 |  Toro Power Max HD
  51. Best Residential 33-36 Inch Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 34
  52. Best Value 30 inch Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30
  53. If you have a small, steep driveway this is the best choice on the market today!Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP
  54. The Snow Blower Everyone Thinks Is The Best via Social Media – Honda Power Equipment
  55. Best Rated Snow Blower on Amazon – Husqvarna ST224P
  56. Best Rated Snow Blower on Home Depot – Ariens Compact 24 in. 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower
  57. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites 3-stage – Cub Cadet 3X 30″ PRO H
  58. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites 2-stage – Ariens RapidTrack 28 Hydro Pro
  59. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites Compact 2-stage – Husqvarna ST224P
  60. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites Single-Stage – Toro Power Clear 721 QZE 38744
  61. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites Cordless Electric Snow Thrower – EGO SNT2102 is not self-propelled.
  62. Most Expensive walk-behind snow blower – All Honda Snow blowers with the HS1336iAS being the most expensive at $7999.
  63. Longest Throwing Snow Blower – Ariens RapidTrack 28 Hydro Pro and Toro Power Max HD 1428 OHXE
  64. Best snow blower for heavy-wet snow – Any of the Ariens Platinum Models | Toro Power Max HD
  65. Best snow blower for drifts – Install drift cutters on any current 2-stage Ariens, Troy-Bilt, Toro, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet for cutting drifts. A track snow blower works best for wind-blown drifts.  6 Best Track Snow Blowers For 2018-2019
  66. Best snow blower for gravel – Any 2-stage snow blower  (adjust the skid shoes to their highest position)
  67. Best Snow Blower that can be used all year long – Gravely PRO-QXT
  68. Best Snow Blower for paths and trails – 6 Best Track Snow Blowers For 2018-2019
  69. Best Snow Blower For Hauling Around – Ariens Commercial SS 21 in. 208cc
  70. Best Snow Blower For The Long Island Area 2018-2019 – Ariens Deluxe 24 (Small Driveways – heavy/wet end-of-driveway snow)
  71. Best Snow Blower For The Boston Area 2018-2019 – Any snow blower with a 14-inch impeller (Ariens Deluxe-Platinum | Toro Power Max HD | Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm
  72. Best Snow Blower For The Midwest 2018-2019 – Any 2-stage snow blower on this list based on the size and type of driveway.
  73. Best 2-Stage Snow Blowers For High Altitudes 2018-2019 – Any of the Ariens with EFI.
  74. Best Cheap 2-Stage Snow Blowers With Power Steering 2018-2019 – Article still being written
  75. The Best Snow Shovel, Ice Scraper, and Gas Can To Compliment Your New Snow Blower

*MovingSnow has been helping you find the best snow blower for over 12 years now. In the last 3 years alone over 5 million people visited the site and over 3000 people a year have asked the question in the comments? “Which snow blower is best for me?” 

Yes, There really is a snow blower built for you. You may also want to read this article to after reading this list: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS 

This article is a compliment to: The Twenty Best Snow Blowers – September 2018 – Which Snow Blower Is Best For You?

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About The Author

Paul

About Paul Sikkema Paul Sikkema has been writing about snow blowers, riding mowers and other lawn and garden equipment for over 10 years. Paul does most his writing out in his workshop where he feeds the wildlife and birds in the yard. His goal is to have a red squirrel eating out of his hand. He spends as much time with his granddaughter as he can.

49 Comments

  1. Peter

    Hi Paul,

    Boston area 2 car ~ 100 ft slightly sloped driveway plus 30×40 parking pad all asphalt. Id like something with good clearing speed and the power to do the end of driveway pile. Don’t mind spending for a premium unit. A few I’m looking at:
    Toro Powermax 1428
    Ariens Pro 28
    Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI
    Do the first two offer enough to justify the additional cost. Open to other suggestions. Thanks for your comments.

    December 28, 2022
  2. Bill Quinlan

    Hi Paul, I live in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. I’m going to replace my 25 year old 5 hp 24” yardman 2 stage this year. I am considering the toro 824 or 826 or the cub cadet 2x 24 or 26 inch 2 stage blowers. I live on a corner and have a circular driveway that goes into a 2 1/2 car wide 50 ft driveway. The snowplow burys one end of my driveway with very heavy wet snow. I am interested in your thoughts and recommendations. I have a small toro 18” for the light snow falls. I need something bigger for the deeper occasions.

    Thank you!
    Bill

    February 6, 2021
    • Paul

      Hi Bill, The Cub Cadet will have about the same capacity and throwing power as your Yardman. They do have better features like dual headlights and nice chute controls.

      The Toro 826 is an excellent choice. It has automatic steering, a lot more horsepower than your old one, and is very easy to use.

      February 7, 2021
      • Bill

        HI Paul, I live in Orland Park, Illinois and clear about 8 car lengths of driveway relatively flat, plus 300 feet of sidewalk. One more question, I was very impressed with the video of the toro snow master 824 QXE. Would you recommend this one, or is the toro 826, or Ariens deluxe 24 a better choice?
        Thanks Paul, I appreciate your expertise!
        Bill

        February 24, 2021
        • Paul

          Hi Bill, You almost never get lake effect so the SnowMaster will work well about 80% of the time. But, you get a large snowplow drift at the end of your driveway or the city snow plow throws snow on that 300 feet of sidewalk then the SnowMaster is not a good choice. It just doesn’t handle heavy/wet snow or snowplow snow that well.
          Personally, I recommend the Ariens Deluxe 24 over the Toro SnowMaster or the 826. The Ariens handles heavy/wet snow a lot better.

          February 24, 2021
          • Bill

            Thank you Paul! My mind is made up…Ariens deluxe 24 it is!

            February 24, 2021
  3. Thomas

    Hi Paul – Request a reccomendation.
    I live in north NJ. We have a very long driveway(about 200ft). Half of it is 1.5 car wide and the other half is 3 car wide.
    The driveway is flat and fully paved with asphalt.

    Lately in NJ, we are not having big snow winters. I am looing for something under $1000.

    November 14, 2020
    • Paul

      Hi Thomas, Prices have gone up in the last two years and I highly recommend you increase your budget to $1200 or so. That will get you a snowblower that will last and get your long driveway done in a reasonable amount of time. Here are a few choices.

      Toro 828 OAE at The Home Depot
      Cub Cadet 2X 30″ HP at The Home Depot
      Ariens Deluxe 28 Home Depot has a few of these otherwise go to your local dealer.
      Ariens Deluxe 30. Check out your locl dealer for this model.

      November 16, 2020
  4. Alan St Croix

    Hi Paul, I’m looking at buying a new snowblower. The two that I’ve narrowed it down to are the Toro 824 & the Husqvarna 224p, what are your thoughts on which is the better machine. I live in Maine & have a 3 car driveway.
    Thanks so much,
    Alan

    October 27, 2020
    • Paul

      Hi Alan, I used to haul paper out of the mills in the central part of Maine and I remember waking up to snowdrifts as tall as the hood of the semi. Based on that I don’t think either snow blower would be a good choice. (But if those were the only two I could pick – I’d pick the Toro)

      If you want a 24-inch snowblower, I recommend the Ariens Deluxe 24 for your area. It will handle heavy/wet snow a LOT better than the Toro 824 or Husqvarna and throw it a lot farther. It’s only $100 more and well worth the money.

      October 28, 2020
      • Alan St Croix

        Thanks Paul, I just purchased the Ariens Deluxe 24!

        October 28, 2020
  5. andy simpson

    Paul,

    Best snowblower for clearing an outdoor ice rink 80′ x 200’…in Montana, 24″ snowfalls are common, as are 2-5″ snowfalls. We currently run a couple 24″ blowers, they do the job, but would a 32″ or 36″ be that much better? Thanks!

    Andy

    February 5, 2020
    • Paul

      Hi Andy, If you want to save labor cost a 36 inch would save you money. The good 36-inch snow blowers like the Ariens Pro will throw the snow 40-60 feet so you won’t have to throw the snow twice like you do with most 24-inch snow blowers. Track drives like the Ariens RapidTrak are fast and powerful and have great traction so you can clear 2-20 inches as fast as you can walk.

      Also, Do you clear ALL the snow off the rink? Do you have a Zamboni for that? If you have to clear the rink and don’t have a Zamboni also consider a second, single-stage snowblower with a floating scraper bar – Ariens Commercial 21 or Toro Pro 821 are good choices.

      February 5, 2020
      • Andy Simpson

        The labor is all Volunteers..so the sooner we can be done the better. My first thought was Arien’s, but have you done any experimenting with the Snow Beast? I believe home depot sells it. They make a 45″, which seems totally massive.

        We do clear all the snow. We considered a single stage for getting it really clean, or also a walk behind power brush. You always have to battle the breeze, so in the end we usually have to manually shovel as well.

        February 5, 2020
        • Paul

          Hi Andy, DO NOT BUY A SNOW BEAST!!!! When it breaks – and it will – you will spend the rest of the season waiting for parts. You get what you pay for in snow blowers and the Snow Beast is way too inexpensive, you will hate it!
          45-inch snow blowers are also not a good choice. They are too big and that makes them hard to handle. They also have surprisingly bad traction. I usually recommend a 32 inch or smaller but in your case, with the large, flat area a 36 will work.
          I thought about a power brush but the bristles are stiff and it may leave grooves in your rink. (They work well on sidewalks, blacktop, and other hard surfaces) They are also expensive. You can buy three or four single-stage snow throwers with floating scrapers for the price of one good power brush.

          February 5, 2020
  6. Dwight

    Greetings, Paul! I am one of those shoppers who, when spending a significant chunk of change on a product, will research the snot out of it, so I truly appreciate your website and the time and energy you devote to reviewing snow blowers. It’s awesome…but it’s also a little overwhelming. Just when I think I’ve made a decision, I read another article that throws me back into indecision. LOL

    So, let’s start here. I live in Des Moines, IA, area. Some years, we barely get snowfalls more than 3-inches. Other years, it’s snowmageddon. This year (2019) was one of those snowmageddon years. Snows range from dry and powdery to wet and heavy, and sometimes icy.

    I have a two-car driveway, approx. 70 feet long, and my home is on a corner lot, so I have the distinct privilege of having to clear twice the snow of my neighbors. Yay! (No, not yay.)

    The general lay of the land, however, is relatively flat, so that’s a plus.

    I am middle-aged, obese, and don’t want to wrestle with a hard-to-manage/control snowblower. I want something that’s easy to steer, will power through the worst snow, but don’t want it to drag me down the block either. I want to be able to walk at a normal pace, but also not have to spend all day blowing snow. I also want it to not be a high maintenance item. Changing oil regularly and keeping fresh gas in it is about my speed.

    My driveway has some broken/uneven spots that trips up and jars the snowblower I have now.

    Right now, I have a Crapper–er, Snapper, single-stage snow pup, which has served its purpose of being easier and faster than shoveling everything, b