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What is the best snowblower?
“Best” means different things to different people. Some of you look at Amazon’s best-selling snowblowers, while others read every word of Consumer Reports Recommended Snow Blowers list. Please remember, the best snow blower as rated by a review site, online review or even by MovingSnow.com is not always the best snow blower for you. It may be too big or too small for your particular driveway/area to be cleared. It may not be able to handle the heavy/wet snow your area gets a lot of. My goal here is to help you find the best snow blower for you!
Note: When reading about snow blowers please be careful of review sites that ONLY send you to Amazon. These sites only want to take your money and almost all of them have absolutely no experience with snow blowers.
I’m only listing snow blowers here that are proven to work well. There are over 400 snow blowers available today. I’ve narrowed that huge list down to machines that have proven track records or have recent improvements made so that they are now great snowblowers. For example, in previous years, Husqvarna snowblowers had issues with drive belts and a half dozen other problems. Husqvarna snowblowers have had all those issues fixed. Another example, MTD’s joystick chute control was never easy to use. They have replaced it on Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt models with a better working system. Ariens and Toro have also fixed the “pain points” with their snowblowers over the last three years.
I’m only listing snow blowers from retailers and dealers that have good service networks. These networks use local servicing dealers to repair your machine under warranty. I do not recommend retailers and brands that ship your machine off to some faraway location where it may sit for months before the repair is made.
NOTE! I will not be recommending any Briggs & Stratton, Simplicity, or Snapper snowblowers this year. Why? I know you want a quality snowblower that will last you years and part of that means getting parts for it. Three things have happened that make me very nervous about getting parts in the future for B&S, Simplicity, and Snapper snowblowers. 1. B&S put the lawn & garden division up for sale this spring. 2. B&S filed for bankruptcy this summer. 3. A holding company is taking ownership of B&S. Typically, a holding company will review all the companies divisions and sell off the non-profitable ones (or the ones they can get the most money from.) So, I’m going to wait until we find out if the holding company dumps the lawn & garden division or if it just disappears.
Protection Plans and Extended Warranties. Protection plans are NOT extended warranties. Sometimes manufacturers will offer extended warranties. Because extended warranties are directly from the manufacturer they are always a good choice. Those warranties are handled by a local servicing dealer. Protection plans, on the other hand, offered by retailers are not always a good choice. If you feel a retailer’s protection plan is a good choice for you be sure you understand what is offered for your gas-powered snowblower and how you go about using the Protection Plan. Many plans will ship your snowblower off to some far away repair center where it can sit for months before it’s even looked at.
When figuring out the best snow blower for you there are many factors that you should consider including the area you want to clear, the surface you want to clear, and how much snow you usually get. MovingSnow’s goal is to help you find the best snow thrower for you. If you can’t decide which snow blower is best for you here are other articles to help:
- Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS,
- What Is The Best Snow Blower For Me? – All Your Questions Answered Here!
- 13 Snow Blower Features And Myths That Matter
I also have a YouTube channel where I review many of the snow blowers on this list (and a bunch that don’t make the list) Please click on this link and subscribe YouTube/Paul Sikkema
Note: Links found on MovingSnow.com are usually “affiliate links.” If the link takes you to a retailer like The Home Depot, Amazon, Tractor Supply, or others I make a small commission when you click on the link and then buy from that retailer. That money is used to keep this site running and purchase demo units for hands-on testing. To learn more please go here: How To Support MovingSnow.com
Yes, you need a new gas can! Check out The Best Snow Shovel, Ice Scraper, and Gas Can To Compliment Your New Snow Blower
If you have questions feel free to leave a comment below.
Canadian Snow Blower Buyers:
Snowblowers in Canada are similar but not always exactly like the models offered in the U. S. Feel free to ask me about a specific model in the comments below.
Note: If I send you to a retailer to buy assume I make a small commission from the sale. I’ll give you links to The Home Depot but many of the products listed here are also available at:
So Here Is The List Of The Best Snowblowers!
It’s still a fairly large list (about 50) but it’s broken down by size and capacity. Here is how the list is broken down:
Cordless Electric
Single-Stage
24-26 inch 2-stage
28 inch 2-stage
30 inch 2-stage
32 inch and larger
Thanks for reading this very long post.
Cordless Electric Snow Throwers. Hard surface driveway – will not work on gravel.
There are a whole bunch of cordless electric snowthrowers on the market but there are only three that I can recommend at this time. They are similar in size and capacity to the gas-powered single-stage machines. They also have large enough batteries to clear 8 inches of snow off of a 2-car hard surface driveway up to 70 feet long. They can handle 8 inches of snow and drifts up to 12 inches.
Recommended: Toro Cordless Shovel. Buy here at The Home Depot. Do you have a medical issue that restricts your snow shoveling? Do you have lots of steps? Do you have a small patio, sidewalk, or terrace that you can’t get your big snowblower to? Hassle-free shoveling, easy to maneuver, convenient, cordless, and complete snow clearing. Have a really narrow driveway or need to go in-between cars? Flex-Force power source features a 2.5 Ah battery with a run time of up to 45-minutes on a single charge-and a 60-minute recharge time. Also available as a bare tool for those of you who already have the Flex-Force batteries.
Recommended: Toro FlexForce: 21″ Power Clear® e21 60V* 7.5 AH (405 AH) Battery Snow Blower (39901) Buy Here at The Home Depot. or This snow thrower features Toro’s patented Power Clear – throws snow up to 40 feet. This snow thrower will clear up to a 12 car driveway on one charge. When you take the battery out this snowblower only weighs 40 lbs so it will be great for areas where you have to lift it up steps or put it in your car. Personally, I like this snow blower a lot and it will be my go-to machine for clearing my 16X70 feet driveway and patio this winter. This snow thrower is part of Toro FlexForce line of 60-volt cordless tools which includes one of the best 22-inch self-propelled mowers on the market. Check out my videos of it at https://www.youtube.com/paulsikkema
Recommended but expensive: Snow Joe 21 in. 100-Volt Max 5 Ah Brushless Cordless Electric Snow Blower Model# ION100V-21SB. Buy Here at The Home Depot. Check out my video on YouTube.Snow Joe has redesigned their cordless single stage once again and this model now features auger assist and a 30 minute run time on the supplied 5.0 AH (425 WH) battery. This snow thrower is part of the Snow Joe/Sun Joe line of 100-volt cordless tools. Check out my videos of it at https://www.youtube.com/paulsikkema
Popular but I don’t recommend: EGO 21 in. Single-Stage 56-Volt Lithium-Ion 7.5 AH (405 AH) Cordless Electric Snow Blower. This snow thrower needs two batteries for operation (supplied) and does not have auger assist. I ONLY recommend it if you already have EGO tools and you only get a few inches of snow at a time. If you get snow depths over six inches this machine gets very hard to use because you have to PUSH it through the snow. Here is a typical end-of-year review of the EGO Snow Thrower: “I too love cordless-the only gas equipment. All I have left is my lawnmower and snow-blower so I was eager to try this. However, the auger not touching the ground is a big problem for me. My single stage 208cc gas does and it helps to pull it along. I have a 75 ft single driveway and 200 ft of sidewalk (a double lot on a corner). It had enough juice to do it, but constantly having to push, push, push to get through the snow-it was a major workout. It throws the snow fine-no problem there. But wow-it was a major pain pushing this thing. We’ve had over 100 inches of snow this winter (so far), so I’m glad I returned it.”
EGO 2-stage Snowblower: I don’t have an opinion on it yet. A few questions I need to answer before I can endorse it. 1. There is a lot of plastic in the EGO 2-stage. That plastic appears to be the same type as what they use in everything else. 2. There are a lot of controls on the dash and some are not “glove-friendly.” 3. It requires two 7.5 AH batteries to run so if you don’t have enough battery to do the work you’ll need to buy an additional set of two batteries – that’s an additional $750! 4. They state the “power of gas.” What does that mean? The good 24-inch snowblowers have increased the engine size to 223 to 252cc (7-8 HP) and I can’t wait to see if the performance even comes close to gas. Yes, it may throw snow 50 Feet but if the snowblower is just crawling along to get that throwing distance… 5. Is it heavy enough to push through the snowplow drift at the end of your driveway.
Single Stage hard surface driveway – will not work on gravel.
Single-stage snow throwers work great for areas that get less than eight inches of snow at a time and can handle drifts up to 12 inches. They also work great as a “second” snowblower for clearing 1-4 inch snowfalls and cleaning sidewalks right down to the pavement. All the models listed here have power assist augers so you don’t have to push them through the snow. Unless noted these all have push-button electric start. In general, single-stage snow throwers are too small to be your primary machine if you live anywhere in the U.S. north of Interstate 70. None of them (except the Toro SnowMaster And Ariens CrossOver) will throw snow more than 30 feet or so. Because of that, you will end up with much taller piles of snow along your driveway than with a good 2-stage snowblower. These taller piles can cause more drifting right on your driveway the next time it snows.
Because the front auger touches the pavement, single-stage snow throwers ONLY work on smooth surfaces like cement, blacktop, pavers, and decks. They WILL NOT work on gravel or turf.
Recommended: Toro Power Clear® 721 E (38753) Buy Here at The Home Depot. The “standard” for single-stage snow throwers. This model has been redesigned so the engine is easy to work on! At $599 it is one of the best value snow throwers on the market.
Best Single-Stage: Toro Power Clear® 821 QZE (38757) Buy Here at The Home Depot. More power than the 721 and is a great choice if you get heavy/wet snow. Remote chute.
Recommended: Ariens Professional 21 SSRC Model 938025 Buy Here at The Home Depot. This Ariens Commercial Single Stage without electric start is a better choice if you haul your snowthrower around to clear other people’s driveways. It is designed so one person can easily slide it into a pickup, van or SUV. The heavy-duty rubber auger will last you years and years. Check out my videos of it at https://www.youtube.com/paulsikkema
Cub Cadet 1X 21. Buy Here at CubCadet.com or at The Home Depot. This single-stage snowblower does not get a lot of attention but it clears snow very well and comes with a headlight and easy-to-use chute control. It’s very affordable for the features you get. I recommend it if you have to move the chute a lot to get the snow where you want it and/or need to clear snow in the dark.
Honda HS 720AS 20 inch. Buy Here at The Home Depot. The snow thrower is rated as one of the best by Consumer Reports. If you don’t want a Toro or an Ariens this is an excellent snow thrower! It’s a Honda – but it’s more expensive than the top-performing Toro models. A lot of owners hate the chute controls but like the way the snowblower throws snow
Recommended: Toro SnowMaster® 724 QXE (36002) Buy Here at The Home Depot. The Toro 724 and 824 are lightweight, self-propelled snowblowers that clear snow fast from your hard surfaces. These snow throwers will clear up to 18-inch drifts. Many people are buying these instead of a 2-stage snowblower. If you have a larger hard surface driveway to clear and don’t get more than 8 inches at a time they are a great choice.
Largest Single-Stage: Toro SnowMaster® 824 QXE (36003) Buy Here at The Home Depot. Check out my video on YouTube. More power than the 724. I personally own this snow thrower and like it a lot. Check out my videos of it at https://www.youtube.com/paulsikkema
New! Ariens Crossover Model 932050, 20″ (51cm) Clearing Width, Ariens AX® 179, $699
24-26 Inch: Two-Stage 1-2 car driveway, up to 80 feet long – works on any surface
24-26 inch 2-stage snow blowers are good for your typical 1 or 2 car driveway up to 60 feet long. They will also clear snow from gravel, dirt, and turf. Since they are smaller and lighter weight even smaller people can use them. If you have a bad back buy one with power steering.
Note: The cheapest “good” 2-stage snow blower is now $699
Cheap But Good. 24-26 Inch:
If you have to buy the cheapest snow blower – buy one of these. (There is no reason to buy a Chinese Import that does not have a good service network.)
Recommended: Ariens Classic 24 Model 920025 Ariens Dealer Locator. No Power Steering but a lot of features making it a best value snowblower. Good engine, hanging chute, all-steel construction.
Recommended: Troy-Bilt Storm 24 in. Model# Storm 2460, 208cc with Airless Tires. Buy Here at The Home Depot. No Power Steering. The airless tires make this one of the best 24-inch snowblowers for areas of the country that get 30-60 inches of snow a year. The tires give is more traction and makes the snowblower surprisingly easy to turn. I also like the easy to use hanging chute.
Cheapest: Troy-Bilt Storm 2410 Buy Here at The Home Depot. Check out my video on YouTube. If you must have the least expensive snowblower, this is the BEST least expensive snow blower available. There is no need to even consider a Chinese made snowblower anymore. You get a good engine, 6 speeds forward, 2 reverse, good tires, poly skids, and a machine that will handle your 30-40 inch Midwest winters. It’s simple, easy to operate, and has an excellent review rating. It does not have power steering.
Good For Most Areas Of The Country That Get 30-60 Inches Of Snow. 24-26 Inch:
Recommended: Cub Cadet 2X™ 24″. Buy Directly from Cub Cadet or Buy Here at The Home Depot. I’ve been recommending this snow blower for many years and this year they improved it with a larger engine and an updated dash. It’s very easy to use and the handles are short enough so even if you are 5″2″ you can use this snowblower. This updated model includes a larger 243cc engine, trigger power steering, and updated dash with LED headlights. The new controls are a lot easier to use than the old 4-way chute control.
Recommended Cub Cadet 2X 26 HP. Buy Directly from Cub Cadet or Buy Here at The Home Depot. The Cub Cadet 2X HP series are great snowblowers for most areas of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and other areas that average 30-60 inches of snow. It has large tires, excellent LED lights and an easy to use metal chute. This model features trigger power steering but does not have hand warmers.
Toro Power Max® 824 OE (37798) Buy Here at The Home Depot. No Power Steering. I normally recommend the Toro Snow Master instead of this model for hard surface driveways. But this snowblower is a better choice if you have a gravel driveway. You can use this snow blower on any surface including gravel, turf, and dirt. This is a very well-built, dependable snowblower but harder to use than those with automatic or trigger steering.
Ariens Compact 24 Model 920027. Find where to buy here. New AutoTurn Steering! If you are considering the Ariens Classic this snow blower is a solid step up from it. Larger engine and the same Ariens quality you get with the Deluxe models – just less capacity.
Recommended: Troy-Bilt Storm™ 2460 Snow Blower Buy Directly from Troy-Bilt or Buy Here at The Home Depot. 24 inch, 208 cc. My favorite best value snowblower. For all types of snow, about 60-inch average snowfall a year, and will clear gravel/turf areas. It does not have power steering but uses the new airless tires that give you great traction yet turn easily.
Recommended: Troy-Bilt Storm™ 2625 XP Snow Blower Buy Directly from Troy-Bilt or Buy Here at The Home Depot. Two inches wider than the Model 2460 above and has a great 243cc engine. For all types of snow, about 60-inch average snowfall a year, and will clear gravel/turf areas. It does not have power steering but uses the new airless tires that give you great traction yet turn easily.
Recommended: Husqvarna ST224. Buy Here at ACME Tools. The ST224P has now been renamed the ST224. Why, because the dropped the solid axle 224 and replaced it with a cheaper ST124. The 2020 ST224 has power steering and hand warmers and continues to be one of the most popular 24-inch snow blowers. It has power steering. This is an excellent snow blower if you live in the suburbs and need to clean rough areas like a spot on the lawn for your dogs.
Won’t Clog On Heavy/Wet Snow – 24-26 Inch:
If the snowplow leaves you a wet mess or a solid rock wall of snow – these snow blowers will power right through it! Good for areas of the country that get 30-120 inches of snow a year!
Recommended: Ariens Deluxe 24 Model 921045 Ariens Dealer Locator. The Ariens Deluxe 24 and it’s bigger brother Ariens Platinum 24 are unique in the 24-26 inch size. They use a larger, 14-inch impeller and discharge chute so it is very, very hard to clog them on heavy, wet snow. I highly recommend the Deluxe 24 to anyone who struggles with the drift the snowplow truck leaves at the end of the driveway. It’s all-metal and pretty much indestructible. It’s also very easy to use because it has automatic steering (AutoTurn) and basic chute and deflector controls.
Recommended: Toro Power Max 826 OHAE 26 in. 252 cc Buy Here at The Home Depot. I am predicting this new snow blower is going to be one of the most popular snow blowers this year. It’s a very capable, lightweight snowblower that anyone can use. Although it is a “mid-sized” machine it really punches above its weight class because of Toro’s Anti-Clog System (ACS). ACS allows this snowblower to handle all types of snow including the heavy/wet snow that requires a 14-inch impeller on other brands. In addition, the new automatic steering is the best-in-class and the 4-way joystick is fast and easy to use. 15-inch tires give it plenty of traction and the LED light is really bright. Oh – this is the first Toro Power Max to include hand warmers standard on the machine!
Husqvarna ST324? I have not reviewed it at this time but will most likely make this list.
Heavy-Duty Snowmageddon:- Will handle areas that get over 100 inches a year. 24-26 Inch:
Dealer only: Ariens Platinum 24 SHO Model 921050 and Ariens Platinum 24 SHO EFI Model 921053. Ariens Dealer Locator. 24 inch, 369cc. Model 921053 with EZ-Launch EFI Engine. These two snow blowers have over-the-top power and can handle any type of snow and any driveway including gravel and turf. Yet, they are very easy to use. If you have a small driveway but get a lot of snow this is a great choice. It will clear any amount/type of snow. It will not clog on heavy/wet snow. Because it has a larger engine and more capacity than all other 24 inch machines it works well for 2-3 car wide by 80-120 foot driveways. It has great traction for sloped driveways. This is one of the few snow blowers I recommend for Lake Tahoe and their 200-400 inches of snowfall per year. It’s also the best choice for areas that get lake-effect and the North-East U.S. that gets the “Noreasters.” Some of you will feel the price is too high for the EFI model but this heavy-duty 24-inch snow blower with Electronic Fuel Injection will not have the starting issues carbureted engines have on today’s fuels.
Track Drive
There five tracked 24-26 inch snow blowers available on the market. Two are insanely expensive, two are very hard to use which leaves only one that I can recommend. If you want a small tracked snowblower for steep driveway and trails look at the Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP
28 Inch: Two-Stage 2 car or larger driveway, up to 150 feet long – works on any surface
28 inch is the most popular size. Most people can use them without a lot of effort. You can quickly clear snow from your driveway, sidewalk, gravel areas and even go out into the lawn to make a spot for your dogs. The models I’ll suggest here are all capable of clearing the huge drift the city snow plow leaves at the end of your driveway.
Cheap But Good
Recommended: Troy-Bilt Storm™ 2860 Snow Blower Buy Directly from Troy-Bilt or Buy Here at The Home Depot. Check out my video on YouTube. The Troy-Bilt Storm™ 2860 is one of my favorite snow blowers. It does not have power steering but the airless tires make is easy to use. These special tires have plenty of traction yet are designed to allow you to turn the snow blower easier than models that have regular air-filled rubber tires. The rest of the snowblower is built well including the chute/deflector controls. It has heated handgrips! If you are on a budget but need a snowblower to clear a 2 or 3 car driveway this is a great choice.
Note: If you find a 28-inch snowblower cheaper than this one please be aware it’s mostly made in China and parts/service will be very hard to find. Snowblowers required maintenance from time-to-time and not being able to get one repaired – when you need it is very, very frustrating.
Good For Most Areas Of The Country That Get 30-60 Inches Of Snow
My number one choice for most people! Recommended: Toro Power Max HD 828 OAE. I’m sure you watched this video of the 2020 Toro 928. (Can the Toro Power Max HD 928 OAE Snow Blower handle deep snow?) This is the same snowblower with a slightly smaller 8 HP engine. Introduced new this year I believe this will quickly become the “standard” 28-inch snowblower for anyone who gets between 30 and 80 inches of snow a year. It can handle any type of snow including the heavy/wet stuff and your waist-high day-old snow plow drift along the front of your driveway. Why? It features a larger 14-inch auger/impeller, a large metal chute, and Toro’s unique Anti-Clog System. This combination allows it to move more snow and throw it farther – using less horsepower than other brands. In addition, the Quick-Stik, 4-way chute control is the easiest to use control in the industry. Automatic, triggerless steering, large 16-inch tires, combined with a very well balanced machine gives it plenty of traction and makes it easy to use for almost everyone. This snowblower is so tough it does not require shear pins. The reinforced handles make the snowblower feel like the solid, well-built machine it is.
Recommended: Ariens Deluxe 28 Model 921046 Ariens Dealer Locator. Check out my video on YouTube. 28 inch 254 cc. For driveways up to 150 feet and 100 inches of snow a year. It doesn’t clog when blowing heavy, wet snow. This is the standard heavy-duty snowblower that everyone else is trying to beat. The Deluxe 28 a very basic snowblower that blows snow better than most. It has power steering (automatic – no triggers), simple crank chute control, locking deflector control, and a headlight.
Good Value: Troy-Bilt Storm™ 2890 Snow Blower Buy Directly from Troy-Bilt or Buy Here at The Home Depot. Troy-Bilt Storm 2890 28 inch with Power Steering! It’s also the Quietest Gas Powered Snow Blower on the Market! The Storm 2890 has all the features of the Best Value Troy-Bilt Storm 2860 above and adds power steering and the Troy-Bilt quiet engine (with Noise Guard Technology) for only $100 more.
Heavy-Duty Won’t Clog On Heavy/Wet Snow
Recommended: Toro Power Max® HD 928 OAE (265cc Auto Steering) Check out my video on YouTube. Toro PowerMax HD snow blowers have been good machines for years and they have made some improvements recently including an all-metal double-jointed chute and all-metal impeller housing. 14-inch impeller, no shear pins, new stronger gearbox. They are very easy to use. They now have two engine sizes for typical and heavy snowfalls. Power Max® HD series is also one of the farthest throwing snow blowers on the market and has a much greater capacity than the Honda Snow Blowers that cost much more.
Recommended: Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO Model 921048 Ariens Dealer Locator. Check out my video on YouTube. More power than the Ariens Deluxe 28 and the SHO impeller will throw snow up to 55 feet! The Deluxe SHO is one of the farthest throwing snow blowers on the market and has a much greater capacity than the Honda Snow Blowers that cost twice as much
Recommended: Ariens Platinum SHO Rapidtrak 28. Ariens Dealer Locator. This snow blower is a game-changer in the residential snow blower market. All the traction of a tracked unit and the speed and ease-of-use of a wheeled unit. In addition, it handles heavy/wet snow better than all other 28-inch snow blowers.
Residential Track
Recommended: Ariens Platinum SHO Rapidtrak 28. Ariens Dealer Locator. This snow blower is a game-changer in the residential snow blower market. All the traction of a tracked unit and the speed and ease-of-use of a wheeled unit. In addition, it handles heavy/wet snow better than all other 28-inch snow blowers.
Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker™ 2890 Snow Blower Buy Directly from Troy-Bilt or Buy Here at The Home Depot. The Storm Tracker™ 2890 is a good snow blower if you are on a budget and need a tracked snowblower to get you up a steep driveway. This is essentially a Storm 2890 with a larger engine and tracks.
HUSQVARNA ST 427T. Buy here at ACME Tools: It’s designed for professionals who need a maximum-performance snowblower for commercial applications. Features include an electronic fuel injection (EFI) engine, onboard electric starter, all-steel control panel, heated handles, LED headlight, continuous track treads, hydrostatic gearbox, and a cast iron impeller. The working width is 27 inches.
Professional/Commercial Wheel & Track
Ariens and Toro both have over-the-top commercial 28-inch snowblowers that outperform anything else on the market. They are designed to handle more snow in a week than the typical residential snowblower handles in a year. Both the Toro and Ariens have about 30% more capacity than the same size Honda snowblowers and travel faster so you can get more done in the same amount of time. (Ski slope operators are replacing their Hondas as fast as they can with these because they are so much more productive) If you are a residential customer these are “buy-one-and-done” snow blowers. In other words, they will last so long you can give them to your grandkids. If you have large areas to clear and/or get over 100 inches of snow a year seriously consider one of these. Toro 28 in. 420 cc Model 38843, or the Ariens Dealer Locator.
Professional: Ariens Professional 28 Available with Briggs & Stratton or Ariens AX engine. Ariens Dealer Locator.
Professional: ToroPower Max® HD 1428 OHXE Commercial (38843) Buy here at The Home Depot 28 in. 420 cc. The 1428 OHXE is an excellent value at $2249. Cast iron skid shoes, drift cutters, and heavy-duty, square tube handle. This snowblower will blow snow right next to it and out to over 60 feet.
Professional: Ariens Professional 28 Hydro EFI Ariens Dealer Locator. 28 in. 420 cc.
Tracked
Professional: Toro 28″ (71 cm) Power TRX HD Commercial Snow Blower 1428 OHXE (38890) Buy here at The Home Depot 28 in. 420 cc
Professional: Ariens Professional 28 Hydro RapidTrak. Ariens Dealer Locator. 28 in. 420 cc.
The Best You Can Buy
Recommended: The Ariens Professional RapidTrak 28 in. Hydro 420cc Model 926060 Ariens Dealer Locator.is arguably the best snow blower for ALL conditions. With the high-speed RapidTrak, it will clear 15 inches or more as fast as you can walk! It has higher capacity, stronger engine, and is considerably faster to use. This is arguably the biggest, baddest snowblower on the market right now. It throws snow farther, has more capacity, is faster, and has better traction than anything else right now.
Professional: Toro 28″ (71 cm) Power TRX HD Commercial Snow Blower 1428 OHXE (38890) Buy here at The Home Depot 28 in. 420 cc. If you prefer trigger steering and a housing you can lock up so you clear area with larger rocks or turf that is mowed above 4 inches is the best choice.
30-Inch: Two-Stage – works on any surface
30-inch snow blowers are slightly wider and heavier than the 28-inch models. If you have a long driveway over 8 feet wide they are a good choice because two round trips will clear a 10-foot drive. All the models listed here have the larger 14-inch impellers and front auger so they will handle heavy/wet snow well and throw it a long way. All of these snow blowers can handle a wider 3-4 car driveway and throw it all the way off the drive. All are heavy-duty and can easily handle areas that get 80-100 inches a year.
Best Value Residential: Cub Cadet 2x 30 in. 357cc MAX. Buy here at Cub Cadet or The Home Depot. At $1499 this is a best value 30-inch snowblower. Strong, 357cc engine and the build quality is excellent. I especially like the dual-LED headlamps and the tall front intake.
Best Value Residential: Toro 30″ (76 cm) Power Max HD 1030 OHAE 302cc. At $1599 this is a best value 30-inch snowblower.
Best Value Residential: Ariens Deluxe 30 Model 921047 Ariens Dealer Locator. At $1499 this is a best value 30-inch snowblower. Check out my video on YouTube.
Residential: Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI 30 in. 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Model# 921049. Ariens Dealer Locator.
Cub Cadet 3X 30″ MAX Snow Blower. Buy here at Cub Cadet or the Home Depot. I’m not a big fan of the 3-stage snow blowers but this one is different. It uses the larger 14-inch impeller so it has the capacity to clear lots of snow fast. The huge 420cc engine and 23-inch intake means it will handle just about any snowdrift you can throw at it.
Troy-Bilt Model # Arctic Storm 30″. Buy Directly from Troy-Bilt or The Home Depot. Check out my video of the 34-inch version on YouTube.
High-end Residential: Ariens Platinum 30 SHO 921051Ariens Dealer Locator. 414cc 30 inch Check out my video on YouTube.
Professional:
Cub Cadet 3X 30″ PRO H Buy here at Cub Cadet or the Home Depot.
Track:
HUSQVARNA ST 430T. This new snowblower is their new Pro model. It’s designed for professionals who need a maximum-performance snowblower for commercial applications. Features include an electronic fuel injection (EFI) engine, onboard electric starter, all-steel control panel, heated handles, LED headlight, continuous track treads, hydrostatic gearbox, and a cast iron impeller. The working width is 30 inches.
32-34 Inch Two-Stage – works on any surface
All of the 32-36 inch snow blowers on the market from brands I trust are heavy-duty snow blowers. Most are professional/commercial grade – meaning they are designed to clear miles of sidewalks and last a very long time.
The Toro and Ariens models are big snow blowers, yet are very easy to use. They are balanced well and most average size, healthy people can use them all day long.
Residential: Toro Power Max® HD 1232 OHXE (38842) Buy Here at The Home Depot. My choice for residential use.
Residential: Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm™ 34 Snow Blower Buy Here at The Home Depot. Check out my video on YouTube.
Professional: Ariens Professional 32 Hydro RapidTrak Ariens Dealer Locator.
Professional: Ariens Professional 36 Hydro EFI Ariens Dealer Locator.
Professional: 3X 34 in. MAX H 420 cc Three-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower with Hydrostatic Drive System Buy Here at The Home Depot.
Professional: Toro Power Max® HD 1432 OHXE Commercial (38844) Buy Here at The Home Depot.
Professional Track: Toro 32″ (81 cm) Power TRX HD Commercial Snow Blower 1432 OHXE (38891) Buy Here at The Home Depot.
Professional Track: Honda HSS1332ATD: 13HP 32In, Buy Here at ACME Tools. This model has the electric start. There is a recoil start also available from ACNE. The HS series Honda tracked snowblowers were the industry standard for years. The new HSS models have inherited that reputation although there are now other brands with machines that have higher capacity and are faster when clearing large areas. Dealer Only.
The rest of the snow blowers that get all the publicity. Why they are not on the list.
3-Stage Snow Blowers:
Don’t let the advertising hype or dealer sales pitches fool you. A 3-stage is not better than a 2-stage – it’s just different. Yes, a 3-stage snow blower has about 50% more capacity than the same brand’s 2-stage machine but that does not mean they are better than another brand’s 2-stage snow blowers. Remember a dealer is always going to tell you their snowblower is better than the dealer’s across the street. Read more about 3-stage snow blowers here: Is a 3-stage better than a 2-stage?
Craftsman at Lowes, DEK, Dirty Hand Tools, Worldlawn, Snow Beast, Champion Power Equipment, PowerSmart, Aavix, YARDMAX, DR Power, Generac, and other names you’ve never heard of.
Why are these brands not on the list? To put it simply. 1. Most of these snow blowers do not have nationwide service networks so getting your machine repaired under warranty can be a big issue. All parts have to be shipped from a central location – if the parts are available at all. 2. All but one are made in China. There are plenty of snow blowers made right here in the U.S. competitively priced and built specifically for our types os snow.
Note: Craftsman at Lowes. When I find out that the Craftsman at Lowes (Owned by Stanley, Black & Decker) has a nationwide service network where you can take your snowblower locally for repair and easily get parts I’ll take it off this list.
30-inch. 2-stage MTD Built Snow Blowers with 12-inch impeller:
Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 357cc 4-cycle Electric Start Two-Stage Snow Thrower, 30 inch Craftsman at Lowes, Cub Cadet 30 inch 2-stage, and Craftsman 88396. 30 inch, 357cc. All of these models are all basically the same snow thrower – just different paint and repair support. It’s a dependable snow blower but for most people, it just does not have the capacity of the more recent 30-inch designs. The closed front auger with 6 auger flites severely limits its capacity and the 12-inch impeller does not spin fast enough to throw snow as far as the more recent designs. Because of the lack of capacity, these are the models that want to ride up in deeper snow.
Honda 2-Stage Snow Blowers
Honda HSS928ATD, Honda HSS724ATD, and Honda HSS1332ATD. Yes, the Honda 2-stage machines did not make the list and probably won’t. Yes, I know they have the Honda engine, everyone, raves about. Yes, They throw a plume of snow a long way. But, they are just too expensive for no electric start, (a $200 option), underpowered, and plug with wet snow. Plus with the older style antique track drive system they are slow. You can actually buy the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm XP 34 Snow Thrower or Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO for half the price and have a much higher capacity, more heavy-duty snowblower. If you need a tracked machine the Ariens RapidTrak is the best choice.
Poulan Pro and Jonsered Snow Blowers have dropped off the list. The snow blowers continue to be good machines but you can now buy a Husqvarna with better dealer service network for the same price. Husqvarna, Jonsered, and Poulan Pro are made in the same South Carolina assembly plant and Husqvarna’s have more features.
If you have questions feel free to leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading this very long post.
This list of the best snow blowers is based on my hands-on reviews over the last 15 years, plus discussions, interest, intent to buy, and purchases of snow blowers on MovingSnow.com. This list is not reflective of actual sales by the manufactures or retailers. Other websites and forums will have a different viewpoint than MovingSnow.com. For the record: No one pays me to review their product but a few manufacturers do let me use their products for testing. When they do I always will tell you upfront. The information here – like my snowblower videos on YouTube is to help you decide which is the best snow blower for you – not to promote a product for you to buy.
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Chris
Hi Paul,
Great, great, GREAT website. Thank you for what you do! I have a city lot north of Detroit with a wide garage approach in the back yard and a driveway that runs between the houses with nowhere to throw the snow. The first 4 weeks and last 4 weeks here have pretty heavy, wet snow and I need to push it into the back yard and then handle it again to get it off to the side. My current Ariens 5520 barely throws it 10 ft ahead of me and I have to stay in a creeper gear, so thinking of upgrading. Space is of a premium in the garage, so I would like to stick with a 24 or maybe 26 inch blower. Would the Ariens 24 (plat or deluxe) or the Cadet 3x 26 put me on the right track?
Chris
Paul
Hi Chris, The Ariens Deluxe 24 will throw any snow 35-40 feet – the Platinum 40-50 feet. Neither one will clog on heavy/wet or rethrown snow. As you know once you throw the snow it loses all the air and becomes very dense. Most snowblowers, other than the Ariens Deluxe/Platinum or Toro Power Max HD, won’t throw that type of snow well – if at all.
The Cub Cadet will throw most snow 30 feet but it will clog more than the Ariens on heavy/wet and rethrown snow.
Jean-Laurier Bérubé
Hi Paul, I’m hesitating, I could buy an Ariens deluxe 24 or a Husqvarna st 227 for almost the same price (100 cad$ more for the Ariens 1499cad$). Both are from trusted dealership. The Ariens seems to have better reviews but I wonder if I will regret the smaller size in the long run compared to the 27 inches of the Husqvarna
Paul
Hi Jean-Laurier Bérubé, If you really want an Ariens, get the Deluxe 28. It’s only $100 (U.S.) more than the Deluxe 24. The Ariens is built to last you many, many years. The Ariens has a much higher capacity, will throw snow farther, and won’t clog on heavy/wet snow.
Steve
Paul
Thanks for all your insight over the years. Very informative. It looks as though you’ve done a lot of hard work over the years. It’s appreciated
Anyway in the last 18 years I’ve had 11 snow blowers, all single stage except 1.
In my old house that faced south I had 2 snowblowers in 7 years. An electric toro 1800 and a white outdoors (mtd) small 2 cycle single stage.
This house that faces north I’ve been in 11 years. I live on a corner lot and have a 3 car garage.
I’ve had a Toro ccr2000, a Toro 521 (2 stage) Toro QZR621, Toro ccr2000, Honda 620, Toro ccr2000, Toro snowmaster qzr724, Toro QZE721, and the snow blower I just sold Toro QZE821.
I tried a 2 stage but given my house faces north I need something that’ll clear down to the pavement, that’s why I got rid of it. Because of space I didn’t want to have both a single stage and 2 stage. Besides my single stage have always done an adequate job.
The ccr2000 have always been a good go to machine in between snow blowers, but the smell of the gas and the loudness of the machine never worked out to good.
The snowmaster was an awesome machine but didn’t do good on packed snow and didn’t clean to the pavement.
The Toro 621, 721, and 821 were decent machines, but hated the fact they hit every expansion joint and small crack in my sidewalks. The 721 was the best out of them.
The Honda 620. I didn’t like the vibration and the chute design with that lip on the inside held a bunch of snow.
I kept buying the new Toros thinking I’d find the ideal machine but I didn’t. I did the same thing with my mower. I went through many mowers until I purchased my Honda HRX217. I’ve had it for the last 7 years. Love it.
As you can tell I’ve spent a bunch of money and lost a bunch of money on snore blowers over the years. Apparently I’m very hard to please or I expect too much.
Anyways, I have seen your videos on the Ariens Pro 21. You mention it doesn’t hit the cracks. You emphasize the Toro hit all the cracks.
It’s very appealing to me. What I don’t like about it is the hour meter. It looks like an hour meter I bought for my mower years ago and it had a sealed battery that only lasted 3-4 years then I had to get a new meter if I wanted one. I didn’t.
Thank you
Steve
Paul
Hi Steve, The Ariens Commercial 21, The Toro Commercial 721 (38754) and the Toro Commercial 821 (38755) have the spring-loaded (hinged) scraper bars so they will ride over the cracks better than the rest. They all work very well and are easily replaceable when they wear down but the Ariens has the heaviest built one so it will last the longest.
Hour meters for gas-powered lawn and snow engines are cheap and it looks like almost everyone is buying from the same company. You can get a replacement on Amazon for $10.
Chris
Hi Paul – what a wealth of information on your website. Thanks for what you are doing!
I’ve recently moved to Chicago, and have a house on a corner lot with LOTS of fairly smooth 50″ wide sidewalk to clear, and a very large paver driveway. I’m pretty new to snow moving, and am a bit all over the place..I’ve even considered the battery operated guys, but I don’t think they’ll get the job done. I think I’ve narrowed it down to:
Ariens Crossover – seems like a great value, and I like the thought of clearing down the the pavement, but am worried if it has enough oomph.
Arients Compact 24″ or Ariens Deluxe 24″ – I’m worried a bit about storage, but am wondering if I need this kind of power to handle what I’ll see here.
The last thing I want to do is save a few hundred bucks now and wish I hadn’t a few times ever year.
I’d appreciate any advice or thoughts you have to share.
Confused in Chicago,
Chris
Paul
Hi Chris, All three are reasonable choices for Chicago. The Crossover is only 20 inches wide so it won’t be underpowered. It will take you forever to clear your large driveway though.
The Compact with the new Auto-Turn is a good choice if you want to save a few bucks – but –
The Deluxe 24 (or even the Deluxe 28) is the best choice. It will handle ANY snow you get including the snowplow drift at the end of your driveway that you didn’t get plowed until the next day. In, addition it’s built like a tank and will last you many, many years.
It’s been a while, but Chicago is due for a major blizzard and you’ll be glad you have the Deluxe.
One last thing, the Compact only comes with metal skid-shoes. They can scratch your pavers. The Deluxe has optional poly skid shoes available. They aren’t cheap but they will last years and not scratch your pavers or leave brown rust stains on your sidewalk. When you set your snowblower up put a piece of cardboard under the scraper and that will give you enough of a gap that it doesn’t catch on anything but it will also clean well enough that the little snow that’s left will melt right off on the next sunny day.
mainemike
Hi Paul, thanks for the great website and videos! I’m in Maine, looking at the HD 828 vs. 928 at a Toro dealer. With my old Craftsman blower from 2001, I really had to manhandle the snowblower to make turns. I guess I’m a bit confused about the differences between triggerless steering vs. power steering. Do both allow for easier turning?
Paul
Hi mainemike, Trigger power steering is what you find on Cub Cadet and Husqvarna snow blowers. To turn you pull a lever under the handle to go in the direction you want to steer. That trigger releases the inside wheel so the tire doesn’t scrub on the pavement. It’s a lot easier to use than solid axle machines (like the cheap 24-inch snow blowers) , it’s easy to use but…
With triggerless steering on the Toro and Auto-Turn on the Ariens there is nothing “extra” you have to do to turn the snowblower. Just turn it with the handles and the locking differential automatically unlocks and lets you turn effortlessly. Just like in your car – you don’t even know it’s there – it just works without any interaction from you.
Dave
Hi Paul,
Great site! All of the information is very helpful as I try to educate myself and ultimately purchase my first snowblower. I live in the Northeast and my driveway is about 50′ x 20′. I am torn between the Toro Power Max 826 OHAE and the Cub Cadet 2 x 26. I want to get something that can handle the end of the driveway, and it is very important to have something that is relatively easy to handle. Which one of those two do you think is the better machine?
Paul
Hi Dave, Both are great snowblowers. Both can handle the snowplow pile and are easy to handle. I’m partial to the 826 because it doesn’t need triggers to steer and the Quick-Chute control is the easiest and best in the industry.
jandjkidchasers@aol.com
Paul –
Loved your website and all the great info. Trying to decide what the Ariens platinum 24 sho ca do that the Deluxe 24 cannot do on heavy, wet, slushie, central Missouri snow? I have a 25’ x 60’ driveway on a corner lot with sidewalks on both sides. I’m in my mid 50’s and unfortunately unable to scoop the snow that the plows leave at the end of my driveway
Paul
Hi jandjkidchasers, The Deluxe 24 will handle any snow you get very well. The Platinum with its larger engine will do the job faster and throw the snow farther. (50 feet compared to 40 feet with the Deluxe) The Platinum has a chute control that’s easier to use. Finally, the Platinum has hand warmers and if you have circulation issues in your hands you’ll like them a lot.
Jim
Hi Paul,
Great website and great information. Trying to decide between the ariens 28” SHO vs the ariens 30” platinum. Driveway 100×25. It appears the 28” SHO should be plenty but trying to justify if the platinum is worth the $550 premium with the added features and larger engine? Any insight appreciated.
Paul
Hi Jim, The Platinum has a better/faster chute/deflector control and a stronger transmission. With the larger horsepower and wider width, it will get the job done faster – if that matters to you.
The larger engine allows you to move more snow and throw it a little farther.
Alan
Hello,
I am looking at a Husqvarna ST330P or an Ariens Deluxe 28. A local dealer has the Husqvarna for the same price as the Ariens. I get the impression the Ariens is generally the better bet but with the low price on the Husq is it a better buy? I want to buy this once for 20 years. I have a long gravel driveway and it will be used in the grass areas of the yard. We seem to get a fair amount of snow as there was 4 feet in the yard when I moved here in Feb.
Thanks
Alan
Paul
Hi Alan, If you want a snowblower that will last 20 years and have no problems I strongly recommend an Ariens over the Husqvarna. The Ariens is built to last. That said, since you are at a dealer I recommend you get the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO. You will be glad you got the extra power for the amount of snow you get.
Kelly McCann
Paul,
I have a 150’ 2 car gravel driveway. I live in the Great Falls, MT area. I just ordered the Toro PowerMax 826 OHAE from Home Depot. Was reading more info and wonder if I should cancel it and get the PowerMax HD 828 OAE. Handwarmers will probably be nice. I also may transport it to our cabin on occasion to clear the deck which gets a lot of snow at times we are not there and need to clear it off. So manueverability is important.
Should I change?
Paul
Hi Kelly, While the PowerMax HD 828 will get your driveway done faster the 826 will be easier to use on the deck.
The 826 will go through a 32-inch door easily the 828 will just go through but you may scratch the door.
If you get a lot of heavy/wet snow the PowerMax HD 828 or 928 is the best choice.
Alan Luke
Hi Paul..We live in Southern Ontario. Looking for a new snow blower this year and am considering the
Toro Snowmaster 824 based on your recommendations. Have also seen a Husqvarna
model ST124 on sale. It appears to have a different
engine than the ST224.Can you recommend it?
I’m used to an old off brand Briggs and Stratton 2 stage that struggles with the hard pack at the end of the driveway. Is the Snowmaster going to be a better
machine for dealing with that?
Thanks, Alan
Paul
Hi Alan, the SnowMaster is not the best choice for end-of-driveway snow especially if the snow has sat and settled for a few hours. I would recommend the Toro 824 or 826 as a better choice.
The ST124 is Huqvarna’s answer to all the other “cheap” snowblowers on the market. It has a small engine and does not have ANY of the features of the rest of the Husqvarna line like power steering, hand warmers, and a decent chute control. If you want a Husqvarna I strongly suggest moving up to the 2020 ST224. It has all the features you really want.
All three of the machines I recommend will handle the snowplow drift well.
Jeff Daniels
We’re choosing between Ariens Classic 24 and Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE. Thanks to you, we might just go with the Ariens.
Charlene
Hi Paul,
Thanks for all your helpful insight as this can be a daunting task of choosing which snowblower is right for you.
I live in Ontario Canada and sadly they don’t carry all the models that you recommended. I was hoping to purchase a snowblower for my husband for Christmas and would like some help on which snowblower you would recommend.
We have a 2 car width paved asphalt driveway and a concrete sidewalk we need to keep clear
Based on your superior knowledge and what my local home depot carries these are the units I am comparing.
1. Ariens Deluxe 24 inch with 254
model#921045 $1,599.00
2.Ariens Compact 24 inch with 223 cc
model #920027 $?
3.Toro Power Max 824 OE 252cc
model #37798 $1,179.00
4.Toro Power Max 826 OXE 252cc
model #37799 $1,309.00
5.Troy-Bilt 26 inch 243cc
model#31AM6CP3563 $1,198.00
Could you please help me narrow down to the best 2 units based on these 5 models .
Thank-you
Paul
Hi Charlene, I recommend the Ariens Deluxe 24 or the Toro 826. The Ariens Deluxe 24 and the 2019 Toro 826 OAE (37799) have power steering. They may also have the 2020 Toro 826 OHAE (37802) which now comes with hand warmers. These snow blowers are well worth the extra money because they are easy to use and can handle any snow you get.
Ian H Welch
Hi Paul. Looking at both the toro 1030hd and the toro 826. I live in rochester NY and get over 100″ of wet snow a year. Which would you recommend? Also like the 928 hd but no heated grips and only $100 less than the 1030hd
Paul
Hi Ian, For the amount of snow you get and that most of the time it is heavy/wet snow you’ll be a lot happier with the Toro Power Max HD 1030 than the Power Max 926. The larger 14-inch impeller/auger, the extra power, and the extra width will give you about 30% more capacity over the 926.
PAUL SMIRCICH
Hi Paul, found your website from a Wirecutter article on snow blowers and it’s just what I’ve been looking for. Lots of information for us first time buyers. We’ve just moved to Eden, Utah, where they get a lot of snow. Usually at least 80″ a season, sometimes less, sometimes more. Our driveway is long but with only a slight incline so won’t need a blower with tracks. I’ve narrowed it down to the Toro Power Max HD 828 or the 928, really like the joy stick chute control and auto steering on both. Your thoughts or other recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks
Paul
Hi Paul, I’m going to suggest you get the 928. You’ll appreciate the extra power when you do get the deep snows.
PAUL SMIRCICH
Just noticed on the Toro website that the Power Max HD 1030 is only $100 more than the 928 and it has hand warmers. Would it be better to go with that one for a small increase in price? Thanks for your help.
Paul
Hi Paul, the Toro Power Max HD 1030 will have about the same speed and capacity as the 928. Since it’s 2 inches wider you can clear the same area about 10% faster. The hand warmers are nice.
The only disadvantage is if you want to put it in a building through a walk-in door you will need a 36-inch door. The 928 can go through a “normal” 32-inch door.
PAUL SMIRCICH
Thanks for the great advice and one more question. I’m leaning towards the Power Max 1030 and Toro is having a sale with $100 off regular price till November 4. I can get it through Home Depot, free shipping, or through a dealer in Ogden, Utah. The dealer would assemble but charge to deliver. Is it a big deal to just assemble it myself? Thanks again.
Paul
Hi Paul, no, it’s not hard at all. You basically remove the shipping crate, raise the handles and tighten a couple of bolts. Just follow the instructions in the Quick-Start guide and the manual. If a manual is not supplied you can read it here. https://www.toro.com/en/parts/partdetails/?id=51391
A couple of things to know.
1. Save a piece of cardboard to adjust the skid shoes.
2. Check the tire pressure and make sure both tires have the same amount.
3. When you adjust the skid shoes put that piece of cardboard under the scraper bar. That will give you the right amount of clearance for hard surfaces and gravel.
4. It will have oil in the engine but check it. Use 5W30 if it needs any.
5. When you put gas in it (87 octane up to E10) turn on the fuel valve and let it sit for 5 minutes before you first start it. I put 2 tablespoons per gallon of SEA FOAM right in my storage can when I get my fuel.
By the way: When I’m done using a snow blower I leave it running, turn off the fuel valve, and let it run to use up the fuel in the carb.
PAUL SMIRCICH
Think I’ll just go ahead and order from Home Depot though I’m still deciding between the Power Max 1030 or 928. The hand warmers would be nice but I’ve got heated gloves coming so that’s not important, and maybe one more thing to repair eventually. The 928 is a little smaller and might be a bit easier to maneuver in deep snow and store once winter is over. Thanks again for all the great advice.
Henry
Thanks Paul! Would the Toro FlexForce: 21″ Power Clear® e21 60V be powerful enough to handle snowplow piles at the end of my driveway?
Paul
Hi Henry, It has enough power but the intake is only 12 inches high. If you get taller piles you may have to knock them down with a shovel to clear them.