Gas powered snow blowers are emit greenhouse gases and ruin air quality. Here are the best electric snow blowers to match the performance of gas counterparts.
Leaf Score HQ is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, so we know a thing or two about snow. When it dumps 500 plus inches of snow in the Tetons, a snow blower is the best way to quickly clear a path for your car.
Gas powered snow blowers are noisy and polluting, though. Thankfully, electric snow blowers are now just as good as ICE counterparts, but with a much smaller environmental footprint (and quieter!).
Is an Electric Snow Blower Right for You?
Despite their environmental benefits, electric snow blowers aren’t the optimal tool for every winter task. Here are some of their main pros and cons to consider compared to gas.
| Gas snow blower cons | Electric snow blower pros |
|---|---|
| Ironically, harder to start on cold days | Will start immediately on cold days |
| Pull cord start only on some – though most now have a plug-in electric start | Push-button instant start (no annoying cord/pull-start) |
| Heavy | Lightweight (especially corded models) |
| Need careful storage to avoid fuel spills | Typically fold up for easier storage |
| Routine maintenance onerous for some users | Less long-term maintenance responsibilities (no winterization or gas and oil to replace) |
| Often very loud | Usually quieter |
| Fuel spills possible (and hazardous) | No fuel spills |
| Pump out more major air pollutants than a typical car | No air pollution at tailpipe |
| Run on fossil fuels | Can be charged/run using renewable energy sources |
Overall, electric battery snow blowers have a lot going for them. But if you live somewhere with a lot of snow, every year, and you need a powerful machine to clear it, a gas snow blower is still your best bet, sadly.
The workaround, to make things a little more eco-friendly, is to pair an electric snow blower with a gas model, so you can tackle smaller spaces and shallower snow without the fumes.
Our top picks
We give our top picks below, and we think they’re all smart buys. That said, our top choice might not be the best for your specific needs, so check the pros and cons and specs for more information.
EGO Power+ Peak Power SNT2807 28 in. Snow Blower
Highlights: Powerful 28-inch cordless snow blower with 60-foot throw, heated grips, and long runtime. Eco-friendly alternative to gas with comparable performance.
- 28-inch clearing width and 60-foot throw!
- As powerful as gas snow blowers
- Long-range snow throwing (up to 60 feet)
- Heated handle grips for comfort
- Quiet!
- No gas or oil maintenance required
- IPX4-rated weather resistance
- 5-year warranty on tool (3-year warranty on batteries)
- High initial cost
- Batteries may be too cold to charge immediately after use in very cold conditions
- Chute control presets aren’t very precise
- Heavy (181 lb.!)
The EGO Power+ SNT2807 is a powerful, battery-operated snow blower that rivals gas models in performance without the noise and fumes. With a 28-inch clearing width and 21-inch intake height, it can handle heavy snowfall efficiently.
This beast can throw snow up to 60 feet and can clear a 32-car driveway with 8 inches of snow on a single charge using the included two 12.0Ah batteries.
Key features include:
- Trigger-controlled steering
- 2-in-1 electronic chute adjustment for easy 200-degree rotation
- Large 16- by 5-inch snow tires for reliability even in soggy snow.
Overall, the EGO Power+ SNT2807 offers an impressive, eco-friendly alternative to gas snow blowers. It’s quiet, powerful, and has a long run-time.
The EGO Power+ may be overkill for most people looking for an electric snow blower, but it compares well to similarly-priced gas-powered units. Even better, it does so without the loud noise and toxic fumes. Just keep in mind that this machine weighs a hefty 181 lb., which means you need some muscle to maneuver it successfully.
If you want the full power of a gas engine in an electric snow blower, EGO has a snow blower for you. Regular readers of LeafScore won’t be surprised that we favor EGO for snow blowers, given that EGO products are our go-to for lawnmowers and chainsaws. If you already have EGO products, rest assured that your EGO batteries will also work with this snow blower, though smaller batteries best suited for quick weed whacking likely won’t net you much run-time with this powerful snow blower.
Ego SNT2405
Highlights: A 24-inch two-stage snow blower with dual 7.5Ah batteries, powerful snow clearance, and quiet operation, ideal for challenging winters.
- Variable-speed self-propulsion and auger control
- Quiet operation without emissions
- Wide clearing width and intake height
- Long-lasting battery life (7.5Ah x 2)
- Durable construction with weather-resistant materials
- Four LED headlights for visibility in low light
- Expensive initial investment
- Limited battery life for heavy, wet snow
- May struggle with extremely heavy ice
- Requires multiple battery charges for large areas
- Lack of freewheel steering
- Reliance on shear pins for heavy debris
The EGO Power+ SNT2405 24-inch Two-Stage Battery Snow Blower Kit makes most winter maintenance a breeze thanks to its two 7.5Ah 56V ARC Lithium batteries. This mid-size blower effortlessly clears up to 24 inches of snow and an 18-car driveway.
This model, like the other EGOs on this list, features Peak Power technology, allowing it to throw snow up to 50 feet. That surpasses even most gas blowers for power and efficiency.
If you’re looking for a mid-range EGO model that can handle all but the gnarliest of winter weather, this is it. The SNT2807 is best for bigger jobs, while the SN2102 is a great choice for lighter snow removal.
The SNT2405 also boasts variable-speed self-propulsion and auger control, along with a 200-degree chute for precise snow placement. So, although it’s heavy, this blower is surprisingly easy to use.
As always, I like that this machine is built with weather-resistant steel and advanced brushless motors, making it more durable, easier to repair, and quieter than many blowers.
DeWalt DCSNP2142Y2
Highlights: Powerful 21-inch battery snow blower with 40-foot throw, dual LED lights, and eco/max power modes for efficient snow removal.
- 60V battery system with two 12Ah batteries included
- Excellent plow-pile removal and surface cleaning
- Easy to handle and use
- Quiet operation and no emissions
- Dual LED headlights
- Compatible with other DeWalt 60V tools
- DeWalt is a brand we know and trust
- Best for light to medium snow – can struggle with deep, wet, heavy snow
- No heated handgrips
- Removal speed isn’t as good as the EGO
- Relatively expensive initial investment (unless you already own DeWalt 60V batteries)
The DeWalt DCSNP2142Y2 is a powerful 60V MAX single-stage battery snow blower designed for light to medium snow removal. With a 21-inch clearing width and the ability to throw snow up to 40 feet, it’s ideal for clearing up to 16 parking spaces with 6 inches of snow on a single charge. The brushless motor and dual 12Ah batteries provide excellent performance and runtime.
Key features include:
- Eco and max power modes for balancing power and battery life
- A two-way electric chute rotation
- Dual LED headlights for improved visibility.
Performance-wise, it excels in plow-pile removal, surface cleaning, and handling. The snow blower is praised for its sturdy construction, easy assembly, and compatibility with other DeWalt 60V tools. However, some users note that it may struggle with heavier, wet snow and lacks heated handgrips.
Overall, the DeWalt DCSNP2142Y2 offers a compelling alternative to gas-powered models for those with medium-sized driveways and moderate snowfall, combining power and convenience in a battery-operated package.
EGO Power+ SN2102
Highlights: Packs a serious snow blowing punch. Rugged design, can handle wet snow, and comes with batteries with a long run-time.
- Clearing width is an impressive 21 inches
- Capable of handling heavy and wet snow, unlike competitors more aimed at fluffy downfall
- Batteries last long enough to clear a ten-car driveway covered in eight inches of snow
- 180-degree adjustable chute
- 35-foot throwing distance
- Much lighter than the heavy duty SNT2807
- At 55 pounds it may be difficult for some to maneuver
- Higher price than less powerful and capable competitors
The EGO Power+ is one of the few cordless snow blowers that can really match gas-powered models. The SN2102 is capable of clearing heavy, wet snow, rather than just the fluffy stuff thrown about by most other electric snow blowers.
We also really like that this model includes LED lights for easier use in all weather conditions. Even better, the SN2102 has many more steel components than its competitors, making it more durable and easier to repair than plastic counterparts.
The EGO Power+ offers efficient snow clearing, with each battery charge likely lasting long enough to clear a ten-car driveway covered in eight inches of snow.
The downside is that all this power and performance doesn’t come cheap. EGO snow blowers, and batteries, tend to cost far more than less powerful electric snow blowers, though it’s similar in price to many powerful gas blowers.
Toro Power Max 26 in. Two stage 60 V Battery Snow Blower 39926
Highlights: Delivers robust 60V power, with batteries usable across Toro tools. Quick Stick chute control, LED lights, and heated grips for efficient and comfortable snow clearing. Not quite as powerful as the EGOs though.
- Powerful 45-foot throw with 60V 7 Ah battery
- Wide 26-inch clearing width and 20-inch intake height
- Quick Stick chute control for easy adjustment
- Self-propelled with automatic steering for smooth operation
- Heated handgrips and LED headlights for comfort and visibility
- Toro’s Anti-Clogging System reduces clogs and maximizes clearing efficiency
- No shear pins with hardened gears in auger gearbox
- Expensive initial cost
- Short battery life under heavy snow conditions
- Best for use on concrete or asphalt (not gravel)
- Additional batteries are pricey
- Surface cleaning effectiveness could be better
- Heavier than the more powerful EGO (214 lb.!)
- Shorter warranty – 3 year Limited Parts and Labor
The Toro Power Max 26-inch Two-Stage Battery Snow Blower Kit is ideal for heavy-duty tasks, with a 26-inch clearing width and 20-inch intake height, backed by steel construction for durability.
This model boasts Quick Stick chute control and self-propelled automatic steering, making it a touch more maneuverable than most snow blowers. It also benefits from the company’s Anti-Clogging System, meaning it takes a lot to gunk this thing up with slushy and ice.
Compatible with Toro’s Flex-Force battery platform, this snow blower is a great addition to any homeowner’s existing Toro tool suite.
That said, if you’re looking for the most powerful, efficient, and well made snow blowers, and you don’t have Toro batteries ready and waiting, EGO is still your best option.
EGO Power+ Multi-Head System MSS1203 12 in. Snow Thrower
Highlights: Clears with precision, powered by 56V battery, offering adjustable direction control and efficient snow removal. Tool head is compatible with other EGO tools, saving money and resources.
- Efficient plow-pile and surface cleaning
- Powerful performance with 56V battery
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Adjustable directional control for precise snow placement
- Overload protection system prevents motor damage
- Compatible with EGO’s Multi-Head System for versatility
- Long warranty for tool (5 years)
- Heavy and bulky for some users
- Manual directional knob can be cumbersome
- Lacks a headlight for low-light conditions
- Surface cleaning effectiveness could be better
The EGO Power+ Multi-Head System MSS1203 12-inch 56V Battery Snow Thrower Kit offers versatile snow clearing capability with its compact design and powerful performance.
Part of the EGO Power+ Multi-Head System, it features a 12-inch clearing width and 6-inch intake height, ideal for:
- Sidewalks
- Driveways
- Decks.
Powered by a 56V 4.0Ah ARC Lithium battery, it delivers up to 75 minutes of runtime and throws snow up to 25 feet with adjustable directional control. Equipped with an overload protection clutch and high-efficiency brushless motor, this snow thrower ensures durability and reliability in harsh winter conditions.
The best thing, though, is that the tool head is compatible with other EGO Power+ Multi-Head System attachments. That means it offers year-round usefulness if you get the strimmer tool and so forth. This is a great example of how EGO designers keep the environment in mind as it saves resources, as well as saving you storage space and money!
Greenworks 40V 12-Inch Single-Stage Battery Powered Push Snow Blower 2600702
Highlights: A 12-inch snow blower that is efficient, ergonomic, and easy to use for lighter snow removal. Compatible batteries with other Greenworks tools.
- Very good removal speed and plow-pile removal
- Excellent surface cleaning
- Lightweight and ergonomic design for easy handling
- Hassle-free push-button start
- Compatible with Greenworks’ 40V Li-Ion system for versatile use
- Fade-free power with no memory loss
- Includes 4.0 Ah battery and charger
- Long warranty (4 years)
- Throwing distance is much less than the EGO
- Lacks a headlight for low-light conditions
- Can only handle up to 6 inches of light to medium snow
The Greenworks 40V 12-inch Single-Stage Battery Powered Push Snow Blower 2600702 offers efficient snow removal with its compact design and powerful performance.
Like the EGO, this blower is best for clearing driveways, sidewalks, and patios with a light (up to 6 inch) covering of snow. It’s not meant for heavy duty snow removal.
Powered by a 40V lithium-ion battery, the Greenworks blower provides fade-free power with no memory loss after charging.
My favorite feature is the single-hand controls and ergonomic design, which helps to reduce back strain, which is, after all, the whole point of a snow blower versus a shovel!
Compatible with Greenworks’ 40V Li-Ion system, this blower kit’s batteries also work with more than 75 outdoor tools for year-round yard maintenance.
Snow Joe SJ627E Snow Thrower
Highlights: Corded electric version of Snow Joe’s gas snow blower. Won’t leave you without power—so long as you stay close to outdoor outlets.
- Thoughtful safety switch
- No need to worry about gas or battery power running out
- Lighter weight and easier to maneuver (just 34.6 lb!)
- 25-foot throwing distance
- Up to 13-inch clearance
- 180-degree adjustable chute
- 22-inch clearing width
- Dual integrated LED headlights
- Have to manage and work around a cord
- Small chute size can lead to frustrating compacting and clogs
Trying to clear snow from your driveway without the hassle of gas? The Snow Joe SJ627E will make quick work of the task without making you break a sweat. Weighing just shy of 35 pounds, the snow blower is ultra-versatile and easier to maneuver than most gas models. The discrete safety switch offers an extra layer of protection against any accidents.
It can handle up to 840 pounds of snow per minute, tossing it up to 25 feet away. This makes it ideal for clearing large driveways and walkways, though it may be too small for larger spaces.
The biggest drawback with this model (other than the cord limits) is its small chute size. This can fairly quickly clog up if trying to clear heavy snow. In general, this snow blower is best for light and fluffy snow, though the company includes a clearing tool to break up obstructions quickly.
As a company, Snow Joe is transparent about its commitment to environmental sustainability. Snow Joe offers many Energy Star certified products and provides ways to recycle your spent rechargeable batteries.
Greenworks Snow Thrower 2600502
Highlights: A quality mid-range electric snow blower at an affordable price. Short throwing distance, though, and cheap components mean you might need to replace it sooner than you’d like.
- Can move 850 pounds of snow a minute
- Just 30 pounds – the lightest on our list
- 180-degree adjustable chute
- Can clear up to 10-inch snow
- 12-inch clearing width
- No run-time issues!
- Dual LED lights for easier use pre-dawn and at dusk
- Struggles with bigger driveways or longer sidewalks
- Greenworks claims a 20-foot throwing distance, but it’s more like 10-foot
- Must be within range of an outlet to plug it in
- Materials overall seem cheaper, but expected of the budget option
The Greenworks Snow Thrower is a quiet machine that packs a lot of power. It runs with a 13-amp motor and while its small size makes it look unassuming, this snow blower can move 850 pounds of snow per minute, making it the most efficient model on our list.
At just 30 pounds, it’s also maneuverable enough for almost anyone to use. You can rely on this machine to remove snow up to ten inches deep in a twelve-inch path.
Other common complaints about this Greenworks snow blower focus on it being made from cheap plastic that struggles to break through compacted snow unless you chop it up with a shovel first. Others found it is easily damaged if you use it on bumpier ground or gravel.
Overall, the Greenworks Snow Thrower seems best suited for clearing fresh snow off relatively small, paved driveways. Those with more extreme snow-clearing needs may require a higher-powered, more durable machine.
Note that you will need to purchase an extension cord separately to run this snow blower, so factor that into the pricing.
Gas powered snow blowers are not eco-friendly
Using an average gas-powered snow blower for an hour generates about a pound of carbon monoxide emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
That’s the equivalent of driving your car for 70 miles!
Short of shoveling your driveway by hand, what’s the solution? Our advice: invest in an electric snow blower.
Plug-in or battery-powered machines have a ton of advantages. They:
- Create fewer emissions – especially if your home’s electricity comes from renewable energy
- Tend to be lighter
- Are usually quieter
- Are much easier to maintain than their gas-guzzling counterparts.
Electric engines have come a long way in recent years, and many modern electric snow blowers are just as powerful as gas models.
Cordless Battery or Plug-In?
Now you’re set on upgrading to an electric snow blower, you’ll have to decide between a cordless or plug-in model. Here are the pros and cons:
| Battery electric snow blower | Corded electric snow blower |
|---|---|
| Flexibility to use anywhere | Will never run out of power |
| More modern models now outperform gas blowers | Often less powerful than the most modern (EGO) battery snow blowers |
| No cord hassles or safety concerns | Typically lighter, because you don’t have to carry batteries or gasoline as fuel |
| Can use batteries with brands’ other tools | |
| Work even when there’s a power outage (as long as batteries are charged!) | |
| Battery electric snow blower | Corded electric snow blower |
|---|---|
| Require charging before use | Restricts range to the length of the extension cord |
| Most run for just an hour or less | Not suitable for long driveway or homes without convenient outdoor outlets |
| Might need extra batteries as backup, at extra cost | Don’t work in a power outage |
| Batteries typically need replacing every 3-5 years | Cord can be a hassle to work around, and a safety issue |
Which design is best? That comes down to your needs and the terrain of your home.
In general, there’s little functional difference between battery-operated machines and corded machines. These days, battery models with lithium-ion battery technology are just as powerful, if not more so than corded machines and gasoline powered snow blowers.
The Toro Power Shovel “loses points for environmental sustainability for essentially competing with the snow shovel.”
Yeh, but look at all the gas and other energy saved by eliminating heart attacks.
Haha, great point Pete.
Hello people- I have a Toro CC3650 Model 38518 and it is about 17 years old. It has NOT been used that much even though it is 17 years old. it looks brand new BUT as of late, the unit is having trouble starting up. First, the carburetor needed cleaning and it cost me $75 last year and this year it is in the repair shop again because the electric start makes a grinding noise when pressed. The parts are supposedly unavailable so I am waiting. But in the interim, I have been looking online and I have decided that a GAS machine is NO longer what I want. I have been looking into electric snow machines and I think I found one that will do just fine. But I would love to hear your opinions. First, my property is NOT that large. In live in a cape code home in LI with a total property size of 50 x 100. The only parts I shovel are the walkway up to my front door which I would say is no longer than 2 cars lengths or a little more and the width is about 2.5 feet wide. Then there is the walkway in FRONT of the house that I also clear and finally the driveway that in my best guess is about 3.5 car lengths long. That is it. So I really do not need a GREAT machine- but one that will do the job. Even the old Toro had to go over deep snow more than once if it was a bad storm. So that will not be a problem with this newer electric machine. I also want a corded machine(I will buy a cold-weather cord that is 100 feet long for this) because I do not want lithium batteries that will need charging every hour. So the machine I am considering is as follows– it is called the SNOW JOE electric single stage 21 ” 15 Amp machine. it sells on Amazon for only $181. My repair on my old machine will probably be more than that so I will not do it. And like I said I am finished with gas machines. So please let me know what you people think of the machine I am considering. It is much appreciated that you are taking the time to help me. Thank you.
Hey Monte, Leigh, our head of research, is on maternity leave. She will drop a note here when she comes back, if she has time, can’t guarantee a reply though.