The 5 Best Cheap Snowblowers Save You Time and Spare Your Back
These machines are usually expensive, but we’ve found a few affordable gems.
Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?
Finding an alternative for your old snow shovel doesn’t have to be a major investment. As long as you aren’t clearing foot-high piles of snow (recent heavy storms in the Northeast notwithstanding) from long driveways all winter long, you can swap out that old backbreaker for a cheap snowblower without spending an arm and a leg.
While there will always be some compromises when budget is your top priority, you can still get a powerful gas snowblower that can clear wide paths, or a cordless electric model that’s lightweight and easy to use. In a mild winter, the best cheap snowblowers should make snow removal feel like less of a burden without hitting your wallet too hard.
The Best Cheap Snowblowers
- Best Overall: Snow Joe 48-Volt Ionmax Electric
- Best Cheap Gas Snowblower: Troy-Bilt Squall 123R
- Best Value Electric Snowblower: Greenworks 40 -Volt 20-Inch Cordless
- Best Cheap Two-Stage Snowblower: PowerSmart DB7109A Two-Stage Gas
- Best Cheap Lightweight Snowblower: Toro Power Clear 518 ZE Gas
The Expert: I’m a freelance writer who has written about landscaping, home improvement, gardening, and home security for publications like Bob Vila, U.S. News and World Report, Popular Science, Pro Tool Reviews, and Futurism. I grew up braving harsh winters in rural Pennsylvania, so I’ve seen my fair share of heavy snow, and have cleared plenty of walks and driveways using snowblowers.
What to Look For in a Cheap Snowblower
While it makes good financial sense to find an affordable snowblower that doesn’t break your budget, keep in mind that it isn’t worth anything if it can’t handle the amount of snow you expect to see each winter. Less expensive snowblowers, generally speaking, are made to handle smaller jobs. If you need to clear less than a foot of snow from a two-car driveway, any of these picks could be your best friend. But if you have a long driveway, or deal with regular snowstorms that drop a foot or more, they may not be able to handle the workload. In that case, you’re better off spending a little more to get one of the best snowblowers, bar none, to meet the demands of your harsher winter weather.
Single-Stage vs. Dual-Stage
There are two types of snowblowers designed for homeowners, which vary based on how they process snow.
Single-stage snowblowers, also known as snow throwers, use an auger to chop up the snow and propel it through the snowblower’s chute in a single action. The auger scrapes the ground as you go, leaving a clean, snow-free surface behind it. That can be a problem if you have a gravel driveway, though, as the auger’s tines will suck the rocks into the snowblower’s intake.
Dual-stage snowblowers use the same kind of auger to draw in snow, but there’s also an impeller that further breaks up the snow and propels it out of the chute, allowing it to remove snow faster and launch it farther than a single-stage model.
Dual-stage snowblowers are generally larger and more powerful than single-stage models, so they’re often better for clearing larger amounts of snow. That also means they’re heavier and bulkier, which can make them difficult to maneuver around walkways and smaller driveways. Not surprisingly, they also tend to be more expensive.
It’s worth noting that the augers on most dual-stage blowers are slightly elevated, which makes them better for gravel and uneven ground. That said, they’ll also leave a thin layer of snow behind, which you’ll have to push away with a shovel.
Choosing between a single-stage and dual-stage snowblower usually comes down to the amount of snow you need to move and the area you’re clearing. The most affordable cheap snowblowers will be single-stage, like our top pick Snow Joe 48-Volt Ionmax. But there are reasonably priced dual-stage options. If you get heavier snows, have long paths to clear, and/or have a gravel driveway, you should focus your search on dual-stage models like the PowerSmart DB7109A, even if they cost more.
Gas vs. Electric
You can find cheap snowblowers that run on either gas or electric power, including battery-powered cordless models. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages. Snowblowers with gas engines are generally more powerful and run so long as you keep gas in the tank, though they require meaningful upkeep. Cordless electric snowblowers are generally lighter and lower maintenance but offer limited runtime.
Some manufacturers also make corded electric snowblowers, which plug into an outlet, but Popular Mechanics Test Editor Brad Ford recommends sticking with battery-powered models, which are safer and easier to use. "Corded is old, out of date tech in most cases," Ford says.
An affordable gas snowblower will likely be less powerful than the top picks we recommend but still capable of clearing a 25-inch path of snow through up to a foot of snow. A less expensive battery-powered snowblower, by comparison, will likely clear a smaller, 20-inch path through up to 8 inches.
It’s worth keeping in mind, though, that electric snowblowers offer other advantages. Powered by large lithium-ion batteries, they don’t generate fumes and require far less maintenance than gas-powered models. You won’t have to change the oil or spark plugs on an electric snowblower. They’re also much lighter, which will come in handy if you want to clear a tiered walkway or large steps.
Clearing Width and Intake Height
Clearing width and intake height determine how much snow a snowblower can move as you push it. Clearing width refers to the size of the path the snowblower makes, while intake height gives you a sense of how a snowbank it can ingest and remove. While snowblowers can often clear powder up to their maximum intake height, some have a smaller “clearing depth,” which indicates how much snow they can safely handle.
The top snowblowers may have clearing widths that reach 30 inches or more and have tall intakes around 18-20 inches, but a budget-conscious model will be substantially less powerful. Most cheap snowblowers have a clearing width of 18-24 inches, with an intake height of around a foot. With that kind of power, they’re ideal for handling a four-six car driveway covered by less than a foot of snow.
Throwing Distance
A more powerful snowblower can propel snow farther, giving you a better chance to make a clean pile of snow out of anyone’s way. Cheap, gas-powered snowblowers can usually throw snow up to 40 feet. Smaller cordless electric snowblowers usually hit about half that distance. Keep the width of your driveway in mind when you pick your snowblower to make you buy one that can move its output somewhere that won’t need to be cleared later.
Extra Features
While cheap snowblowers won’t come with all the bells and whistles you’ll find on the cream of the crop, they often have some core quality-of-life features to your snow removal chores a little easier. Most have LED headlights that allow you to work after the sun sets, for example. Even at this price point, many snowblowers have chute controls on the grips, so you can adjust where you blow your snow without stopping to realign the chute.
How We Selected the Best Cheap Snowblowers
While there are some affordable snowblowers that offer great value, there are also plenty of them that are cheap for a reason. To find the best, I consulted with Popular Mechanics test editor Bradley Ford, who had tested snowblowers in the past, to help me separate the wheat from the chaff. I also used my own experience and expertise with snowblowers and scoured through dozens of customer reviews to find what cheap snowblowers offer the best bang for your buck.
Tony Carrick is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in technology, home improvement, DIY, home security, and outdoor recreation. He’s tested and written about everything from home security systems to power tools to gas grills. His product guides, how-to articles, and feature stories can be found in such publications as Bob Vila, Angi, U.S. News and World Report, Field & Stream, Futurism, and Switchful. When Tony isn’t writing, he can be found working on his latest home improvement effort at his home in North Carolina.
Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.
Watch Next
![Video player poster image preview for Popular Mechanics All Sections](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/vidthumb/images/52261388-2852175955007050-8879895092647690240-n-1586206695.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=1200:*)
![a person holding a small box a person holding a small box](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/staff-recs-dry-skin-65b17c714a114.png?crop=0.492xw:0.984xh;0,0&resize=360:*)
Our Editors Love These Remedies for Dry Skin
![car cover lead car cover lead](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/car-cover-lead-65a970370fe15.jpg?crop=0.502xw:1.00xh;0.250xw,0&resize=360:*)
The 8 Best Car Covers for Protecting Your Vehicle
![ryobi electric snow shovel removing snow on sidewalk ryobi electric snow shovel removing snow on sidewalk](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/electric-snow-shovel-65788406d648a.jpg?crop=0.440xw:0.879xh;0.407xw,0.0489xh&resize=360:*)
The 7 Best Electric Snow Shovels
![a closeup of snow blowers a closeup of snow blowers](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/pop-gas-snowblowers-65329ca05f54e.jpg?crop=0.502xw:1.00xh;0.127xw,0&resize=360:*)
The 6 Best Gas Snowblowers for Clearing Snow