Seeing my outdoors covered in snow is among my worst fears. Isn’t it yours too?
After all, snowfall can cause chipping and cracks on your walkways, sidewalks, and driveways and may even affect parts of the plumbing system. And to prevent such possibilities, I’ve tried a range of snow removal equipment in all these years.
Among all these tools, electric snow shovels seemed to help my cause the best, as they did the job with perfection and were also cheaper than the snow removal options. But I’ve had my share of disappointments as well since all the models I tried were not equally effective.
So, I understand your confusion in making the right choice, which is why I’ve decided to help you out with this.
Hi! I’m Stacy Smith, and today I’ll be reviewing the top 5 options to help you pick the best electric snow shovel. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Best Electric Snow Shovel
1. Snow Joe 323E
Getting rid of the most stubborn layers of snow from your outdoors would seem almost effortless with this model. Having used it for a couple of years, I can assure you that it’s among the best electric snow shovels you’ll come across.
Product Highlights
Powered by a 10-Amp motor, this electric shovel can move around 400 lbs of snow in a minute, which ensures that the area is cleared within a short span. Thus, I got through any snow clearing job around the home within half the time taken with ordinary shovels.
I even found it to be really easy to use, as it starts working just after a push-button is pressed. Plus, there’s a safety switch that prevents accidental starting.
You will also appreciate its ergonomic design aimed at maximizing user convenience, which includes an efficiently built handle to minimize hand fatigue. Even if I had to remove a great deal of snow, I could complete the job most comfortably. And that’s not all; this model is quite lightweight, and hence is relatively easy to handle.
What's There To Like About It?
The most impressive feature of this electric snow shovel is its paddle auger consisting of two blades that can clear snow from a 13-inch path with utmost perfection. You can even get rid of 6-inch deep snow with every pass and can throw it at a distance of 20 feet.
In fact, once I had to deal with deeper snow than that, and I managed to get rid of it with just a few extra passes. So, bonus brownie points for that!
What's There Not To Like About It?
The cover of this shovel might sometimes arrive in a damaged condition, so make sure you check all the contents of the package carefully after it arrives. This is probably due to the weak packaging material that makes it prone to damage during delivery. However, I was really satisfied with its performance as it did the job quite well.
Pros and Cons of Snow Joe 323E
Pros
Cons
- [ERGONOMIC DESIGN]: Adjustable handle to minimize user strain
- [NIMBLE]: Ideal for quick snow pickups on decks, steps, patios and sidewalks
- [POWERFUL]: 10-Amp motor moves up to 400 lbs. of snow per minute
2. Earthwise SN70016
Another excellent model I’d suggest for snow sweeping jobs is the Earthwise SN70016. It possesses great snow-clearing power, thanks to the slew of advanced features on offer. So, read on to know more about it.
Product Highlights
To begin with, this model delivers a performance at par with some of the best gas-powered shovels, thanks to its efficient 12-amp motor. It can move nearly 430 lbs of snow cover per minute and can toss it up to a distance of 30 feet, which is quite commendable. As a result, removing heavy layers of snow on my driveway went pretty smoothly.
A supporting handle is also integrated in this snow shovel, which lets you maneuver it easily around the compact areas. In addition, you can adjust the handle as per your height to ensure maximum convenience. I liked this feature a lot as it made the job equally easy for both my husband and me.
Not only that, but it also has 6-inch wheels at the rear end to facilitate easier movement around driveways, walkways, and sidewalks. And when the work was done, I could push it with minimal effort towards the shed to ensure proper storage.
What's There To Like About It?
The snow clearing depth of this electric shovel is 8 inches, which is greater than most other models out there. As a matter of fact, it did a better job than my previous pick, as I was able to steer clear of the deeper snowy layers in the corners of the sidewalk. What makes this possible is the pair of super-effective auger blades that have the ability to clear a 16-inch wide path.
What's There Not To Like About It?
You might find the installation to be a bit difficult due to the improper labelling of the part in the instructions manual. As such, you’ll have to look online for help, and the process would become somewhat time-consuming. But apart from that, the model is able to complete most snow removal jobs with perfection.
Pros and Cons of Earthwise SN70016
Pros
Cons
- Powerful electric snow shovel with a 12-amp motor that can move up to 430 lbs of snow in just 1 minute; The power of this snow sweeper is comparable to a gas-powered snow thrower
- An electric snow blower with 16" snow clearing width, 8" snow cleaning depth, and 30' snow throwing distance
- Snow clean machine for efficient snow removal
3. Greenworks 2600602
Next, I’ve picked this model from the popular brand Greenworks, which is an ideal fit for regions with low to medium snowfall levels. Like the other models from the brand, it offers pretty good performance in handling most snow removal jobs.
Product Highlights
Firstly, its extremely strong and durable 80V Lithium-Ion battery provides a powerful performance. Capable of clearing a 12-inch wide path, this tool offers a considerably good snow clearing depth of 6 inches. This lets you remove tough layers of snow from outdoor spaces much more quickly and effectively than ordinary models.
Trust me, I’ve experienced this myself as my sidewalks were cleared within just about half an hour. How I wished I had found this one earlier!
In addition, the ergonomic handle helped me work comfortably, which is why I hardly felt tired after the snow removal sessions. Speaking of the versatility on offer, it works on most outdoor surfaces with equal efficacy. Even the push-button start works consistently to enable greater ease of use.
What's There To Like About It?
A big advantage of going for this snow shovel is that it uses a superior-grade brushless motor technology which provides more torque and power. This is the secret to the smooth and powerful performance that every user desires in a snow-removing tool.
Plus, this feature enhances the longevity of the tool to a great extent. No wonder it’s been more than two years since I bought it, and it’s still going strong.
What's There Not To Like About It?
The only downside is that it requires more frequent cleaning and maintenance than other models. I’d suggest cleaning it once every week after cleaning heavy snowfall, as the snow stuck in the blades might reduce the efficiency of the tool. Nonetheless, performance-wise, I have no complaints regarding this tool.
Pros and Cons of Greenworks 2600602
Pros
Cons
- EFFORTLESS SNOW REMOVAL: Lightweight and powerful to make clearing snow a breeze
- WIDE SHOVELING WIDTH: 12-inch shoveling width swiftly moves snow out of your path
- EFFECTIVE SNOW DISPLACEMENT: Throw snow aside with ease, thanks to its powerful snow-throwing capability
4. Snow Joe 320E
Here’s another good model from Snow Joe that you can use to safeguard the outdoor space from thick layers of snow. I say this because it offered me much better results than some ordinary back-breaking models I’ve used in the past.
Product Highlights
Weighing just about `13 lbs, the Snow Joe 320E is among the most lightweight snow removal tools you’ll find out there. This also makes it much easier to maneuver and carry along sidewalks, patios, porches, and most other outdoor areas.
And although my patio is smaller than the ones found in most other homes, it's really dear to me and this tool was of great help in maintaining it during winters.
What’s more, I found its dual handle to be very convenient as it made sure I never had to bend while using the tool. It was also quite easy to store since I could keep it inside a taller closet or could hang it on the wall to enable quicker access.
And finally, the brand offers a 2-year warranty which covers all kinds of issues, thereby assuring reliable performance in the long run.
What's There To Like About It?
The best thing about this shovel is its paddle auger with dual blades, which is built to deliver the best results for most outdoor spaces. A 10-inch wide path with a depth of 6 inches can be cleared by this tool in each pass, which is perfect for regions experiencing small to medium snowfall.
Another feature I loved was the additional scraper blade at the base, which let me clear the snow right to the ground, thereby ensuring my driveway or deck was never damaged.
What's There Not To Like About It?
The cord attached to the shovel is not long enough, and it might pull out of any socket easily. In fact, this occurred several times while I was working with the tool, so I had to bear the hassle of plugging it in each time. To resolve the issue, I knotted it to an extension cord, but that of course required some extra time to set up.
Pros and Cons of Snow Joe 320E
Pros
Cons
- [DURABLE]: 2-blade high-impact, low-temperature paddle auger throws snow up to 20 feet and cuts a 10 in. x 6 in. path
- [VERSATILE]: Ideal for quick plus easy snow pickups on decks, steps, patios and sidewalks
- [POWERFUL]: 8.5-amp motor clears up to 9 tons of snow per hour
5. Snapper 1696871
Towards the end of my list, I’ve included this model from Snapper, which is ideal for people residing in areas receiving light snowfall. To learn more about the tool, move on to the next few sections.
Product Highlights
Featuring a highly efficient 82V Briggs & Stratton Lithium-Ion battery, this shovel delivers consistent power to clear snow from outdoor spaces quite easily. You will also be glad to know that the battery has a runtime of 45 minutes and functions quietly so that users never feel disturbed while handling it.
Moreover, it starts with the simple push of a button, which reduces the stress associated with snow clearing jobs to a large extent, unlike corded models or those powered by gas or oil. This allowed me to get rid of all the snow from larger areas with equal ease, so getting exhausted was out of the question!
Another beneficial feature is its balanced and ergonomic design, which ensures comfortable operation throughout its service life.
What's There To Like About It?
Like the Greenworks 2600602, this model utilizes brushless motor technology for accurate snow removal. With a power of 1000W, this motor makes it equipped to effectively clear 12-inch wide and 4-inch deep paths.
As such, I found it really useful for removing the thin layers of snow on the deck and the steps at the home entrance towards the end of the winter season. It even offers a reasonable snow throwing distance of 20 feet, which ensured that the snow fell much beyond the boundary wall of my home.
What's There Not To Like About It?
This snow shovel might arrive with some missing parts, which implies that you won’t be able to complete the installation. In such situations, it is a must to report the issue to the manufacturer as soon as possible. Other than that, this model works perfectly to clear thin snow cover from all outdoor spaces.
Pros and Cons of Snapper 1696871
Pros
Cons
- Up to 45-minutes run time with the Briggs & Stratton 82V Lithium ion 2.0 Battery
- Easily clears away snow up to 4" deep
- Up to 20' throwing distance
Buyers Guide
After you’ve looked at the best models on the market, it’s essential to be aware of some key characteristic features of electric snow shovels. That way, you’ll be able to derive the desired performance from the unit you choose to go for.
In this part of the guide, I’ve listed some important factors you need to consider before proceeding to make a suitable choice.
1. Removing Capacity
Each snow shovel has an average snow removal capacity, which is usually measured in terms of pounds per minute. For determining the ideal capacity you’ll need, it’s important to consider the level of snowfall in the region where you reside.
To deal with medium to high snowfall, it’s best to go for models with a capacity of at least 400 lbs per minute. But if your region experiences light snowfall, a model having a 300 lbs capacity would be sufficient.
Furthermore, models which are equipped to throw the snow in multiple directions would be more beneficial, because the snow shouldn’t fall back in an area which has just been cleared a while ago.
2. Portability
A shovel that’s easy to carry along is always better, hence considering the portability of a model is as essential as other factors. Now, portability of course depends on the weight of the said model, which implies you should always check how heavy a model is.
While the lighter models weigh around 12 lbs, the heavier ones can weigh as much as 20 lbs. Added to this, I’d suggest checking whether the model can be folded or shortened, as that would enable easier storage.
3. Clearing Area
Expressed separately in terms of width and depth, the clearing area offered by the snow shovel largely determines its efficiency. Here, width and depth refer to the respective dimensions of the path cleared by the snow shovel in each pass.
This makes it a crucial factor to take into account while choosing an appropriate model. Ideally, you should go for a model with a clearing width of at least 13 inches to get the best result. As for the right clearing depth, it’s best to choose a model with a depth of 6 inches or more.
In this regard, you should also consider the average amount of snowfall in your area.
4. Type
Two types of electric snow shovels are available on the market, viz. battery-powered and corded models. If you prefer to go for a battery-powered option, I’d recommend those coming with Lithium-Ion batteries. These are much more durable than other varieties such as lead-acid ones, but the only drawback is that they are more costly.
In case you choose a corded option, make sure you always go for a model with a longer cord. This is essential to ensure that farther distances are cleared easily, but in case you find that the cord is still short, you’ll have to purchase an extension cord.
Notably, corded electric snow shovels are more budget-friendly than their battery-powered counterparts.
5. Warranty
Users often tend to overlook this factor, but it’s equally important to consider while choosing a suitable model. Remember to check the warranty period of each option that you consider, as it tells you a lot about the reliability of the brand.
When it comes to buying electric shovels, there are various technical considerations to make. Hence, it’s best to have optimum peace of mind in case you end up with a defective model. Please note that a limited warranty of 2 years is considered as the average standard in this industry but some leading brands may extend it to up to 4 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
After the snow removal task is complete, you can spread some vegetable oil on it, apply a coat of wax, or use a cooking spray. The oil or spray would work as a lubricant, thereby keeping the snow from sticking to it. Whenever you notice snow sticking to a shovel, that implies you must reapply the oil or spray before the next use.
Yes, you can do so without any worries. In fact, that will be the perfect solution for users who have limited storage space. Just make sure you purchase a more compact and lightweight model, as it can then be tucked away in a closet or hung on a hook in any room.
These shovels function well on all hard and flat areas like driveways, sidewalks, patios, and steps. Most of them can clear the snow without causing any damage to the surface. Remember not to apply extra pressure and let the tool do all the work.
However, an electric shovel is not ideal for uneven and rough surfaces such as areas with exposed dirt or stone driveways, as it may damage the tool and even the surface.
My Final Recommendation
Now that you know about the best electric snow shovels, you should not delay buying the right one. But again, don’t forget to consider your needs and preferences before choosing the best electric snow shovel.
Now, before I bring down the curtains, let me quickly take you through my top favorites from the list. If you are on the lookout for a budget-friendly yet high-performing model that can clear thick layers of snow, the Snow Joe 323E would be the perfect choice to go for.
However, the Greenworks 2600602 is an ideal option if you prefer a cordless model. But keep in mind that it’s much more expensive than most other electric snow shovels.
That’s it for today. Till we meet again!