When winter transforms your neighborhood into a magical wonderland, that enchantment comes with the challenge of keeping your driveway clear of snow and ice. No matter if it’s a few inches or a few feet of snow, if you want to be able to drive your car in these conditions and keep your driveway safe and accessible, you’re going to need some kind of snow removal equipment.
In this article, we’ll explore the best tools to remove snow from your driveway using different power sources: manual, battery-powered, corded, gas-powered. We’ll also discuss and compare different ways to do so: by shoveling, pushing, scraping, throwing, blowing, and by spreading salt or ice melt.
Check out the tools we recommend to remove snow from your driveway:
Different types of snow removal equipment
There are several different types of snow removal tools to clear the snow and ice from your driveway, depending on the size of your driveway, the amount of snow that has to be cleared and on your physical abilities.
Here’s a quick summary:
Snow Shovel
Description: This tool is as basic as it gets and the weapon of choice for many generations. Its long handle is equipped with a lightweight large size shovel blade to shovel (hence the name) snow.
Best Used: This is the ideal tool for small driveways and paths. A snow shovel is perfect for quick clean-ups after light snowfalls and offers a good workout for those who enjoy a bit of exercise.
Electrical Snow Shovel
Description: An electric snow shovel is a modern twist on the traditional snow shovel. Compact, lightweight and powered by electricity, it scoops up snow and throws it to the side without the heavy lifting.
Best Used: Electric snow shovels are easy to maneuver and store, making them great for small driveways and paths in climates with light snowfall.
Ice Scraper
Description: An ice scraper has a small, tough blade mounted on a long handle. It is designed to chop away thick ice and frozen snow from driveways and sidewalks using the ice scraper’s weight to let gravity do most of the work.
Best Used: Ice scrapers are used to clear driveways or pavements when and where the (re)frozen snow or ice layer is too hard for other snow clearing tools to break up.
Snow Roof Rake
Description: A snow roof rake allows you to keep both feet firmly on the ground while clearing snow from your roof, eliminating ladders. It has a long sectional handle that allows you to add extensions as needed.
Best Used: Snow roof rakes can be used to clear snow on most single- or two-story low-pitch roofs, depending on the number of extensions, and challenging-to-reach roof valleys because of their long sectional handle.
Ice Melt Sprayers
Description: Ice melt sprayers are devices designed to spray ice melt compounds on driveways and sidewalks to melt existing ice and prevent further accumulation.
Best Used: To melt ice or compacted, frozen snow, and to prevent the thawed snow or ice from freezing again. Complementary to other snow removal methods, especially in below-freezing conditions.
Salt Spreaders
Description: Salt spreaders are devices that allow you to evenly spread salt on your driveway or sidewalk in an efficient and controlled manner.
Best Used: To melt ice or compacted, frozen snow, and to prevent the thawed snow or ice from freezing again. Complementary to other snow removal methods, especially in below-freezing conditions.
Snow Pusher
Description: Snow pushers are the smaller, hand-held version of the industrial snow plows usually found in front of snow-clearing tractors or trucks. They have a long, often u-shaped push-handle, with a sharp, very wide and shallow scoop blade at the end.
Best Used: Snow pushers are specifically designed to clear away lighter snow accumulations from walks and driveways. Unlike snow shovels, they are not designed to shovel snow, just to push it away.
Snow Thrower
Description: A snow thrower, the lighter single-stage version of the more powerful two-stage snow blower, uses a fast-rotating auger to remove and propel snow through its directional discharge chute.
Best Used: A snow thrower is the ideal budget-friendly tool to clear snow from small- to medium size driveways in areas with moderate snowfall.
Snow Blower
Description: A snow blower is a snow thrower on steroïds. It’s much more powerful and has a longer throw because of its two-stage action: in the first stage, its auger picks the snow up with a fast-rotating action, and pushes it to the impeller (second stage) that propels the snow with high velocity through its directional discharge chute. It is the most efficient tool in the line-up, saving both time and effort compared to manual shoveling and the most powerful tool in our selection.
Best Used: With its two-stage action and long throw, a snow blower has all the power you need to clear snow from large driveways in heavy snowfall regions.
How we did our review
For this review, we analyzed countless verified customer reviews to see what their experience was with different types of snow removal equipment. We held those customer experiences and comments up to the light and weighed them against our own personal experience with snow removal equipment. In conclusion, we spent hours listing and comparing all that valuable information against the manufacturer product sheets and specifications of a myriad of snow removal appliances before selecting the very best in their category.
We plowed through that thick layer of information so you won’t have to and listed different snow removal equipment in a wide price range to make it easy for you to choose the ideal solution for your specific situation.
Check out our favorite snow removal equipment:
Best Snow Shovel
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Best Snow Shovel
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Specs:
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- Type: Manual Snow Shovel
- Best For: Moderate Climates // Light / Medium Snowfall
- Driveway Size: Small / Medium
- Power Source: None, manual
- Physical Effort: Medium / High
- Speed / Efficiency: Medium
SnowJoe named its innovative dual-handle snow shovel the “Shovelution”, and it truly is a game-changer. This unique snow shovel has a spring-assisted second handle, which is a back-saver! How come they didn’t come up with this great idea sooner?
The huge customer base says that the second handle makes it so easy to pick up and toss snow, that they feel like an idiot for not coming up with this idea themselves. They state that the mechanics of shoveling have changed, much for the better, and that they can clear snow probably twice as fast with the SnowJoe than with any other shovel they’ve ever used. They say it’s as sturdy as an oak too.
PROS:
- Back-saving design
- Twice as fast with less effort
- Sturdy build quality
CONS:
- Although much easier than a classic snow shovel, it’s still pretty labor-intensive
Best Electric Snow Shovel
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Best Electric Snow Shovel
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Specs:
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- Type: Electric Snow Shovel
- Best For: Moderate Climates // Light / Medium Snowfall
- Driveway Size: Small / Medium
- Power Source: Battery-Powered
- Physical Effort: Low
- Speed / Efficiency: Medium
The reason why we chose this tool as our “Best Electric Snow Shovel” is because it is inexpensive and easy to use and store. It really excels in clearing sidewalks too, it’s an agile width for this job.
Customers say that this lightweight tool is a backsaver and that it does a great job at clearing single wide city driveways. They state that the battery lasts a full 35 minutes, which should be plenty.
PROS:
- Light-Weight, Back-Saving
- Compact to store
CONS:
- Limited to about 5 inches of snow
- Not for large driveways
Best Ice Scraper
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Best Ice Scraper
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Specs:
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- Type: Ice Scraper
- Best For: All climates with sub-freezing winter temperatures // ice / refrozen snowmelt
- Driveway Size: All Sizes
- Power Source: None, manual
- Physical Effort: Medium
- Speed / Efficiency: Low / Medium
This ice-removing tool is a must-have for anyone with a driveway or sidewalk that may need clearing in winter. It’s suitable for all types of climates with sub-freezing temperatures in winter and very compact to store. This ice scraper is complementary to any other snow-removing tools you might have. Its tough blade removes rock-hard ice and refrozen snow with one chop, over and over again. This is a premium 100% American made quality tool with a limited lifetime warranty at a very reasonable price.
Customers say that this is the perfect tool for releasing ice from walks and driveways when refrozen snow and ice becomes really entrenched and can’t be removed with a shovel or a snow blower. They state that this tool’s blade can crack or shim under the ice and chip it off in big sheets that can easily be scooped up with the snow shovel. In the reviews, the D-shaped handle is often said to be comfortable for ramming, and the overall consensus is that this tool’s heavy all-metal construction is super-sturdy.
PROS:
- 100% American made quality tool // limited lifetime warranty
- Good customer service
- D-shape handle allows for better grip and more powerful ramming
- Reasonable price
CONS:
- Labor-intensive compared to using salt or ice-melt (but direct result)
Best Snow Roof Rake
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Best Snow Roof Rake
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Specs:
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- Type: Snow Roof Rake
- Best For: Extreme Winter Climates // Heavy Snowfall
- Driveway Size: n/a
- Power Source: None, manual
- Physical Effort: Medium / High
- Speed / Efficiency: Medium
The SnowPeeler is our preferred snow roof rake. It’s reliable, ingenious and easy to use for most types of single- and two-story houses with sloped roofs. The SnowPeeler’s sharp edged industrial grade aluminum cutting frame allows for effortless snow removal. The snow chunks slide down its tear-resistant slide without damaging the roof. Its long handle is easy to extend if necessary and this premium kit comes with two different length slides. The slides are made out of a durable woven vinyl instead of cheap plastic.
Customers say that this job is never easy, but the SnowPeeler cut through with far greater ease than the roof rakes they used before. They say it’s a good thing that the slides are weighted at the bottom so they don’t blow around in the wind. They state that this rake works equally well for steel and shingled roofs.
PROS:
- Sharp-edged industrial grade aluminum cutting frame allows for effortless snow removal
- Extendable, sturdy yet lightweight construction
- Works great for single- and two story houses with sloped roofs
- Comes with 2 sizes durable woven vinyl weighted slides
CONS:
- Upper body strength is a must, there’s no two ways about it
Best Snow Pusher
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Best Snow Pusher
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Specs:
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- Type: Snow Pusher
- Best For: Moderate Climates // Light / Medium Snowfall
- Driveway Size: Small / Medium
- Power Source: None, manual
- Physical Effort: Medium / High
- Speed / Efficiency: Medium / High
At the risk of being pushy (pun intended), you might want to take a look at the “Manplow”, an awesome American-Made snow pusher: Its well thought-out design and Heavy-Duty construction make it our favorite. This snow pusher is available in different sizes too, to suit your specific needs. Its beefy replaceable EZ-Glide HDPE edge makes all the difference in the world when it comes to longevity. They all come with sturdy U-handles. Optional handles and a smart Boost Bar for easy lifting are available too.
The vast loyal customer base says that it makes clearing the driveway quick and easy, assuming it’s not heavy wet snow over 3-6 inches. Above that, they say, you will need a snow shovel or better yet, a snow blower.
PROS:
- Allows for quick clearing of fresh snow up to 6 inches
- Replaceable EZ-Glide edge
- Sturdy build quality, Made in USA
CONS:
- You’ll need a snow shovel or a snow blower above 6” of snow
Best Wheeled Salt Spreader
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Best Wheeled Salt Spreader
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Specs:
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- Type: Wheeled Salt Spreader
- Best For: All climates with sub-freezing winter temperatures // thin layer of snow / ice / refrozen snowmelt / ice prevention
- Driveway Size: All Sizes
- Power Source: None, manual
- Physical Effort: Light
- Speed / Efficiency: High
Scotts’ Elite wheeled salt spreader is premium quality at a very competitive price. Well-known for its professional quality Heavy-Duty garden tools, Scotts hit it out of the ballpark with this next-level spreader, leaving its competitors eating dust.
There’s so much more to this spreader than meets the eye: it has dual rotors for a better, wider spread pattern, an Edge-Guard setting to control the spread next to edges, an ultra-precise spreader-adjustment dial, ergonomic handle design and even a smartphone holder! It doubles as the ideal tool for grass maintenance too, of course.
Customers say that the wheels are super smooth and that it’s easy and precise to adjust. They find it easy to use and confirm that it holds a lot of salt. It’s so much easier than a handheld spreader, they state. People tend to use it to spread seeds and fertilizer too, which works equally great.
PROS:
- Professional Heavy-Duty quality
- Wide spread
- Accurate and precise adjustment
- Holds a lot of salt
- Light and easy to use
- Doubles as a grass seed- and fertilizer spreader
CONS:
- It’s not cheap (but worth every penny!)
Best Battery-Powered Ice-Melt Sprayer
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Best Battery-Powered Ice-Melt Sprayer
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Specs:
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- Type: Battery-Powered Ice-Melt Sprayer
- Best For: All climates with sub-freezing winter temperatures // thin layer of snow / ice / refrozen snowmelt / ice prevention
- Driveway Size: All Sizes
- Power Source: Battery-Powered
- Physical Effort: Light
- Speed / Efficiency: High
This battery-powered ice-melt sprayer is so much value for so little money that it feels like stealing. We tried to find another sprayer in this price category that comes close, but after searching long and hard, we came up empty-handed.
Scotts 2 gallon battery-powered ice-melt sprayer is packed with improvements and features. For starters, it eliminates the need for manual pumping with its smart Pump Zero Technology. An innovative, fully automated compressor pump that is powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is integrated in the screw-on cap with handle that when fully charged sprays up to 12 full tanks. It has an easy-to-clean in-line filter, a 21-inch poly wand with 3-in-1 nozzle and replaceable Viton seals in all components for long-term resistance to chemicals. A pressure release valve allows you to safely remove internal pressure prior to opening the sprayer.
Customers say that the battery charge lasts and that it maintains pressure while offering different spray patterns which are easy to adjust. The only inconvenience, they say, is having to stop and refill the tank because it works so efficiently with little effort. They won’t be returning to a manual one, they state.
PROS:
- No more manual pumping, constant pressure
- One charge lasts up to 12 full tanks
- Chemical-resistant longevity Viton seals
- 3-in-1 rotating nozzle
CONS:
- Pressure is not adjustable
Best Corded Electric Snow Thrower
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Best Corded Electric Snow Thrower
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Specs:
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- Type: Corded Electric Snow thrower
- Best For: Moderate Climates // up to 12” of snow
- Driveway Size: All Sizes
- Power Source: Mains Powered
- Physical Effort: Low / Medium
- Speed / Efficiency: Low / Medium
The reason why we picked this snow thrower from the well-known SnowJoe brand is because it performs very well despite its discount price. It’s up there with the best selling budget snow throwers. It’s also available in a battery-powered version, by the way.
This lightweight mains-powered snow thrower is ideal for quick snow pickups on small- to mid-sized driveways and walkways in areas with moderate snowfall.
Its all-steel auger is driven by a powerful 15-amp electric motor that clears 22” wide strips of up to 12” deep snow per pass. It has LED-lights too, for night-time snow removal.
In their reviews, customers highly recommend this Snow Joe snow thrower. They say that if you want to clear 6 or 8 inches of powder snow from a small to medium driveway, this will be all you need. If you live in an area where you don’t get a couple of feet of snow overnight, this budget machine won’t disappoint, they state. They say that considering that it is not self-propelled, it’s fairly light to handle for a fit person.
PROS:
- A lot of bang for your buck
- Works great for powder snow up to 12” deep
- Almost maintenance-free
- Low noise output
CONS:
- Only for powder snow up to 12” deep
- The deeper the snow, the slower the clearing process
- Mains power and extension cord required
Best Battery-Powered Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower
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Best Battery-Powered Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower
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Specs:
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- Type: Battery-Powered Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower
- Best For: All Climates with Medium to High Snowfall // up to 20” of snow
- Driveway Size: Medium / Large
- Power Source: Battery Powered
- Physical Effort: Low
- Speed / Efficiency: Medium / High
When people say you have a big ego, that’s usually not a good thing, unless they’re talking about your snow blower. EGO’s battery-powered, self-propelled 2-stage snow blower raises the bar for the battery-powered snow blower class. In the same affordable price category, there’s no real competition for the EGO-Power snow blower series.
You can even step up and get a wider, more powerful 28-Inch snow blower with two 12.0 Ah batteries instead of two 7.8 Ah batteries. However, for most people, the 24” model we recommend will be more than sufficient.
EGO’s 56V Dual Lithium Battery Peak Power technology throws snow up to 50 ft. clear with its 2-stage system and on a single charge, you can clear an 18-car driveway that is covered in 8” of snow. However, this performant machine can handle up to 20” of snow with ease. No need for pushing or steering either, it’s self-propelled with variable speed, forward and reverse, and can be steered by trigger-control. It’s really effortless!
Its electronic chute adjustment is controlled by a handy joystick, which allows you to change the direction and distance of the throw in full action. The auger speed can be controlled too.
The EGO Power+ series is weather-resistant. Its heavy-duty steel- and composite construction can handle the most challenging conditions.
Customers say they are amazed by the power that this thing can put out being run by two batteries, although enormous batteries. They confirm that it plows through the snow as advertised, throwing it as far as they could ask.
PROS:
- Powerful yet lightweight
- No fumes or loud noises
- Variable speed, self-propelling, forward and reverse
- Trigger-”power”steering
- Heavy-Duty steel- and composite construction
- Efficient 2-stage action throws snow up to 50 ft. clear
- Can handle powder snow up to 20” deep
CONS:
- May struggle in old, compacted or frozen snow
Best Gas-Powered Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower
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Best Gas-Powered Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower
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Specs:
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- Type: Gas-Powered Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower
- Best For: All Climates with Medium to High Snowfall// up to 20” of snow
- Driveway Size: Medium / Large
- Power Source: Gas Powered
- Physical Effort: Medium
- Speed / Efficiency: High
This Gas-Powered Self-Propelled 2-Stage beast can handle the heaviest conditions, yet it is very affordable. We think this B&S type of snow blower has an awesome price/performance balance.
The 208cc Briggs & Stratton engine is powerful, reliable and easy to start, manually or electrically (push-button). Where other snow blowers struggle, like with frozen or compacted snow, this bear cuts through it like it were butter.
It has a 24-Inch wide clearing path with a 20-inch Intake height. Because of its friction disk drive system, it can clear the snow down to the pavement, without breaking a sweat. Its speed is adjustable too, with 4 forward gears and 2 reverse gears. This powerful machine is easily controllable with its dash-mounted controls. The chute can be rotated with an on-panel chute remote. Large pneumatic 14-inch by 4-inch snow hog tires and single LED headlights complete the package. No need to worry either, it comes with a 3-year limited equipment and engine guarantee.
Customers say that the engine started up right out of the box and continued to do so without hesitation. They say that the 110V plug-in starter is a dream come true in freezing temperatures, although you can easily pull-start it too.
PROS:
- Powerful, reliable and easy to start 208cc Briggs & Stratton engine
- 2-stage system clears up to 20” high snow
- 4 forward gears and 2 reverse
- 110V plug-in starter or pull-start
- Large pneumatic 14-inch by 4-inch snow hog tires for extra grip
- LED headlights for nighttime snow clearing
- 3-year limited equipment and engine guarantee
CONS:
- No differential steering, it takes some persuading to turn
Comparison Table of the Best Snow Removal Equipment
| Brand | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Snow Shovel | Snow Joe | Shovelution |
| Best Electric Snow Shovel | Earthwise | Cordless Electric Snow Thrower |
| Best Ice Scraper | Bully Tools | Ice Scraper with D-Grip Handle |
| Best Snow Roof Rake | SNOWPEELER | Premium Snow Roof Rake |
| Best Snow Pusher | Manplow | PRO Snow Pusher |
| Best Wheeled Salt Spreader | Scotts | Elite Spreader |
| Best Battery-Powered Ice-Melt Sprayer | Scotts | Lithium-Ion Battery Powered Sprayer |
| Best Corded Electric Snow Thrower | Snow Joe | Electric Walk-Behind Snow Blower |
| Best Battery-Powered Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower | EGO Power+ | 24 in. Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower |
| Best Gas-Powered Self-Propelled 2-Stage Snow Blower | Briggs & Stratton | 24" 2-Stage Snow Blower |
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right snow removal equipment depends on your specific needs and the winter conditions in your area. Whether you opt for a snow shovel or snow pusher, an agile electric snow shovel, or a powerful snowblower, arming yourself with the right tool will make winter maintenance a breeze.
For frozen snow or ice, you’re going to need an ice scraper, a salt spreader or an ice-melt sprayer. But before you start clearing your driveway, don’t forget to first clear your roof with a snow roof rake.
Hope this line-up made it (snow-)crystal clear for you to choose the right tool for your application.
Happy clearin’!
Stay warm!
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