Best Compact Electric Snow Blower: 4 Small Models Compared
The best compact electric snow blower of these four is the Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Cordless, with the narrowest path here at 16 in and the lowest listed weight, 28 lbs with the battery. Its upper handle folds for storage, the kit includes a 5.0 Ah battery and a charger, and the tool and battery carry a 3-year limited warranty.
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Quick picks
Best overall
On Amazon(paid link) 
Illustration Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Cordless
Pick it for a 16 in path, a folding upper handle and 28 lbs with the battery; no lights listed.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)
Best 18-inch pick
On Amazon(paid link) Illustration Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB18
Pick it for an 18 in path with two 4.0 Ah batteries and a dual-port charger; its weight figures conflict.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)
Best corded pick
On Amazon(paid link) 
Illustration Westinghouse WSnow20
Suits you if you'd rather plug in than charge: corded 15 Amp motor, but width and weight figures conflict.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)
Best 20-inch battery pick
On Amazon(paid link) Illustration Greenworks 60V 20-Inch Single-Stage
Pick it for a 20 in path and the longest warranty here, 4 years; it's 38.68 lb with the battery.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)
If 16 in feels too narrow, you have three ways to go wider. The Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB18 clears 18 in, the Greenworks 60V 20-Inch Single-Stage clears 20 in, and the Westinghouse WSnow20 swaps the battery for a cord.
In this guide
Comparison table
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Product | Clearing width | Clearing depth | Weight | Power | Storage | Throw distance | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenworks 40V 16-Inch CordlessCheck price on Amazon (paid link) | 16 in | 10 in | 28 lbs with battery | 40V battery, 5.0 Ah | Upper handle folds | 25 ft maximum | 3-year limited |
| Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB18Check price on Amazon (paid link) | 18 in | 10 in | 29.45–29.54 lb* | 48 V, two 24 V batteries | — | Up to 20 ft | 2 years |
| Westinghouse WSnow20Check price on Amazon (paid link) | 20 in or 18 in* | 10 in | 29.3 lbs or 31.1 lbs* | Corded, 120 Volt, 15 Amp | Upper handle lowers | 25 ft or up to 29.5 ft* | 2-year limited |
| Greenworks 60V 20-Inch Single-StageCheck price on Amazon (paid link) | 20 in | 10 in or 12 in* | 38.68 lb with battery | 60 V battery, 5.0 Ah | — | 20 ft or 22 ft* | 4 years |
*Snow Joe's page has 29.45 lb, 29.5 lb and 29.54 lb, and Bob Vila gives 37.5 pounds; Westinghouse's page text and manual have a 20 in path against 18 in in the page's spec block, with 25 ft and 29.3 lbs on the page against up to 29.5 ft and 31.1 lbs in the manual; the Greenworks 60V page has 10 in and 20 ft in its top spec list, 12 in and 22 ft in its product specifications.
How I picked
I picked these by comparing 21 products in detail and reading 52 sources. The sources were manufacturer product pages, FAQs and manuals, manufacturer buying guides, and buying guides from Consumer Reports, Popular Mechanics and Bob Vila.
Best overall
Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Cordless
Cordless · 40V battery
View on AmazonCheck price on Amazon(paid link)
Specs
- Clearing width16 in
- Clearing depth10 in
- Throw distanceup to 25 ft
- Run timeNot listed
- Weight28 lbs with battery
Pros
- Narrowest path here at 16 in
- Upper handle folds for more compact storage
- Chute rotates 180 degrees with a 45° adjustable deflector
- Starts with a push button
Cons
- No run time in minutes stated
- No lights listed in its specs
- Page conflicts on whether the motor is brushless
| Clearing width | 16 in |
|---|---|
| Clearing depth | 10 in |
| Throw distance | 25 ft maximum |
| Weight | 28 lbs with the battery |
| Power | 40V battery, 5.0 Ah |
| Warranty | 3-year limited, tool and battery |
The Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Cordless is my top pick because it has the narrowest path here, 16 in, and the lowest listed weight, 28 lbs with the battery. The Greenworks 60V clears 20 in but is 38.68 lb with its battery. The trade is width: every pass is narrower than on the other three.
The upper handle folds for more compact storage, and the box holds one 40V 5.0 Ah battery and a battery charger. That battery also powers over 100 Greenworks 40-Volt tools.
Greenworks rates it for an 8-10 car driveway in 4 in of snow and a 4 car driveway in 10 in of snow. Voltage output may be reduced if the battery's internal temperature drops below -17°C.
Buy it if you want the narrowest path and the lowest listed weight here, with a handle that folds for storage.
Skip it if you want a 20 in path, or LED headlights listed in the specs; the Greenworks 60V has both.
Best 18-inch pick
Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB18
Cordless · 48V battery
View on AmazonCheck price on Amazon(paid link)
Specs
- Clearing width18 in
- Clearing depth10 in
- Throw distanceup to 20 ft
- Run timeNot listed
- Weight29.45 to 29.54 lb (three figures listed)
Pros
- Two 4.0 Ah batteries and dual-port charger included
- A 1200 W brushless motor
- Integrated 2 W LED headlight
Cons
- Weight figures differ between sources
- No run time per charge stated
- Shorter 2-year warranty than both Greenworks picks
| Clearing width | 18 in |
|---|---|
| Clearing depth | 10 in |
| Throw distance | up to 20 ft |
| Weight | 29.45 lb, 29.5 lb or 29.54 lb |
| Power | 48 V from two 24 V batteries, 4.0 Ah each |
| Warranty | 2 years |
The Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB18 is the pick if you want a path between the 16 in Greenworks 40V and the 20 in Greenworks 60V. It clears a path 18 in wide by 10 in deep per pass. The kit comes with two 4.0 Ah batteries and a dual-port charger, where each Greenworks kit has one 5.0 Ah battery.
The two 24 V batteries work together as a 48 V power source, feeding a 1200 W brushless motor. The chute crank rotates up to 180 degrees and throws snow up to 20 ft, against a 25 ft maximum for the Greenworks 40V.
Weight is the open question. Against the 29.45 lb to 29.54 lb on the maker's page, Bob Vila puts this model at 37.5 pounds. The gross weight is 35.9 lb.
Check what's on your shelf before you count on spare batteries: the 24V-X2-SB18 isn't compatible with the 24VBAT-XR8 and 24VBAT-XR12 batteries, though it works with all other 24V IONMAX battery configurations.
There's also a 24V-X2-SB18-XR variant with two 5.0 Ah batteries. It's 29.76 lb with batteries installed, and its recharge time is about 2 hr 30 min.
Buy it if you want an 18 in path and a kit with two batteries and a dual-port charger.
Skip it if you need a run time per charge before you buy, or you already own 24VBAT-XR8 or 24VBAT-XR12 batteries.
Best corded pick
Westinghouse WSnow20
Corded · 15 A, 120 V
View on AmazonCheck price on Amazon(paid link)
Specs
- Clearing width18 or 20 in
- Clearing depth10 in
- Throw distance25 ft or up to 29.5 ft
- Run timeCorded
- Weight29.3 lbs on the page, 31.1 lbs in the manual
Pros
- Corded motor with no battery to charge
- Dual LED headlights and push-button start
- Rubber-tipped steel auger and 7-inch wheels
- Chute adjusts 180 degrees horizontal, 15-60 degrees vertical
Cons
- Width, throw and weight figures conflict
- Snow type given as Light, Fluffy
- Power cord length and noise level not stated
| Clearing width | 20 in or 18 in |
|---|---|
| Clearing depth | 10 in |
| Throw distance | 25 ft or up to 29.5 ft |
| Weight | 29.3 lbs or 31.1 lbs |
| Power | corded, 120 Volt, 15 Amp |
| Warranty | 2-year limited (residential) |
The Westinghouse WSnow20 is the pick if you'd rather plug in than charge: its corded 15 Amp motor means there's no battery to charge. It starts with a push button and has dual LED headlights. Its 2-year limited warranty matches the Snow Joe's 2 years and trails both Greenworks picks.
Here's the catch: its specs come with two figures each for width, throw and weight. The path is 20 in or 18 in, and the weight is 29.3 lbs or 31.1 lbs.
For storage, you loosen the handle knobs and lower the upper handle assembly. Product dimensions are 22L x 20.4W x 20.4H in, but there's no word on whether that's with the handle up or lowered.
Know its limits. The snow type on its spec sheet is Light, Fluffy, and it's designed for continuous use at ambient temperatures above 23°F (–5°C). If needed, it can be used in extremely cold temperatures for short periods. It's for household use only and needs assembly.
Buy it if you have an outlet near the area you clear and you'd rather not manage batteries.
Skip it if you want a machine specified for more than light, fluffy snow, or firm numbers for width and weight.
Best 20-inch battery pick
Greenworks 60V 20-Inch Single-Stage
Single-stage · 60V battery
View on AmazonCheck price on Amazon(paid link)
Specs
- Clearing width20 in
- Clearing depth10 or 12 in
- Throw distance20 or 22 ft
- Run timeup to 30 min
- Weight38.68 lb with battery
Pros
- Longest warranty here at 4 years
- Widest battery path here at 20 in
- Brushless motor and LED headlights
- Push-button start and 180-degree chute rotation
Cons
- Depth and throw figures conflict on its page
- Weighs 38.68 lb with the battery
- Not compatible with the 60V 8.0 Ah battery
| Clearing width | 20 in |
|---|---|
| Clearing depth | 10 in or 12 in |
| Throw distance | 20 ft or 22 ft |
| Weight | 38.68 lb with the battery, 34.4 lb without it |
| Power | 60 V battery, 5.0 Ah |
| Warranty | 4 years, tool and battery |
The Greenworks 60V 20-Inch Single-Stage is the pick if you want a 20 in path without a cord. That's the widest battery path here, against 18 in for the Snow Joe and 16 in for the Greenworks 40V. Its 4-year tool and battery warranty is also the longest of the four.
Greenworks rates it for up to 30 minutes of run time on a single charge and for snowfalls up to 10 in. The motor is brushless, the impeller is poly (plastic), and it has LED headlights. Its battery also powers over 75 Greenworks 60-volt tools.
It's the heavier of the two Greenworks picks. It weighs 38.68 lb with the battery, against 28 lbs for the Greenworks 40V on the same basis. It isn't self-propelled, so you push all of it yourself.
Buy it if you want a 20 in path on battery power and the longest warranty of the four.
Skip it if weight matters most to you: the Greenworks 40V is 28 lbs with its battery.
How to choose
A compact electric snow blower is easiest to choose by clearing width first, then weight, storage, power source, and clearing depth and throw.
Clearing width
Clearing width on these four is 16 in, 18 in or 20 in. The Greenworks 60V is a single-stage machine, and that type clears paths up to about 21 inches wide; two-stage machines go as wide as 30 inches. I'd take 16 in when a small machine matters most, 20 in when you want the widest path here.
Weight
Weight is easiest to compare when two figures are on the same basis. With the battery in, the Greenworks 40V is 28 lbs and the Greenworks 60V is 38.68 lb; without it, the 60V is 34.4 lb, and no such figure is given for the 40V. As a type, single-stage blowers are usually light, compact and easy to handle.
Storage and folding
For storage, look for a handle that folds or lowers, then for folded dimensions. The Greenworks 40V and the Westinghouse WSnow20 have the first, but folded dimensions aren't given for either.
Where it sits matters too. The Greenworks 40V's battery and charger should always be stored indoors at room temperature, and the Westinghouse should be kept indoors in a clean, dry place, away from corrosive materials such as fertilizer or rock salt.
Corded or battery power
Corded power means working within reach of an outlet. Consumer Reports puts that reach at up to 100 feet from the house with an extension cord, and warns that the cord can limit range and maneuverability. The Westinghouse WSnow20 is the corded pick here; the other three run on batteries, in 40V, 48 V and 60 V kits.
Clearing depth and throw distance
Clearing depth is 10 in on the Greenworks 40V, the Snow Joe and the Westinghouse, and 10 in or 12 in on the Greenworks 60V. Consumer Reports says some single-stage battery blowers can clear 9-inch-deep snow, but most max out at about 6 inches.
For throw, check the chute as well as the distance. All four chutes rotate 180 degrees, up to 180 degrees on the Snow Joe. The Greenworks 40V has a maximum throwing distance of 25 ft and the Snow Joe throws up to 20 ft; the other two show two figures each.
FAQ
Do these snow blowers work on a gravel driveway?
No, the Greenworks 60V 20-Inch Single-Stage isn't recommended for gravel surfaces. The Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Cordless page carries the same warning: Greenworks does not recommend using its single-stage snow throwers on gravel surfaces. With the Westinghouse WSnow20, the instruction is to stop the machine when crossing gravel or rocky surfaces, and there's no word on whether it suits a gravel driveway.
How long does the battery take to charge?
The battery charge time is 150 minutes for the Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Cordless. Snow Joe puts its two 4.0 Ah batteries at just under 2 hours. The Greenworks 60V has two figures: up to 150 minutes in the specifications and 50 min with the included charger in the product summary.
What extension cord does the Westinghouse WSnow20 need?
The Westinghouse WSnow20 calls for an outdoor extension cord. The product page and the manual's cord table show 14 gauge for a 25 ft cord and 12 gauge for a 50 ft cord. A safety bullet in the manual gives at least 14 gauge for a cord of 50 feet or less. GFCI protection should be provided on the circuit or outlet you use, and no extension cord is on the included list.
Sources
More guides
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