Electric Snow Shovel vs Snow Blower: Which One Do You Need?

Snow blowers clear a wider, deeper path than electric snow shovels. Among the picks, the EGO Power+ SNS1201 Snow Shovel clears a 12 in path, and the Snow Joe 24V-SS13-MAX Snow Shovel cuts 13 in wide by 6 in deep with each pass. The Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB18 takes 18 in by 10 in per pass, and the Snow Joe SJ627E takes 22 in by 13 in.

Depth is where the shovel numbers get fuzzy. The EGO's page gives no clearing depth; 6 in appears only in its 3-car driveway rating. Both blower picks go deeper than 6 in.

Throw distance comes to the same two figures on each side among these four picks. The EGO Power+ SNS1201 Snow Shovel and the Snow Joe SJ627E both throw snow up to 25 ft; the Snow Joe 24V-SS13-MAX Snow Shovel and the Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB18 both throw up to 20 ft. So don't buy one of these two blowers for reach alone.

Aim is where these four picks differ. The 24V-X2-SB18's chute crank rotates up to 180 degrees, and the SJ627E has a 180 degree chute. Electric snow shovels pick snow up and throw it out the front. The EGO adds a 60-degree directional control dial and a two-speed selector for throwing distance. The Snow Joe shovel's page shows no chute or throw-direction control.

Electric snow shovels are the lighter tool: the typical ranges in the table don't overlap. The picks' weights aren't on one scale, so read them one at a time. The EGO is 16.7 lb with its 2.5 Ah battery attached, and the Snow Joe shovel's net weight is 13 lb. The 24V-X2-SB18's page gives three figures for the same kit, 29.45 lb, 29.5 lb and 29.54 lb. The SJ627E's page gives only a gross weight, 34.6 lb.

Storage is simple on the shovel side. The EGO's shaft is hinged for compact storage. The Snow Joe shovel measures 25 in high by 14.5 in long by 14 in wide and comes with a cover and wall-mount battery storage organizers.

Electric snow shovels fit decks, steps, patios, walkways and small driveways, and snow blowers fit driveways. For the picks, EGO rates the SNS1201 for up to a 3-car driveway with 6 in of snow on the included 2.5 Ah battery, and Snow Joe calls its shovel ideal for quick, cord-free pickups on decks, steps, patios and sidewalks.

You don't have to pick one, either. A blower for the driveway and a shovel for the steps, walkways or a raised deck is a sensible pair. Power is part of fit too. The SJ627E is the corded one of the four, with a 15 A motor, while the EGO and the other two Snow Joe picks run on batteries.

Light, fluffy snow is where electric snow shovels work best. Wet snow is less clear-cut. Toro's Power Shovel is specified for fluffy, light snow, yet Family Handyman's tester ran it beside a Toro cordless snowblower in 5 in of wet snow and says they performed equally well.

Don't assume every blower is a heavy-snow machine, though. The SJ627E's spec sheet gives its snow type as light and fluffy, the same kind of snow that suits a shovel. The 24V-X2-SB18's plowing capacity may vary with snow conditions. Neither shovel pick's page gives a snow-type limit.

Electric snow shovels are intended for paved surfaces, and the sources differ on whether they belong on gravel. Consumer Reports warns that a power shovel can scoop up pebbles and send them flying, calls single-stage gas blowers and electrics a poor choice for gravel driveways because they operate closer to the ground, and calls two-stage blowers best for gravel because the auger doesn't touch the ground.

Here's what the picks' pages give you. The SJ627E's surface is given as paved. The EGO's and the Snow Joe shovel's pages give no surface limit. Neither blower pick's page tells you whether the machine is single-stage or two-stage.