Single Stage vs Two Stage Snow Blower: Which One Do You Need?
A single-stage snow blower suits a paved driveway and lighter storms, while a two-stage snow blower suits deeper snow and gravel. The difference is one extra part: a two-stage adds an impeller that throws the snow once the auger has fed it in. Below I compare the two types on six points, then show where four battery models land.
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Quick answer
Choose Single-stage snow blowers if
your driveway is paved and a typical storm brings no more than 6 or 9 inches of snow, depending on the source.
Choose Two-stage snow blowers if
your driveway is gravel, or your storms bring deeper snow, up to 12 or 16 inches depending on the source.
In this guide
Comparison table
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Feature | Single-stage snow blowers | Two-stage snow blowers | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it moves snow | One auger scoops and throws | Auger feeds an impeller | Two-stage snow blowers |
| Typical snow depth | Up to 6 or 9 inches* | Up to 12 or 16 inches* | Two-stage snow blowers |
| Gravel driveways | Poor fit; can throw stones | Better fit; auger stays higher | Two-stage snow blowers |
| Clearing width | Up to 22 inches | Up to 30 inches | Two-stage snow blowers |
| Self-propelled | Auger pulls it; some self-propel | Usually | Two-stage snow blowers |
| Size and weight | Walk-behind-mower storage (gas)* | Heavier; up to lawn-tractor space (gas)* | Single-stage snow blowers |
*Depth: Cub Cadet gives the lower figure for each type and Consumer Reports the higher one; size: Consumer Reports, describing gas machines, also notes that compact 24-inch two-stage models exist.
1. How it moves snow
A single-stage snow blower moves snow with one auger that scoops it up and throws it out. A two-stage snow blower splits the job: the auger moves the snow to the center and into an impeller, which throws it out of the chute.
Popular Mechanics says that extra stage can throw snow sometimes as much as 10 feet farther than a single-stage. Within the single-stage type, though, model specs spread wide. The EGO Power+ SNT2134 throws snow up to 45 ft, the Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB22 up to 25 ft, and the Greenworks 60V 20-Inch Single-Stage 20 ft or 22 ft (two figures listed). The two-stage EGO Power+ SNT2425 throws up to 50 ft, 5 ft past the SNT2134.
Chute and auger
Chute control varies across the picks. The SNT2134 gives 200 degrees of directional control, with pitch and direction set by handle-mounted levers. The SNT2425 uses a remote joystick with 200 degrees of rotation and 65 degrees of deflection control. The Snow Joe's chute rotates up to 180 degrees, the Greenworks' 180 degrees.
Under the hood, the SNT2134 pairs a steel auger with a brushless motor. The Snow Joe uses a 4-blade rubber-tipped steel auger, and its 1600 W brushless motor moves up to 840 lb of snow per minute.
EdgeTwo-stage snow blowers.The two-stage SNT2425 throws up to 50 ft, farther than any single-stage pick here.
2. Snow depth
A two-stage snow blower handles deeper snow than a single-stage, and the general limits are in the table above. Toro's own ideal depths line up the same way: 9 in for its gas single-stage Power Clear 821 QZE, 10 in for its battery single-stage Power Clear e21 and 12 in for its battery two-stage Power Max e24. Think about the storms you actually get, not the record one.
Among the picks, the SNT2134 has a 13 in clearing height, and the Snow Joe clears a path 22 in wide by 13 in deep per pass. The Greenworks has a clearing depth of 10 in or 12 in (two figures listed). The two-stage SNT2425 has a 20 in intake height.
EdgeTwo-stage snow blowers.Both depth sources in the table give two-stage machines the higher limit.
3. Gravel driveways
A two-stage snow blower is the better fit for a gravel driveway, and a single-stage is a poor one. Single-stage augers work close to the ground, so they can pick up stones and throw them. A two-stage auger doesn't clean all the way down to the ground, which keeps it above the gravel.
If your driveway is gravel, read the picks carefully. Greenworks does not recommend its single-stage snow throwers on gravel, and the 60V 20-Inch is one of them. I'd skip it for a gravel drive. EGO says the SNT2134's skid shoes are adjustable for improved performance on gravel and irregular surfaces.
EdgeTwo-stage snow blowers.Their augers stay above the stones that single-stage augers can pick up and throw.
4. Clearing width
A two-stage snow blower clears a wider path: up to 30 inches, against up to 22 inches for a single-stage. Among the picks, the Snow Joe's 22 in path is the widest single-stage here, an inch wider than the 21 in SNT2134 and 2 in wider than the 20 in Greenworks. The two-stage SNT2425 clears 24 in.
The two EGO kits differ in batteries: the SNT2134 comes with two 6.0 Ah batteries, the SNT2425 with two 7.5 Ah. EGO rates the SNT2425 for up to an 18-car driveway with 8 in of snow on a single charge, against up to a 14-car driveway for the SNT2134.
EdgeTwo-stage snow blowers.Up to 30 inches beats up to 22 inches, and the SNT2425's 24 in tops every single-stage pick here.
5. Self-propelled drive
A two-stage snow blower usually drives its own wheels, while a single-stage usually relies on its auger to pull it forward as you push. Some single-stage models do have a drive. Toro's Power Clear 21 is self-propelled, for example, while its battery Power Clear e21 has a push drive.
Among the picks, the Greenworks is not self-propelled. The SNT2425 is, with variable-speed forward and reverse controls, and it rolls on 14 in airless tires with snow treads.
EdgeTwo-stage snow blowers.Powered wheels are the usual setup on that side.
6. Size and weight
Consumer Reports puts a gas single-stage at about the storage space of a walk-behind mower, and says two-stage gas machines are heavier and can take up as much space as a lawn tractor. Two of the picks give weights on the same with-battery basis. The Greenworks weighs 38.68 lb with its battery (34.4 lb without), and the Snow Joe 45.2 lb with batteries installed (47.2 lb gross). That makes the Greenworks the lightest listed weight here.
There's no weight on either EGO product page, so the SNT2134 and SNT2425 stay out of this comparison.
Kits and warranties
The Snow Joe runs on 48 V from two 24 V 8.0 Ah batteries on the IONMAX 24-Volt system, with a high-speed dual-port charger. The Greenworks comes with one 5.0 Ah battery and a charger, and it isn't compatible with the 60V 8.0 Ah battery. Its battery powers over 75 Greenworks 60-volt tools.
The two EGO models carry a 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty. The Greenworks has a 4-year tool and battery warranty, and the Snow Joe a 2-year warranty.
EdgeSingle-stage snow blowers.The storage and weight gap described above runs in their favor.
Which one should you buy
Whether it's a 6 a.m. clear before work or a weekend dig-out, match the type to your driveway and your usual storm first.
Best single-stage pick
On Amazon(paid link) 
Illustration EGO Power+ SNT2134
It throws snow up to 45 ft, the farthest of the three single-stage picks, with heated grips and a 5-year tool warranty.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)
Widest single-stage pick
On Amazon(paid link) Illustration Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB22
Its 22 in by 13 in path is the widest single-stage here, and the kit includes two 24V 8.0 Ah batteries.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)
Lightest single-stage pick
On Amazon(paid link) Illustration Greenworks 60V 20-Inch Single-Stage
At 38.68 lb with the battery, it's the lightest listed weight here, with a 4-year tool and battery warranty.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)
Best two-stage pick
On Amazon(paid link) 
Illustration EGO Power+ SNT2425
It's self-propelled with variable-speed forward and reverse, clears 24 in with a 20 in intake height and throws up to 50 ft.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)
How I picked
I compared 14 products in detail and read 39 sources. They were manufacturer product pages and FAQs, manufacturer buying guides, and buying guides from Consumer Reports, Popular Mechanics and Bob Vila.
FAQ
How far does a single-stage snow blower throw snow?
Up to 25 feet by Consumer Reports' figure, 15 to 25 feet by Bob Vila's and up to 30 feet by Cub Cadet's. Single models can go past that: the EGO SNT2134 throws snow up to 45 ft.
How deep can a battery snow blower clear?
About 6 inches for most single-stage battery blowers, by Consumer Reports' figures, though some can clear 9-inch-deep snow; for two-stage battery blowers, the same source gives up to 16 inches in its buying guide and up to 9 inches on its battery-blower page.
Do the EGO product pages include a bare-tool model?
Yes, both do. On the SNT2134 page, the SNT2130 is the snow blower only, with no battery and no charger; on the SNT2425 page, the SNT2420 is the same. Both models use EGO's Peak Power, which combines two 56 V batteries.
How long does a battery snow blower run on one charge?
Up to 30 minutes for the Greenworks 60V 20-Inch, by Greenworks' own rating. The EGO pages give no run time in minutes or charge time, and the Snow Joe page gives no run time per charge. For the Greenworks, charge time appears as up to 150 minutes in the specifications and 50 min with the included charger in the product summary.
Sources
- Consumer Reports (snow blower buying guide and battery snow blower page)
- Popular Mechanics
- Bob Vila
- Cub Cadet
- Simplicity Manufacturing
- Toro
- Husqvarna
- Ariens
- EGO (SNT2134 and SNT2425 product pages)
- Snow Joe (24V-X2-SB22 product page)
- Greenworks (60V 20-Inch Single-Stage product page)
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