Snow Blower vs Snow Thrower: What's the Difference?

Often, yes, at least in everyday language. People swap the two terms, makers included at times, and in that usage snow thrower is simply another name for a snow blower.

Snow blower also works as the umbrella word for the whole category, single-stage machines included.

The idea comes from sorting the names by stage: some people use snow thrower for single-stage models and snow blower for two-stage machines that feed snow into an impeller. Bob Vila follows this split and adds that the two machines are quite different in power, functionality and price.

Craftsman flips it. Its walk-behind models, such as the SB230, are Single-Stage Gas Snow Blowers, while its 42-in Snow Thrower is a dual-stage unit with two augers and an impeller.

Some makers use both names, even for the very same model, while Troy-Bilt and Greenworks call their machines snow blowers and sort them by stage.

The Toro Power Clear 721 E (model 38753) is a 21 in. single-stage Gas Snow Blower on its product page, yet its parts catalog titles it Power Clear 721 E Snowthrower. That puts the product page at odds with the single-stage-means-thrower rule, while the catalog name fits it.

Ariens mixes the terms too. A buying post about an Ariens snow blower calls it an Ariens Sno-Thro in a sub-heading, and a 2016 post uses snow thrower for single-stage and two-stage machines alike. Husqvarna's US snow page mentions snow blowers and -throwers, and all its machines have a two-stage system.

A single-stage machine moves snow with one auger that scoops it up and throws it out. A two-stage machine splits the job: the auger gathers the snow and feeds it to an impeller, which does the throwing.

My picks are one of each: the EGO SNT2134 is a 21 in single-stage with a steel auger, and the EGO SNT2425 is a 24 in two-stage. The single-stage vs two-stage guide goes deeper into choosing between them.

Electric models carry both names too, sometimes for one product. The Snow Joe SJ627E is an electric snow blower on its product page, while its operator's manual is titled Electric Snow Thrower.

Bob Vila ties power to the name as well: single-stage snow throwers are often corded, some newer snow throwers run on lithium-ion batteries, and snow blowers are usually gasoline or diesel powered.

Ryobi's 40V kits don't follow one pattern. One page is titled 40V HP Brushless 21-inch SNOW THROWER KIT (RY40862), another 40V HP Brushless 21-inch Single-Stage Auger-Propelled Snow Blower Kit (RY40HPSN02K2). EGO calls both my picks snow blowers, the two-stage SNT2425 included.