What Size Snow Blower Do I Need for My Driveway and Snowfall?
You need a single-stage snow blower about 21 inches wide or less for a smaller paved driveway, and a two-stage machine up to about 30 inches wide for a large driveway, gravel or snow around a foot deep.
By Alex M. · Published · Updated
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Start with your driveway's size and your usual snowfall. Then check the surface and how far you'd be from an outlet. Each one can move the answer.
Best electric snow blowers to start with
The SNT2134 is compared with other models in the best electric snow blower guide, the Greenworks in the compact snow blower guide and the SNT2807 in the single-stage vs two-stage guide.
Best overall
On Amazon(paid link) 
Illustration EGO Power+ SNT2134
A 21 in by 13 in path and a throw of up to 45 ft, with two 6.0 Ah batteries.
Check price on Amazon(paid link)
Smallest pick
On Amazon(paid link) Illustration Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Cordless
A 16 in path at 28 lbs with the battery, and the upper handle folds for storage.
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Widest pick
On Amazon(paid link) 
Illustration EGO Power+ SNT2807
A 28 in self-propelled two-stage with a 21 in intake height and a throw of up to 60 ft.
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Key takeaways
- Width follows driveway size. Smaller paved driveways fit the single-stage class, which tops out around 21 inches. Large driveways move you up to two-stage widths that reach about 30 inches.
- Your typical storm picks the stage. The single-stage ceiling lands between 6 and 9 inches, depending on who you ask. About 12 inches is two-stage work.
- Gravel calls for two stages. Single-stage machines are built for paved surfaces, not loose stone.
- Corded models are small-job tools. They need an outdoor-rated extension cord of the right gauge. The makers' gauge charts don't all match.
- The picks come with a driveway figure, not a minute count. Each product page gives a driveway size per charge instead.
In this guide
How wide should your snow blower be?
Your snow blower should be about 21 inches wide or less if a single-stage machine fits your driveway, and up to about 30 inches if you need a two-stage. Single-stage machines suit smaller driveways. Two-stage machines suit large ones.
On a big driveway, a wider path saves passes and time. For a larger driveway, Consumer Reports suggests skipping single-stage unless your snowfalls are always just a few inches, and choosing a two-stage machine 24 to 30 inches wide.
The Greenworks clears 16 in, the single-stage SNT2134 21 in and the two-stage SNT2807 28 in. They throw snow up to 25 ft, 45 ft and 60 ft, in the same order.
How deep is your usual snowfall?
Your usual snowfall points you to a stage: single-stage for lighter storms, two-stage for snow around a foot deep, and three-stage for up to about 18 inches. Where single-stage ends depends on the source: 6, 8 or 9 inches.
Consumer Reports says most battery single-stage blowers max out at about 6 inches, though some clear 9. If deep storms are normal where you live, the heavy snow guide picks up from there.
Corded or cordless: which fits your driveway?
Corded fits walks and smaller driveways within reach of an outlet. Cordless frees you from the outlet and goes up to two-stage size, like the 28 in SNT2807.
Corded: small jobs on an extension cord
Corded machines run off an outlet and an extension cord. The Toro 38381, for example, clears an 18-inch path up to 10 inches deep, for sidewalks, steps, decks and small driveways.
Consumer Reports says corded models can work up to 100 feet from the house, but none performed well enough to recommend, and it calls them best as a supplement to a bigger tool. Depth advice for corded machines varies by source: walkways with less than 6 inches, 8 inches as one maker's ideal, or light snow up to about 12 inches.
Cordless: no cord, but a charge to plan around
All three picks run on batteries. Their product pages give a driveway size per charge rather than a run time in minutes. EGO rates the SNT2134 for up to a 14-car driveway with 8 in of snow on one charge of its two 6.0 Ah batteries, and the SNT2807 for up to 32 cars at that depth on two 12.0 Ah batteries.
The Greenworks battery takes 150 minutes to charge, and no charge time is given for either EGO. Greenworks rates its 16-inch for an 8-10 car driveway in 4 in of snow, but a 4 car driveway in 10 in.
What extension cord a corded snow blower needs
A corded snow blower needs an outdoor-rated extension cord with a wire gauge matched to its length. The makers' charts differ, so follow the one in your manual. Here's the wire gauge each chart gives by cord length.
| Chart | 25 ft | 50 ft | 100 ft | Longest cord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toro 38381 manual | 14 | 14 | 12* | 150 ft (10 gauge) |
| Toro 38025 manual | — | — | 16* | 150 ft (14 gauge) |
| Snow Joe SJ625E manual | 14 | 14 | 12 | 100 ft |
| Westinghouse WSnow22 | 14 | 14 or 12** | 12 | 100 ft |
| Greenworks 13A corded | 14 AWG | 12 AWG | — | — |
*The 38381 manual and the older 38025 manual give different gauges for a 100 ft cord: 12 and 16.
**The WSnow22 manual prints 14 gauge up to 50 ft; its product page gives 12 for 50 ft.
Snow Joe's manual warns that an undersized cord causes voltage drop, power loss and overheating. Before you plug in, make sure the outlet or circuit has GFCI protection. When you clear, start next to the outlet and work outward.
What else to check before you buy
Check the surface, your storage space, the controls and the battery platform you may already own.
Gravel or pavement
A gravel driveway is a job for a two-stage machine. Single-stage machines are meant for paved surfaces. The gravel driveway guide covers that case in full.
Storage and weight
Measure where the machine will live before you buy. The Greenworks' upper handle folds for more compact storage or transport. It weighs 28 lbs with the battery. No weight is given for either EGO.
Controls and build
Both EGO picks have heated handle grips and 200 degrees of chute control. The SNT2134 sets its chute with handle-mounted levers. The SNT2807 uses an electronic joystick and adds trigger-controlled steering that assists with turning. The Greenworks chute rotates 180 degrees, with a 45° adjustable deflector, and the machine starts with a push button.
Battery platform
All EGO batteries are compatible with all EGO tools, so EGO batteries you already own fit both EGO picks. The Greenworks battery powers over 100 Greenworks 40-Volt tools.
Which snow blower size fits your driveway
Start here, then open the guide for your situation.
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Your situation | Start with | Why | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walks, patios, a smaller paved driveway | Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Cordless | 16 in path, 28 lbs with battery | compact snow blower guide |
| An average paved driveway | EGO Power+ SNT2134 | 21 in path, throw up to 45 ft | the best electric snow blower guide |
| A large driveway | EGO Power+ SNT2807 | 28 in self-propelled two-stage | single-stage vs two-stage guide |
| Snow around a foot deep | A two-stage machine | Single-stage limits: 6–9 in | heavy snow guide |
| A gravel driveway | A two-stage machine | Single-stage is meant for pavement | gravel driveway guide |
How I researched this
I read 25 sources for this page: owner's manuals, manufacturer buying guides and product pages, and Consumer Reports, Bob Vila and This Old House guides. The picks come from my buying guides, where I compared 23 products in detail.
FAQ
What's the difference between a single-stage and a two-stage snow blower?
A two-stage machine drives its own wheels and can work on gravel, while a single-stage machine is meant for pavement. The single-stage vs two-stage guide compares the two in full.
How long does a cordless snow blower run?
Around 30 to 40 minutes before recharging is typical, according to Bob Vila, and a spare battery can extend that. The Toro 60V Power Max e24 runs up to 70 minutes on two 6.0Ah batteries, and the Ryobi 22-inch two-stage up to 30 minutes on two 40V 8Ah batteries.
Does cold weather affect a battery snow blower?
Yes, cold can reduce a battery's output. On the Greenworks pick, output may drop if the battery's internal temperature falls below -17°C. A cold battery brought indoors should warm up in no more than 10-20 minutes.
How wide is a corded snow blower?
Widths vary by model: 18 inches on the Toro 38381, 20 on the Greenworks 13A and 22 on the Snow Joe SJ627E. The Snow Joe pairs a 15-amp motor with that path and clears snow up to 13 inches deep.
What comes in the box with a battery snow blower?
That depends on the model number. The SNT2134 kit includes two 6.0 Ah batteries and a dual-port charger, while the SNT2130 is the snow blower only. The SNT2807 comes with two 12.0 Ah batteries and a charger, the SNT2800 is the bare tool, and the Greenworks box holds one 5.0 Ah battery and a charger.
What warranty comes with the picks?
The SNT2807 has the longest battery coverage of the three: a 5-year limited tool warranty and a 5-year limited battery warranty with registration. The SNT2134 carries 5 years on the tool and 3 on the battery, and the Greenworks a 3-year limited warranty on tool and battery.
Sources
More guides
- Best electric snow blowerFive corded and battery models compared on clearing width, throw distance, run time, weight and warranty.
- Best snow blower for womenFive picks ranked by weight, how they start and whether they drive themselves.
- Single-stage vs two-stage snow blowerHow each type moves snow, and which one fits your snow depth and driveway surface.
- Gas vs electric snow blowerMaintenance, starting, run time, power for heavy snow and noise, side by side.
- Snow Joe snow blower reviewThree Snow Joe models, one corded and two battery, compared on maker specs.
- Greenworks snow blower reviewTwo Greenworks 60V single-stage models compared on maker specs, with what each page leaves out.
- Snow blowers for heavy snowFive battery picks compared on stages, intake height, throw distance and battery kit.
- Snow blower for a gravel drivewayFour two-stage battery picks and one single-stage, with what each maker says about gravel.
- Electric snow shovel vs snow blowerClearing width and depth, throw distance, weight, snow type and surface, with two shovel picks and two blower picks.
- Compact electric snow blowersFour small models, 16 to 20 inches wide, compared on clearing width, weight, storage and corded or battery power.
- Snow blower vs snow throwerWhether the two names mean the same machine, what the makers call their own models, and how single-stage and two-stage machines move snow.
- Corded vs cordless snow blowerRun time, extension cords and outlets, weight, cold weather and warranty, with two corded and two cordless picks.
- EGO vs Greenworks snow blowerBattery platforms, warranty, clearing width and throw, two-stage options, and weight and storage, with two picks from each brand.
- EGO SNT2405 vs SNT2416Two 24-inch EGO kits compared on batteries, clearing width, throw, controls and warranty.
- Snow blower vs shovelEffort and strain on the body, snow depth, driveway size, upkeep and noise, with four snow blower picks.
- Do electric snow blowers workHow much snow they handle, wet snow, plow piles, ice and gravel, battery run time in the cold, and when gas is the better call.