Snow Removal
Best Electric Snow Shovels (2026): Cordless and Corded for Decks and Steps
Quick answer
The best electric snow shovel is the EGO SNS1201, a brushless 12-inch cordless shovel that throws snow 25 feet and clears a 3-car driveway of 6-inch snow per charge. The corded Snow Joe 324E is the best budget pick. Electric shovels suit decks, steps and walks in snow up to about 6 inches.
An electric snow shovel is a small, handheld single-stage thrower: a paddle auger in a 12 to 14-inch housing on a shovel-style handle, clearing a path about 6 inches deep. It weighs a fraction of a snow blower, carries up and down steps, and clears decks, patios and walks without lifting. It is not a driveway machine in deep snow, and knowing where that line sits is the point of this page.
Our top pick is the EGO Power+ SNS1201 12 in. Cordless Snow Shovel Kit at $359.00. The WORX WG460 and Greenworks 40V are strong alternatives for owners on those batteries, the Snow Joe 24V-SS13 ($199.99) is the value cordless pick and the corded Snow Joe 324E ($124.99) is the cheapest. If your job includes a full driveway, run it through the snow clearing time calculator first.
On this page
- How do the best electric snow shovels compare?
- When is an electric snow shovel better than a snow blower?
- Beginner picks: electric snow shovels under $200
- Intermediate picks: 40V cordless shovels
- Expert pick: the longest-running cordless shovel
- How do the electric snow shovels compare on specs?
- Cordless or corded electric snow shovel: which is better?
- How do I use an electric snow shovel on steps and decks?
- Do I need an electric snow shovel if I already have a snow blower?
How do the best electric snow shovels compare?
Electric shovels publish fewer specs than snow blowers, and each maker rates capacity differently, so compare path size and throw first and treat capacity claims as rough.
| Model | Power | Path (width x depth) | Throw | Maker capacity rating | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EGO SNS1201 | 56V brushless | 12 in wide | 25 ft | 3-car driveway of 6 in snow per charge | 2.5Ah included |
| WORX WG460 | 40V | 12 x 6 in | 25 ft | 2 to 4-car driveway per charge | Check listing |
| Greenworks 40V | 40V brushless | 12 in wide | Not listed | Not listed | 4.0Ah included |
| Snow Joe 24V-SS13 | 24V, 400W | 13 x 6 in | Not listed | 1,620 lb of snow, up to 22 min per charge | 4.0Ah included |
| Snow Joe 324E | 10A corded | 14 x 6 in | 20 ft | Up to 300 lb per minute | None, corded; 13.6 lb |
From manufacturer listings. Capacity ratings are not measured the same way across brands.
When is an electric snow shovel better than a snow blower?
When the area is small, raised, narrow or up steps, and the snow is under about 6 inches. A 12-inch shovel needs 5 passes to clear a 4-foot walk with normal overlap against 3 for a 21-inch blower, a small difference on short walks. On a 24 by 24-foot two-car driveway, though, it takes about 29 passes against 17, roughly twice the time, and anything past 6 inches means two layers. The table shows where each tool wins; the full comparison is in electric snow shovel vs snow blower.
| Job | Electric snow shovel | Snow blower | Better tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck or balcony | Carries up steps, light | Too heavy to lift up | Shovel |
| Porch and front steps | Clears each tread | Cannot climb steps | Shovel |
| 4 x 50 ft walk, 3 in snow | 5 passes, a few minutes | 3 passes, a few minutes | Either |
| Patio, 12 x 16 ft | Easy | Hard to move around furniture | Shovel |
| 2-car driveway, 3 to 4 in | About 29 passes, slower | About 17 passes | Blower, or shovel if you already own one |
| 2-car driveway, 8 in or more | Two layers, slow | One pass | Blower |
| Gravel or plow berm | Not suitable | Two-stage only | Two-stage blower |
Pass counts assume 15 percent overlap on a 24-foot-wide driveway with a 12-inch shovel versus a 21-inch single-stage blower.
Beginner picks: electric snow shovels under $200
For porches, steps, walks and small patios after a few inches of snow, at the lowest cost.
Snow Joe 324E 14 in. Corded Electric Snow Shovel
$124.99A 13.6-pound corded shovel with a 10A motor and 2-blade paddle auger moving up to 300 pounds per minute through a 14 by 6-inch path, with a 20-foot throw, adjustable handle, 2W LED light and a safety lock button. No battery to keep charged.
Best for: porches and short walks near an outdoor outlet
Check price on Amazon
Snow Joe 24V-SS13 13 in. Cordless Snow Shovel Kit
$199.99A 400W cordless shovel clearing a 13 by 6-inch path, rated for 1,620 pounds of snow and up to 22 minutes per charge, bundled with a 4.0Ah battery, quick charger, cover and ice scraper.
Best for: decks, patios and walks away from outlets
Check price on AmazonIntermediate picks: 40V cordless shovels
For owners already on WORX or Greenworks 40V batteries who want a lighter tool than a blower for steps and walks.
WORX WG460 40V 12 in. Cordless Snow Shovel
$313.50Clears a 12 by 6-inch path with a 25-foot throw, three adjustable throw directions and a foldable handle, and WORX rates one charge for a 2 to 4-car driveway. WORX positions it for stairs, decks and patios.
Best for: WORX 40V households with steps and decks
Check price on Amazon
Greenworks 40V 12 in. Brushless Snow Shovel Kit
$335.97A 12-inch brushless shovel with an LED light, directional chute control and an enclosed battery cover that keeps snow off the included 4.0Ah battery, sold with a single-port charger.
Best for: Greenworks 40V households clearing before sunrise
Check price on AmazonExpert pick: the longest-running cordless shovel
For owners who clear walks, decks and steps after every storm, often alongside a two-stage snow blower on the driveway.
EGO Power+ SNS1201 12 in. Cordless Snow Shovel Kit
$359.00A brushless 56V motor with long run times and low vibration, a 25-foot throw with a 60-degree direction dial, a hinged shaft for compact storage and a maker rating of a 3-car driveway of 6-inch snow on the included 2.5Ah battery, which also fits every EGO 56V tool.
Best for: EGO households with decks, steps and long walks
Check price on AmazonWho should not buy this tier: Anyone planning to use an electric shovel as the only tool on a two-car or larger driveway in a region with regular 6-plus-inch storms. At about $359.00, it costs roughly half of an EGO SNT2122 snow blower kit, which clears a 21-inch path, takes 13 inches of snow and is rated for 10 cars of 8-inch snow per charge. Buy the blower for the driveway and the shovel for the deck.
How do the electric snow shovels compare on specs?
| Model | Price | Clearing width | Intake height | Throw distance | Voltage | Battery | Headlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EGO Power+ SNS1201 12 in. Cordless Snow Shovel Kit | $359.00 | 12 in | - | 25 ft | 56V | 2.5 Ah | - |
| WORX WG460 40V 12 in. Cordless Snow Shovel | $313.50 | 12 in | 6 in | 25 ft | 40V | - | - |
| Greenworks 40V 12 in. Brushless Snow Shovel Kit | $335.97 | 12 in | - | - | 40V | 4 Ah | Yes |
| Snow Joe 24V-SS13 13 in. Cordless Snow Shovel Kit | $199.99 | 13 in | 6 in | - | 24V | 4 Ah | - |
| Snow Joe 324E 14 in. Corded Electric Snow Shovel | $124.99 | 14 in | 6 in | 20 ft | - | - | Yes |
Cordless or corded electric snow shovel: which is better?
Cordless for most people. Steps, decks and walks are exactly the places where a cord is a tripping hazard and gets in the way of the auger. The corded Snow Joe 324E makes sense when the work area is right next to an outdoor GFCI outlet, when you want the lowest price, or when you clear infrequently and do not want a battery that has to be kept charged. If you go corded, use an outdoor-rated cord of the gauge the manual specifies and keep it behind you. If you already own a battery platform, buy the shovel that matches it; corded vs cordless covers the same trade-offs for blowers.
Battery match matters more than small spec differences. A 12-inch shovel on the EGO 56V, WORX 40V or Greenworks 40V platform means the same battery later runs a leaf blower, string trimmer or mower, so the snow tool is not a one-season purchase. If you own no cordless tools yet, compare platforms before choosing a shovel, since that first battery tends to decide every tool that follows.
How do I use an electric snow shovel on steps and decks?
- Clear in layers. Electric shovels clear about 6 inches at a time. In deeper snow, skim the top layer first, then take a second pass to the surface.
- Work steps from the top down. Clear the top step first and move down, keeping one hand free for the railing where the tool allows and throwing snow off to the side, not onto the steps below.
- Aim the chute away from people. Set the direction dial or chute so snow lands in the yard, never toward a street, walkway or anyone below a deck.
- Watch deck boards and edges. Push along the board direction, and check the manufacturer's guidance for composite or soft wood decking.
- Follow up with ice melt. Spread a pet-safe deicer such as Safe Paw with a Chapin SaltPro hand spreader on steps and walks once they are clear.
Do I need an electric snow shovel if I already have a snow blower?
Many owners find it the most-used snow tool after the blower. The blower handles the driveway, and the shovel handles the steps, porch, deck and the narrow path to the side door, which a 24 or 28-inch machine cannot reach. If you own an EGO snow blower, the SNS1201 shares its batteries. For households without a blower, pair a cordless shovel with a wide pusher from our snow shovel roundup for light storms, and step up to a battery snow blower when the driveway becomes the problem. A full kit is laid out in the beginner snow removal setup.
How we chose
We did not test these products in person. Picks are researched from manufacturer specifications and owner manuals, engine and safety certifications where they apply, warranty terms, public recall records, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We favor established brands with large review counts and parts support, match each pick to a real yard size or task, and place it in the tier where its price and capability actually belong.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best electric snow shovel?
The EGO SNS1201 is the best electric snow shovel for most owners. It has a brushless 56V motor, throws snow up to 25 feet with a 60-degree direction dial, folds on a hinged shaft and is rated for a 3-car driveway of 6-inch snow on the included 2.5Ah battery. The corded Snow Joe 324E is the best budget choice at about $125.
Are electric snow shovels worth it?
They are worth it for decks, steps, porches, patios and walks in snow up to about 6 inches, and for people who want to avoid lifting snow. They weigh far less than a snow blower and can be carried up stairs. They are not a good sole tool for a two-car driveway in deep snow, where a 21-inch snow blower clears about twice as fast.
How deep of snow can an electric snow shovel handle?
Most clear a path about 6 inches deep in one pass: the WORX WG460, Snow Joe 24V-SS13 and Snow Joe 324E list 6-inch path depths. In deeper snow, take a pass through the top layer and a second pass to the surface. Heavy wet snow and packed plow berms are beyond what these small paddle augers are designed to handle.
Can an electric snow shovel clear a driveway?
It can clear a small driveway in light snow. EGO rates the SNS1201 for a 3-car driveway of 6-inch snow per charge and WORX rates the WG460 for 2 to 4 cars. Expect roughly twice as many passes as a 21-inch snow blower, since the path is only 12 to 14 inches wide. For regular 6-plus-inch storms, buy a snow blower for the driveway.
Is a cordless snow shovel better than a corded one?
Cordless is better for steps, decks and walks away from outlets because there is no cord to trip on or feed into the auger. Corded shovels such as the Snow Joe 324E cost less, never run out of charge and need no battery care, which suits porches and short walks next to an outdoor outlet. Use an outdoor-rated extension cord on a GFCI outlet.
Can I use an electric snow shovel on a composite deck?
Many owners do, since the paddle augers are designed to contact the surface without metal edges, but deck manufacturers have their own snow removal guidance and some warn against tools that can scratch. Check your decking maker's care instructions, push along the direction of the boards and avoid grinding the housing into the surface. Use a deicer the decking maker approves.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.