Snow Removal
Electric Snow Shovel vs Snow Blower: Which Clears Your Space?
Quick answer
An electric snow shovel is for steps, decks, walks and a few inches of snow; its intake is only about 6 inches tall. A snow blower is for driveways. A 21-inch EGO SNT2122 clears a two-car driveway in about 9 minutes, against about 15 for a 12-inch EGO SNS1201, and handles deeper snow.
EGO Power+ SNS1201 12 in. Cordless Snow Shovel Kit
$359.0012 in path, 25 ft throw, folds for storage.
Best for: EGO owners who want a second tool for decks, steps and walks
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EGO Power+ SNT2122 21 in. Single-Stage Snow Blower Kit
$699.0021 in path, 13 in intake, 42 ft throw.
Best for: first-time cordless buyers with a standard two-car driveway
Check price on AmazonAn electric snow shovel is a small, handheld thrower: a 12 to 14-inch paddle or auger at the end of a shaft, powered by a battery or cord, that flings snow a short distance. It weighs little enough to carry up stairs and store on a hook. A snow blower is a wheeled machine with a housing 18 inches or wider that you walk behind. They overlap on light snow and small areas, and nowhere else.
Many homes are best served by both: a snow blower for the driveway and a cordless shovel for steps and the deck, ideally on the same battery platform. If you can only buy one and you have a driveway, buy the blower. Figures here are drawn from published specifications and owner reports, rather than side-by-side testing. Enter your spaces in the snow clearing time calculator.
On this page
- How does an electric snow shovel compare with a snow blower?
- Should I buy an electric snow shovel or a snow blower?
- Can an electric snow shovel clear a driveway?
- Is an electric snow shovel easier on your back than a regular shovel?
- What does each cost over 5 years?
- Which electric snow shovels and snow blowers fit which jobs?
How does an electric snow shovel compare with a snow blower?
| Electric snow shovel | Snow blower (single-stage) | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | EGO SNS1201, $359.00 | EGO SNT2122, $699.00 |
| Clearing width | 12 to 14 in | 18 to 22 in |
| Intake height | About 6 in (WORX WG460, Snow Joe 24V-SS13) | 10 to 13 in |
| Maker-rated throw | 20 to 25 ft | 20 to 45 ft |
| Maker-rated runtime | EGO SNS1201: 3-car driveway of 6 in snow | EGO SNT2122: 10-car driveway of 8 in snow |
| Weight and carrying | Light; Snow Joe lists its corded 324E at 13.6 lb | Wheeled; heavier to lift onto steps |
| Stairs and decks | Yes | Awkward or impossible |
| 2-car driveway, 22 x 30 ft, moderate snow | 26 passes, about 15 min | 15 passes, about 9 min |
| Deck, 16 x 20 ft, light snow | 19 passes, about 9 min | 11 passes, about 5 min (if you can get it there) |
| Sidewalk, 4 x 120 ft | 5 passes, about 7 min | 3 passes, about 4 min |
| Storage | Folds or hangs on a wall | Floor space in garage or shed |
Clearing times assume 15 percent overlap and the same walking pace. In practice a shovel is often slower because it is pushed in shorter strokes.
Should I buy an electric snow shovel or a snow blower?
Choose an electric snow shovel if:
- You clear steps, a porch, a deck, a patio or walkways, not a full driveway.
- Your snow typically arrives a few inches at a time.
- You live in a townhouse or condo with little storage.
- You want a second tool alongside a blower you already own.
Choose a snow blower if:
- You have a driveway of any size.
- Storms regularly exceed 6 inches.
- You face a plow ridge at the curb; for that, a two-stage like the EGO SNT2405 is the tool.
- You want to finish in minutes rather than making dozens of narrow passes.
Can an electric snow shovel clear a driveway?
A small one, in light snow, yes. EGO rates the SNS1201 for a 3-car driveway of 6-inch snow on its 2.5Ah battery, and WORX rates its WG460 for a 2 to 4-car driveway per charge. Those ratings assume the snow is below the roughly 6-inch intake. Above that, you are cutting the snow in layers.
Time is the practical problem. A 12-inch path needs about 26 passes on a 22-foot-wide driveway, against 15 passes with a 21-inch blower. That is manageable once; it is tiresome after every storm. And a shovel cannot touch the plow ridge. Owners who bought a cordless shovel as their only driveway tool commonly report upgrading to a blower within a season or two.
Is an electric snow shovel easier on your back than a regular shovel?
It removes the lift-and-throw motion that strains backs, since the motor throws the snow. You still bend and push, and you carry the tool, so a lightweight model with an adjustable handle matters. Corded shovels like the Snow Joe 324E ($124.99) are lightest but tether you to an outlet. Cordless models like the Snow Joe 24V-SS13, which Snow Joe rates at up to 22 minutes per charge, go anywhere.
If lifting is the concern and you do not want a motor, a wheeled pusher such as The Snowcaster 30SNC moves snow to the side without lifting; see snow pusher vs snow shovel.
What does each cost over 5 years?
Cordless shovels cost $199.99 to $359.00 in our catalog, and a capable single-stage snow blower starts around $699.00 for a battery kit. Neither has meaningful fuel or maintenance cost; both eventually need a replacement battery. If you already own a platform's batteries, the tool-only cost drops, which is why EGO and Greenworks owners often add a shovel for steps. The best electric snow shovels roundup covers the options.
Which electric snow shovels and snow blowers fit which jobs?
EGO Power+ SNS1201 12 in. Cordless Snow Shovel Kit
$359.00A brushless 56V shovel with a 25-foot throw, 60-degree direction dial and hinged shaft for storage, rated for a 3-car driveway of 6-inch snow.
Best for: steps, decks and walks for EGO owners
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WORX WG460 40V 12 in. Cordless Snow Shovel
$313.50A 12 by 6-inch path with a 25-foot throw and foldable handle, rated by WORX for a 2 to 4-car driveway per charge.
Best for: light snow on stairs and small drives
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Snow Joe 324E 14 in. Corded Electric Snow Shovel
$124.99A 13.6-pound corded shovel moving up to 300 pounds per minute through a 14 by 6-inch path with a 20-foot throw.
Best for: porches near an outlet
Check price on Amazon EGO Power+ SNT2122 21 in. Single-Stage Snow Blower Kit
$699.00A 21-inch path, 13-inch intake and 42-foot throw for paved driveways, on the same 56V batteries as the EGO shovel.
Best for: two-car paved driveways
Check price on AmazonHow 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
Are electric snow shovels worth it?
Yes, for steps, decks, patios and walkways in light to moderate snow. They throw snow 20 to 25 feet, weigh little, store on a hook and spare your back the lifting motion. They are not a good only tool for a driveway in a snowy region, because their roughly 6-inch intake cannot handle deep storms or plow ridges and their 12-inch path makes driveway clearing slow.
How deep of snow can an electric snow shovel handle?
Most electric snow shovels have an intake about 6 inches tall. WORX lists a 12 by 6-inch path for the WG460 and Snow Joe lists 13 by 6 inches for the 24V-SS13. They work best in snow at or below that depth. For deeper snow, clear during the storm in two rounds, or skim the top layer first and then take the rest, rather than forcing the tool into a deep drift.
Can I use a snow blower on my deck?
A light single-stage can work on a large ground-level deck if you can get it there, but many decks have stairs and railings that make it awkward, and some deck surfaces are easily scratched by auger tips and scraper bars. A cordless snow shovel is usually the better deck tool. Never use a two-stage machine with a steel scraper bar on wood or composite decking.
Is a corded or cordless electric snow shovel better?
Cordless is more convenient: you can clear steps, a deck and the walk without dragging a cord around railings. Corded models such as the Snow Joe 324E cost less, never run out of charge and are lightest to carry, but you must stay within reach of a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet and use a cold-rated outdoor extension cord of the gauge the manual specifies.
Should I get both a snow blower and an electric snow shovel?
Many homes with a driveway, front steps and a deck do well with both. The blower handles the driveway and the plow ridge, and the shovel clears stairs and decks where a blower cannot go. Buying both on the same battery platform, such as the EGO SNT2122 and SNS1201, lets them share batteries and chargers and keeps the second tool's cost down.
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.