Snow arrives on its own schedule and the driveway has to be clear on yours. Most people buy a snow blower once, in a hurry, after the first storm that beat their shovel, and then discover which size they should have bought.
The choice is simpler than the showroom makes it look, and the reasons are about your driveway, not the brand.
Meet the editor
Gunnar Aldrich — Editor. Gunnar spent twelve years running the seasonal-equipment floor of an outdoor-power dealer in Minnesota, setting up and servicing snow blowers every October. He knows the first-storm phone call by heart: it will not start. He writes Snow Clear Guide for the person who has to clear the driveway before work.
Who this is for
Homeowners and small-property owners in snowy parts of the United States who clear their own drive or hire someone to do it.
Everything here lives in one category, Snow Removal: choosing snow blower type and width, preparing a machine before the first storm, picking shovels and ice melt, and reading a plowing contract.
Our approach
- We start from your driveway. Length, slope, snow depth and wet versus powder snow decide the machine, not the horsepower number.
- We give ranges and name the variables. Prices and clearing capacity vary by model and storm. We never quote a figure we cannot defend.
- We say when a shovel is enough. A short drive with light snow does not need an engine, and we say so.
- We put safety before speed. Augers injure people every winter. Each article repeats the rules about jams and fuel.
What you will not find here
Repair and engine work. We explain routine owner maintenance. We do not give instructions for repairs that need a technician or for opening sealed components.
Contract disputes. We explain common plowing contract terms. We do not interpret your agreement or advise on a claim.
Health advice. Shoveling is strenuous. Anyone with a health concern should speak to a physician rather than rely on an article.
Where the money comes from
Nobody pays to be featured here. Income comes from advertising that outside networks place automatically and from some affiliate links, which may earn us a commission when you buy, at no cost to you. Neither shapes what we write: much of our advice is to service the machine you have rather than buy a new one, which earns us the least. Our Editorial Policy and Disclaimer spell it out.
If we get something wrong
Models change every season, and we occasionally miss a revision. If you spot an error, tell us through the contact form and, if you can, include a source. Fixes are made on the page itself with a dated note, as described in our Editorial Policy.
Say hello
Questions, disagreements and topic suggestions are welcome through our Contact page. We cannot size a machine to your driveway from a distance, but we can usually tell you which two measurements to take first.