Best Cheap Snow Blowers

GreenWorks Snow Thrower reviews are strong across expert and consumer review sites. This electric snow blower is tagged a leader in its class by reviewers, who shine a spotlight on its power, feature set, and durability. Users posting reviews on Viewpoints express relief that this snow thrower makes the old lifting-and-throwing routine a thing of the past and say it does a first-rate job on lighter snow up to 8 inches and manages moderate amounts of heavier snow at a slower pace. The power surprises some users, according to reviews on Amazon, where they tell of quickly clearing large driveways covered in several inches of snow, which lands far enough out of the way to avoid the annoyance of clearing the same snow twice. We did, however, come across a post saying the throw distance drops slightly when the discharge chute is turned to the side. These reviewers ditto the assessment that denser snow requires more effort and a few caution that too many storms dumping lots of wet snow in a season might be too much for this model. Of course, you can always minimize the strain on the machine by running the snow thrower periodically as the snow piles up. In general, though, GreenWorks 26032 reviews indicate that purchasers are quite pleased with the performance-to-price ratio.

At 46 pounds, the GreenWorks Snow Thrower (starting at $200, Amazon) is still easy to maneuver -- 8-inch radial wheels are a big help -- or even carry onto a deck. This model features a 12-amp electric motor and can move up to 500 pounds of snow a minute. It has a 10-inch intake and 20-inch clearing path and a maximum throwing distance of 20 feet. The blades are plastic and the discharge chute can be rotated 180 degrees. There's a cord lock to ensure it stays plugged in, and the handlebar can be set at three heights; even tall users find it comfortable.

The Greenworks Snow Thrower is a sturdy and reliable performer, one backed by a particularly long four-year warranty. Given its price, features, and execution in moderate snowfalls, this snow thrower looks like a good deal.

Consumers looking for a light but sturdy electric snow blower that's sufficient for several inches of mostly fluffy snow will be happy with the WORX Snow Thrower. This electric snow thrower is recommended for snowfall up to 8 inches and WORX Snow Thrower reviews on Snow Blowers Direct say that in such conditions, it clears like a champ. Small amounts of slushy snow are quickly cleared and hurled yards away, assert some reviews. One user notes as an aside that a bottom layer of ice may cause some skidding of the plastic wheels without affecting snow removal. Consumers also cheer this model in reviews on Amazon. One reports it successfully nibbled through 2-foot snow-plow piles at the end of the driveway. Another compares it favorably to a slightly more powerful competitor in terms of price and overall value but concedes that the WORX Snow Thrower lags a bit when set against deep and dense snow. The WORX Snow Thrower is easier to store, this review continues, and less demanding of the required electrical accessories (e.g., extension cord and circuitry). Several users posting reviews on both sites carp about the assembly instructions, saying they're not very clear and might frustrate anyone without some technical skill.

The WORX WG650 (starting at $228, Amazon) weighs 27 pounds and users consider it light enough to lift into a car or truck. It boasts a 13-amp engine and rubber-tipped steel auger that can clear a path 18 inches wide by 9 inches deep (with a 10-inch intake). The discharge chute rotates 180 degrees (control is positioned on the handlebar) and the maximum throw rate is 30 feet; WORX WG650 reviews say heavy snow is more likely to land 15-20 feet away. The handlebar can be set at three heights -- users taller than 6 feet say it's a tad short even at the highest level -- and collapses for storage.

Steady pushing at a moderate pace in fluffy snow, and the WORX Snow Thrower is at its best. It manages under more trying conditions, as well, but you'll need more patience and may have to unclog the chute periodically (WD-40 is a useful preventive measure). Bottom line, you won't be disappointed.

On paper, the Snow Joe Ultra 622U1 electric snow blower (starting at $168, Amazon) seems like a deal. It has a lot of power for the price and its light weight makes it easy to handle (ladies, that includes you). Snow Joe Ultra reviews generally say this model is adequate for moderate amounts of snow. In a review on Sam's Club, one consumer says it cleared a 100-foot long driveway in 30 minutes. Users posting reviews at Overstock similarly report it works well on fresh snow up to about 6 inches and about half that on wet or crusty snow. Other reviews say it even manages in big storms, cutting into the depths a bit at a time.

On the other hand, plenty of Snow Joe Ultra 622U1 reviews complain about the build quality. On Snow Blowers Direct, and Amazon, users grumble about blades and augers that can't withstand the force of ice and heavy snow and plastic parts that become brittle in the cold and susceptible to cracking. Consumers also say vibrations loosen critical bolts and the wheels bog down in deeper snow and sometimes slip out of place.

The Snow Joe Ultra sports a 13-amp motor that can move up to 800 pounds of snow a minute. It cuts a path 11 inches deep and 19 inches wide. The discharge chute is manually adjustable along a 180-degree arc (some reviews say heavy snow pushes it back to center) and the maximum throw is 20 feet. The unit weighs 36 pounds.

When the Snow Joe Ultra holds together, it does what it's meant to do. But the number of discontented purchasers and the nature of their complaints raise doubts about this model's reliability and durability.

Toro 1800 Power Curve 38381 reviews are quite complimentary. Consumers posting reviews on Home Depot, for example, say this electric snow thrower deftly clears what one describes as "heavy prairie snows" and up to two feet of the lighter snow that falls elsewhere. In such conditions some patience is required, users write, and you'll probably need to make more than one pass. But there's strong agreement that using the Power Curve (starting at $300, Amazon) sure beats shoveling; one reviewer says he hoists it up to a roof that he previously shoveled clear. Reviews say it slows a bit when confronted by wet, packed snow; one user notes on Amazon that if it stalls out, you can pull back to get it going again. Reviews posted by women award points for easy maneuverability and light weight, and a male reviewer says it's light enough to hold up while shaving off the tops of snowbanks. Users also like the long throw rate and discharge chute that can be adjusted for direction and height.

Still, we read some harrumphing about underwhelming performance and the need to press both the trigger and safety button to keep it running (try a piece of duct tape or clamp over the safety switch, users suggest). A few Toro 1800 Power Curve 38381 reviews gripe about the plastic auger or the small wheels, and one enterprising reviewer switched out them out for a set that came off an old lawn mower.

The Power Clear 38381 features a 15-amp motor that can hurl up to 700 pounds of snow a minute a maximum of 30 feet. It cuts 10 inches deep with a 12-inch intake across an 18-inch path. The chute rotates 160 degrees with a lever that some say doesn't work too well (adjust manually, instead) and the "zip deflector" can be set to throw at different heights. This model weighs 25 pounds.

This snow thrower is not the best bet for lots of heavy, compacted snow, but it earns stars when faced with more modest demands.

The Poulan Pro PR621 (starting at $420) is one of the most powerful single-stage gas snow blowers available in the cheap price range. A Poulan Pro PR621 review on Home Depot claims it has at least as much power as pricier models. It makes quick work of 6 or so inches of powdery snow and throws a good distance, according to reviews on Amazon, but struggles with heavy snow at depths exceeding a couple of inches; one user, though, says it cleared away snow that had been compacted under a car. Consumers assert the PR621 starts on the first or second pull of the cord and is easy to maneuver, even for a female reviewer who weighs 100 pounds -- although she concedes that her husband moves along at a faster clip.

But complaints abound about poor design. Numerous Poulan Pro PR621 reviews report that snow throwers ordered online arrive covered in factory-added oil that leaked due to an ill-fitting cap. Users also gripe that the snow blower guzzles gas, the wheels are too small, vibrations loosen blots and screws, and snow blows back from under the unit, which doesn't clear down to the surface. (Follow up with a shovel, one review advises.)

The Poulan Pro PR621 sports a hefty 208cc four-cycle engine (no mixing of oil and gas needed). This is a single-stage model, so confine its use to paved or smooth surfaces. It weighs 90 pounds, cuts a 21-inch path, and has a 13-inch intake. The chute rotates 200 degrees, the fuel tank holds one gallon, and it sports a headlight. The engine on the Poulan Pro PR621 has more heft than most in this price range and some consumers consider it a good buy, especially for regions where medium snowfalls are the norm. But the absence of a backup electric start and negative reports about design and assembly keep it from earning a spot on our list. There are better budget-priced gas snow blowers out there.

The Ego SNT2102 is for consumers who long for a low-maintenance cordless snow blower with the power of a gas model. Although it comes with a comparatively hefty price tag, this is one of the only electric models we researched, corded or cordless, that users say is capable of slicing through up to a foot of powder without getting bogged down. The mix of convenience and performance might be well worth the added expense.

Though just outside the Cheapism price range, this Troy-Bilt snow blower is one of the best values on the market for buyers who want a two-stage snow blower that can make quicker work of heftier snowfalls or clear rough surfaces like gravel or dirt. The Troy-Bilt Storm 2410 also receives kudos for relatively rugged construction, with several users saying it will last for years with proper maintenance.

This Cub Cadet snow blower is pricey, no doubt, but a solid value for a three-stage blower that's powerful and fast enough for large, frequent snowfalls. It's also in another league when it comes to features, with heated hand grips and power steering to make it easy enough to maneuver with one hand despite being relatively heavy.

Although it's definitely not meant for heavy-duty work, the Toro Power Shovel is a lightweight alternative to a snow blower that is especially adept at clearing snow from small decks or walkways where a larger blower would be a no-go. Users say it's best for small amounts of powdery snow, although some reviewers have used it to clear deeper accumulations a little at a time.