Electric snow shovels offer an alternative to more expensive snow blowers and are well suited for clearing snow off sidewalks, property steps, patios, and walkways. If you find yourself constantly having to deal with snow, frost, and ice restricting your mobility, these five electric snow shovels will serve as a worthwhile time and effort-saving investment.
The 5 Best Selling Electric Snow Shovels:
For your convenience, the below list shows the 5 best selling electric snow shovels on Amazon.com. The list is automatically updated once a day.
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Electric snow shovels generally utilize 7.5 to 10-amp motors are can move approximately 300-600 pounds of snow each minute. But while they work wonders with light powder snow, they are less efficient in dealing with denser, heavier snow and ice packs. Also, you will have to worry about snow getting flung back into your face if you attempt to use them in windy conditions.
On the bright side, electric snow shovels allow you to bypass the need for using gasoline, can be stored away and moved conveniently due to their lightweight and compact size, and are far more affordable than gas or electric snow blowers.
They are also far easier to use and maintain than snow blowers, especially gas-powered and two-staged snow blowers. You will not have to concern yourself with periodic maintenance or oil changes – just an extension cord long enough to reach the end of your driveway or walkway.
Furthermore, electric snow shovels are an environmentally friendly way of dealing with unwanted snow. They require far less electricity than electric snow blowers, thus lowering your energy consumption while contributing zero carbon emissions to the atmosphere.
The 5 Best Electric Snow Shovels:
Besides power, you will also want to consider user comfort and other specialized features that may accompany a modern electric snow shovel. Several also come standard with extra rechargeable batteries, lights, etc.
To help you choose the right one for you, we’ve singled out the five best electric snow shovels that are currently available on the market.
1. Snow Joe iON13SS-HYB 40V Electric Cordless Electric Snow Shovel
Pros
- Ergonomic design
- Massively powered motor
- 2-year warranty
- Clears a lot of snow
Cons
- A little expensive
- Snow dispensing is not the best
The Snow Joe iON13SS is powered by exclusive hybrid technology, allowing you considerable snow-displacing power via a cordless and noiseless operation.
Its 40 v 4.0 Ah Eco Sharp rechargeable lithium-ion battery allows it to operate for up to 52 minutes with a full charge, while its 500 w, 15 amp brushless motor displaces up to 300 pounds of snow per minute (from a 13 inch wide and a 6-inch deep swath of snow) to up to 25 feet in your preferred direction via the heavy-duty, 2-blade paddle auger.
The brushless system helps to reduce the amount of noise and vibration, thus extending the life of the motor. It is well suited for use on decks, steps, patios, sidewalks, and driveways.
It offers power and efficiency without contributing any carbon emissions to the environment. You will also never have to worry about dealing with the hassle of pull-cords, gas, oil, tune-ups or tangled extension cords again! Start blowing snow out of the way with a simple push of a button, and be assured of your comfort with its patented back-saving handle. After the job is done, you can store it away easily inside a hall closet.
Once again, the snow shovel does not do the best job when dispensing the snow. Using the device, we have found it to occasionally throw the snow back in the cleared lanes and this might be really frustrating for many people. Some people have found a workaround and this device works best when having limited snowfall.
The price is also something that you will need to look into. This is one of the most expensive options we have on this list. However, the features are some of the best we have seen so far. The Snow Joe iON13SS comes with a two-year warranty and includes a battery and charger. We definitely recommend it for the quality features on offer.
2. Toro 38361 Power Shovel 7.5 Amp Electric Snow Shovel/Thrower
Pros
- Massive cleaning area
- Easy to use
- Compact sizing
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Using the wheels are a little frustrating in deep snowfall
The Toro 38361 packs the same power with its 7.5 amp motor and lightweight design (it weighs a mere 12.5 pounds). It can clear 4 inches of snow from a 50 x 20-foot driveway within 20 minutes.
It can also dislocate up to 300 pounds of snow per minute and blow it up to 20 feet away in your desired direction. It is well suited for use on sidewalks, walkways, steps, decks, and other residential areas.
It comes with a durable plastic body, an adjustable metal telescoping handle (which you can adjust according to your height), a rust-resistant coating, and a 2-year warranty.
Its streamlined auger drive system uses a single rotor with two curved blades to quickly and effectively move snow out of your way, thus preventing the sore back you might incur from shoveling. This saves you the time you would have spent while using a larger, more cumbersome snow blower.
Without requiring any oil or gas refilling, changes of spark plugs, or time-intensive tune-ups, the Toro 38361 is an embodiment of convenience. Its ultra-compact size also makes it easy to maneuver and store. With a 16-inch clearing width and 8-inches of depth, this snow cleaner should make life that much easier for you.
It is not too expensive and we generally recommend it for the value on offer. This design comes with a state-of-the-art two-year warranty and we would certainly recommend it to any home with a massive driveway that constantly needs to be cleaned.
3. GreenWorks 26022 10 Amp 16-Inch Corded Electric Snow Shovel
Pros
- Green design
- Really affordable
- Includes a 4-year warranty
- Ergonomic design
Cons
- Shows a lot of wear and tear
If you have been considering purchasing a greener alternative to a gas-powered snow thrower, the Greenworks 16-Inch 10 Amp Electric Snow Shovel is probably what you have been looking for. It can clear a 16-inch path in snow up to 6 inches deep, and discharges snow up to 25 feet away via it is 10 Amp motor – with zero emissions and harm to the environment.
It also comes with an adjustable handle, 6-inch radial wheels, and a cord lock that helps to make it an ergonomic and user-friendly tool. It comes with a four-year warranty for normal home use. According to the manufacturer, it can easily clear up to 600-pounds of snow per minute. This will ensure much more efficient cleaning when you are in a hurry.
While the ergonomic design makes it really easy for you to move between the snow and to handle the device, I have found it a little frustrating when taking into account the wear and tear. Unfortunately, you need to replace the washer from time to time, or rather much more often than many of the others. Fortunately, this is not too expensive.
As for the price, this is one of the more affordable options. I also recommend it since the green design means you won’t have any real emissions in the atmosphere that could frustrate you. The 4-year warranty is definitely one of the very best on the market today, ensuring you are always protected when you have to deal with defects.
4. Snow Joe 324E 10 Amp 11-Inch Electric Snow Shovel
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Simple and easy to use
- Clears 400-pounds per minute
- Really affordable
- Decent 2-year warranty
Cons
- Cannot adjust the direction the snow is thrown
Weighing only 12.5 pounds, the blue Snow Joe 324E Electric Snow Shovel packs a similar amount of power in a more compact frame. Like the Greenworks 26022, it comes with a powerful 10 amp motor that can displace up to 300 pounds of snow each minute, and throw it up to 20 feet in your preferred direction. Its 2-blade paddle auger cuts 13 in. wide and 6 in. deep with each pass, making it well suited for removing snow from decks, steps, patios, and sidewalks.
Engineered with an ergonomic patented back-saving handle, the Snow Joe Plus will allow you to get all that snow out of the way without incurring the strain and fatigue associated with the labor-intensive shovel. It also features a 2W LED light that allows you to work at night or in the early hours of the morning. It is backed by Snow Joe’s full 2-year warranty.
One of the problems that I would have liked to have seen built better is the directional angle of the snow. Unfortunately, the snow cannot be thrown in any direction. Should the wind be blowing, you might get a few shots in the face. Fortunately, it can throw the snow a distance of around 20-feet and 400-pounds per minute.
This is one of the most affordable options on the market today and we definitely recommend it for all these top-quality features. If you need something that will help you to clear any deck at a decent pace, this snow shovel is one of the best. You can simply throw away your old boring winter shovel if you have this one in your kit.
5. GreenWorks 2600802 8 Amp 12-Inch Corded Electric Snow Shovel
Pros
- Ergonomic design
- No emissions
- Easy to use
- Really affordable
Cons
- Blows the snow forward in your way
Last but certainly not least, we have the Greenworks 12-Inch 8 Amp Corded Snow Shovel. This device is lightweight at only 14-pounds and offers you the ability to clear a lot of snow at once. This makes life all the easier since it is 13-inches wide. The 6-inch deep design will help you to clear as much snow at one time as possible.
Once again, the shovel features an ergonomic design that should make life much easier for you. Since it can be adjusted, you can use it virtually anywhere and the device does not fall short for taller individuals. It is also green, which means there are no real emissions in the environment that could cause some problems for you.
Once again, this device also blows the snow forward. Since this is a little counterproductive, you will need to figure out something to ensure it can work a little better. Other than this, we could not find any real problems and the device is just limited due to the cord. It should be great for your patio or deck during the snow season.
The price of this device is also really affordable and we definitely believe it is a bargain that will give you some great value for your money. The 4-year warranty is double the industry standard, giving you even more peace of mind than you could possibly need. We recommend it for clearing snow on your patio and your doorway.
What To Consider When Choosing The Best Electric Snow Shovel
Now that you have seen the top 5 electric snow shovels we have selected, you might also be wondering which of the features we used to choose them. Thanks to a little bit of expert help, we have selected the top features and these features will help you if these do not appeal to you. Here are the current top options on the market today:
Type of snow shovel
The electric snow shovels are either corded or battery-powered. You will need to choose which one of them you will use. If you choose the battery-powered option, we definitely recommend the lithium-ion battery. These batteries are much better and will also last longer than the lead-acid alternatives. The only downside is that they are a little more expensive.
If you select the corded option, it is imperative to choose a long cord. If you like to clear farther distances from your home, you might need to use an extension. Finally, you should also note that the corded options are a little more affordable than the battery-powered alternatives. They might also have fewer emissions.
Clearing Area
The clearing area is generally divided into depth and width. When selecting one of these electric snow shovels, you will need to keep this in mind. We generally recommend having something with a width of at least 13-inches.
This is enough for the average walkway. A 6-inch depth is also ideal, but we would occasionally recommend deeper options. You will need to do some research on the average snowfall in your specific area.
Removing Capacity
All of these electric snow shovels also have an average amount of snow it can move. This is generally measured in pounds per minute. Depending on the snowfall in your area, we would recommend having one that could potentially move at least 400-pounds of snow per minute. However, if you find one that can do, even more, this would be much more effective.
Additionally, a snow dispenser is another thing you need to look for. You should not only look at the average distance the snow will be moved but also the direction. Nothing can be more frustrating than having the snow constantly fall back in the walkway you have just cleared. Alternatively, you should look for one that could clear the snow in multiple different directions.
Portability
Portability is directly related to the weight and if the snow shovel is too heavy, it might not be easy for you to carry around. Some of the lightest models are around 12-pounds, but all of this will be directly related to your own personal strength. We also recommend looking to see if the shovel can be folded. This should make the storage much easier afterward.
Warranty
Last but certainly not least, we need to have a look at the warranty on the shovel. Since there are numerous technical aspects that need to be accounted for, it is great to have some peace of mind if you might have a defective product. The average standard currently in the industry is having a limited 2-year warranty. However, some of the top brands have extended this all the way to 4-years as well.
FAQs
Are metal snow shovels better?
Generally speaking, yes, a snow shovel with metal blades is better at cutting ice and is overall more durable.
Can you shovel snow into the street?
If the street is unplowed adding a bit more snow to the street isn’t really a problem. In general, though the answer is no, you can’t just shovel snow into the street.
Is an electric snow shovel worth it?
If you have to regularly shovel snow then yes, having an electric snow shovel do most of the heavy lifting for you is worth it.
Conclusion
While shoveling snow the old-fashioned way can be a good form of exercise, it is an unfortunate fact that many individuals (especially older individuals with pre-existing medical conditions and individuals with disabilities) hurt themselves while shoveling snow each winter (especially in regions where clearing a single driveway can involve shoveling more than 25 tons of snow).
The more common injuries include strained backs and shoulders, which usually occur when typically sedentary individuals abruptly push themselves to heave heavy amounts of snow. There is also the risk of slipping and falling when snow shoveling, as well as the risk of hypothermia and frostbite when working in inappropriate clothing.
These electric snow shovels thus offer an economical way to clear your walkways and sidewalks without incurring too much effort, time, and the risk of injuries (especially if you have pre-existing breathing or heart problems).
If you think you lack the back or arm strength needed to manually shovel snow out of your way, electric snow shovels are the technological innovation you have been waiting for all along.