Electric snow shovels are the middle ground between manual snow shovels and full fledged snow blowers. They are great for small areas with only a few inches of snow, such as short driveways, minimal sidewalks, decks, and patios. Many people cannot shovel snow manually. The best electric snow shovel is perfect for them. However, people, who could physically shovel snow will also benefit from being able to clear snow more quickly with electric snow shovels.
Best Electric Snow Shovel Buyers Guide
Electric Snow Shovel Versus Snow Blower
People living in areas where there is a lot of heavy snowfall throughout the winter need full fledged snow blowers. Everyone else can use electric snow shovels. As already mentioned, electric snow shovels make clearing snow quicker and physically easier than manual snow shovels. When compared with snow blowers, they provide many benefits. They are less expensive to purchase and operate.
Weighing around 15 pounds, electric snow shovels are smaller, lighter weight, and easier to maneuver in small areas. They also take up less storage space and require less maintenance than a snow blower. Electric snow blowers can also require 15 amps or more of power, which is close to a circuit breaker’s limit. Electric snow shovels generally only use eight to ten amps, eliminating this issue. Finally, electric snow shovels are eco-friendly with no carbon emissions and less electric usage than snow blowers.
Broom or Thrower Style
Electric snow shovels have an auger that either pushes snow ahead of the shovel, or, like most models, pulls the snow in and blows it out to the front or side. Since the auger touches the ground as it rotates, electric snow shovels cannot be used on uneven or unfinished surfaces.
Cord or Battery Pack
You have two power choices with electric snow shovels, either a battery pack or a cord. Battery packs make it easier to use the shovel anywhere without having to untangle a cord. However, battery packs may run out of power, and you will have to wait for the battery pack to recharge before you can finish clearing snow. Corded shovels are usually more powerful but may need an extension cord to reach all the areas you need to clear. That means you have more cord that you have to manage. If you purchase a corded model, you might want to consider purchasing an extension cord that does not freeze and an extension cord holder that helps manage the extension cord.
Power Usage
Available in a range of amperage intakes, you can purchase electric snow shovels that use less electricity, but they also will have less power to clear snow, especially heavier snow. The higher the amperage, the wider, higher, and heavier the snow intake that an electric snow shovel can handle. A range of eight to ten amps is a good range for electric snow shovels.
Intake Height
The best electric snow shovel models are good for up to four to six inches of snow. If you are expecting to receive a heavier snowfall, you may need to plan on clearing some snow before it quits snowing and then clearing it again when the snow is over.
Intake Width
Intake widths on snow shovels can range up to 12 inches. The wider the intake, the less passes you will have to make to clear areas. Intakes wider than 12 inches are available, but that can adversely affect maneuverability.
Auger-assisted Power Drive System
Many electric snow shovels offer an auger-power-driven system with the auger helping to move the shovel forward. Those shovels that do not offer this system require the operator to push the shovel. This system is worth the cost since part of the reason for getting an electric snow shovel is to clear snow more quickly and more easily than you could with a manual shovel. In addition, you can purchase a self-propelled shovel with a rear-wheel drive system for even better maneuverability.
Other Features
Some other features available on electric snow shovels include adjustable, auxiliary, and heated handles along with LED headlights. An LED headlight makes it easier to clear snow in the early morning or in the late afternoon. Adjustable handles makes it easier for people of varying sizes to use the shovel. Heated handles keep your hands warmer and lessen the chance of frostbite. Auxiliary handles located in front of the main handle help maneuver the shovel. There are also extension cord locking mechanisms that keep the cord from disconnecting while you are clearing snow.
10 Best Electric Snow Shovel Reviews
Greenworks 26022 16-Inch 10 Amp Corded Snow Shovel
The Greenworks 26022 corded snow shovel can be purchased with a 50-foot, 14-gauge, three-prong, 15-amp extension cord. A cord lock prevents the cord from disconnecting while you are clearing snow.
This Greenworks snow shovel has a 10-amp motor, a height intake of 6 inches, a width intake of 16 inches, and a discharge distance of 25 feet. With its width and height intakes, clearing snow can be done quickly. The 10-amp motor helps it clear up to 600 pounds of snow per minute.
This Greenworks snow shovel features an adjustable handle and an ergonomic design for safety and comfort. The 26 pound weight makes it a little heavier than other electric snow shovels, but the 6-inch radial wheels make it easier to maneuver. Some assembly is required.
Greenworks provides a four-year warranty with this snow shovel.
<strong>AVAILABLE ON AMAZON</strong>
Earthwise SN74014 40-volt 14-inch Cordless Electric Snow Shovel
The Earthwise SN74014 40-volt cordless electric snow shovel has a 40-Volt 4Ah battery with a charger. Cordless snow shovels reduce the issue of struggling with a cord, but the battery pack could need to be recharged before you finish clearing the snow. The battery pack in this cordless model recharges in 45 minutes.
This snow shovel has a push-button start, and a dual-blade curved auger. It weighs 16 pounds and has a 14-inch width intake, an 8-inch height intake, a 32-foot discharge distance, and can clear up to 300 pounds of snow per minute.
This Earthwise snow shovel does not require gas, oil, or maintenance like a gas-powered snow blower, and it is eco-friendly with low electric usage and no carbon emissions.
Earthwise provides a two-year warranty with this shovel.
<strong>AVAILABLE ON AMAZON</strong>
Earthwise SN74016 40-volt 16-inch Cordless Electric Snow Shovel
The Earthwise SN74016 Cordless Electric Snow Shovel has a 40-Volt 4Ah battery with a charger. As mentioned above, cordless snow shovels do reduce the issue of struggling with a cord, but, again, the battery pack could need to be recharged before you finish clearing the snow. The battery pack in this cordless model recharges in 45 minutes.
This snow shovel has a push-button start, and a dual-blade curved auger. It weighs 16 pounds and has a 14-inch width intake, an 8-inch height intake, a 32-foot discharge distance, and can clear up to 300 pounds of snow per minute.
Like the Earthwise model above, this Earthwise snow shovel does not require, gas, oil, or maintenance like a gas-powered snow blower, so both are eco-friendly with low electric usage and no carbon emissions .
Earthwise provides a two-year warranty with this snow shovel.
<strong>AVAILABLE ON AMAZON</strong>
Earthwise SN70016 16-inch Corded Electric Snow Shovel
The Earthwise SN70016 corded electric snow shovel has a 12-amp 4,500-rpm motor, a 16-inch width intake, an 8-inch height intake, a 30-foot discharge distance, and can clear up to 430 pounds of snow per minute. It weighs 16 pounds.
Like the other Earthwise snow shovel models, the SN70016 does not require, gas, oil, or maintenance like a gas-powered snow blower. These Earthwise snow shovels are eco-friendly with low electric usage and no carbon emissions.
Earthwise provides a two-year warranty with this snow shovel.
<strong>AVAILABLE ON AMAZON</strong>
Snow Joe iON13SS 13-Inch 40-volt Cordless Snow Shovel
The Snow Joe iON13SS cordless snow shovel uses a 40-volt 4.0Ah EcoSharp rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a charger that will provide up to a 52 minute charge. This eliminates dealing with a tangled extension cord, but the battery may need to be recharged before you are done clearing snow.
This shovel has a 500-watt brushless motor, a dual-blade paddle auger, a 13-inch width intake, a 6-inch height intake, a 25-foot discharge distance, and can clear up to 300 pounds of snow per minute. It can clean down to the surface of your deck or patio without causing damage. This Sun Joe offers a push-button start and an ergonomic handle for comfort and safety. It weighs 16 pounds.
Like other electric snow shovels with battery packs, the Snow Joe Snow Shovel does not require, gas, oil, or maintenance like a gas-powered snow blower, so these snow blowers are eco-friendly with low electric usage and no carbon emissions.
The Snow Joe iON13SS has Edison Testing Laboratories (ETL) certification and a two-year warranty.
<strong>AVAILABLE ON AMAZON</strong>
Snow Joe 323E 13-inch 10-amp Electric Snow Shovel
The Snow Joe 323E electric snow shovel has a 10-amp motor that can clear up to 400 pounds of snow per minute.
This shovel features a push-button start, a safety switch to prevent an accidental start, an adjustable handle, and ergonomic design for safe, comfortable use.
It offers a dual-blade paddle auger, a 13-inch wide intake, a six-inch height intake, a 20-foot discharge distance, and it weighs 14 pounds.
The Snow Joe Snow Shovel does not require, gas, oil, or maintenance like a gas-powered snow blower and is eco-friendly with low electric usage and no carbon emissions. It is Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved and has a two-year warranty.
<strong>AVAILABLE ON AMAZON</strong>
Earthwise 10-Inch 9-Amp Electric Snow Shovel
This Earthwise shovel offers a 10-inch width intake, a 5-inch height intake, a 25-foot discharge distance, and can clear up to 300 pounds of snow per minute. It weighs 11 pounds. It is available in blue, green, purple, and red.
This Earthwise snow shovel does not require, gas, oil, or maintenance like a gas-powered snow blower, and it is eco-friendly with low electric usage and no carbon emissions.
Earthwise provides two-year warranty on this shovel.
<strong>AVAILABLE ON AMAZON</strong>
Homegear 12-Inch 9-Amp Electric Snow Shovel
This Homegear electric snow shovel offers a 12-inch width intake, a 6-inch height intake, a 20-foot discharge distance, and weighs 11 pounds. It offers an adjustable handle, a push-button start system, a safety switch, and a safety key lock. This shovel has received certification from Edison Testing Laboratories (ETL) and Underwriters Laboratory (UL).
This Homegear snow shovel does not require, gas, oil, or maintenance like a gas-powered snow blower and is eco-friendly with low electric usage and no carbon emissions.
<strong>AVAILABLE ON AMAZON</strong>
