When a snow shovel just won’t cut it anymore, you may be ready to invest in a corded electric snow blower – or snow thrower. These powerful machines are capable of clearing your driveway and sidewalks in just minutes, which gives you more time in the mornings, so you’ll make it to work on time (and without having a sore back).
Choosing the best electric snow blower comes down to a few different features, including the power of the motor, the efficiency, and speed of the machine, and affordability, of course, just to mention a few of the most significant factors to keep in mind while shopping.
We recommend the SNOW JOE ULTRA SJ621 for the average homeowner with little to moderate snow to clear each year. It has everything a good electric snow blower should: a large intake width, decent intake height, and a powerful motor and auger. But for those who have steady and heavy snowfalls to deal with, we like the Toro 38381 Power Curve Snow Blower instead, as it can move wetter and heavier snow than most models.
Don't want to read all of the fine print? Jump straight to the top corded electric snow blowers by scrolling to the very bottom of this post. Or see our top picks for cordless battery-powered options.
Backyard Boss Top 3 Corded Electric Snow Blowers in 2021
|
PRODUCT |
FEATURES |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
Why You Can Trust Us
When your neighborhood becomes covered in snow, Backyard Boss has got you covered with every guide you could possibly need on snow removal. No, really, we’ve covered every snow removal topic under the sun. We’ve got guides on the best skid steer snow blowers, how to start electric snow blowers, the best ATV snow blower attachments, how to change a belt on a snow blower, and the best single-stage snow blowers, to name just a few.
Our combined experience as a team is astonishing. We’ve tried an unfathomable amount of snow removal tools and have spent countless hours researching each item we review. We do it all because we are passionate about providing our readers with answers that will help them have their happiest, most care-free winter yet.
Best All-Around Corded Electric Snow Blower
An affordable but powerful electric snow blower that lets you easily work at clearing snow even in the dark
- 18-inch wide intake scoop
- 13.5 amp electric motor
- 180-degree rotating chute with deflector
- Comes with headlight
- Not self-propelled
- May require an extension cord
|
|
WHY WE LIKE IT: Mid-sized to large driveways that see a lot of snow need powerful machines that will clear them quickly, and the Snow Joe Ultra is a good choice for that. This electric blower can tackle big drifts of fluff and even suck up and disperse frozen banks of snow that city snow plows often leave for you to deal with. It is a bit slow-going when you’re whittling away at those chunks of frozen bits, but this blower can handle it.
The powerful electric motor and fast-moving auger can inhale up to 650 pounds of heavy white stuff and spit it back out each minute. Theoretically, this means you can clear a 2,150-square-foot space in an hour. The chute that throws the snow out can be rotated 180 degrees, so you can choose where your snow ends up. There’s also a chute deflector, which lets you control how high the stuff is thrown.
This Snow Joe is relatively lightweight and easy to maneuver, so you can use it to clear stairs, decks, and driveways with no problem. You may need an extension cord or two to reach the end of your driveway or sidewalks, though. And though this is easy to use, you may need to put some muscle into it to clear packed banks. Plus, this machine comes with a tiny headlight, so you can see what you’re clearing, even if the sun hasn’t come up yet.
WHO SHOULD BUY IT: If you’re looking for an affordable, but powerful electric snow blower that lets you easily work at clearing snow even in the dark, the Snow Joe Ultra may be your best bet.
Best Corded Electric Snow Blower For Heavy Snow
One of the most powerful electric snow blowers on the market, perfect for moderate or heavy snow.
- 18-inch wide intake scoop
- 15 amp electric engine
- 160-degree rotating chute
- Lightweight at only 24 pounds
- More expensive than alternatives
- May require an extension cord
|
|
WHY WE LIKE IT: When you’re looking at yet another storm dumping a big load of fluffy white stuff onto your driveway, you might want to consider getting the Toro 38381 Power Curve Snow Blower. This Toro is one of the most powerful electric snow blowers on the market, and it comes with a heftier price tag, too, but it’s still more affordable than the bigger blowers with other power sources. Its big electric motor has the power to move more than a quarter ton of snow per minute, which is an impressive performance if you ask us.
An 18-inch width clearance means you can clear your driveway in fewer passes, and the 12-inch height means a foot of snow can easily be sucked in, chopped up, and then blown off to the side quickly. The adjustable chute allows you to direct the path of the snow up to 160 degrees. Many blowers leave behind a bit of snow after clearing your pathways, but this one clears down to the pavement.
As with any electric blower, you won’t have to put much work into maintenance, and there’s no carbon footprint. This snow thrower is lighter in weight than you may expect, but it’s still easy to control, thanks to its solid wheels that grip surfaces. This Toro blower isn’t quiet, but it isn’t loud either – it’s about the same noise level as a vacuum cleaner. It tosses snow nearly a dozen yards, which is an impressive distance, but your results may vary depending on the conditions of your snow.
WHO SHOULD BUY IT: More snow requires more power to move it, and this Toro Power Curve Snow Blower may work for your driveway and sidewalks to clear them quickly and efficiently.
Best Lightweight Corded Electric Snow Blower
A super lightweight but effective corded electric snowblower. Great for older users and those with limited mobility.
- 20-inch wide mouth
- 13 amp electric motor
- 180-degree rotating chute (with deflector)
- Folds for quick-easy storage
- Is not self-propelled
- Augers are not steel
|
|
WHY WE LIKE IT: A powerful electric snow blower doesn’t have to be expensive, and the GreenWorks 13-amp Corded Snow Thrower fits comfortably in almost anyone’s budget. Its motor is powerful enough to chew through about a foot of powder easily. Once it inhales the snow, it cuts through the ice and spits it all back out through a directional chute. When it shoots the stuff back out, it can throw it up to 20 feet away.
This lightweight electric machine is easy to start and use. You’ll notice less vibration on the handle, which means less fatigue – an important feature when you’re clearing walkways, a driveway, and stairs after a big storm. Many people buy an electric blower for light snowfalls, but this one works well on medium levels of snow, too. You may need to knock down taller banks, but it’s still more efficient than using a shovel alone.
You’ll likely need a heavy-duty extension cord to reach all areas of your property, but you’ll be glad you did. With the power to clear almost half a ton of snow per minute, you could have your sidewalks, driveway, and porch cleared in 15 minutes. It isn’t quite like a riding lawn mower, though, so you should be realistic in your expectations – you’ll have to put some effort in, as this isn’t a self-propelled unit.
The 4-year warranty is an excellent one and may be the longest we've seen in our reviews this season. It's certainly worth considering if you are looking for a new machine and debating between two similar models.
WHO SHOULD BUY IT: When you want to clear paths quickly after a light or medium snow, this GreenWorks snow thrower could be a good asset for the job.
Best Budget Corded Electric Snow Blower
A super lightweight but effective corded electric snowblower. Great for older users and those with limited mobility.
- 18-inch wide mouth
- 13.5 amp electric motor
- 180-degree chute
- Throws snow 20ft
- Chute may clog with slush and ice
- Shorter warranty than other choices
|
|
WHY WE LIKE IT: The WEN Snow Blaster offers you an alternative to more expensive units, with the same great features and power despite the price difference. The big wide mouth of this electric snow blower's intake allows you to remove snow from your driveway in only a few quick passes. The electric motor cranks the auger at a higher-rate of RPMs than most electric units, allowing you to clear roughly a quarter-ton of snow every sixty-seconds.
The snow blowers wheels and lightweight design make it easy to maneuver around your driveway, deck, and sidewalks. As you push this machine down your walkways, the snow is sucked up and then spit out through the chute, which launches the snow up to 20 feet away. Also, you can rotate the chute 180 degrees, allowing you to direct the snow to the left or right of your path.
Compared to other electric snow blowers that are about the same size and can handle the same amount of snow, this one does well. It’s a bit louder – others are comparable to a vacuum cleaner, while this one is about the same decibels as a table saw. It’s not so loud that it’ll wake the neighbors, though. As long as you have realistic expectations, this could be an excellent choice for you if you get light to medium snowfalls in the winter.
WHO SHOULD BUY IT: If you get a couple of feet of snow with each snowstorm, you could benefit from having this WEN Snow Blaster to clear your walkways of packed snow.
Why You Need a Snow Blower
You could keep shoveling snow every season with your trusty snow shovel and pocket your savings, but if your time is more valuable to you than that, you need a snow blower. If cost isn’t a factor, then you could pay a snow service to clear your paths of snow and ice, but that can add up quickly – and you may not get a clear driveway soon enough after every snowfall.
Time savings aside, you should also consider the labor involved with shoveling snow. If it’s taking you longer and longer to clear your walkways, it could be that you’re just not as able as you were before. A machine allows you to still take care of your driveway and sidewalks, which is required by law in many states and counties, without winding you at the end of the job.
Until Roomba starts making robotic blowers, this is your best choice for winter. Your back will thank you – and you won’t have to get up before the sun to get the job done.
Are Electric Snow Blowers Better Than Gas-Powered Models?
When you’re ready to buy this winter machine, you’ll see that you have a lot of different options, including the power source of your new tool such as lithium-ion battery-powered, corded electric, gas snow blowers, etc. Many people choose electric snow blowers for many reasons. As long as you aren’t clearing acres of land, a corded one is a good choice.
Electric models are lightweight and easy to move around, so you should be able to handle the tool easily, regardless of your height or strength level. Most of these electric snow blowers have long cords, but you may need to purchase a heavy-duty extension cord to reach your sidewalks. They’re also much quieter than you may expect, which is something your neighbors will appreciate at 5:30 in the morning.
These winter clearing tools aren’t meant to cut and clear four-foot tall banks of packed snowfall, so make sure you understand the limits of electric blowers. They’re best for moving away drifts of snow that are about a foot or so deep. Many throwers are like miniature plows, but you can find smaller ones that are a bit like leaf blowers for lighter powder.
Electric blowers are more affordable than gas-powered ones, so you have little to no excuse to not buy one. They also won’t require you to purchase or store gas or oil, so they’re safer, too. Starting an electric blower is as easy as pushing a button – no pull cords to fumble with. Maintenance of an electric blower is minimal – just wipe it down after using to remove any dirt or salt. Another benefit of an electric version: They’re eco-friendly.
Do You Need a Different Snow Blower for Different Types of Snow?
The short answer to this question is, yes. When Mother Nature dumps several inches of powder on your property overnight, a snow thrower with a powerful electric motor is necessary. These machines can quickly suck up, cut, and throw the white stuff from your driveway to your yard in seconds. They’re capable of chowing down wet, packed snow and clearing it quickly.
When you get a light dusting of snow, you still need to clear it, but a heavy-duty tool may be overkill. Consider a lightweight, handheld blower that’s a bit like a leaf blower. These tools can make it easy to clear a light layer of dry snow off your car and from your walkways quickly. It’s especially important on those super cold days where snow turns to ice. In this case, a single stage snow blower is the best choice, you can read from here to know more about it.
Tips for Choosing the Right Corded Electric Snow Blower for You
At this point, you should know how to use a snowblower and which electric blower is the one you should get. If you battle 10 to 12 inches of powder every time you get some weather during the winter season, then you should consider a powerful machine that can inhale those piles of white stuff and shoot it out and over to your yard in seconds flat.
If you’re looking at a sprinkling of snow every few days that’s light and fluffy, you may only need a blower that can double as a leaf blower during the summer and fall. These will help keep your car, sidewalks, and driveway clear of snow, so you won’t have to worry about ice later in the day.
These machines are best for paved surfaces and smaller properties. If you need to clear your property like wooden decks, look for an electric machine with rubber-tipped augers, which will protect the surface of your decks.
Electric blowers are much more affordable than other types of blowers, so even if you choose a more powerful tool, it’s still going to be easy to buy.
How We Picked
We picked snow blowers that represented the best options for our reader’s different needs. Because all snow blowers here are corded electric models, we chose the top picks based on the aspect of snow removal at which they excel: snow blowers for light snow, snow blowers for heavy snow, the best ergonomic snow blower, and the best corded electric snowblower for those on a tight budget. The size range is fairly consistent, as is the engine AMP and throw distance, across all models featured here. The standout qualities are listed in each review.
Each model was a winner, but one blew the others out of the snow.
Which Corded Electric Snow Blower Is Best for You?
Electric snow blowers, corded or cordless, are excellent machines to have on hand for winter. Not only are they eco-friendly, but they also require little to no maintenance to keep them in great shape. You won’t have to store fuel (or mix it with oil) or replace spark plugs either. It’s the winter-season assistant that every homeowner that sees real snow should have.
An affordable but powerful electric snow blower that lets you easily work at clearing snow even in the dark
- 18-inch wide intake scoop
- 13.5 amp electric motor
- 180-degree rotating chute with deflector
- Comes with headlight
- Not self-propelled
- May require an extension cord
|
|
Our pick for the overall best electric snow thrower is the Snow Joe Ultra SJ621 18-inch 13.5-Amp Electric Snow Thrower with Light. It offers enough power to plow through snow and spit it out quickly and effectively. You’ll be able to glide through pass after pass to clear your driveway, sidewalks, walkways, and porch with only a little bit of elbow grease.
Here's a quick recap of our other favorite corded electric snow blowers:
Best Corded Electric Snow Blower for Heavy Snow: Toro 38381 Power Curve Snow Blower
Best Lightweight Corded Electric Snow Blower: GREENWORKS 2600502
Best Budget Corded Electric Snow Blower: WEN 5662 SNOW BLASTER