When it snows, you need to be ready! Whether you have a long driveway or a small sidewalk to clear, you need the best gas snow blower for the job.
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Finding the best gas snow blower can be a tricky task. With plenty of options to consider—like single-stage, two-stage and three-stage, electric starts, width and price, to name a few—it all comes down to which snow removal features work best for you. In this sense, gas snow blowers offer many advantages over their electric start cousins.
“There are many more options if you choose a gas-powered blower, including the large width models which battery technology can’t support yet,” says Randall Dodds, snow blower expert and Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Tractor Supply.
Whether Mother Nature leaves just a few inches or a few feet of snow for you to clear, the Ariens Deluxe gas snow blower is our best overall pick. This two-stage beast clears heavy, wet snow in large areas with ease, and starts up quickly with just the push of a button. You’ll plow through those heavy winters with the snow blower’s self-propelled drive, with six forward and two reverse speeds.
After years of clearing snow with a clunky old tractor and plow attachment, staff writer Marisa Hillman was due for an upgrade. She and her husband opted for the Ariens Deluxe 30-inch snow blower to tackle the snow that comes with winters in New England. “Our snow blower arrived a few days before our first major snow,” she says. “My husband was thrilled by how easy it was to turn on and operate. It cleared eight inches of snow from our long driveway in just 45 minutes.” A subsequent storm brought another four to six inches of snow which the blower cleared in under an hour. After two uses, Marisa notes that they have not had to refuel.
The only thing Marisa and her husband weren’t thrilled about was the ordering process. “We ordered our Ariens from Lowe’s,” says Marisa. “Though it was in stock, it took several weeks for the blower to actually be delivered. Luckily, the weather held out.” She adds that it arrived fully assembled and ready to use. “In spite of the long lead time, we were really impressed by the fact that we could use it right away,” she raves. “It’s a great buy and I’m sure it will see us through many New England winters.”
Despite it weighing 275 pounds, the auto-turn feature helps you round corners with little effort. The crank chute has a quick and adjustable 200-degree rotation, so you don’t have to stop to adjust every time you make a turn. A bonus perk: It has heated handles to keep you warm even on the coldest days!
Stages: 2 | Clearing width: 30 in. | Optimal clearing depth: 16 in. | Rated throw: 50 ft. | Start type: electric start | Chute rotation turning radius: 200° | Self-Propelled: yes
This Toro gas snow blower blasts through deep snow with a powerful engine, and launches the white stuff up to 60 feet. The single-stage machine easily directs the snow where you want it, just squeeze the quick-shoot trigger and slide the grip.
The blower’s powerful four-cycle engine is capable of wrangling up to a foot of snow, so maneuvering deep winter messes is a breeze. Buyers also appreciate the easy-to-use electric start. And FYI: Here’s what to do if your snowblower won’t start.
Stages: single | Clearing width: 24 in. | Optimal clearing depth: 12 in. | Rated throw: 60 ft. | Start type: electric start | Chute rotation turning radius: 210° | Self-Propelled: yes
If you live in an area prone to light snowfalls and want to upgrade from shoveling your driveway, consider the Toro Power Clear gas snow blower. This budget-friendly model clears a 21-inch path and is ideal for nine inches of snow or less. A simple push-button electric start eliminates pull-starting a cold engine.
Plus, with its four-cycle engine, you don’t need to mix oil and gas, making maintenance a much easier task. This single-stage gas snowblower is compact at just 42 inches high and 84 pounds, so not only is it easy to push and make turns, but it won’t take up much space in your garage or shed.
Stages: single | Clearing width: 21 in. | Optimal clearing depth: 9 in. | Rated throw: 40 ft. | Start type: electric start | Chute rotation turning radius: 210° | Self-Propelled: yes
For heavier, wetter snow, a two-stage snow blower is ideal for clearing large areas. The Ariens Deluxe Two-Stage has two augers—one to cut into the snow and break it down; one to move it through the chute—and clears a wide 24-inch path. An 11-inch steel auger helps you move quickly through heavy snow and ice, even the hard-packed stuff left from snow plows at the end of your driveway.
This 250-pound snow blower has auto-turning for precise and effortless steering around corners and interlocking handles allow for one-handed operation. It features a heavy duty, all steel construction that will hold up for years. Despite its solid construction and overall heft, this model is easy to store thanks to a compact design and folding handlebars.
Stages: 2 | Clearing width: 24 in. | Optimal clearing depth: 16 in. | Rated throw: 40 ft. | Start type: electric start | Chute rotation turning radius: 205° | Self-Propelled: yes
For those looking for the best bang for their buck, check out the PowerSmart Self-Propelled Two-Stage Snow Blower, which is one of the top-rated snow blowers on Amazon. This model easily clears up to a foot of snow. Its anti-clogging system prevents augers from sticking in wet or icy snow.
This self-propelled gas snow blower has eight speeds, an electric push-button start and you can operate the chute with just one hand. At 127 pounds, it’s also lighter in weight than other two-stage gas snow blowers, making it far easier to maneuver. Buyers also noted it was easy to assemble.
Stages: 2 | Clearing width: 24 in. | Optimal clearing depth: 12 in. | Rated throw: 40 ft. | Start type: electric start | Chute rotation turning radius: 180° | Self-Propelled: yes
If you live in an area that is often hit with a ton of snow, then this heavy duty, three-stage Craftsman snow blower is sure to be your new best friend. This snow blower easily clears up to 18-inches of heavy snow. Consumer Reports gives it high marks for brand reliability, plow pile removal, throwing distance, surface cleaning, handling and controls.
This self-propelled snow blower has a 357cc gas engine, multiple speeds, an electric push-button start and single-lever chute adjustment. It clocks in at just over 234 pounds, making it lighter than some of the other two-stage blowers on our list.
Stages: 3 | Clearing width: 28 in. | Optimal clearing depth: 18 in. | Rated throw: 40 ft. | Start type: electric start | Chute rotation turning radius: 200° | Self-Propelled: yes
When buying a gas snow blower, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, how much snow do you generally get where you live? What size area will you need to clear? Some models, like one-stage snowblowers (also called “snow throwers”), work best for smaller areas and lighter amounts of snow. Two-stage snowblowers have two augers and make quick work of large driveways and heavy, wet snow.
If you live in an area where you’ll spend a lot of time clearing snow in the winter, you might want additional features such as a headlight for night use and handle warmers to keep you comfortable. You should also consider the size and weight of gas-powered snowblowers. Lighter models are easier to maneuver, especially on turns, but might not be able to handle heavy snowfalls. Large models easily handle mountains of snow but might be too big to comfortably fit in your garage.
According to Dodds, here are a few other features to consider:
We spoke to Courtney Pennicooke, market analyst at Consumer Reports to learn about 2026 industry trends. So, what’s new? Turns out, not much. According to Pennicooke, gas powered tools have remained fairly consistent over the years. They’re powerful and reliable, so there hasn’t been a big need for change in the space.
Where there is a lot of recent development is in battery-powered tools, Pennicooke says. But if you’re considering an electric snow blower, just keep in mind that they still have a way to go., especially if you have a large area to clear. “[Electric] snow blowers are still getting there,” says Pennicooke. “The performance has gotten there in terms of being comparable to gas-powered snow blowers, but the runtimes aren’t great.”
To find the best gas snow blowers, we first talked to industry experts and learned what traits to look for. In our search, we limited our picks to trusted brands who have been around for a while. Our top picks included a handful of bestselling gas snow blowers from brick-and-mortar stores, along with a few top-rated finds on Amazon.
To further narrow down our list, we looked at real reviews by real folks. This ensures each pick stands up to the test of time and is well worth the cost. Our shopping experts vetted the snow blowers on this list, ensuring each earns high marks in real-world applications. We even tested one ourselves. In short, we waded through the avalanche of snow blowers so you don’t have to conduct the research on your own—that’s our job!
This depends on how large the gas tank is, the weight and the height of the snow and how big your gas snow blower’s engine is. On average, you’ll get about one hour to 90 minutes worth of running time with a full tank of premium or regular gas.
Always check with the manufacturer or the buyer’s guide, which will have recommendations for maintenance and storage, along with snow blower oil change tips. If you’re using gas straight from the gas pump, then yes, you’ll want to drain the fuel before storing a snow blower for the summer.
Some companies recommend adding a stabilizer as an additive for the off-season. Stabilizers help prevent clogs, which allow you to keep the fuel in the snow blower. Some brands recommend draining gas before storage—even if gasoline contains an additive.
“I recommend gasoline that does not have ethanol,” says Dodds. “I highly recommend TruFuel, which is 100% clean of ethanol. This makes it easier to start, creates more power, and most importantly, there is no engine damage caused by ethanol.”
All you need to remove gas from a snow blower is store-bought gas siphon or a turkey baster. Use these tools to remove most of the gas, then run your snow blower until the tank is dry and the machine stalls out.
I lived through a major home renovation in 2019, know the ups and downs of home improvement and love sharing tips with readers. A veteran journalist of both print and television, I’ve won several awards for my writing and have covered everything from the environment and education to health care, politics and food.
Rachel Brougham, an author at Family Handyman, has written hundreds of trusted product reviews and buying guides. She researched this piece and consulted Randall Dodds, snow blower expert and Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Tractor Supply.
Marisa Hillman also contributed to this article. Marisa has a decade of experience writing in the e-commerce space. In that time, she has written hundreds of product reviews, buying guides and gift guides. As a longtime New England homeowner, she knows a thing or two about snow removal. At the end of 2025, she conducted her own research, purchased one of the snow blowers on this list and contributed her first-hand experience.
