Snow Blower Picker

Battery, electric, or gas? Plain-English match.

Match to snowfall

Light snow (1-6") — single-stage electric or battery. $200-700.
Moderate (6-12") — two-stage battery (EGO, Greenworks). $700-1,200.
Heavy / wet snow / large drives — two-stage gas. $1,000-2,500.
Just walks / few feet of snow — quality shovel + a friend with a blower.

EGO Power+ 24-inch (battery)

$1,000-1,200

Battery-powered, two-stage. Strong as gas. Quiet, no fumes, no oil changes.

Best premium battery.

Greenworks Pro 80V

$700-900

Battery alternative. Strong second pick.

Best battery value.

Toro Power Max 824 (gas, two-stage)

$1,200-1,500

Gas two-stage. Best traditional pick. Tough.

Best for deep snow / big driveway.

Snow Joe SJ625E (electric, single-stage)

$200-300

Plug-in electric. Light. For small driveways and 6"-or-less snow.

Best budget pick.

Honda HSS928 (gas)

$2,500+

Premium gas. Lasts 25+ years.

Best heirloom-quality.

Battery vs gas — for seniors

Battery = lighter, easier to start, no oil/gas/spark plug, no fumes, no mess. The downside used to be power — but modern 80V/56V battery blowers match smaller gas units.

For most senior driveways under 50 feet, battery is the right answer. Get a SECOND battery as backup ($150).

Hire vs buy

Local snow plow service: $30-60 per visit. 5-15 visits per winter.
Total: $300-1,000/year for service.
Snow blower lasts 10-20 years.
Break-even: 1-3 years for most homes.
BUT: need to start it, push it, store it. Senior physical limits matter.

Heart attack warning

Heart attacks spike after heavy snow. Cold + exertion is a real risk. If you have heart issues, please HIRE someone — even snow blower work is heavy. Self-propelled models help a lot.