Few people actually enjoy shoveling snow. An electric snow shovel can make this task easier, and some might even say a little fun.
Electric snow shovels are much less labor intensive than
manual snow shovel. Ideal applications include sidewalks and walkways, steps, decks and patios. They do a lot of the work for you, but generally aren’t quite as powerful or large as a traditional, full-size snow blower. Still, they can save your back after a snowstorm and help you cut down on the time it takes to clean up all that powder.
Best Electric Show Shovels
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Affordable yet effective
Snow Joe 323E Electric Snow Shovel
$82 at Amazon
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Impressive battery performance
Toro Flex-Force
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Lasting reliability
Greenworks G-MAX 2600602
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Best for cleaning large areas
Snow Joe 24V-SS13
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Best lightweight model
Toro 38361 Electric Snow Shovel
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The expert: I have been involved in construction, maintenance and home renovation for over 30 years. I have owned a maintenance and construction business for nearly 20 years, and my family and I are die-hard DIYers. I live in a rural mountain region of Pennsylvania, which means I have to be prepared for snow – maybe a lot of it – for at least a few months of the year. Electric snow shovels can make this task easier, and I have used a variety of these and other snow removal tools over the years.
What to consider in an electric snow shovel
Cordless vs
Electric snow shovels are available in either cordless or cordless models. If you go with a corded model, you’ll probably need to deal with an extension cord. If you need to clean an area that is a long distance from your electrical outlet, this may not be convenient.
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Just like other cordless garden tools, a cordless electric snow shovel runs off a rechargeable battery and boasts freedom of movement. However, if you have a lot of distance to cover, a single charge may not last long enough. Cordless models also tend to cost more, so corded varieties are likely to be the more affordable.
Remove depth and width
If you live in an area that gets large snow accumulations in a single storm, choose a shovel that can handle the highest possible maximum snow depth. The typical clearance heights listed by manufacturers fall between 4 and 6 inches, which should be fine for the average user. Also consider a model’s width. The wider the cleaning capacity, the faster you will be able to clean a certain area. Many electric snow shovels measure between 10 and 13 inches wide, but some stretch wider at 16 inches. Note that electric snow shovels work best when clearing fresh, soft snow and are not really designed to break through ice or frozen snow.
How we evaluated electric snow shovels
I live in an area that gets a lot of snow and don’t really enjoy clearing it. In fact, I dread it – especially when I owned a maintenance business and was responsible for exponential amounts of snow removal. But snowfall and its removal is an inevitable reality, so I looked for every possible solution that could help me save time and energy. I relied on my experiences with many snow tools while evaluating electric snow shovels. After consulting reviews from hundreds of Amazon users and referring to manufacturer information for product specifications, I recommend the models below.