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What are the Best Single-Stage Snow Blowers? Our top picks revealed

Best Single-Stage Snow Blowers

Manually shoveling snow is one of the most dreaded tasks of winter. Clearing snow in the cold weather can be terrible for your back and wastes so much time overall too. However, if you are only expecting moderate snowfall for most of the winter, a single-stage snow blower is an excellent way to clear snow. We’ve assembled a list of our picks for the best single-stage snow blowers available today, and provide a buying guide to help you make the most informed decision.

Best Single Stage Snow Blower
Honda HS720AS Single-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower
  • Large 20 in. clearing path and 12 in. clearing height
  • Forward speed self-propelled auger drive
  • Convenient 120-Volt AC electric starter
  • Moves up to 55-ton of snow per hour
  • Easily clears large areas and throws snow up to 33 ft.
  • Easily throws up to 55 tons of snow per hour
  • Features a 20 in. clearing path and 12 in. clearing height

 

✅   After reviewing all of the best single-stage snow blowers this is the one that we would buy based on all of its qualities.

Biggest Single Stage Snow Blower: Toro SnowMaster 724 ZXR 24 in. 212cc Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower

 

 
Best Single-Stage Snow Blowers

 

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Dealing with small to medium sized driveways easily, the Toro Power Clear Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower can clear 18 inches wide by 12 inches deep of snow each pass. It has enough power to blow compacted snow and ice up to 25 feet and can clear up to 9 parked cars worth of space. Sports and electric push button start and foldable chute for convenient start-up and storage. 

 

Specs

Engine Power And Performance: Gas-powered, electric start Toro engine.

Clearing width:  18-inch clearing width

Throw distance: 25-foot throw distance

Auger: 7-inch rubber auger

 

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Pros

  • Excellent power
  • Easy electric start 
  • Decent clearing width and throw distance

 

Cons

  • It can be tricky to assemble
  • Doesn’t handle the worst compacted and wet snow

 

 

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Overall Toro SnowMaster Review

A powerful mid-range, the Toro SnowMaster is gas-powered yet has an electric start button which helps. It still requires a pull cord, although it has a 1 to 2 pull guarantee. The Toro SnowMaster is a fast and effective way to remove snow. It starts to struggle with compacted and icy snow, but it can clear its range quite effectively for average snowfall. 

The plastic chute does throw the snow up to 25 feet but can feel stiff to adjust. The overall height of the blower is low, which is excellent for storage, but can’t throw snow as far as some other options. 

There is some assembly required when you first get the machine, which can be intimidating for some. In addition, there have been reports of leaks with improper assembly, which is something to look out for. 

One of the easiest to use of its size is an excellent choice for a mid-range and powerful machine.

4.4 stars out of 5 on Home Depot’s website with over 2,700 reviews. 

 

 

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Snow Joe 21 in. 48-Volt Single-Stage Cordless Electric Snow Blower (Tool-Only)

 

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With a 24-Volt iON+ Battery System, this cordless blower from Snow Joe has no trail off in battery power and zero carbon emissions. 

It can clear up to 1350 square feet of snow in 25 minutes and charges in two hours or less. This is great if you experience moderate snow.

The auger is a rubber-tipped steel blade that clears 21 inches wide by 8 inches deep in a single pass. 

Then, the adjustable chute can rotate up to 180 degrees and throws snow up to 20 feet. 

The engine is a powerful, 1000-watt brushless motor, while the machine sports a scraper bar to protect the asphalt underneath. 

 

Specs

Engine Power And Performance: 1000-Watt engine with a brushless motor that can move up to 705 pounds of snow per minute

Clearing width: 21-inch clearing width

Throw distance: Up to 20-foot throw distance

Auger: A two-blade steel auger with rubber tips

 

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Pros

  • Strong auger
  • Lightweight and easy to maneuver
  • Quiet

 

Cons

  • Not as powerful as gas-powered
  • Flimsy parts

 

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Overall Snow Joe 21 in. 48-Volt Single-Stage Cordless Electric Snow Blower Review

Snow Joe is an excellent brand of snow machines. Out of the box, the assembly process of their 21-inch 48-Volt Snow Blower is straightforward, taking about 15 minutes. In addition, the machine is lightweight, coming in at around 40 pounds total. This makes it easy to push uphill and move around on any surface. However, partly due to its being lightweight, it feels a bit flimsy compared to others. The handles, in particular, feel a bit light. 

One of the best features of a cordless electric blower like this one is how quiet it is compared to a gas-powered one. It’s nice to work in the early morning without disturbing the neighbors, and it’s great you don’t have to worry about an extension cord.

The batteries only take a couple of hours to charge, and once you get going, the adjustable shoot is easy to maneuver. 

The most significant trouble with this device is that some of the cabling and connections just don’t feel as robust as they could be. Between that and the overall lightweight, it’s a better machine for smaller jobs instead of a large amount of snow accumulation.

3.7 out of 5 stars out of 34 reviews on Home Depot’s website. 

 

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Related: Best Roof Rakes for Snow Removal

Honda HS720AS 20 in. Single-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower

 

 

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The Honda HS720AS is an electric start gas-powered snow blower. It is designed for some of the heaviest snow loads. It comes with Honda’s four-stroke, easy start engine and runs on regular gas, without the need for a gas/oil mix. 

It’s lightweight, with a 20-inch clearing width and a very high 12-inch clearing height. It can move up to 55-tons of snow per hour, out clearing most of the blowers on this list. It also throws snow up to 33 feet, further than most single-stage blowers on the market. 

 

Specs

Engine Power And Performance: The engine is a 190cc Honda engine with excellent mid-range performance.

Clearing width: 20-inch clearing width

Throw distance: 33-foot throw distance

Auger: 9.5 inch Steel auger with rubber tips

 

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Pros

  • Great mid-range blower
  • Good self-propulsion
  • Strong throw distance

 

Cons

  • Vibrates heavily

 

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Overall Honda HS720AS 20 in. Single-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Review

This is a high-powered one with a large clearing width that can handle almost any mid-range job. It’s easy to assemble right out of the box, and usually starts on the first pull. I’m not a fan of gas-powered for the need to pull start and deal with gas, but overall, they have gotten better. 

It does vibrate a lot once you get it started, presumably due to the high-powered engine that is almost as strong as two-stage snow blowers. The self-propelling design makes it very easy to use on a moderate amount of snow. 33 feet is a great distance for the chute to throw, so you’ll have no trouble on that front. 

It’s also fast due to its power, finishing a driveway in less than 25 minutes. Chute control is easy to handle and overall, the machine works great. 

4.4 out of 5 stars on Home Depot online with over 450 reviews.

 

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Sportsman Earth Series 18 in. Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower

 

 

 

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The Sportsman Earth Series Snow Blower is a gas-powered machine with a convenient and foldable design. It has a clearing height of 10 inches of snow and a clearing width of 18 inches. It works on all paved surfaces. The chute has a 210-degree angle for optimal throwing. It can throw snow up to 30 feet in ideal conditions.

 

Specs

Engine Power And Performance: Four-stroke, 99cc engine with 4,200 RPM

Clearing width: 18-inch clearing width

Throw distance: Up to 30 feet in ideal conditions

Auger: Auger is plastic with 2-inch diameter

 

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Pros

  • Small but powerful
  • Lightweight and easy to use

 

Cons

  • Can’t handle compacted or icy snow
  • Noisy for a smaller machine

 

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Overall Sportsman Earth Series 18 in. Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower Review

It is hard to find the best purpose for this one as it’s a smaller and lower-power gas run machine. As a result, it won’t be able to handle heavy or compacted snow, even though it’s a gas-powered blower. However, it is still solid for smaller areas and average snowfall.

There is also a problem with the noise. It’s pretty loud, considering it’s not a high-powered machine. 

Overall, the machine can handle a bit of snow, but not many difficult situations. It requires gas and oil to run, which feels like you could go electric at this point. But, it’s still a good deal that functions.

It got a 3.5 out of 5 stars from Home Depot online with over 60 reviews.

 

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Briggs & Stratton 1697293 Snow Blower

Briggs & Stratton 1697293 Snow Blower, Red/Black

 

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The Briggs and Stratton Snow Blower is meant to handle up to moderately bad snowfalls. It can power through the harshest winter conditions of temperate with a powerful engine. The oversized controls are designed to allow for use with gloves on. Easy to maneuver and can handle both heavy and wet snow with its heavy auger. 

 

Specs

Engine Power And Performance: 250cc engine with 11.5 foot pounds of torque

Clearing width: 22-inch clearing width

Throw distance: 25-foot throw distance

Auger: The patented SnowShredder Serrated Auger 

 

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Pros

  • Easy to assemble
  • Great for tough jobs

 

Cons

  • Not well designed for lighter jobs
  • Skids and self-propulsion don’t work well

 

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Overall Briggs & Stratton 1697293 Snow Blower Review

There are both positives and negatives to this one. Its ability to function in any weather is strong, but the problem is that it doesn’t feel great to use. Out of the box, it is easy to assemble, although the instructions provided aren’t the best. 

The self-propelling design doesn’t work as well as it should because the skids don’t slide quite right. This is especially the case on rougher terrain or on a slope. 

However, it tends to function well for deeper snow in worse conditions, power through some of the worst you can throw at it. So the auger is quite powerful, but the rest of the design isn’t made to deal with various conditions.

For a single-stage blower, it can handle a large amount of compacted snow, it’s just unfortunate that when it comes to lighter amounts, it doesn’t always function smoothly.

It achieved 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon with more than 60 reviews. 

 

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YARDMAX 18 in. Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower

 

 

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The YARDMAX is a single-stage snow blower for clearing moderate levels of snowfall. It is gas-powered and can clear up to 18 inches wide of snow in a single pass. It has great reliability and power, with an easy-to-use and compact design. 

Self-propelled, the design features a 180-degree adjustable chute and a removal height of up to 11 inches.

 

Specs

Engine Power And Performance: The engine is a 4 cycle 87cc design. 

Clearing width:18 inches of clearing width

Throw distance: 20-foot throwing distance

Auger: Rubber auger

 

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Pros

  • Simple yet effective
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to maneuver

 

Cons

  • Flimsier design
  • Can’t handle harsh conditions

 

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Overall YARDMAX 18 in. Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower Review

A simple yet effective one, the YARDMAX is a decent mid-range blower. For a gas-powered machine, it’s effective and can handle up to a moderate amount of snow. 

Unfortunately, some issues with the design make it less reliable than some others on the market. For example, some pieces are flimsy, and the assembly is complicated. 

It depends on what you are looking to do, but it’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, and can fold up easily for storage. But, on the other hand, it struggles with more difficult snow.

3.5 out of 5 stars on Home Depot online with 49 reviews.

 

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Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE 24 in. 212cc Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower

 

 

 

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Toro’s SnowMaster is one of the toughest single-stage blowers out there. It features a strong self-propulsion system that can make your walking speed, an easy to adjust chute, and smooth overall operation. 

The robust design can throw snow up to 40 feet. It has an easy-to-start electric start button and quick controls for chute adjustment on the handle. The powerful auger also means it’s very fast at throwing snow. 

 

Specs

Engine Power And Performance: It has a Toro Premium 212cc OHV 4-cycle engine 

Clearing width: 24-inch clearing width

Throw distance: 40-foot throw distance

Auger: Steel auger

 

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Pros

  • Very powerful
  • Fast
  • Great maneuverability

 

Cons

  • Nothing in particular

 

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Overall Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE 24 in. 212cc Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower Review

It has a powerful engine, great maneuverability, and a considerable snow intake allowance. As a result, this is one of the most heavy-duty single-stage machines available. 

The self-propulsion system is robust, allowing you to go at your walking pace and keep up. The steering allows for tight turning with little issue, and the skid shoes hover on the top of the snow smoothly. 

This is one of the fastest machines out there. It can also handle fairly deep heights of snow. The majority metal design also makes for a more durable overall machine.

It’s an excellent choice for those looking for a single-stage machine that is almost as powerful as a two-stage snow blower but with less hassle.

4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon with over 850 overall reviews.

 

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PowerSmart 21 in. Single-Stage Electric Snow Thrower

  

 

 

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The PowerSmart Electric Snow Thrower is a lightweight machine. It is electric with a 180-degree adjustable chute that can throw snow up to 30 feet. 

The power of the engine is much lower, however, allowing it to move only around 750 pounds of snow per minute. It has small wheels for maneuverability and is lightweight and easy to assemble.

 

Specs

Engine Power And Performance: It has a 15 Amp OEM Branded Engine

Clearing width: 21-inch clearing width

Throw distance: 30 feet throw distance

Auger: Rubber auger

 

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Pros

  • Simple to use
  • Compact and maneuverability

 

Cons

  • Not very powerful
  • Slow

 

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Overall PowerSmart 21 in. Single-Stage Electric Snow Thrower Review

A snow thrower like this one won’t match the power of a proper single-stage snow blower. It sports a decent clearing width but takes a long time to churn through snow and is not good at dealing with wet or compacted snow.

Its lightweight and compact design are great if you are looking for something that can be assembled, used, and put away quickly without much fuss. However, it will simply not have the power that machines do and will only be very effective for light snowfall. 

There are not enough reviews on Home Depot online to make an assessment. 

 

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Best Commercial Single Stage Snow Blower:  Meyer Commercial-Grade 36 in. Single-Stage Walk-Behind Rotary Gas Snow Blower/Broom

 

 

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The Meyer Turbo Broom is a different kind of snow machine. Its high-speed rotary brush is different from an auger in that it’s meant to help brush away snow and ice to help prevent slipping on walkways and driveways.

It comes with variable speed controls to walk at a pace of your choosing. It has a gas engine with an electric start and can be adjusted up to 30 degrees in either direction.

 

Specs

Engine Power And Performance: 277cc power engine made by Kohler

Clearing width: 36-inch clearing width

Throw distance: 30 feet throw distance

Auger: N/A 

 

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Pros

  • Great for walkways
  • Cleans snow down to the pavement
  • Easy to adjust

 

Cons

  • Not as powerful as a full blower

 

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Overall Meyer Commercial-Grade 36 in. Single-Stage Walk-Behind Rotary Gas Snow Blower/Broom Review

The main use of the Meyer Turbo Broom is not for dealing with heavy snowfall. Instead, it is meant to deal with light snowfall and to clear walkways fully. It is ideal for icy surfaces and clearing a path completely. 

The durable bristles sweep the snow up and break up thin ice for a smooth walking surface. But, unfortunately, they also get into the cracks in the sidewalk or walkway. Their heated hand grips are a nice touch, plus independent controls on the handle make it easy to start, stop, and adjust everything on the fly.

No customer reviews on Home Depot online currently.

 

 

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What are the different types of single-stage snow blowers?

 

Corded Single Stage Snow Blower

A corded single-stage blower is an electric one that uses a cord connected to an electrical outlet to power it. There are a lot of advantages to this type, including unlimited power, eco-friendly alternative to gas-power, and is easy to maneuver.

The disadvantage only comes in finding an outlet and keeping the snowblower from running over the cord. 

Compared with gas-powered ones, electric ones have come a long way in recent years. They have more powerful motors than ever before and are fairly comparable. Currently, they can handle up to 10-inches of deep snow and around 700 pounds of snow per minute on the upper end of the scale. 

 

Cordless Single Stage Snow Blower

Cordless single-stage blowers used to get a terrible rap for being low-powered and draining the battery quickly. Today, that is no longer the case. While still having a time limit before the battery runs out, they can be a convenient alternative to corded electric one because you don’t have to deal with a cord and find an outlet when maneuvering the machine.

Improvements in lithium-ion batteries have been occurring almost every year for the last couple of decades. They have truly made battery-operated power tools stand a fighting chance against other kinds. In terms of power, corded and cordless are now about the same. The only difference is the cord vs. the time limit.

Also, brands today usually allow you to swap the battery between a whole line of power tools, saving you money overall on batteries.

 

Gas Powered Single Stage Snow Blower

A single-stage gas-powered snow blower is still more powerful than an electric snowblower most of the time. They are great if you have a large amount of space to clear of snow, or if you expect over 9 inches of snowfall on a semi-regular basis.

Gas-powered snow blowers also have neither a time limit nor a cord to deal with. Instead, they do require you to keep gasoline in your garage and have a more frustrating start-up method. 

Overall, the single-stage is lighter, easier to handle, and much less expensive than two or three-stage models, which are the next leg up in power and control.

 

What are the factors to consider when choosing a single stage snowblower

 

Powerful Engine

Gas-powered blowers tend to have more powerful engines, but the gap is smaller than ever. A good electric-powered one, including battery-operated ones, now can be almost as powerful.

 

Skid Shoes

Good skid shows allow the snowblower to leave a thin layer of snow behind so that the auger doesn’t harm the concrete underneath. This is one of the parts that may need replacement as the years go on, so it’s nice to have durable ones.

 

Clearing Width

The clearing width refers to how wide an amount of snow the device can clear in one pass. The wider the clearing width, the faster the overall time to clear will be. However, sometimes a wider clearing width just means you’ll have to push a lot slower and doesn’t help overall.

 

Intake Height

The intake height tells you how deep an amount of snow you can take into the snowblower. Depending on how deep the snow gets in your area, you can go for more or less intake height.

 

Self-propelling Auger

The auger is what makes the whole thing work – it’s a kind of sideways drill that pulls in the snow and brings it up into the discharge chute, where it is blown away. The more powerful the engine, the faster and harder the auger can spin, increasing the intake allowance. 

 

Snow throwing distance

The distance the snow is thrown matters for moving the snow to the appropriate areas. If it’s an ample space and the throw distance is too short, you’ll have to do two passes to move all the snow properly.

 

Handle adjustment

The handle adjustment allows you to move the chute’s direction whichever way is necessary to get the snow to your desired pile. Without a good handle adjustable, the snow will just be blowing to the side, which is not as beneficial overall.

 

Headlight

A headlight helps to be able to maneuver the machine at night, but generally not as necessary if you want to use it only during the day.

 

Electric start

An electric blower has the advantage of an easy, one-button start. Compared with gas-powered ones, this is a lot more convenient and simple to use.

 

Best Single-Stage Snow Blowers FAQ

What is the best single stage snow blower?

The Toro SnowMaster 724 ZXR 24 in. 212cc Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower is an excellent choice for a single-stage blower, combining ease of use, power, and usefulness into one package.

 

What is the most reliable snow blower brand?

Both Snow Joe and Toro are two of the most reliable and trusted brands on the market. 

 

How good are single stage snow blowers?

They can handle light to moderate amounts of snowfall. If you expect more than 9 inches of snowfall or deal with icy, wet, or compacted snow regularly, a single stage is often not enough. 

 

What stage snow blower is best?

Single-stage is best for light to moderate snowfall. It is quieter, lighter, and easier to use. On the other hand, a two-stage snow blower and even three-stage ones are better for heavy snowfall and for compacted and wet snow. 

 

Are Single stage snow blowers any good?

A single-stage blower can handle most average winter situations. They struggle only when the snowfall reaches over 9 inches and when there is a lot of wet, icy, or compacted snow.

 

Are Single stage snow blowers hard to push?

Generally speaking, no. They are often self-propelling and should glide along nicely. However, single-stage snow blowers are heavy to carry around and do take some effort overall. 

 

How much snow can a single stage snow blower handle?

One of them can usually handle 9 inches of snow depth at the highest end. 

 

What is the largest single-stage snow blower?

The Briggs & Stratton 1697293 Snow Blower is one of the largest on our list with a potent engine. However, depending on the expense, you may be able to find a larger one.

 

What is the best single-stage snow blower?

The Honda HS720AS 20 in. Single-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower has gotten good reviews and is an excellent choice. 

 

How good are single-stage snow blowers?

They are good enough to handle most light to moderate snowfall situations. However, they struggle with over 9 inches of snowfall and with wet and compacted snow. 

 

Who Makes the Best single-stage snow blowers?

Toro and Snow Joe make some of the best ones and would almost certainly make a good choice.

 

Should I Get a Two Stage Snow Blower?

If you live in an area with heavy snow, you’ll likely need a two stage snow blower or three stage snow blowers. A single-stage snow thrower or a snow shovel might not be the best for snow removal in that case. Here are the differences between a single and two stage snowblower.

 

Final Thoughts on the Best Single Stage Snow Blowers

The best single-stage snow blower is going to be great for light to medium amounts of snowfall. Today, both electric and gas-powered blowers are viable, and we’ve provided some good options for both. 

The trouble only comes with wet, icy, and compacted snow, or for heavy amounts of snowfall (over 9 inches). In those cases, you may want to look into getting a two stage or three stage snow blower.

✅   After reviewing all of the best single-stage snow blower this is the one that we would buy based on all of its qualities.

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