When the weather outside turns cold, you might start thinking about buying holiday gifts, brewing hot apple cider, and curling up by the fire while watching the snowfall. But as a homeowner, you know that when the snow starts falling, someone must shovel it, and if you’ve got a large driveway or live in an area prone to heavy snowfall, a shovel might not be enough. Fortunately, snow blowers are widely available within Canada, and they can be an excellent tool to make your snow removal responsibilities more manageable.
The most challenging part about getting a snow blower is deciding which one to buy. Do you need a gas-powered snow blower? Electric? How wide should it be? How much is too much to pay for a snow blower?
A snowblower can make life as a homeowner in Canada more bearable, but there are seemingly endless options available from local big box stores. We’ve created a curated list featuring the best snow blowers for every budget through our in-depth examination of snow blowers available in Canada.
Our Picks for the Best Snowblowers in Canada
Best Snow Shovel
Snow Joe Plus 11-inch 10 Amp Electric Snow Blower Shovel
- Price: $169
- Width: 11 inches
- Warranty: 2-year manufacturer warranty
- Available at: Home Depot
A snow shovel can be a good choice for those looking for extra pushing power to clear their walkways and sidewalks. This Snow Joe snow shovel has excellent reviews online and offers a reasonable price for its 11-inch-wide shovel mouth, and 10-amp corded electric motor. This snow shovel can push 300 pounds of snow per minute and handle snowfalls up to six inches deep. The LED light makes clearing snow at dusk or dawn easier and safer.
Best Electric Snow Blower (Corded)
Snow Joe 18-inch 15 Amp Electric Snowblower with Light
- Price: $298
- Width: 18 inches
- Warranty: 2-year full warranty
- Available at: Home Depot
If you have a small driveway and walkways to be plowed and you don’t want the hassle of dealing with batteries or gasoline, a corded snow blower is an excellent choice. We think this Snow Joe single-stage snow blower is a superb mix of power and width for an affordable price. It can move up to 720 lbs of snow per minute, and it is perfect for asphalt driveways. As an added benefit, this snow blower has a light to help you clear snow in the dark – perfect for early risers.
Best Electric Snow Blower (Cordless)
RYOBI 18-inch 40V Brushless Cordless Electric Snow Blower with 6.0 Ah Battery and FAST Charger
- Price: $698
- Width: 18 inches
- Warranty: 5-year limited warranty on the snowblower, 3-year limited warranty on the battery
- Available at: Home Depot
If you don’t want to hassle with an extension cord while clearing your driveway and walkways but would prefer not to mess with gasoline, a cordless snow blower might be the best choice for you. This Ryobi 20-inch 40V cordless electric snow blower isn’t cheap but includes the snowblower, battery, and charger. Ryobi is our go-to brand for cordless electric power tools, and this snow blower has tons of features to make the extra cost worthwhile, including a 180-degree directional chute, onboard LED lights, and the ability to clear snow up to 10” deep.
Best Gas Snow Blower
Briggs & Stratton 24-inch Dual Stage Snowblower
- Price: $1,499.99
- Width: 24 inches
- Warranty: 3-year repair only warranty
- Available at: Canadian Tire
For serious snow blowing, you can’t go wrong with a gas-powered snow blower, and this Briggs & Stratton model is the best of the best. With a width of 24 inches, this snow blower can power through up to 20 inches of snow. In addition, it comes equipped with all of the bells and whistles you’d expect, including six different speeds (and two in reverse), push-button electric start, LED headlight, manual chute control, and a three-year repair-only warranty. It also comes with the engine oil included, so you’ll be ready to go when the first snowfall hits.
Honorable Mentions – Other Snowblowers We Love
EGO 56V Power+ Dual Port Cordless Snowblower, 4Ah, 21-in
- Price: $899.99
- Width: 21 inches
- Warranty: 5-year limited warranty on the snowblower, 3-year limited warranty on the battery
- Available at: Canadian Tire
This cordless electric single-stage snowblower claims to have the power of a gas-powered machine, without the fumes! It can move heavy and wet snow and throw it up to 35 feet. It comes with batteries and a fast charger, and they are interchangeable with other EGO products like their lawnmowers. However, the downside is you can only charge one battery at a time. Other features include LED headlights and manual chute control. However, it is not self-propelled.
Worx WG471 40V Power Share 20″ Cordless Snow Blower with Brushless Motor
- Price: $579
- Width: 20 inches
- Warranty: 3-year limited warranty
- Available at: Amazon
Another excellent option for a battery-powered snow blower is this one by Worx. Short on storage space? It has a fully collapsible handle, plus it weighs only 36 lbs, making it easy to put away for the off-season. If you have other Worx products, the batteries are interchangeable, and with a throwing distance of 20 feet, you’ll be able to clear your driveway quickly and easily.
Ariens Deluxe Series 2-Stage Self-Propelled Snowblower with 306 CC Engine – 30-in
- Price: $2649.00
- Width: 30 inches
- Warranty: 5-year limited warranty
- Available at: Rona
Although not the most budget-friendly option, Ariens is well known for being one of the best gas powered snow blowers on the market. You’ll be able to clear large driveways with minimal effort using the electric start, remote chute control and skid shoes make it easy to use on gravel driveways. You’ll also love features like heated handles, self-propelled drive with six forward and two reverse speeds, and auto-turn steering. Perfect for deep snow and heavy snowfalls, you’ll be almost excited to head outside to clear your driveway!
Top Considerations When Buying a Snowblower
Not all snow blowers are equal, and we’ve taken the time to find what we think are the best snow blowers available in Canada for the winter of 2022.
Function
When choosing the best snow blowers, our first consideration was to consider the function they will serve, including the driveway size they are meant to clear and what features they may have. During our research, we determined several must-have features that will make your snow blowing quicker and easier. Conversely, we also skipped snow blowers with components that seemed unnecessary and not worth the extra price.
Reliability
As homeowners, we know there is nothing more frustrating than stepping out onto your property after a big storm only to find that your snowblower refuses to function correctly. For this reason, we’ve chosen the best snow blowers with excellent online reviews and good warranties.
Price
As with most home equipment, the price of a snow blower can vary dramatically depending on its size and features. For each snow blower category listed below, we’ve chosen one with a good mix of features and a good value for the price.
Availability
All the snow blowers on this list are readily available at Canadian retailers. We hate finding the perfect, well-reviewed product online only to find it’s unavailable in Canada!
As homeowners living in Canada, we know first-hand how vital a good snow-clearing strategy is. While a shovel and some manual labour can work for smaller homes, it’s not the best for everyone. You may find yourself in need of the best snow blowers to help manage your local snowfall. If that’s the case, many factors will go into deciding what snowblower is right for you.
For example, do you need a smaller corded electric snow blower to make the heavier snowfalls more manageable? Or perhaps you’ve recently purchased a home with a long driveway in a region known for heavy snowfall. In that case, a heavy-duty gas-powered snow blower will be the right choice.
Whatever your needs, we’ve got you covered with the list above. The snowblowers we’ve covered above are overwhelmingly positively reviewed, represent the best value in their category, and are built by companies with good reputations for well-performing products.
FAQs
What brand has the best snow blower?
Canadian winters can be challenging, so stick to well-known brands like Ryobi, Snow Joe, or heavy-duty brands like Briggs & Stratton or Troy Built. If you’re concerned about the longevity of your snowblower, make sure a robust manufacturer’s warranty backs the machine you buy.
Which is better a gas or electric snow blower?
Neither gas nor electric snow blowers are inherently better than the other, but each type has its unique pros and cons. Gas snow blowers, for example, are great for power snow blowers that run their machines for several hours. They last longer and can instantly return to work after a quick tank fill. Unfortunately, they also require more maintenance. Electric snow blowers, on the other hand, require much less maintenance, are lighter, and are less expensive. Unfortunately, corded snowblowers are less maneuverable and battery-operated snow blowers need downtime to recharge their batteries.
What’s the difference between a snow shovel and snow blower?
A snow shovel is shaped like a regular shovel, but instead of a scoop, there are a series of blades that break up snow and ice and shoot it out ahead of you. Snow shovels have smaller widths in the range of 11 inches. Snow blowers, on the other hand, are larger, heavier, and can tackle deeper snow and throw that snow further.
