Best Single-Stage Snow Blower 2022 | Battery-Operated or Gas-Powered? | Comparison | Buyer’s Guide

What is the best single-stage snow blower? It should be lighter, compact and easier to use than the two-stage counterpart. Besides it can be used for hard-to-access places due to its smaller size.

It's auger sits more flush on the ground, making snow clearing highly efficient as no snow, neither its thinnest layer, will be left behind. The powerful single-stage model should be capable to throw snow up to 30 feet away. Overall, it should help any homeowner to tackle even heavy snowfalls rather effectively. As a rule the single-stage unit is more affordable.

The Briggs & Stratton 250cc 1696741 single-stage snow blower hits the target. Why have we chosen this model? Because it will be definitely efficient and durable in the operation as it comes from one of the leading manufacturers of the snow blowers on the worldwide market. The Briggs & Stratton 1696741 is a premium residential single-stage snow thrower in a compact design.

What is the Single-Stage Snow Blower? | Baseline

The single-stage blowers are the perfect option for homeowners who commonly deal with clearing sidewalks and driveways from small to moderate piles of snow. The single-stage machines help to do it quickly and easily as they are comparatively light-weight and user friendly.

Single-stage blowers are usually called throwers because they are equipped with only one curved paddle called auger, which helps to pick up the snow and throw it out of the machine.

What is the most powerful single-stage snow blower on the market in 2020?

Although the single-stage snow blowers are considered to be less efficient in comparison with two- and three-stage counterparts, they are still valued for the power and durability. The most powerful models in their class can easily handle small to moderate snowfalls.

Despite their light-weight and compactness than of the two-stage snow blowers, they are equipped with strong electric or gas-powered engines. And there is another cordless battery-powered type of snow blowers which is considered to be the most easily operated and environmentally friendly option.

However the gas snow blowers are in the league of its own when it comes to power. These single-stage gas-powered machines are able to handle really heavy and wet snow. They feature the robust and solid design due to the built-in engine and overall higher capacities.

 

The most powerful machines use 4-cycle engines which are more efficient than 2-cycle engines. Besides, they ensure fuel saving, low-noise operation, and the longer service life.

​Such blowers can even be used by contractors to clear larger spaces from snow. These machines can easily handle snow 20 inches deep or more and, with enough fuel in the tank, run continuously for hours.

Besides, the most powerful gas blowers feature the self-propel system which moves the machine at your walking speed and there’s no need for you to push the hefty one forward.

Another feature that enhances the efficiency of the single-stage unit is an auto chute rotation system which will save your time and efforts when clearing snow providing a continuous and uninterrupted process independently on the direction you choose.

As you may imagine, the single-stage snow blower can feature more or less the same characteristics of the two-stage model. The Briggs & Stratton 1696741 is a bright example of the above-mentioned benefits.

The Trusted Manufacturers | Who Makes the Best Single-Stage Snow Blowers

Snow Joe + Sun Joe LLC - the US based company, specializes in designing and manufacturing of outdoor tools for the households. Their expansive line of outdoor power equipment includes manual, cordless, and electric tools such as lawn mowers, trimmers, pressure washers and snow blowers. Thus, they might be in the forefront of innovations in this field.

Briggs & Stratton Corporation – offers motors and generators for outdoor power tools. They are specialized in manufacturing of gasoline engines. They market their products and grant their services worldwide to the regular customers and to the professionals.

The Earthwise Brand belongs to American Lawn Mower Company. The company manufactures corded and battery-operated tools with no fumes or carbon footprint. They are aimed to environmental-friendly products.

GreenWorks – It is a medium-market company which offers only electric corded tools. It belongs to Globe Tools Group, a well-known manufacturer of corded and cordless outdoor power equipment.

Honda – one of the worldwide leaders in manufacturing of power products such as generators and farm machinery. Its Power Product segment manufactures and sells power products like water pumps, lawn mowers, snow blowers, outboard marine engines, walking assist devices, etc.

Top Best Single-Stage Snow Blowers | Reviews

Having compared the one-stage options offered on the market, knowing their pros and cons, I’ve made a list of Top-7 Best single-stage snow blowers within the price range from $160 to $800.

1. BRIGGS & STRATTON 250CC 1696741 | Best Powerful Single-Stage Gas-Operated Snow Blower for Heavy Snow

BRIGGS & STRATTON 250CC 1696741 is the most powerful single-stage snow blower in the product range of this manufacturer. It’s a right compromise between a single-stage and two-stage snow blower.

Powered by the most powerful Briggs & Stratton 1150 Snow Series Engine in the single-stage class this snow blower features the electric start with a convenient push button.

It comes with a Snow Shredder Serrated Auger which provides an advanced ice chopping and snow clearing power. Besides it helps to propel the snow thrower forward. It has a 22-inch clearance width and 12.5-inch intake height. Lighter snow can be thrown close to 30 feet away.

This model also has such user-friendly features as electric chute rotation, quick-adjustment deflector and the headlight.

Features

• Power source: Gas
• Throwing distance (ft): 30
• Clearing width (in): 22
• Weight (lbs): 98
• Dimensions (L x W x H) (in): 36.5 x 23.2 x 24

Pros	Cons
Powerful and reliable engine Suitable to handle heavy snow Easy to start Easy maintenance	Heavy One of the most expensive in its class

This model can be compared with a two-stage snow blower in the terms of its performance. Thus it is a great option for people who live in the areas with heavy snow and ice but can’t afford a more powerful two-stage snow blower. However, it is a pricey machine which is surely worth its money!

2. EARTHWISE SN74018 | Best Cordless Single-Stage Snow Thrower

The Earthwise brand belongs to the American Lawn Mower Company which is a family business that started in 1895. At that time they specialized in manufacturing of push mowers. The Earthwise was established in 2008 to introduce the company’s new, environmentally friendly products on the market. In 2011, the company added a new product mix of lithium tools, including snow blowers. Nowadays they are highly demanded.

The Earthwise SN74018 is a cordless single-stage snow blower with the brushless 40-Volt motor and 4Ah battery with a charger included. The 180-degree chute allows changing the direction of snow discharging in a quick and easy manner by turning the chute handle. It has two bright LED headlights for clearing the snow at a low light or in dark conditions.

The dual blade auger of this model can handle up to 500 lbs. of snow per minute. It is suitable for clearing walkways, sidewalks, patios and driveways. The unit is equipped with rear wheels that facilitates snow removal and transportation.

Features

• Power source: Battery
• Throwing distance (ft): 30
• Clearing width (in): 18
• Weight (lbs): 35
• Dimensions (L x W x H) (in): 44.5 x 18.5 x 40.5

Pros	Cons
Portable Adjustable chute with 180-degree angle 2 LED headlights Impressive throwing distance No regular maintenance required	Battery recharging can take plenty of time at the time it is needed Small wheels

Earthwise SN74018 is a portable cordless unit which is capable to handle any snow job around the house quickly and quietly. I would highly recommend this to anyone who doesn't have a huge amount of snow. It is a light duty snow blower, but does a great job for its capacities!

3. SNOW JOE SJ627E | Best Corded with a Steel Auger 

SJ627E model is equipped with a steel auger and 4 heavy-duty rubber-tipped blades. It is capable to handle up to 25 tons per hour that is a quite impressive amount of snow for a single-stage unit. SJ627E features an adjustable chute that rotates 180 degrees to discharge the snow up to 25 feet away.

The snow blower comes with a durable scraper bar at the bottom of the unit to clear the surface without damaging your property such as decks, driveways or pavements. The weight of SJ627E model is 34.5 lbs, so it can be easily moved and transferred around your household area. Besides this unit features dual LED headlights which make snow clearing efficient even under the dark conditions.

The Snow Joe company was established in 2001. At that time the company offered their first prototype snow blower on the US market. Currently Snow Joe LLC designs and manufactures lawn and garden tools including mowers, leaf blowers, pressure washers, trimmers and snow blowers.

Features

• Power source: Electric
• Throwing distance (ft): 25
• Clearing width (in): 22
• Weight (lbs): 34.8
• Dimensions (L x W x H) (in): 23.4 x 22 x 26

Pros	Cons
Light and smooth operation Dual headlights Powerful Capable to clear larger spaces Affordable price	The power cord which can be inconvenient to manage during the process

Snow Joe SJ627E is an eco-friendly snow thrower which features the power of gas with the performance of an electric unit. It will be a great option for the homeowners who are not bothered with managing the power cord while snow clearing.

4. BRIGGS & STRATTON SNOW THROWER 1696715 | Best Compact Gas-Powered Single-Stage Snow Thrower

The 1022E model is one of the smaller Briggs & Stratton units in its class. However it is run by a powerful 208cc Briggs & Stratton 950 Snow Series engine which is capable to handle light to moderate snowfalls and to throw it up to 30 feet away. This 4-cycle OHV engine produces 9.5 foot-pounds of gross torque, which roughly equals to 5.5 horsepower. It’s also comparably quiet providing less vibration.

This gas snow blower also features an electric start for easy activation at any time and temperature down to -20°F. Its large, 8-inch tires ensure traction even on icy terrain.

The model is self-propelled. This feature allows you moving the snow blower forward with fewer efforts. The handle and quick deflector enable movement of the chute at any direction quickly.

The company was launched back in 1908 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nowadays it is headquartered in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Briggs & Stratton engines are widely used on lawnmowers, as well as pressure washers, electrical generators, snow blowers, and a wide variety of other applications. They make a full line of economy, residential, heavy-duty and commercial snow blowers at their production facilities in Wauwatosa.

Features

• Power source: Gas
• Throwing distance (ft): 30
• Clearing width (in): 22
• Weight (lbs): 93
• Dimensions (L x W x H) (in): 33.1 x 25 x 23

Pros	Cons
Reliable engine Easy to start at any weather Self-propelled	Requires regular maintenance Heavy

It is a powerful easy-to-move and easy-to-start gas option. And I bet this is the perfect single-stage blower for anyone who has regular light to moderate snowfalls.

5. SNOW JOE ION18SB-PRO | Best Quiet & Lightweight

The iON18SB is quiet, lightweight and easy to use with its rechargeable and long-lasting battery. It is powered by a 40V lithium-ion battery, that gives 50 minutes of a continuous operation.

Equipped with a heavy-duty, steel auger with 2 rubber blades, it is capable to move up to 500 pounds of snow per minute. Clearing width of 18-inch wide and 8-inch deep in one pass. It comes with a 180° auto-rotate directional chute that throws snow up to 20 feet away.

Features

• Power source: Battery
• Throwing distance (ft): 20
• Clearing width (in): 18
• Weight (lbs): 32

Pros	Cons
Long-lasting battery (up to 50 min) Quiet & Lightweight Steel auger & Rubber blades	The battery takes up to three hours to fully charge Clearing width 18"

If you tend to an environment-friendly option, the iON18SB-PRO would be an excellent choice.

6. GREENWORKS 2600402 PRO | Best 80-Volt Single-Stage Cordless Snow Thrower

Greenworks is a brand owned by the Globe Group, an international company based in the USA and Sweden. The company’s research and development center is situated in Sweden. It specializes in the winter outdoor tools. However, in addition to snow blowers, the product range of the company includes lawn mowers, string trimmers and chainsaws.

Greenworks Pro 80-Volt snow blower is one of the most powerful units offered by this manufacturer. It is best suited for clearing snow from sidewalks, driveways and patios. This single-stage snow blower is powered by an 80 Volt max Li-ion battery that provides easy and convenient cordless operation. It comes with a 20-inch clearing path.

Its 180° rotating chute enables snow throwing up to 20 ft away in the desired direction. This blower comes with the dual LED lights to increase visibility under the dark conditions. This model features an easy-fold system contributing to storage and transportation convenience. Besides, this unit is quiet with about 80dB sound level output.

Features

• Power source: Battery
• Throwing distance (ft): 20
• Clearing width (in): 20
• Weight (lbs): 33
• Dimensions (L x W x H) (in): 31 x 21.6 x 37

Pros	Cons
80 Volt max Li-ion battery Cordless Compact Quiet	Problematic start at low temperatures Battery runs out quickly

This model is a quiet and small but still powerful snow blower. It runs by the strong 80 Volt max Li-ion battery which ensures cordless operation thus contributing to user-friendliness. Besides it is a portable unit which can be stored easily. For those who has to deal with light snowfalls.

7. HONDA HS720AA | The Biggest Single Stage Snow Blower | Best Gas-Powered to handle up to 1,800 pounds of snow per minute

The Honda HS720AA single-stage thrower is gas-powered machine which provides plenty of power. Thanks to the 4-cycle premium residential engine, maintenance is not complicated as there’s no need to mix oil and fuel in certain proportions. The machine starts easy even in cold weather.

It is capable to handle up to 1,800 pounds of snow per minute. And its adjustable chute throws it up to 33 feet away. The deflector can be adjusted from left to right 204 Degrees. It is equipped with a semi self-propelled drive, but the auger assists the user to be moved.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. needs no introduction as it is a highly recognized company around the globe with its wide range of products of different fields of application. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It develops, manufactures, and distributes motorcycles, automobiles, power products and tools worldwide.

Features

• Power source: Gas
• Throwing distance (ft): 33
• Clearing width (in): 20
• Weight (lbs): 90
• Dimensions (L x W x H) (in): 49.6 x 20.9 x 40.6

Pros	Cons
Reliable and powerful engine Easy maintenance Easy to start, even in the cold Easy start High capacity clearing: up to 1,800 pounds	Heavy Expensive

With its extra powerful engine which ensures smooth and efficient operation at any weather conditions. It will grant you with a professional finish of a light to moderate snow clearing.

14 Best-Selling Single Stage Snow Blowers Comparative Table