Best Single Stage Snow Blower Today

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. ToolPickr is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Learn more

Pressed for time? Check our best picks

best overall rating★★★★★

Toro 1800 Power Curve 1

  • Easy to set up
  • Super-lightweight
  • Large capacity
best overall rating★★★★★

Briggs & Stratton 1222EE 2

  • Auger-propelled drive
  • Far discharge distance
  • Easy set up and operation
best overall rating★★★★★

Snow Joe SJ621 3

  • Decent runtime per charge
  • Simple one-button starter
  • Lightweight design

Our reviews are unbiased, fact-based, and comprehensively researched to help you make the right buying decisions.

 
36

Model Analysed

19

Research Hours

1,500+

Comments Analysed

Single-stage snow blowers may not be the beefiest type of snow blower available, but they can certainly manage some of the toughest tasks.

Admittedly, they take longer than two- and three-stagers, but they remain a force to be reckoned with.

In today’s guide, we’re going to show you our top pick of the best single-stage snowblower after researching 36 different models.

best overall rating

Best Single-Stage Snow Blower – Toro 1800 Power Curve

The Toro 1800 Power Curve is the best single-stage snow blower to enter our test shop. Sporting a 15A motor and an 18-inch auger, this black-and-red cordless snow blower does quick work out of demanding snow-removal chores.

Here’s a quick look at the 1800’s key specifications—

  • 15A Motor
  • 18 x 12-inch Intake
  • 20-foot Throw Distance
  • Power Curve Technology

The 1800 is a cordless, single-stage snow blower that runs on a 60V 7.5-Ah battery pack.

The 15A motor drives a heavy-duty auger that scoops up, smashed, and discharges snowbanks up to 12 inches in height before scattering the remains 20 feet in the distance.

The 1800 can chomp down on up to 700 pounds of snow every minute to clear wide driveways in less time, despite its single-stage build.

With patented Power Curve technology, the 1800 is able to draw in large quantities of snow without bogging down the augers or choke the discharge chute.

This brief video by Toro shows its single-stage lineup in all of its glory, including the 1800. 

Pros

  • Easy to set up
  • Super-lightweight
  • Large snow-removal capacity
  • Flip-down handle for easier storage

Cons

  • Safety lock could be easier to push

Overall, the Toro 1800 Power Curve gets the job done in light and medium snowy conditions.

Top Single Stage Snow blowers Compared

Product Image
Product Name
Features
Price

Best Overall - Toro 1800 Power Curve
  • Engine/Motor Size: 15A
  • Intake: 18 x 12 in.
  • Discharge Distance: 20 ft.
  • PowerCurve Technology



Best Premium - Briggs & Stratton 1222EE
  • Engine/Motor Size: 250 cc
  • Intake: 22 x 12.5 in.
  • Discharge Distance: 30 ft.
  • SnowShredder



Best Budget - Snow Joe SJ621
  • Engine/Motor Size: 13.5A
  • Intake: 18 x 10 in.
  • Discharge Distance: 20 ft.
  • 20W Halogen Headlamp



Best single stage snow blower for wet snow - Briggs & Stratton 1022E
  • Engine/Motor Size: 208 cc
  • Intake: 22 x 12.5 in.
  • Discharge Distance: 30 ft.
  • Low-Hanging Auger



Snow Joe SJ623E
  • Engine/Motor Size: 15A
  • Intake: 18 x 10 in.
  • Discharge Distance: 25 ft.
  • Instant Start



Snow Joe SJ625E
  • Engine/Motor Size: 15A
  • Intake: 21 x 12 in.
  • Discharge Distance: 20 ft.
  • LED Headlamps



Snow Joe SJ620
  • Engine/Motor Size: 13.5A
  • Intake: 18 x 10 in.
  • Discharge Distance: 20 ft.
  • Zero-Maintenance Electric Motor



Snow Joe SJ627E

  • Engine/Motor Size: 15A
  • Intake: 22 x 13 in.
  • Discharge Distance: 25 ft.
  • LED Headlamps



Power Smart DB5023
  • Engine/Motor Size: 13A
  • Intake: 18 x 9 in.
  • Discharge Distance: 30 ft.
  • Rubber-Tipped Auger


Reviews of Best Single Stage Snow blower

Best Premium - Briggs & Stratton 1222EE

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 250cc Engine
  • 22 x 12.5-inch Intake
  • 30-foot Throw Distance
  • SnowShredder

The Briggs & Stratton 1222EE is another single-stage snow blower that doesn’t take things sitting down.

It sports a super-beefy 250cc engine (by single-stage standards) and gobbles up 22 x 12.5-inch snow mounds in a single pass.

Gas-powered snow blowers are typically more powerful than electric ones, so it comes as no surprise that this machine delivers an extra 10-foot throwing distance compared to our number-one pick.

Also, with the SnowShredder serrated auger, this snow blower handles compacted snow like an absolute beast—a must-have feature for those living in the coldest areas.

Pros

  • Auger-propelled drive
  • Far discharge distance
  • Easy set up and operation
  • Fares well against compacted snow

Cons

As long as it’s still the peak of the winter season, the Briggs & Stratton 1222EE can be your best friend for snow removal.

Best Budget - Snow Joe SJ621

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 13.5A Motor
  • 18 x 10-inch Intake
  • 20-foot Throw Distance
  • 20W Halogen Headlamp

The Snow Joe SJ621 is another cordless single-stage snow blower that deserves your attention.

Being our favorite budget-solution snow blower, it doesn’t come with as much power or as many features as other makes and models on this list, but it does handle most snow textures without fuss.

The SJ621 comes with a sizable 13.5A motor that, according to Snow Joe, swallows and spits out up to 650 pounds of snow every 60 seconds.

The wheels, however, are quite low, and the skid shoes built onto the tool’s underside doesn’t do much at keeping it stable on pavement cracks, but it offers a ton of value for the cost of slight inconveniences.

Pros

  • Decent runtime per charge
  • Simple one-button starter
  • Lightweight design
  • Great maneuverability on flat terrain

Cons

  • Headlamps could be brighter

The SJ621 isn’t packing as many features, but it’ll undoubtedly come in handy during the beginning and later months of winter.

Snow Joe SJ623E

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 15A Motor
  • 18 x 10-inch Intake
  • 25-foot Throw Distance
  • Instant Start

Snow Joe is one of the most widely recognized manufacturers of summertime and wintertime outdoor tools. Its SJ623E is just one out of many that will appear on this list.

The SJ62E is an incredibly versatile single-stage snow blower that comes with a moderately sized intake for light- and medium-duty snow removal jobs.

The beefy 15A motor scoops up and discharges up to 720 pounds of snow every minute roughly 25 feet away.

This corded-electric machine requires a simple push of a button for it to start up.

Weighing just under 40 pounds, the SJ623E is one of the lightest snow blowers on the market, though it does not take its snow removal chores lightly.

Pros

  • Beefy motor
  • Super-lightweight
  • Durable construction
  • Easy to start and operate

Cons

  • Could work better on wet snow

The Snow Joe SJ623E is an absolute killer of fluffy, powdery snow. You’ll need considerably more power for wet snow, though.

Snow Joe SJ625E

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 15A Motor
  • 21 x 12-inch Intake
  • 20-foot Throw Distance
  • LED Headlamps

The SJ625, also by Snow Joe, is another fantastic corded-electric snow blower for fluffy, powdery snow.

Compacted or slushy snow can prove far too heavy for the 15A motor to adequately dispose of, though it’s slightly better at doing so than the previous model.

This one has a shorter throwing distance—just around 20 feet—directly in front of it. It falls to about 10 to 15 feet when the chute deflector is turned to the side.

Sporting a large 21 x 12-inch intake, it can scoop up about 800 pounds of snow per minute without the slightest hint of trouble.

This video by Snow Joe should give you a clear idea of what the SJ625E offers. 

Pros

  • Large intake
  • Super-bright LEDs
  • Starts up effortlessly
  • Lightweight, durable construction

Cons

  • Could have joystick-operated chute control

As you can see, the SJ625E is far from perfect, but its lightweight build and user-friendly controls certainly make it an excellent option for light-duty work.

Snow Joe SJ620

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 13.5A Motor
  • 18 x 10-inch Intake
  • 20-foot Throw Distance
  • Zero-Maintenance Electric Motor

The SJ620 is a smaller version of the two previous Joes in terms of snow removal capacity and motor size.

Sporting a 13.5A motor, this machine doesn’t gobble up as much snow—just around 650 pounds per minute—but for its compact size, you can’t ask for much more.

Though not unique to the SJ620, it comes with a durable, zero-maintenance electric motor.

It’ll handle light and medium-duty jobs consistently and without wearing down the motor too much over time.

You can take a look at the SJ620’s simplistic design and performance in this video.

Pros

  • Decent intake size
  • Long-lasting motor
  • Easy to start and push
  • Lightweight construction

Cons

  • Could come with a more powerful motor for wet/compacted snow

Despite being the smallest snow blower of the Snow Joe clan, it does a mightily impressive job at light snow removal tasks.

Snow Joe SJ627E

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 15A Motor
  • 22 x 13-inch Intake
  • 25-foot Throw Distance
  • LED Headlamps

Next is the SJ627, another of Snow Joe’s large-sized single-stage snow blower models.

This one, like some of the others, sports a 15A motor that drives the steel auger to clear up to 25 tons of snow every hour.

This is hardly surprising, considering its larger intake, but its 25-foot throw distance on the same motor is something worth taking notice of.

The SJ627, however, is a simple unit that doesn’t sport many convenience-adding features.

The addition of bright LEDs is nice, especially for those who plan on doing late-afternoon snow blowing chores, but we would have loved a remote controlled chute instead.

Pros

  • Bright headlights
  • Far throwing distance
  • Light but rugged design
  • Simple startup and operation

Cons

  • As a larger model, it could come with more features

This is one of the biggest single-stage, corded snow blowers to hit the market, and many newcomers aren’t even close to the SJ627’s work capacity.

Power Smart DB5023

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 13A Motor
  • 18 x 9-inch Intake
  • 30-foot Throw Distance
  • Rubber-Tipped Auger

Next is the final electric snow blower to grace our list: the Power Smart DB5023.

It’s a lot smaller than the Snow Joes as its intake is only 18 x 9 inches in size, and it’s driven by a 13A motor.

This machine is more appropriate for homeowners who have experience around six inches of snow daily.

Don’t let it pile up or your DB5023 won’t be able to gobble it all up in a single pass.

Despite its small size and tinier performance ratings, this single-stage snow blower works like an absolute charm.

We especially love the rubber-tipped augers that don’t scrape against concrete when tilted too far forward.

Pros

  • Easy to store
  • Far throwing distance
  • Thoughtful rubber tips
  • Excellent for light-duty snow removal

Cons

  • Intake could be taller

You’ll have to try it out to thoroughly enjoy what this small-sized snow blower can do.

Briggs & Stratton 1696506

best overall rating

 

Key Specifications

  • 205cc Engine
  • 22 x 12.5-inch Intake
  • 30-foot Throw Distance
  • SnowShredder

Consider the Briggs & Strattion 1696506 to be a miniature version of our premium pick, the 1222EE. There are only two noticeable differences between the two.

This model doesn’t come with Power Curve technology, and its engine is only 205cc as opposed to the 1222EE’s 250ccs.

However, it’s clear that this machine, despite its similar 30-foot throw distance and intake size, is the lesser of the two.

Thankfully, it comes with a SnowShredder serrated auger, but it struggles to remain upright on slippery surfaces while also being as unreliable on wet snow.

Pros

  • Easy to start
  • Decently large intake
  • Pretty budget-friendly
  • SnowShredder awesomeness

Cons

  • Could handle wet snow better

Still, the 1696506 can handle the toughest compacted snow mounds imaginable in just a few passes. Let the high-speed SnowShredder auger do the heavy lifting for you.

Best single stage snow blower for wet snow - Briggs & Stratton 1022E

best overall rating

If your biggest problem is throwing snow when the winter season comes to an end, we’ve got the perfect single-stage model: the Briggs & Stratton 1022E.

Take a look at the 1022E’s key specs below—

  • 208cc Engine
  • 22 x 12.5-inch Intake
  • 30-foot Throw Distance
  • Low-Hanging Auger

Like many models on this list, the 1022E has a 20-plus-inch intake that gobbles foot-high snowbanks in one or two passes.

The 208cc engine does the heavy work while you simply keep the tool moving in straight back-and-forth lines.

This machine’s stellar performance at removing wet snow comes from the low-hanging auger.

There’s plenty of clearance to avoid flat concrete, but the auger digs pretty deep to scoop up more snow and ice with each rotation.

Just be careful when moving between concrete slabs as the auger may get caught in the cracks.

Pros

  • Decently lightweight
  • Simple to start and push
  • Long-lasting construction
  • Great for slushy and wet snow piles

Cons

  • Instruction manual could be easier to follow

The Briggs & Stratton 1022E is one of the most reliable single-stage machines for end-of-the-season snow removal.

FAQ’s

Next, let’s see what questions about single-stage snow blowers need answering.

Do I need a single-stage or two-stage snow blower?

If you’re reading this guide, you’re most likely unsure whether a single-stage machine is up to the task at hand. Rest assured, modern single-stage models like the ones listed above are able to handle tough snow removal jobs, provided you do it frequently without giving snow time to accumulate. However, if you let snow gather in piles of over a foot in height, then you might need to consider getting a beefier, two-stage snow blower.

Are power shovels any good?

Power shovels are a technically a type of single-stage snow blower. And yes, they are good, but only in very limited situations. Their narrower and shorter intakes mean having to lift the tool to remove tall snow mounds—a problem for those who don’t have the patience or muscle to do so. We’d recommend sticking to a standard single-stage snow blower to remove snow standing over 10 inches in height.

Are 3-stage snow blowers any good?

Single- and 3-stage snow blowers belong in entirely different worlds. Single-stagers are made for light- and medium-duty residential snow removal jobs, whereas 3-stage beasts are mainly used in places where snowfall is measured in yards-high instead of feet. We have a separate guide on the best 3-stage snow blowers on the market that you can feel free to look through.

When is the perfect time to get a single-stage snow blower?

Reportedly, the best time is right before winter begins—between August and November—though it varies from place to place. Usually, new models are released during these months, so older models that have proven track records experience price slashes. So, single-stage snow blowers at this time become even cheaper than they were originally.

Summary

By putting three-dozen single-stage snow blowers to the research test, we found the one model that works best in most situations is the Toro 1800 Power Curve.

We’ve also included several other noteworthy single-stage models for you to look at if the Power Curve doesn’t cut it (it should).

If you’re uncertain about which singles-stage snow blower will work best on your driveway, please let us know through the comment section.

About Joseph Carter

Joseph is DIYer with a passion for building. He is an experienced writer on tools and design and contributes to his ideas on various platforms.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.