Best PowerSmart Snow Blowers (2026)

This is the biggest-engine PowerSmart in the lineup, a 252cc two-stage with a 26-inch path and a 20-inch intake. The listing quotes 2,650 pounds per minute and a throw of up to 45 feet, which is the right class for long drives and heavy wet snow.

Against the 24-inch 212cc models you gain 2 inches of width and about 40 more cubic centimeters of engine. That shows up as more torque against a plow berm and less bogging when the chute is full. Against the 26-inch Briggs and Stratton model, you trade the brand-name engine for a larger displacement.

It uses a steel auger and a high-speed steel impeller with 13-inch snow tires. Like any gas machine it needs a fresh fuel routine, an oil change each season and a check of the shear pins before the first storm. The 120V electric start requires an outlet and a cord, so plan where you will start it. If you have a drive long enough that you refuel mid-storm, a larger engine also burns more fuel per hour, so keep a fresh can in the garage and fill the tank only when the engine is cool.

This machine pairs a 26-inch two-stage frame with a Briggs and Stratton 950 series 208cc engine rated for 2,700 pounds per minute. It has self-propelled variable-speed drive and heated handles, a comfort feature that matters on long cold mornings.

The Briggs name is the reason to choose it over the 252cc model: parts and service for those engines are common. In return you accept a slightly smaller displacement and a capacity figure that is close to the 252cc unit, so power is similar in practice.

Expect the same upkeep as any gas two-stage. Use fresh fuel with stabilizer, change oil each season and keep a spare shear pin and belt in the garage. Check that the handle warmers work before the first cold day. If the heated handles are a priority, confirm the wiring after the first cold start, since a warm grip is only useful if the element works on the morning you need it.

This is the smaller Briggs and Stratton variant, a 24-inch self-propelled two-stage with a 208cc engine and 13-inch snow tires. Six forward and two reverse speeds let you match travel to the snow depth.

Compared with the 26-inch Briggs model you lose 2 inches of path and the heated handles, but you gain a more manageable size. For a typical two- or three-car drive, 24 inches is plenty.

Store it with fresh fuel, change the oil and use the shear pins and belt as the wear indicators. The 120V electric start requires an outlet near where you keep the machine. If you are choosing between this and the 26-inch Briggs model, measure your garage door and side gate first, since 2 inches of width is the real difference in daily use.

This is the baseline 24-inch 212cc two-stage with push-button electric start and a rated 2,400 pounds per minute. The listing says it handles up to 12 inches of snow, which is a reasonable ceiling for a machine of this size.

Compared with the 26-inch 252cc it has less engine and a narrower path, but it is easier to push through a gate and to store. It is the model for a standard drive that sees a few big storms each winter.

The 13-inch snow tires and variable speed drive do the walking, and the operator steers and aims the chute. Keep the engine tuned and the fuel fresh. Because it is one of several near-identical 24-inch 212cc listings, compare what is in the box and whether the listing states a cover, light or tire chains before paying a premium for any of them.

This 24-inch model features a 212cc OHV engine, a 21-inch intake height and an 8-speed drive with six forward and two reverse gears. The reinforced steel housing is meant to tolerate rough use.

It sits alongside the other 24-inch 212cc PowerSmart models, and the main differences are the intake height and the listing details. A 21-inch intake is 1 inch taller than some siblings, which helps when you face drifts.

Upkeep is standard: oil change, spark plug, belt and shear pin checks, and fresh fuel. Store it with stabilizer. Test the chute crank and deflector in the store or on the day it arrives, because plastic chute controls are the first part to feel loose on any value-priced machine.

The only electric in this lineup is a 21-inch corded single-stage with a 15 amp motor and a push-button start. It is rated for up to 1,020 pounds per minute and a throw of about 30 feet.

It works well for short paved drives, patios and walks near an outlet. It is not a replacement for the gas two-stage models, since it clears only 6 inches of depth per pass and needs an extension cord.

Use a proper outdoor-rated cord of adequate gauge, and keep the cord behind you as you work. It stores in a small space and needs almost no maintenance. Pair it with a heavy-gauge outdoor extension cord no longer than you need, since a thin or long cord drops voltage and can overheat the motor on a cold morning.