4 Quietest Snow Blowers in 2022: Reviews & Full Buying Guide
A snow blower (also called snow thrower) is like a hitman. Without any remorse, it “takes care” of the leftover snow spread across your garden, driveway and porch in brutal fashion.
But unfortunately, many lack one critical skill that a true snow blower hitman must have: stealth. Because, let’s face it: most of them can get the job done, but to do so in a quiet manner that will go undetected by neighbors, a baby taking a nap or the wife as she reads her favorite novel – now that’s a REAL skill to look for!
There are a few elite, quiet snow blowers available on the market. And luckily, their price is similar to other models. You can find them in every single power-category. Small, medium-sized, large snow blowers all have quiet and loud members. And we’re on the hunt for the introverts this time around.
You can skip directly to the part where I share the 4 quietest snow blowers, or you can read the buying guide first, where I explain some features you should always look for before buying one.
Snow Blowers Buying Guide
These are the 10 things to consider when buying a snow blower:
1. Power Source
There are two (or three) types of snow blowers, corded ones (electric) and cordless ones (gas or battery-powered).
A corded snow blower has one big advantage: you don’t have to refill or recharge it in any way. So any time you need to use it it’s immediately available. They’re often cheaper as well. You could get a much better plowing capacity for the price you’d have to pay for a weaker battery or gas powered snow blower.
But the obvious disadvantage is the cord itself. Pulling it across a wet or muddy area can be really annoying and gross. There’s also the problem of distance. If you have a larger area to clean, you’ll obviously need a longer cord. In this case an extension cord will come in handy. But you get my point, it’s extra hassle.
Gas-powered snow blowers are easy to refill and they’re cordless. But they have other downsides. First of them is the noise. They’re typically louder than battery-powered or electric blowers. And from an ecological perspective they’re not the best choice.
Battery-powered snow blowers are the quietest option. They’re also the most practical because you don’t have to pull the annoying cord around. The downside is the recharge of the battery.
Some batteries can last for an hour or two, others only 30 minutes before having to be recharged. While this can be annoying, these blowers are still a great choice if you don’t like cords and noise is your other main concern.
Since battery-powered and electric models are the quietest ones, I’ll share the best options from these categories.
2. Clearing Width
Clearing width is a crucial feature of any snow blower because it determines how much of the terrain it can cover horizontally.
Standard clearing width is in the 12-18 inch range. There are of course smaller and larger blowers than that, but the ones bought most frequently in America fall within that range.
How much clearing width your blower should have depends on the size of your driveway, backyard and any other snowy area you have to clean.
You could get a blower with any clearing width, and it would still do its job. But if it’s too small, it could take too much time to clean an area. But if you bought a blower that’s got a big clearing width, it also implies that it has a strong motor. And stronger motors usually produce more noise. So you’d be creating more noise than is necessary, which defeats the purpose of buying a quiet snow blower in the first place.
For home use, 15″ of clearing width is a golden standard because you get best of both worlds – a relatively quiet operation and solid motor strength.
3. Clearing Depth
Clearing depth means the blower’s capacity to pick up snow vertically. So some blowers can pick up snow that is 8 inches tall, others can pick up 12 inches. The difference is obvious.
This statistic is also a major factor in determining the strength of the motor and the noise it produces. Because just like with clearing width, better clearing depth requires a stronger motor, and as we know, stronger motors produce more noise. It’s not always the case, but it’s a solid general rule to follow. You wouldn’t expect a powerful Mustang to be quieter than a Miata, and newsflash: it’s usually not.
Solid clearing depth fall within 6-12 inches. What number to strive for depends highly on where you live. If you live in Alaska where huge piles of are a common sight, definitely invest in a larger clearing depth. If you’re in an area where snow is an occasional occurrence during the coldest of winters, there’s really no need to go over the top.
4. Maximum Throw Distance
After the snow blower picks up the snow from the floor, it has to dispose of it.
This is where throw distance comes into play.
The farther away it can throw the snow the better, because you don’t want to clean one area only for the snow to be thrown somewhere close so you have to clean it all over again.
I’d never purchase a snow blower with a throw distance max that is less than 17 feet.
But this is of course highly subjective, depending on the size of an area you’re dealing with.
5. Plowing capacity max (PCM)
Plowing capacity is the OVERALL amount of snow that a snow blower can pick up from the floor and dispose of. It’s almost always measured in a weight per minute fashion. For example 400 lbs in 1 min (400 lbs/min).
This is the overall stat that takes into consideration both clearing width and clearing depth AND the speed at which it gets the job done. It’s the final piece of the puzzle when determining how powerful a snow blower actually is.
400-500 lbs/min is a standard plowing capacity for battery-powered models. Electric models can go anywhere from 400-800 lbs/min.
6. Quietness
How to know whether a snow blower is quiet or not? Sometimes manufacturers reveal the decibel level among other features, but usually not. In that case, we have to consider two main features that can impact noise levels:
Strength and type of motor plays a big role. As I’ve mentioned previously, battery-powered ones are the quietest, followed by corded electric motors. Gas-powered motors are the loudest.
Sound insulation is important for lowering motor noise. Basically, a thicker enclosure surrounding the motor will be better at blocking sound and reducing vibrations. Especially if the inner side is coated with thick butyl and vinyl sound deadener.
Unfortunately most manufacturers don’t reveal what type of insulation is used. Probably because they’re not aware that customers are becoming more and more interested in knowing everything about the product they’re buying.
Checking out customer reviews to see what actual users have to say about the noisiness of a product is also useful. If you’re looking at customer reviews on Amazon, make sure that it says “verified purchase” next to the review, because then you know that the person actually bought the product.
7. Weight
When purchasing a snow blower, take into consideration the weight and your physical strength.
If you’re an elderly person with bad hips or knee problems, you’d probably be better off purchasing a lighter snow blower because it will be easier to push around.
I personally consider snow blowers under 30 lbs lightweight. But maybe that’s just my ego talking! 🙂
8. Warranty
Any snow blower priced above $150 at the moment should be sturdy enough to withstand at least 3 winters of work without needing any repairs or replacements.
But it’s not always the case, and having a longer warranty never hurt nobody. I’d personally never buy a snow blower that has less than a 2 year warranty.
In truth, 2 year warranties are a standard in this industry so you’ll find most medium or high priced snow blowers fit the bill in this regard. Some weaker and cheaper ones have a 1 year warranty or just a few months because the manufacturer is aware that some parts can break in a short period of time.
So the warranty length can be a good indicator of how the manufacturer rates his own product. Does he trust it’s good enough to place a longer warranty or is he selling you crap (pardon my language) that will have to be replaced in a few months, if not sooner?
Personally, I’m happy with a 2 year warranty. But anything less than that and I get suspicious when it comes to buying more complex appliances and motorized tools, snow blowers included.
9. Additional Features
LED lights, ergonomic handles and other additional features won’t improve the performance of a snow blower, but they’re always a welcome addition. If you’re deciding between two similar snow blowers, check out whether one of them has some extra features you find useful.
Best quiet snow blowers on the market
Now that we’ve covered the main features to consider before buying a snow blower, let’s check out the quietest ones available that also have great stats.
#1 Snow Joe 15″ Cordless Snow Blower
It’s equipped with a heavy-duty plastic auger and 2 durable rubber blades which make all of these impressive stats possible.
These stats all fit into the recommended range I mentioned in the buyer’s guide. Furthermore, this snow blower has a 2 year warranty as well, so it’s pretty clear that the company is confident in this snow blower’s long-term quality.
It’s cordless, powered by a 40 volt lithium-ion battery. It can do about 30-45 minutes of whisper-quiet operation before needing a recharge. The battery charger is included. It takes about 2 hours to recharge. You may want to consider purchasing another battery as well. This power-source is completely eco-friendly, and the blower produces zero carbon emission.
The additional feature worth mentioning is the adjustable handle, for more enjoyable snow destruction. It’s also fairly lightweight, at 19.4 pounds so even an elderly person could use it without too much trouble.
The one-push-button ensures an easy start-up. Another added feature is the rubber scraper bar at the base of the unit which ensures that it doesn’t scratch or damage the surface it’s moving on in any way.
This quiet snow blower has been getting excellent user reviews. At the moment it has 47% of 5 star reviews, and 33% of 4 star reviews. This is really impressive and it goes to show that customers are really happy with it. Many have pointed out the quietness as a standout feature.
So this blower by Snow Joe is my #1 pick under $200. There’s currently a 33% discount on Amazon. So check out the current price and customer reviews if you’re interested.
#2 Snow Joe 18″ Cordless Snow Blower
This snow blower is a more powerful version of the previous one. It’s able to clear snow more quickly, and is therefore a better option if you’re dealing with more snow and larger surfaces.
While the previous model had a 441 lbs per minute plowing capacity, this one can plow 495 lbs of snow per minute. We also find an upgrade of 3 inches in clearing width (18″ compared to 15″) as well. But the clearing depth remains the same at 8 inches. The throw distance is also the same, at 20 feet.
The battery used is a similar 40 Volt lithium-ion rechargeable one. But it’s in fact much stronger, allowing for up to 50 minutes of whisper-quiet run time. Both the battery and the charger are part of the package.
Check it out in action:
Steel auger with 2 rubber blades are present as well, producing excellent results at clearing snow (even stagnant snow) from any outdoor surface.
This blower also has the adjustable handle for more comfortable use. But it’s heavier than the previous model, at 28.9 pounds. I’d still consider that weight reasonable, as any snow blower under 30 lbs is fairly easy to push.
So if you’re looking for a big amount of power, a longer-lasting battery and reduced noise, this is one of the top snow blowers available. It’s currently on a whooping 43% discount, so definitely check out if the offer is still available on Amazon.
#3 Snow Joe Ultra 18-Inch 15-Amp Electric Snow Thrower
I said before that electric blowers are more powerful than battery powered ones, and this is a great example of that. It costs less than the previous two models but it’s actually MORE POWERFUL. It’s maximum plowing capacity is 720 lbs of snow per minute!
If you’re not excited already, you should be, because that’s huge. I’m so excited about it that if I was on the hunt for a snow blower I’d get it immediately. Sure, the cord can be a pain in the buttocks, but the stats more than make up for it:
- Plowing capacity: 720 lbs/min
- Clearing width: 18 inches (same as previous model)
- Clearing depth: 10 inches (2″ better depth)
- Throw capacity: 25 feet (5 ft. improvement)
- 4 blade rotors made of heavy grade steel
- power source: 15-amp motor
- Instant Start by pushing a button
This snow thrower also features an on-board 20 watt halogen headlight. This makes it convenient for clearing paths even when it’s dark outside.
This snow thrower is 34 lbs heavy, so it’s heavier than the previously mentioned units. But it’s still not too heavy, and if you’re a healthy person you should be fine using it. Also take into consideration that it’s a time saver, because it clears snow much faster than weaker and lighter units.
I’ve taken the time to read through reviews from many users. There are people from all across the country; Wisconsin, Syracuse, even a gentleman from Alaska.. all impressed with the clearing capacity of this average-sized unit.
So what about the noise?
This snow blower uses the same insulation as the previous two models. We’ve seen that those are really quiet, as stated by the manufacturer and multiple users.
I’ve seen a couple of users mention that this blower is also quieter than the ones they were using in the past, so it’s safe to assume it falls on the quieter end of the spectrum. But it’s still probably noisier than the battery-powered, cordless blowers which don’t have as much power.
At the moment of writing, it’s on a 36% discount so I hope you catch it in time. See the current price and more information on Amazon.
What about the cord?
You’ll probably need to purchase an extension cord to use it any significant distance away from your front door. This US Wire 12 gauge cord is rated for 15 amps and it’s commonly used for this snow blower.
It’s well insulated and prepared for use in extreme weather conditions. It is a bit on the heavy side, but that’s to be expected from a well insulated electric cord for outdoor use, so it’s the best choice in my opinion.
If you already have a good extension cord that can support 15 amps, try using it first and see how it works.
#4 Greenworks 20-Inch 13 Amp Corded Snow Thrower With Light Kit
This is an affordable and quiet electric snow thrower. But it still has a big deal of power. It’s got 20 inch clearing width, 10 inch clearing depth, and throw capacity of 20 feet. You can also adjust the height of the snow thrower, which can also be adjusted to shoot snow from any angle you want.
It weighs 32 pounds, but it has a compact design which makes it easier to carry up and down the stairs i needed. It has big, 7 inch wheels, which prevent it from clogging up even in deep snow.
You’ll probably need to get an extension cord if you don’t have one already. This blower has a 13 Amp motor, but a cord that supports 10-12 amps will fine as well.
Make sure that the cord is water resistant if you’re going to use it in snowy conditions. This heavy duty, water-resistant cord would be a good option for this blower and some users have reported they’re using it. Of course, get two or more extension cords if one is not long enough for your needs.
One feature we’re especially interested to know about is the noise. I personally didn’t use it, so I’ll have to rely on user reviews. According to a number of people, it sounds like a regular vacuum cleaner.
So it’s definitely much quieter than those large, rumbling snow blowers that sound like a tractor and wake up the next-door neighbors. You probably won’t cause any disturbance unless you get dangerously close to a window.
A cool additional feature are the two LED lights, which make it possible to clear snow even when it’s dark outside. It’s interesting that the blower with the lights costs less the model without them.
Overall, this is a great little snow blower under $150. If you’re interested, check out the current price and over 600 reviews on Amazon.
Conclusion
All of these snow blowers are top class. But which one would be best for you? That depends on how much snow you’re dealing with. And also how much the noise bothers you.
If I had to narrow this list to one snow blower that has a lot of power and is really quiet, I’d go with the electric Snow Joe model. Especially if the huge 36% discount is still available. It would be only a couple of bucks more expensive than the Greenworks model with almost double power.
I hope this helps and I wish you fun (and quiet) snow clearing adventures this winter!
