The Best Snow Shovels for Winter, According to Our Testing

If you need a reliable, well-priced shovel that will get the job done in most winter conditions, this is our top recommendation. The True Temper earned the best overall marks in our performance, ease-of-use and durability tests.

The 18-inch-wide rectangular blade offers versatility for both pushing and shoveling snow, making it ideal for varying amounts of snowfall. While its narrower width means you might need a few extra passes on a wide driveway, we found it to be lightweight and easy to maneuver.

The lightweight, ergonomic handle minimized back strain during our usability tests, even with carry loads over 30 pounds. It’s also built to last, featuring a rust-resistant steel handle and a nylon wear strip that protects the blade and prevents scratches on wooden decks and other delicate surfaces.

While snow shovels under $20 are available, we've found that they’re often not durable enough for heavy loads (in fact, most of these cheapies are meant for kids who want to help out with shoveling). However, our tests revealed some quality options for just a bit more, including this 20-inch combo shovel from Suncast.

Though it’s more affordable than our top pick, the True Temper, its blade is two inches wider, allowing for slightly faster shoveling. The deep curve and ribbed design of the plastic blade performed well in both pushing and shoveling, while the ergonomic handle helped reduce back strain. The resin-encased steel shaft adds sturdiness, though its weight might be noticeable during longer sessions depending on your strength. Our testers also noted the galvanized steel wear strip is quite sharp, making it extra effective for chipping through icy snow — but it could potentially take a toll on delicate surfaces like cedar decks.

Suncast offers a wide range of quality shovels, and we found consistent value across its lineup, including the brand's 24-inch combo shovel and this 20-inch combo shovel with extra-wide grip.

The Shovelution from Snow Joe is another excellent value pick with some unique features. This combo-style shovel performed well in our tests, handling both pushing and scooping with ease, making it a great option for driveways, decks and sidewalks. It’s especially suitable for those who tire easily or have back pain, thanks to its spring-loaded lift-assist handle, which reduces bending and provides extra leverage for lifting heavy loads.

With its 37-inch handle, this shovel is shorter than most of the other ones we tested, making it ideal for smaller users. The shovel comes in two parts, requiring simple, tool-free assembly using the provided knob and bolt. While its list price is $40, our market analysts frequently find it on sale for as low as $20 at retailers like Amazon and Walmart. But, despite its low price, the 18-inch poly blade with an aluminum wear strip impressed our experts with its durability.

FYI: Snow Joe also offers a polycarbonate version of the Shovelution for $50, which is advertised as even stronger.

If you're looking for a snow shovel that’s useful year-round, the Billy Goat Super Scooper is a versatile choice. Its sturdy 14-inch blade is great for moving heavy materials like wet snow, mulch or animal feed.

While its narrow blade and shorter 26-inch handle make it less suitable for clearing large driveways, our experts recommend it as a multipurpose tool for regions with moderate snowfall and fewer paved surfaces.

With its one-piece design and durable polypropylene construction this shovel should hold up well over time, but keep in mind that the blade lacks a wear strip. To extend its lifespan, avoid using it on rough surfaces like gravel paths.

The Snowplow features a 36-inch blade, the widest among all the shovels we tested, making it perfect for clearing large driveways, especially in areas where snowfall typically measures around 8 inches. However, with deeper snow, it may require multiple passes as snow starts to spill over the 9-inch-tall blade.

Assembly is required and, while not overly challenging, attaching the blade to the handle can be a bit tedious and requires a pair of adjustable wrenches. Once assembled, our testers were impressed by its solid construction. The polypropylene blade is exceptionally durable, but with a soft bottom edge that’s gentle on wood and concrete pavers. The sharp top edge allows you to flip the shovel over to chip away at ice or packed snow.

Designed as a pushing shovel, the Snowplow is mostly meant to stay on the ground during use, aided by its lengthy 45-inch handle, which minimized strain on the lower back during testing. However, it’s less suited for areas where frequent heavy, wet snowfalls require lifting and throwing snow.

A battery-powered snow shovel can be a smart investment for homeowners who struggle with manual shoveling — or for those who already own cordless tools that share the same battery platform.

Greenworks, a brand that consistently performs well in our testing (the brand is a top pick in our reviews of snow blowers and pressure washers, for example) delivers another strong option with its 12-inch cordless snow shovel. While it’s not designed for blizzard-level snow, it’s excellent for clearing light to moderate snowfalls from driveways and decks.

Powered by an 80-volt battery, the shovel impressed us with its speed and power during testing, though its 12-inch clearing path means you’ll need more passes for larger areas. When the job’s done, the handle folds down for compact storage.