Earthwise SN70016 16-Inch 12-Amp Electric Snow Shovel Review
A 16-inch, 12-amp power shovel for decks, steps, and short walks — the lightest way to stop lifting snow.
The verdict
The SN70016 isn't a driveway machine; it's a powered shovel for the places a snow blower can't go or isn't worth dragging out — decks, stairs, the strip behind the cars, a short front walk. At roughly 29 pounds with a 16-inch path and an 8-inch bite, it clears light-to-moderate snow fast, throws it 20–30 feet, and stores in a closet. Pair it with a real snow blower or use it alone on a townhome lot.
Typical price: ~$130 (typical street price — current price shown on Amazon)
Buy on AmazonWhat we like
- +Light and compact — carries like a shovel, stores like one
- +16-inch path and 8-inch intake clears decks and walks in a few passes
- +12-amp motor throws up to ~30 ft (mfr) in light snow
- +Dual-blade rubber auger is gentle on composite decking
- +Cheapest way into powered snow removal
What to know
- −8-inch intake: not for deep storms or drifts
- −Throws straight forward only — no directional chute
- −Corded; still needs a 12-gauge outdoor cord
- −Too small for anything more than a one-car driveway
Full review
Think of the SN70016 as a shovel with a motor. You walk it forward at a steady pace and it scoops a 16-inch-wide, up-to-8-inch-deep bite and fires it out in front of you. That sounds limiting until you try to clear a composite deck, a set of steps, or the six feet between the garage door and where the snow blower can start — the places where you'd otherwise be bending and lifting. It weighs roughly what a full shovel of wet snow does, and you never lift it.
The 12-amp motor is plenty for the intended job. In light, dry snow it'll throw 20 feet or more; in wet snow you'll go slower and it'll pile the snow closer, which on a deck is fine. The rubber dual-blade auger won't gouge composite or wood. Cord management is the same as any plug-in: a 12-gauge outdoor cord, kept behind you.
Don't buy it as a driveway machine unless the driveway is one car wide and a storm is usually a few inches. The 8-inch intake and fixed discharge run out of road fast in a real dump. As a companion to a two-stage — the little machine that handles the 20% of your property the big one can't — it's a bargain.
Best for: Decks, patios, stairs, and short walkways — or as the whole solution for a townhome or condo with a small paved area.
Specifications
| Power | 12 A corded (120 V) |
|---|---|
| Clearing width | 16 in |
| Intake height | 8 in |
| Throw distance | Up to ~30 ft (mfr) |
| Moving capacity | ~430 lb/min (mfr) |
| Chute | Fixed forward discharge |
| Auger | Dual-blade rubber, deck-safe |
| Weight | ~29 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Ready to get one?
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~$130 typical price
Buy on AmazonHead-to-head comparisons
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