🌨️ Buying guide · 2026

Best Two-Stage Snow Blowers

Two-stage snow blowers separate the jobs: a slow steel auger breaks up the snow and feeds it to a fast impeller that fires it 30–50 feet out the chute. Engine-driven wheels or tracks move the machine, so the auger doesn't touch the ground — which is what makes them safe on gravel and able to swallow 20-inch drifts and end-of-driveway plow piles. Expect 24–30 inch clearing widths, 208–420cc engines, electric start, and weights from 180 to 300 lb.

Best Overall

#1

Husqvarna ST 124 24-Inch 212cc Two-Stage

A dealer-brand 24-inch two-stage with electric start, LED lighting, and Husqvarna's parts network — the machine most homes with a plowed street should own.

8.9
/ 10

Pros

  • +212cc engine handles deep and wet snow without bogging
  • +24-inch width — fits gates and garage bays, still clears quickly
  • +120V electric start plus recoil backup

Cons

  • Pricier than house-brand 24-inch machines with similar engines
  • No power steering at this tier — you muscle it through turns
Most Power

#2

Champion Power Equipment 27-Inch 301cc Two-Stage

301cc and 27 inches for deep, wet, lake-effect snow — Champion's big two-stage brings the engine class that stops bogging.

8.6
/ 10

Pros

  • +301cc engine — the class that keeps throwing when the snow is wet and deep
  • +27-inch path clears a 3-car driveway in fewer passes
  • +120V electric start; cold-morning reliable

Cons

  • Heavy and physically large — garage space and a strong back required
  • Overkill for a two-car driveway in moderate-snow country
Best Value

#3

YARDMAX YB6770 26-Inch 212cc Two-Stage

26 inches, 212cc, electric start, headlight, and six forward speeds for about $800 — the best two-stage value on Amazon.

8.5
/ 10

Pros

  • +26-inch width and 21-inch intake at a 24-inch price
  • +212cc engine with 6 forward / 2 reverse speeds
  • +120V electric start and a headlight as standard

Cons

  • Fit and finish a step below the dealer brands
  • No power steering — 26 inches takes some muscle in turns

#4

PowerSmart 26-Inch 208cc Briggs & Stratton Two-Stage

A 26-inch two-stage with a genuine Briggs & Stratton engine, heated grips, LED light, and electric start under $900.

8.1
/ 10

Pros

  • +208cc Briggs & Stratton engine — easy parts and service anywhere
  • +Heated hand grips and LED light at a value-tier price
  • +26-inch path with 120V electric start

Cons

  • 208cc is modest for a 26-inch housing in very wet snow
  • Fit, finish, and controls a step below Husqvarna/Ariens
Budget Pick

#5

PowerSmart 24-Inch 208cc Briggs & Stratton Two-Stage

The least expensive way to get a Briggs & Stratton engine, electric start, and heated grips on a real two-stage.

7.9
/ 10

Pros

  • +208cc B&S engine with parts available everywhere
  • +120V electric start, heated grips, and 13-inch tires at a budget price
  • +24-inch width fits through gates and into tight garages

Cons

  • Smaller intake and less throw than 26–28 inch machines
  • Build quality is value-tier; check hardware torque after assembly