Guides · Seasonal power equipment
When to buy a snowblower
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Snowblower prices follow the weather more than the calendar. Stores stock up in the fall, demand jumps with the first big storm, and the deepest discounts arrive in late winter, when stores need the floor space for lawn mowers.
The worst time: the week of a big storm
When a big storm is in the forecast, everyone who put it off goes shopping at once. Popular models sell out, stores have no reason to discount, and you take whatever is left at full price. If you know you'll need one this winter, buy before the first real snowfall or plan to wait until the end of the season.
The year at a glance
| When | What's happening | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Jun – Aug | Leftover models from last winter get cleared out, and few people are shopping for snow gear. | Low prices on last season's models, if any are left |
| Sep – Oct | New stock arrives and early-season sales start. Labor Day sales. | The widest selection before the rush |
| Nov | Black Friday deals. The best-priced models sell out quickly. | A good price, if you move fast |
| Dec – Jan | Demand peaks around storms. Some stores run sales around the holidays and MLK Day. | Buying only if you have to |
| Feb – Mar | Presidents' Day sales, then stores clear winter stock to make room for spring. | Often the lowest prices of the year, with limited choice |
Late-season clearance is the best time for a bargain, but check what you're getting. A floor model or an "as is" return may be missing parts or a warranty, so ask before you buy.
Decide what you need before the sale
A sale only helps if it's on the right machine, so narrow it down first.
- Single-stage machines are lighter and cheaper, and suit paved driveways and walkways with light to moderate snow. Their auger touches the ground, so they're not meant for gravel.
- Two-stage machines throw heavy, wet or deep snow farther and work on gravel. They cost more and take more room to store.
- Battery or gas. Battery models are quieter, start with a button, and skip the gas and oil, but runtime depends on the batteries. For a long driveway or deep snow, check how much area a charge clears before you buy.
- Clearing width. A wider machine means fewer passes on a big driveway, but it's heavier to push and store.
If you're going battery, the batteries are a big part of the price. Our guide to spending less on batteries explains when a kit is the better deal and when to buy the tool alone.
How to watch for a deal
- Open a store's snowblower page and filter it to what you decided on: battery or gas, single- or two-stage, and brand if you already own its batteries.
- Copy the link and add it to On Sale Alerts as a sale tracker.
- Set the minimum discount lower than you would for clothing, since power equipment markdowns tend to be smaller. Start around 15% and raise it if you get more alerts than you want.
- Check every 12 hours for most of the year, and more often around Black Friday and in late winter.
If the model you want sells out after a storm, put a back-in-stock alert on its product page and you'll hear when it's available again.
One limit to know about: a "free battery with purchase" promotion doesn't change the listed price, so a discount alert won't flag it. Around holidays, also look at the store's promotions page.
Snowblower pages to start from
Buy before the storm, or after the season
Set a sale alert on the snowblower you want and let it tell you when the price drops. Free to start, with 50 credits included.
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