The 5 Best Two-Stage Gas Snow Blowers of 2026
A two-stage gas snow blower is the dividing line between spending your winter fighting snow and spending it done with it. After comparing engines, clearing widths, throw distances, and hundreds of owner reviews, I picked five machines for five kinds of buyers: the Best Overall that gets the job done for most driveways, a Best Value 26-incher, a Best Heavy Duty commercial-grade machine, a Best for Deep Snow and Slopes track-drive beast, and a Best Compact 24-Inch 24-inch model for smaller spaces. The Ariens ST28DLE Deluxe SHO takes best overall because it pairs a 306cc engine with a 28-inch clearing width at a price serious homeowners can justify. Here is how each pick earned its slot.
| Product | Clearing Power | Maneuverability | Build Quality | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Best OverallAriens ST28DLE Deluxe SHO 28-Inch | 9.2 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 8.6 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best ValuePowerSmart 26-Inch 208cc | 7.8 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 9.4 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best Heavy DutyAriens Professional 28-Inch 420cc | 9.8 | 7.9 | 9.7 | 7.6 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best for Deep Snow and SlopesHonda HSS1332 31.9-Inch Track | 9.6 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 7.2 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best Compact 24-InchHusqvarna ST124 24-Inch | 7.4 | 9.0 | 8.2 | 8.8 | See PriceAmazon |
Ariens ST28DLE Deluxe SHO 28-Inch
Best for
You have a two or three car driveway and you are done renting your weekends to a shovel. The Deluxe SHO suits the buyer who wants one machine to buy once and run for a decade, clearing a 28-inch swath with an engine that does not flinch at the plow pile. If you picked the Best Value instead, you would miss the wider clearing path and the stronger 306cc engine that make big storms feel routine.
Why we love it
The Ariens AX 306cc engine moves a claimed 72 tons of snow per hour through a 28-inch housing, and the 14-inch Super High Output impeller throws it up to 55 feet. That is a real step up from the 208cc engines on the budget picks, and it shows in wet snow where displacement decides everything. The Auto-Turn steering keeps a 28-inch machine nimble around cars and landscaping, and the in-dash chute lever plus LED headlight make early-morning clearing less of a chore. Compared with the Ariens Professional, you give up the 420cc engine and triggerless steering but save over a thousand dollars for a machine that handles any residential storm.
Pros
- 306cc Ariens AX engine clears 72 tons per hour
- 28-inch clearing width with 55-foot throw distance
- Auto-Turn steering on a wide machine
- 120V electric start plus in-dash chute control
Cons
- Heated handwarmers are an optional add-on, not standard
- 28-inch footprint needs real garage space
- Around twice the price of the budget picks
Verdict
Yes, if you want the proven middle ground between budget machines and commercial rigs. Buy the Best Heavy Duty instead only if you clear commercial-size areas, and the Best Value if your budget tops out under a thousand dollars.
PowerSmart 26-Inch 208cc
Best for
You want real two-stage capability at the price of an upper-end single-stage. This is the buyer with a standard two-car driveway who balks at spending two grand on a snow blower but still needs to clear 20 inches after a Buffalo-style storm. Compared with the Best Compact 24-Inch, you get a wider 26-inch path and a proven Briggs and Stratton engine for the same money.
Why we love it
The Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine is the headline here: it is a name-brand powerplant in a sub-900-dollar machine, and 706 owner reviews at 4.1 stars back it up as the most-reviewed pick in this guide. It clears 26 inches wide and throws up to 50 feet, and owners report it chewing through 20-inch dumps without drama. At 156 pounds it is also lighter than the big Ariens machines, so pulling it backward or wrestling it into the garage is easier. The Ariens throws farther and clears wider, but for a typical driveway this gets you 80 percent of the performance at 45 percent of the price.
Pros
- Briggs and Stratton 208cc engine under 900 dollars
- 26-inch clearing width with 50-foot throw
- 706 owner reviews at 4.1 stars
- Handle warmer and 120V electric start included
Cons
- 208cc is the smallest engine in this guide
- No power steering, so wide turns need muscle
- Build quality a step below the Ariens machines
Verdict
Yes, if your budget tops out under a thousand dollars. If you can stretch to the Best Overall, you get a bigger engine and a wider path, but nothing else in this price class brings a 26-inch two-stage with this many owner reviews.
Ariens Professional 28-Inch 420cc
Best for
You clear a long rural driveway, a commercial lot, or you simply want the last snow blower you will ever buy. This buyer measures machines in decades: owners report 7-plus-year-old Professional units still running strong, and the 420cc engine laughs at conditions that stall consumer machines. If you bought the Best Overall instead, you would get a fine residential machine, but you would miss the commercial-grade drivetrain that survives daily abuse.
Why we love it
The 420cc engine is the largest in this guide by a wide margin, paired with a 28-inch housing, triggerless steering, and heated handwarmers that the Best Overall charges extra for. The cast-iron gear case and steel serrated augers are commercial hardware, and owners describe it as the best snow blower they have ever owned with assembly taking about two hours solo. It out-throws everything here short of the Honda and moves the most snow per pass of any pick. Against the Honda HSS1332, you trade the tracks and hydrostatic drive for nearly 900 dollars in savings and simpler wheel-drive handling on flat ground.
Pros
- 420cc engine, largest in this guide
- Commercial-grade cast-iron gear case
- Heated handwarmers standard
- Triggerless steering for easier turns
Cons
- Over 3,000 dollars is a lot for residential use
- Overkill weight and size for small driveways
- Only 13 reviews, less community proof than the Deluxe
Verdict
Yes, if you clear big or brutal areas and want commercial durability. For a standard suburban driveway the Best Overall is the smarter buy, and for slopes and deep drifts the Best for Deep Snow and Slopes track drive is the better tool.
Honda HSS1332 31.9-Inch Track
Best for
Your driveway climbs a hill, ends in gravel, or regularly buries itself under two feet of wet snow. This buyer has watched wheeled blowers spin uselessly on ice and wants the one drivetrain that does not care. Buy the Best Heavy Duty instead if your ground is flat and you just want more engine.
Why we love it
The commercial-grade Honda GX390 engine drives a 31.9-inch housing that clears up to 2,750 pounds of snow per minute and throws 56 feet, the longest throw in this guide. The hydrostatic transmission is the sleeper feature: you set ground speed with a lever while auger speed stays constant, so you never trade throwing power for a slower crawl. Dual rubber tracks with cleats grip slopes and ice, and the thumb-operated auger height control adapts to gravel or pavement in seconds. It ships ready to go with no assembly and electric key start. The Ariens Deluxe SHO costs half as much, but on a steep or icy driveway the Honda's tracks do work no wheeled machine can.
Pros
- 31.9-inch clearing width, widest in this guide
- 56-foot throw, longest in this guide
- Track drive grips slopes, ice, and gravel
- Hydrostatic drive, no shifting
Cons
- 3,999 dollars, the priciest pick by far
- Tracks are slower and clumsier on flat pavement
- Bulk of a 32-inch machine needs serious storage
Verdict
Yes, if your property has slopes, gravel, or extreme snow where traction is the limiting factor. On flat suburban pavement the Best Overall does the same job for half the money.
Husqvarna ST124 24-Inch
Best for
You have a short driveway, tight walkways, or a small garage where a 28-inch machine would dominate. This buyer wants two-stage throwing power in a package that turns easily and stores against the wall. If you picked the Best Value instead, you would gain two inches of width but lose the Husqvarna name and the compact footprint.
Why we love it
The ST124 is the maneuverability pick: a 24-inch two-stage system with a 212cc engine and electric start, aimed squarely at light to medium snow conditions. The remote chute rotator is the standout convenience feature, letting you redirect the throw on the move without stopping to crank a handle. Owners credit it with saving their backs in two feet of snow, which is strong testimony for a machine this size. Against the PowerSmart 26-inch, you trade two inches of clearing width and about 50 dollars for easier handling and Husqvarna's dealer and parts network.
Pros
- 24-inch width is easy to maneuver and store
- Remote chute rotator, no handle cranking
- 212cc engine with electric start
- Husqvarna parts and dealer support
Cons
- Rated for light to medium snow, not deep wet storms
- 212cc is modest next to the 300cc-plus picks
- Narrowest path means more passes on wide driveways
Verdict
Yes, if your driveway is short or your storage is tight. For wide driveways or heavy snow belts, the Best Value gives you more machine for the same money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much snow can a two-stage gas snow blower handle?
Any of these picks handles a foot of powder without complaint. The difference shows up in wet, heavy snow over 8 inches, where the bigger engines in the Best Overall, Best Heavy Duty, and Best for Deep Snow and Slopes picks keep moving while smaller units slow down. For routine 4 to 8 inch snowfalls, the Best Value and Best Compact 24-Inch picks are plenty.
Gas or battery for a two-stage snow blower?
Gas still wins for sustained heavy clearing because runtime is a fill-up, not a battery swap, and gas engines in this class run 300cc and up. Battery two-stage models are quieter and lighter but cost more and cap out on long sessions. If you clear a long driveway after every storm, gas is the safer bet.
What engine size do I need in a snow blower?
For a typical two-car driveway in light to moderate snow, 208 to 212cc is enough. Step up to 300cc or more if you get wet, heavy snow, clear a long or wide driveway, or regularly fight the plow berm. The 420cc Best Heavy Duty pick is overkill for suburbs but right-sized for commercial lots.
Are tracks worth it on a snow blower?
Tracks earn their money on steep driveways, gravel, and deep drifts where wheels lose traction. On flat pavement they are slower and harder to turn than wheels. The Best for Deep Snow and Slopes pick is the only one here with tracks, and it is the right call for exactly those conditions.
How long does a gas snow blower last?
With basic maintenance like oil changes and fresh fuel, a well-built machine runs 10 to 15 years. Owners of the Best Heavy Duty pick report 7-plus-year-old units still running strong. Longevity is mostly about build quality and maintenance, which is why commercial-grade gear cases and cast-iron parts matter.
Honorable Mentions
Husqvarna ST324 24-Inch 252cc
A 252cc Husqvarna in a 24-inch frame with a perfect 5.0-star rating, though only one review so far. Watch it if you want more engine than the ST124 without going full size.
See PriceAmazonPowerSmart 26-Inch Two-Stage
A 4.5-star, 26-inch two-stage for 999 dollars. Fewer reviews than the Best Value pick, but the rating suggests it punches above its price.
See PriceAmazonYard Force 24-Inch Briggs and Stratton
A 208cc Briggs and Stratton engine with electric and manual start and a 40-foot throw for 1,099 dollars. A solid alternative to the PowerSmart budget picks if you prefer Yard Force.
See PriceAmazon
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