Single stage vs two stage snowblowers: Which do you actually need?
By My Yard Editorial Team · 7/28/2026
The Quick Answer
Single stage handles up to 8 inches on paved surfaces and costs $400–$900. Two stage handles 12–24 inches, gravel drives, and end-of-driveway plow piles, at $900–$2,500.
The Witty Breakdown
The single stage's rubber auger touches the ground, which is why it can't be used on gravel — it becomes a rock cannon.
If you get a plow berm at the end of your driveway, you want two stage. Single stage machines climb over that pile, not through it.
Step-by-Step Fix
- 1
Match the machine to your longest snow event, not the average.
- 2
Choose two stage for gravel, long drives, or heavy wet snow.
- 3
Get electric start unless you enjoy pull-starting at 5 a.m. in 10°F.
- 4
Buy in spring — end-of-season pricing is dramatically better.
Pro-Tip / Do Not Do This
Never clear a clogged chute with your hand, even with the engine off. Stored auger tension is exactly how people lose fingers.
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