Snow Removal
What Size Snow Blower for a 100 Foot Driveway in Heavy Snow?
Quick answer
A 100-foot driveway, 12 feet wide, in heavy snow needs a 28 to 30-inch two-stage snow blower with a large engine. A 28-inch machine clears it in 7 passes and about 11 minutes, walking about 700 feet, while a 24-inch takes 8 passes and 12 minutes. The track-drive Honda HSS928AATD is our pick.
Heavy snow on a 100-foot driveway is where a snow blower's drive system and engine start to decide how your morning goes. A foot of snow on 1,200 square feet weighs 3 to 12 tons depending on moisture, your walking pace drops to about 85 feet per minute, and the machine has to keep traction the whole way down and back.
Our top pick is the Honda HSS928AATD 28 in. Two-Stage Track Snow Blower at $3,599.00: Honda GX270 power, hydrostatic drive, cleated low-temperature rubber tracks, a 21.7-inch intake and a 52-foot throw. For a flat paved driveway, the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO ($1,999.00) costs far less. Compare sizes in the snow blower size chart.
On this page
- How long does a 100 foot driveway take in heavy snow?
- What size snow blower for a 100 foot driveway with heavy snow?
- How tiring is snow blowing a 100 foot driveway in heavy snow?
- Tracks, wheels or self-propelled: which drive is best for a long driveway?
- How much fuel or battery does a heavy storm take on a 100 foot driveway?
- Which snow blowers fit a 100 foot driveway in heavy snow?
How long does a 100 foot driveway take in heavy snow?
| Clearing width | Passes | Time | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 in | 15 | 23 min | Slow or underpowered |
| 18 in | 10 | 15 min | Slow or underpowered |
| 21 in | 9 | 14 min | Slow or underpowered |
| 24 in | 8 | 12 min | Slow or underpowered |
| 28 in | 7 | 11 min | Recommended |
| 32 in | 6 | 9 min | More than needed |
About 1,200 square feet. Recommended: 28 to 30 inch two-stage, large engine. Times assume a 15 percent overlap, walking speeds of 150, 120 and 85 feet per minute in light, moderate and heavy snow, and 20 seconds per turn.
What size snow blower for a 100 foot driveway with heavy snow?
A 28 to 30-inch two-stage with a large engine. On a 12-foot-wide driveway a 28-inch path makes 7 passes in about 11 minutes, a 24-inch makes 8 passes in about 12 minutes, and a 31.9-inch machine makes 6 passes in about 9 minutes. The time gap between 24 and 28 inches is small; the reason for the bigger machine is that it comes with the engine, intake and drive to hold that pace in a foot of wet snow instead of bogging down halfway down the driveway.
How tiring is snow blowing a 100 foot driveway in heavy snow?
More than the minutes suggest. Seven passes of 100 feet is 700 feet of clearing at a slow, deliberate pace, plus seven turns with a machine that is working hard. In a storm that will leave more than the intake height, you do that twice: once partway through and once at the end. A self-propelled drive does the pushing, but you still steer against snow that pulls the housing sideways. Heated grips, which the EGO SNT2807 lists, and a dry pair of gloves for the second session make a real difference. Shoveling any part of this by hand, including a stuck berm, is exactly the heavy exertion in cold air that heart specialists warn about.
Tracks, wheels or self-propelled: which drive is best for a long driveway?
All of these are self-propelled; the difference is how the power reaches the ground and how smoothly you can change speed.
| Drive | How it works | Best for | Catalog example | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrostatic, tracks | Rubber tracks; ground speed varies smoothly while the auger stays at full speed | Slopes, ice, packed snow | Honda HSS928AATD | $3,599.00 |
| Hydrostatic, tracks, large frame | Same, with a GX390 and a 31.9 in path | Long rural driveways, deep snow | Honda HSS1332AATD | $4,099.00 |
| Hydrostatic, wheels | Pneumatic tires with smooth speed control | Flat paved driveways, easy turns | Honda HSS928AAWD | $3,399.00 |
| Gear speeds, wheels | 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds | Flat driveways on a budget | PowerSmart 26 B&S 208cc | $999.00 |
| Battery, variable speed | Motor-driven wheels with trigger steering | Quiet operation, no fuel | EGO SNT2807 | $2,308.28 |
| Convertible track | Track drive that turns like wheels | Sloped driveways in a smaller frame | Ariens Compact 24 RapidTrak | Out of stock at writing |
Drive details from manufacturer listings. The Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO listing does not state its drive type.
How much fuel or battery does a heavy storm take on a 100 foot driveway?
Plan for two sessions of about 11 to 12 minutes each in a deep storm, plus warm-up. On gas, fill the tank before the storm starts, keep a sealed can of stabilized fuel on hand and refuel outdoors with the engine off and cool; check your manual for tank capacity. On battery, a 12 by 100-foot driveway is about 6 car spaces, and EGO rates the SNT2807 at 32 car spaces of 8-inch snow per charge. Heavy, wet snow draws far more power than that rating assumes, so charge both batteries between sessions. For a head-to-head on the two power types, see battery vs gas snow blower.
Which snow blowers fit a 100 foot driveway in heavy snow?
Large-frame two-stage machines with big engines or battery packs, led by Honda's hydrostatic track and wheel models. Read the Honda HSS928AATD review for the details.
Honda HSS928AATD 28 in. Two-Stage Track Snow Blower
$3,599.00Honda GX270 power, cleated low-temperature rubber tracks, hydrostatic drive and auger height control, rated at 1,900 pounds per minute and a 52-foot throw with no assembly required.
Best for: steep or icy driveways where wheels lose traction
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Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO Two-Stage Snow Blower (ST28DLE)
$1,999.00The Deluxe SHO (Super High Output) is the performance variant of Ariens' core two-stage line, with a 28-inch path and electric start, sold and shipped by Amazon.
Best for: wide suburban driveways that collect heavy, wet snow and plow berms
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Honda HSS928AAWD 28 in. Two-Stage Wheeled Snow Blower
$3,399.00The wheeled HSS928 swaps tracks for 14-inch pneumatic tires and adds an electric joystick chute with 198° of rotation, keeping the GX270, hydrostatic drive and 3-year residential warranty.
Best for: large flat paved driveways where a wheeled machine turns more easily
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EGO Power+ SNT2807 28 in. Self-Propelled Two-Stage Snow Blower Kit
$2,308.28EGO rates this 28-inch two-stage at a 60-foot throw and a 32-car driveway of 8-inch snow per charge on its two included 12.0Ah batteries, with trigger steering, a joystick chute and heated grips.
Best for: long driveways in heavy-snow regions from owners ready to leave gas behind
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Honda HSS1332AATD 32 in. Two-Stage Track Snow Blower
$4,099.00A commercial-grade Honda GX390 with electric key start, hydrostatic track drive and a 31.9-inch path that Honda rates at 2,750 pounds of snow per minute and a 56-foot throw.
Best for: long, sloped or gravel driveways in lake-effect and mountain snow
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PowerSmart 26 in. Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower with Briggs & Stratton 208cc
$999.00A Briggs & Stratton 950 Snow Series 208cc rated at 2,700 pounds per minute, with steel housing, frame and chute, a 26-inch path, handle warmers and adjustable steel skid shoes.
Best for: wider driveways on a mid-range budget, including gravel
Check price on AmazonHow we chose
We did not test these products in person. Picks are researched from manufacturer specifications and owner manuals, engine and safety certifications where they apply, warranty terms, public recall records, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We favor established brands with large review counts and parts support, match each pick to a real yard size or task, and place it in the tier where its price and capability actually belong.
Frequently asked questions
What size snow blower for a 100 foot driveway in heavy snow?
A 28 to 30-inch two-stage snow blower with a large engine. On a 12 by 100-foot driveway a 28-inch machine makes 7 passes in about 11 minutes. A 24-inch machine is only a minute slower, but the 28-inch class brings bigger engines such as Honda's GX270, taller intakes and longer throws that hold pace through a foot of wet snow and the plow berm.
Are track snow blowers better than wheels?
Tracks are better on slopes, ice and packed snow because they spread the machine's weight and grip where wheels spin. Wheels turn more easily and are the better choice on a flat paved driveway. On a 100-foot driveway in heavy snow, choose tracks, like the Honda HSS928AATD, if the driveway slopes or ices; choose wheels, like the HSS928AAWD, if it is flat.
How much does the snow on a 100 foot driveway weigh?
A foot of snow on a 12 by 100-foot driveway is 1,200 cubic feet. Fresh snow weighs roughly 5 to 20 pounds per cubic foot depending on moisture, so the total runs from about 6,000 pounds for dry powder to about 24,000 pounds for wet snow, or 3 to 12 tons. Packed plow snow at the street end weighs more per cubic foot than fresh snow.
What is hydrostatic drive on a snow blower?
Hydrostatic drive uses hydraulic fluid to transmit engine power to the wheels or tracks, so you vary ground speed smoothly with a lever instead of shifting through fixed gears, while the auger and impeller keep spinning at full speed. Honda uses it on its HSS928 and HSS1332 models. It makes slowing into deep snow or the plow berm easier than on gear-drive machines with 6 forward speeds.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.