Should you buy a snow blower or hire a plow service?

Updated 2026-11-03. Prices are typical published ranges, not quotes. DrivewayBlankets.com doesn't plow; how it works.

Both clear the driveway. One costs you money up front plus your time every storm, and the other costs you money every year and none of your time. Which is better depends on your driveway, your winters, your schedule and how much you like being outside at 6 a.m.

What a plow service costs

Published national ranges put a seasonal contract at around $300–$700 (Angi) and a single visit at $40–$100. A standard 2-car driveway runs about $400–$600 per season on Angi's national ranges. In snowy cities that's often the better deal than per push. See seasonal vs. per push.

What a snow blower costs

Snow blowers range from small electric single-stage models to large gas two-stage and three-stage machines, with prices to match. Check current retail prices for the size you'd need. Beyond the purchase, plan for:

• Fuel or batteries, and for gas models, oil changes, spark plugs, shear pins and belts.
• Storage space in a garage or shed.
• Your time every storm, which grows with the size of the driveway, the depth of the snow and the walks you also clear.
• Repairs as it ages, and the chance it won't start on the morning you need it.

Matching the machine to the snow

• Single-stage blowers are lighter and cheaper, and work best on paved driveways with lighter snow. They struggle with deep, wet snow and the dense ridge the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway (the windrow).
• Two-stage and three-stage blowers handle deep and wet snow and windrows much better, and work on gravel with skid shoes set high (gravel driveways).
• Cordless electric models have improved, but check run time against your driveway size.

When a plow service makes more sense

• Your driveway is long, wide or steep.
• You get heavy, frequent snow. In a city with a high normal, like Buffalo, Rochester or Syracuse, that's a lot of mornings with a blower (see snowfall by city).
• You need to be out early on workdays.
• Physical strain is a concern. Clearing snow is hard work, and a snow blower still takes effort and care.
• You don't have room to store a machine.

When a snow blower makes more sense

• A shorter paved driveway and moderate snowfall.
• You're home and flexible during storms.
• You'd rather clear on your own timing than wait for a route.
• You also need walks, patios and paths cleared that a truck plow can't reach.

The hybrid many people use

A common setup is a plow service for the driveway, plus a shovel or small blower for walks, steps and touch-ups. Some people handle small snowfalls themselves and call a plow per push for big storms. That works best where storms are fewer and bigger.

A simple way to decide

1. Look up your normal snowfall on your city page.
2. Get a seasonal and per-push price for your driveway in the calculator.
3. Price the blower you'd actually need, and spread its cost over the years you expect it to last. Add fuel and maintenance.
4. Put a value on your time per storm, and think honestly about the 6 a.m. mornings.

Safety, if you blow it yourself

Never clear a clogged chute with your hand. Turn the machine off and use the clearing tool. Run gas engines outdoors only. Dress for the cold, and take breaks.

Compare with a real number: see an instant plowing price for your area, or send a request.

Quick answers