What To Know About The Latest Additions To Ryobi's Snow Blower Collection

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If you live in an area where winter precipitation is a problem, a snow blower can be an absolute necessity to keep your driveway and sidewalk clean with minimal effort. You can choose gas snow blowers, which offer more power and snow-throwing capabilities than electric models, although the electric machines run quieter and require less maintenance. If you want to stick with electric models, you can choose between corded and battery-powered cordless machines. Battery-powered machines don't require an extension cord, giving you more flexibility and mobility when using them.

If you're already a fan of the budget-friendly Ryobi cordless power tool brand, which is aimed at DIYers and prosumers, you might want to consider adding to your collection by buying one of the brand's latest snow blowers. Options include the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18 in. Snow Blower (RY40HPSN01K for $599), the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21 in. Snow Blower (RY40HPSN02K2 for $799), and the Ryobi 18V HP Brushless 18 in. Snow Blower (PBLSN01K for $449). All three of these kits include one or two batteries and one or two chargers.

Do these machines rank as essential Ryobi tools for winter and fall tasks, and what should you know about them? It's important to note that these models are suitable for light-to-moderate or moderate-to-heavy snowfall. If you need to clear heavy and wet snow, you may need a more powerful Ryobi model or a gas-powered system. Learn more about whether you should buy one of these new models, or whether they're Ryobi tools that are a waste of your time and money.

Ryobi is one of the best-ranked power tool brands, and it holds one of the largest market shares among outdoor power equipment manufacturers at about 20%. Ryobi is generally considered a good tool manufacturer that offers decent reliability, as long as you don't expect professional-level results. Customer reviewers on Home Depot's website like these new snow blowers in the early days, as currently 100% of them recommend the products. (However, the snow blowers are new enough that only a few dozen reviews have been published.)

Because gas-powered snow blowers are more powerful than battery models, Ryobi is emphasizing the ability of its battery-powered machines to match certain gas models. The manufacturer says the 18-volt model and the 18-inch, 40-volt model deliver power equivalent to a 123-cc gas model, which should be able to handle about 6 inches of snowfall. The larger 40-volt model matches up with a 208-cc gas blower, which should be able to handle about 6 inches of snowfall and drifts up to 13 inches deep.

You should understand that these new Ryobi snow blowers are all single-stage machines that have only an auger. A single-stage blower works better on small areas with up to 6 inches of snow. A two-stage machine could clear up to 12 inches of snow depth. The two-stage design has an auger that cuts into the snow and an impeller that throws it. The two 40-volt Ryobi models are auger-propelled, but two-stage machines are often self-propelled, making them easier to use.

Before buying one of Ryobi's new snow blowers, you should understand how it stacks up in terms of cost. The cheapest machine is an 18-volt model that requires two 18-volt batteries. The larger 40-volt model requires two 40-volt batteries, while the smaller 40-volt machine uses only one. Luckily, the snow blower kits come with batteries and chargers included, but if you need to replace them, you'll spend $149 for a Ryobi ONE+ 18V 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger or $279 for a Ryobi 40V 6.0 Ah Battery and Rapid Charger. Alternatively, if you already own 18-volt or 40-volt Ryobi batteries for other power tools, they will also work to power these Ryobi snow blowers. You just have to use 18-volt batteries with 18-volt tools and 40-volt batteries with 40-volt tools.

The Ryobi 40-volt, 21-inch snow blower has a similar price tag to the gas-powered DeWalt 21 in. 208 cc Single-Stage Snow Blower, which costs $10 less than the 21-inch Ryobi kit. The Ryobi 40-volt, 18-inch snow blower kit has a similar cost to the gas-powered Troy-Bilt Squall 21 in. 123 cc Single-Stage Snow Blower, which costs about $48 less.

Operational and maintenance costs are lower for the electric Ryobi models than for gas-powered machines. Running a gas machine for an hour costs about $1.50 for fuel, as of November 2025 fuel costs, while charging the machine's battery for an hour's worth of operation costs about 10 cents. Maintenance for a gas snow blower costs about $150 each time you take it to the shop, while electric models don't need similar maintenance, although you will have to replace the batteries after a few years.