Driveway planning
Clearing-width planner: passes for each snow blower width
Measure the surface you actually clear, decide how many passes you are willing to make, and see which clearing-width band the arithmetic points to. Pure arithmetic, not a recommendation.
Your result
- Suggested clearing width
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- Passes
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- Lane distance
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Passes for each width band
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Rated machines in the suggested band
The three best-rated machines whose listing states a clearing width in the suggested band. A stated width is a listing claim, not a measurement.
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What this planner does not do
This is arithmetic on the numbers you supply: surface width divided by effective clearing width, allowing for overlap. It does not account for intake height, snow depth, drift patterns, slope, surface type or the compacted ridge a street plough leaves at the end of a driveway. It is not a recommendation for any specific machine, and it makes no claim about how any listed product performs.
Use it to narrow a band, then check the access width, the storage space and the manufacturer’s manual for the exact model. Read our methodology for how our ratings are calculated.
Frequently asked questions
How does the clearing-width planner work?
It divides the width of your surface by the effective clearing width, that is the machine width minus about four inches of overlap per pass, and rounds up to whole passes. For each width band it shows the passes and the lane distance you walk.
Why does the planner assume overlap?
No machine clears its full stated width without leaving a ridge. About four inches of overlap per pass keeps the arithmetic realistic.
Does the planner pick a snow blower for me?
No. It answers an arithmetic question and lists rated machines whose listing states a clearing width in the suggested band. It does not account for intake height, snow depth, drifts, slope, surface type or the end-of-driveway plough ridge.