Choosing the Best Snow Shovels for Your Business: A Complete Guide

Keep your doors & walkways clear

Snowfall can hamper your business, but with a little preparation and the right shovels, you can get back to normal operations quickly. Wondering how to look for the best snow shovels? In this handy guide, we break down everything you need to know. Continue reading to find out more.

How to find the best snow shovels

While no snow shovel will make clearing off a set of stairs or walkway effortless, differences in construction can still make a big difference in how long shovels last and how well they work. That’s doubly true for choosing between a standard manual shovel and an electric snow shovel.

Here are some of the most important considerations for each.

Manual snow shovels

Shoveling snow is hard work. You and your employees deserve a tool that makes the process as efficient and comfortable as possible and is built to last for many winters to come. Here are four essential factors to consider as you shop:

• Handle: A traditional snow shovel features a T- or D-shaped handle at the end of the shaft opposite the blade. However, some shovels feature an additional handle partway down the shaft that may help reduce strain on the lower back. You could also add an extra removable handle to a standard shovel to improve its ergonomics. Either way, make sure the handle or handles are sturdy and comfortable to grip.
  

• Length: The length of your shovel should correspond to the people who are most likely to use it: a shorter shovel may be ideal for shorter employees but require taller employees to bend over uncomfortably, while a longer shovel could be ideal for tall workers but difficult to use for shorter staff.
  

• Width: A wider shovel will scoop up more snow, which means it may help you get the job done faster. Remember, though, just one square foot of wet, 6-inch snow may weigh 10 pounds or more. Every additional inch of snow your shovel picks up in a single pass will make it that much heavier and harder to move. Find the right balance of coverage and usability for what your business needs.
  

• Material: Snow shovels with plastic blades and metal handles often present the best mix of durability and weight. That said, pay particular attention to the blade’s leading edge: metal reinforcement may help a shovel cut through ice but could damage wood or brick surfaces underneath, while a nylon edge may skid off ice but pose less risk of property damage.
  

Electric snow shovels

Electric snow shovels are essentially snow blowers on sticks. They combine the agility of a snow shovel—which you can pick up and push wherever it’s needed—with the automated snow-moving power of a blower. That said, their clearance (the amount of snow they can take in at once) is often smaller than either a standard shovel or blower.

If you’re considering buying an electric snow shovel for your business, here are three important factors to weigh:

• Power source: Many modern snow shovels run on removable, rechargeable batteries, which means operators don’t need to worry about cords but may run out of power before they finish. Others must be plugged in, which offers uninterrupted power as long as you stay close enough to an outlet.
  

• Durability: Bumping into curbs, picking up small rocks and snow getting into every little nook and cranny is inevitable for an electric snow shovel. Look for models that come with at least a year-long manufacturer warranty.
  

• Weight: Though they often feature wheels for easier movement, electric snow shovels still require some effort to push through snow. You also may need to lift them to reach stairs or take them in and out of storage, so look for a model in a weight range that employees can safely handle.
  

The best conditions for using snow shovels & other equipment

Think of your snow removal options as a spectrum, with snow shovels on one end and vehicle-mounted snowplows on the other. Sometimes you may need just one or the other, and other times you may need the whole range to keep your location ready for business throughout the winter.

• Snow shovels are ideal when you need to remove a small amount of snow in a limited space. They’re best for short sidewalks, stairs and ramps leading to your entrance, as well as small exterior spaces you may need to access, such as service doors.

• Snow blowers are better for mid-sized spaces, such as short driveways and parking lots, as well as for a first pass on smaller areas that receive heavy snow.

• Vehicle-mounted snowplows are appropriate for the biggest tasks: extended driveways, parking lots and any other wide open space that needs to be cleared. Of course, they can only go where the vehicle can reach, and they may damage curbs, speedbumps, mailboxes or other objects near the road due to poor visibility.

Whatever type of snow removal you opt for, chances are you’ll be grateful to have at least one sturdy and effective snow shovel in your utility closet—whether to clear those last few areas of heavy snow the plow couldn’t reach or to remove a light dusting on your doorstep before you welcome the morning’s first customers. Just take care to follow some practical snow shoveling safety tips, such as dressing in warm layers and following proper lifting form, when you do.

Prepare for winter with Walmart Business

Making sure your business is ready for snow, ice and cold temperatures is a big job—and the sooner you tackle it, the better. Fortunately, you don’t have do it all on your own. One easy way to get some help is with a Walmart Business+ membership. Sign up today to unlock free shipping with no order minimum¹ and free delivery from local stores with a $35 minimum.² You’ll also earn 2% in Walmart Business Rewards on orders $250 or more.³

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges

² Restrictions apply.

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.