Should You Use a Plow Service or a Snow Blower?
For clearing a driveway, two common approaches are hiring a plowing service or using your own snow blower. They differ in cost, effort, speed, and what they suit. The right choice depends on your driveway, snowfall, and preferences. Here’s how they compare.
The Quick Answer
A plowing service is hands-off, fast, and handles any size or amount of snow, at a recurring cost. A snow blower is a one-time equipment purchase that lets you clear moderate snow yourself, cheaper over time but requiring your effort, time, and maintenance. Plowing suits large driveways, heavy snow, or those short on time or ability; a snow blower suits smaller driveways and those willing to do the work. (For more on this, see When Should You Hire a Plowing Service vs. Do It Yourself?.)
Hiring a Plow: Hands-Off and Powerful
A plowing service does the work for you, quickly and regardless of snow depth or driveway size. You don’t lift a finger, buy equipment, or brave the cold. The trade-offs are the recurring cost (per event or seasonal) and depending on the service’s schedule. For a large driveway, heavy snow, limited time, or physical limits, hiring a plow is the practical, effortless choice. It’s convenience and capability at a recurring price. Plowing is the hands-off option. (For more on this, see When Do You Need Driveway Plowing?.)
Using a Snow Blower: DIY Control
A snow blower lets you clear your own driveway on your schedule, without waiting for a service, after a one-time equipment purchase. It handles moderate snow well and, over years, can be cheaper than paying for plowing. The trade-offs: the upfront cost, storage, fuel, and maintenance, plus your time and effort in the cold, and it can struggle with very deep or heavy snow. For a small-to-moderate driveway and someone willing to do the work, a snow blower gives control and long-term savings. It’s the DIY option. (For more on this, see How Much Does Driveway Plowing Cost?.)
Comparing the Two
| Plowing Service | Snow Blower | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Recurring (per event/seasonal) | One-time purchase + upkeep |
| Effort | None (hands-off) | Your time and labor |
| Speed | Fast, on their schedule | On your schedule |
| Big snow | Handles easily | Can struggle with very deep snow |
| Best for | Large drives, heavy snow, limited time | Small-moderate drives, DIY-willing |
When to Choose Plowing
Choose a plow for a large or steep driveway, heavy or frequent snow, limited time, physical or health limits, or if you simply prefer not to deal with it. Plowing handles anything, hands-off. If effort and capability matter more than the recurring cost, hire a plow. It’s the choice for big jobs and busy or unable homeowners. Plowing wins for large driveways and heavy snow.
When to Choose a Snow Blower
Choose a snow blower for a small-to-moderate driveway, if you’re willing to do the work, want to clear on your own schedule, and prefer a one-time cost over recurring fees. For the right homeowner, a snow blower is economical and empowering over time. If you don’t mind the effort and have moderate snow, it’s a solid choice. A snow blower suits DIY-minded homeowners with manageable driveways.
Total Cost of Ownership and Physical Demands
The snow-blower-versus-plow decision looks different once you count the full cost of owning a machine. A capable two-stage snow blower is a meaningful purchase, and that’s just the start: it needs fuel or charging, periodic maintenance (oil, spark plugs, belts, shear pins on gas models), a dry place to store it for the eight or nine months it sits idle, and eventual repair or replacement. Spread over its life, a blower can still beat years of plowing fees, but the gap narrows once you honestly account for upkeep and your own time.
The physical side deserves equal weight. Running a snow blower is far easier than shoveling, but it’s still outdoor work in the cold: guiding the machine, clearing the auger when wet snow clogs it, and doing touch-up shoveling around edges and steps. For a fit homeowner with a manageable driveway, that’s a reasonable trade for the savings. For anyone older, with a heart condition, a bad back, or simply a demanding schedule, the effort and cold exposure tip the balance toward a plow. The honest question isn’t only which is cheaper on paper, but whether you’ll reliably want to be outside running a machine after every storm for the next several winters, because a blower only saves money if you actually use it instead of avoiding it.
Making the Call
Choose a plowing service for large driveways, heavy snow, or when time, ability, or convenience matter; choose a snow blower for smaller driveways, moderate snow, and a willingness to do the work for long-term savings. Weigh cost, effort, driveway size, and snowfall. Some homeowners even do both, blowing light snow, hiring a plow for big storms. When you’re ready to explore plowing, connect with a local pro below.
Frequently Asked Questions
A plowing service is hands-off, fast, and handles any size or snow amount, at a recurring cost, best for large driveways, heavy snow, or limited time. A snow blower is a one-time purchase that clears moderate snow yourself, cheaper long-term but requiring your effort, best for smaller driveways and DIY-willing homeowners.
Over time, it can be, a snow blower is a one-time purchase (plus fuel and maintenance) versus recurring plowing fees, so for many winters it may cost less. But it requires your time, effort, and upkeep, and can struggle with very deep snow. Weigh the upfront and ongoing costs against the effort saved by hiring.
For a large or steep driveway, heavy or frequent snow, limited time, physical or health limits, or if you prefer not to deal with it, plowing handles anything, hands-off. A snow blower can struggle with very deep snow and takes your time and effort. Big jobs and busy homeowners favor plowing.
A snow blower handles small-to-moderate driveways and moderate snow well, but very deep or heavy snow can overwhelm it, and a large, long, or steep driveway is a lot of work by hand even with one. For big driveways or heavy snow, a plowing service is faster and easier. Match the tool to the driveway and snowfall.
Yes, some homeowners do, using a snow blower for light, manageable snow and hiring a plow for big storms or when they're short on time. This combines DIY savings for routine snow with professional capability for heavy events. It can be a practical middle ground depending on your driveway and typical winter.