2-Stage Vs 3-Stage Snow Blower: Which One Is Better For You?

It’s that time of year again when we’re getting ready to put our snow blowers to work. If you’re in the market for one, I’m sure you’ll be interested in doing some research into the latest snow blowers before purchasing.

When choosing a 2-stage vs 3-stage snowblower, keep in mind that the main difference is that a 3-stage blower has an accelerator while a 2-stage doesn’t. This accelerator makes a 3-stage snowblower more powerful than a 2-stage, however, it also means it requires regular maintenance.

I’ve done a little digging into the variants and determined the best between them. Keep reading to find out the difference between 2-stage vs 3-stage snow blower and why a 2-stage is my first choice.

Everything You Need To Know About Two-Stage Snow Blowers

Let’s start with what does 2-stage snow blower mean. Snow blowers of this type are pretty much the standard option for all homeowners and are the most common variant. They’re usually among the affordable snow blower options and are known to be quite reliable.

But what is a two-stage machine? The 2-stage part refers to the snow blower’s two stages of snow clearing. First, the snowblower gathers and breaks down the snow with the turning of its corkscrew-like auger. Second, it sends the snow through the impeller for it to be discharged through the chute.

The fine combination of the auger and impeller (not forgetting the powerful engine) removes the snow fast by sucking up snow and ice and then throwing it through the chute.

This type of snow blower is designed to handle snowfall up to 12 inches deep. Most are self-propelled with multiple forward speeds, can be controlled by one hand, and come equipped with cool features, such as hand warmers. 

Another, in my opinion, awesome feature that the majority of two-stage snow blowers come with nowadays is the ability to rotate the chute without having to stop the machine. This allows users to have a smooth snow-blowing experience without the fuss of stopping and starting again. Although, if you wanna know if the one you’re eyeing has this feature, you should check the specific 2-stage snow blower reviews.

Overall, I’d say that these snow blowers are convenient to use, easy to maintain, and known to last.

If you are looking for a machine that’s easy to operate, this kind of snowblower can be a good solution. If you want to learn more details about this subject, check this post and also this one.

One of the most-loved two-stage snow blowers on the market is the Craftsman 28-inch Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower with Push-Button Electric Start. This snow blower is lauded for its ease of use and for performing brilliantly on just about any surface.

Check out this YouTube video by Ariens which explains in detail how to go about choosing the best two-stage snow blower for you:

Two-Stage Snow Blower Pros

• Can handle large amounts of snow
• Can use over gravel
• Often self-propelled
• More affordable than a three-stage snow blower
• Easy to maintain
• Often comes with a rotating discharge chute
• Throws wet snow easily

Two-Stage Snow Blower Cons

• Leaves behind a thin layer of snow
• Can be quite heavy

Everything You Need To Know About A Three-Stage Snow Blower

What is a 3-stage snowblower, anyway? Three-stage snow blowers are essentially 2-stage blowers with an added stage, the induction accelerator. The induction accelerator is in charge of breaking down the ice. 

This additional third stage allows them to move up to 50 percent faster than a 2-stage, which means they are more efficient and leave very little snow behind. Snow and ice gathered by the augers of a three-stage snow blower are churned and reduced to tiny pieces in no time, and they typically have a throwing distance of as far as 50 feet.

Three-stage snow blowers are the most powerful when put up against single-stage snow blowers and their 2-stage contenders, and they can move the thickest deep snow with ease, in just a fraction of the time. All of these factors suggest that a three-stage snowblower is the best companion to have by your side in icy winters. 

However, it would be remiss of me to not give you the low down on the maintenance this beast of machinery requires. These snow blowers are complex, and when it comes to maintaining them, a “Do Not Try This At Home” warning is in order. 

Maintaining a three-stage snowblower is best left to the professionals, and you know what this means – hefty costs! The reason why it’s advised that professionals maintain these snow blowers is because in order to properly maintain it, you need to take apart the machine and care for each part. 

Three-stage snow blowers are quite complex and can be challenging to take apart and put back together without experience or a detailed guide. They can also be difficult to store because most of them are designed to be quite tall.

If you’re in need of some help choosing a snow blower, check out my reviews of the best snow blowers!

YouTube user “bos tony” compares the difference between 2-stage and 3-stage snow blowers in this video:

Three-Stage Snow Blower Pros

• The most powerful type of snowblower
• Clears snow in minimal time
• Can clear snow drifts without slowing down
• Leaves behind a cleaner path than other types of snow blowers

Three-Stage Snow Blower Cons

• Among the most pricey snow blowers
• Usually requires professional maintenance
• Can be difficult to store because most of them have a height of 30 inches and above.
• Heavy

2-Stage Snow Blowers Vs 3-Stage Snow Blowers – Features Face To Face 

Power

Both 2-stage and 3-stage snow blowers are powerful and make snow blowing a breeze. However, one definitely stands out to me. Three-stage snow blowers are incredibly powerful because of their accelerator, which can clear through the thickest layer of snow without needing to slow down.

Winner: Three-stage snow blowers

Speed

Both types of snow blowers undoubtedly work a lot faster than single-stage snow blowers. But when you compare the two, three-stage snow blowers definitely take the cake, all thanks to their accelerators, which allow them to move swiftly. I once read a review that said you can get the job done when your favorite TV show is on a commercial break!

Winner: Three-stage snow blowers

Affordability

Affordability is one of the main reasons why two-stage snow blowers are a more popular type compared to three-stage snow blowers. The retail price of three-stage snow blowers isn’t pretty, and when you consider the addition of maintenance costs, you’re going to need quite a bigger budget altogether.

Winner: Two-stage snow blowers

Check out this article for a better idea of how much snow blowers can cost you nowadays.

Stand-Out Features You Need To Know About

3-Stage Snowblower: Special Features 

• Induction Accelerator: This is the feature that separates three-stage snow blowers from 2-stage. As seen in the picture above, an accelerator is a paddle-like component that runs perpendicular to the auger. It crushes the snow and rapidly feeds it to the discharge impeller. It speeds up the process of snow clearing by turning faster than the augers themselves. The bigger accelerator is, the more snow it can pick up and process. The typical diameter of an accelerator of a 3-stage snowblower is 12 or 14 inches.  

• Stronger Engine: Three-stage snow blowers feature a stronger 4-stroke engine with at least 357cc. Only a few 2-stage snow blowers come close to that, one of them being Cub Cadet 2X 30″ EFI Snow Blower. 

• 50% More Throughput: Throughput tells you how much snow a snow blower processes at a time. Thanks to the accelerator, a 3-stage snowblower moves up to 50 percent more snow than a 2-stage blower. Having higher throughput means higher performance, better efficiency, and less time spent in freezing cold.

• Cleaner Results: Three-stage snow blowers leave very little to no snow behind. That’s because the accelerator with neighboring augers pulls in snow better than the two-stage mechanism. You will achieve the cleanest results if you lower the skid shoes when working on flat paved surfaces. 

• Better Clearing Capacity: A 3-stage snowblower takes the cake when it comes to clearing capacity. It can tackle more than 18 inches of snowfall, unlike its smaller competitor, which maxes out at 12 inches. Consider buying a 3-stage unit if you live in a particularly snowy area where it falls more than 12 inches of snow in one go.

2-Stage Snow Blower: Special Features 

• Less Expensive: This is the stand-out feature that we are most excited to see. On average, two-stage snow blowers are at least $300 cheaper than three-stage machines. The average price of a two-stage snow blower is $1,081.19, and a three-stage snow blower is $1,699.30. That’s a big difference! 

• Cheaper Maintenance: Two-stage snow blowers have a simpler design and construction than three-stage snow blowers. That’s why they are easier to repair at home with the basic tools we all have in our garage. On the other hand, you can’t expect to get your 3-stage blower in order without some professional help. In the end, having a two-stage snow blower is much more cost-effective. 

• Impressive discharge: While 2-stage snow blowers don’t come close to the clearing capacity of 3-stage models, they tie when it comes to the discharge distance. Two-stage blowers can shoot snow from 20 to 50 feet, depending on the model. 

Three-stage machines blow about 50 feet away. Most of them underperform because of their bulkiness and weather conditions. You can now clearly see how 2-stage snow blowers have an impressive discharge, despite not having an accelerator. 

Special Features Both Snowblowers Share

• Track Drive System: This type of chassis is not exclusive to one type of snow blower. It can be seen on two and three-stage machines. Still, it should be mentioned because we are mostly used to seeing wheeled snow blowers. 

Track drive snow blowers move like a tank. They achieve optimal traction with the ground, which means they can handle rough and steep terrain, whether it is paved or unpaved. If you have a large and diverse property to take care of, you can’t go wrong with a snowblower featuring a track drive system.

• Electric Start: This feature allows you to start your gas machine with a simple push of a button. You only have to plug your snowblower into an outdoor outlet using an extension cord. 

Once you push the button and the engine starts, you can unplug the blower and go.  While most three-stage snow blowers have an electric start, a lot of 2-stage models still exclusively work on recoil start. That’s why it is good to double-check the specs before making a purchase.

• Power Steering: It lets you control each wheel separately, so you can better maneuver your heavy machine through thick, wet, and compacted snow. Power steering, aka power assist steering, allows you to operate your blower with only one hand and use your other for controlling the chute. Without this feature, your bulky multi-stage snow blower would quickly strip you of your energy. 

• Multi-Speed System: Two and three-stage snow blowers are all self-propelled. Their wheels pull them forward, so you don’t have to do it manually. All you have to do is steer the snowblower with multiple forward speeds and typically one reverse speed. A snowblower with more than one speed lets you be in charge. You can go faster in light and fluffy snow and slower when dealing with heavy, wet stuff to keep the chute from clogging.

• Chute Control: It used to be that people had to walk to the front of the snow blower to rotate the chute in the desired direction. Now, chute control on two and three-stage snow blowers lets you navigate the direction of discharge without ever having to leave your steering panel. 

A joystick control or mounted cranks lets you adjust the chute vertically and horizontally. When buying a blower, make sure these controls are easily accessible and can be controlled with only one hand.

FAQs

2 Vs 3-Stage Snow Blower: Which One To Choose?

I have to say that both 2-stage and three-stage snow blowers are exceptional pieces of machinery that will definitely make your life a lot easier. They are both powerful and can handle a decent amount of snow including wet snow.

I’d personally opt for a 2-stage snow blower because it has everything I need for residential use. However, it all boils down to which one suits your situation and needs best.

Buy a 2-stage snow blower if:

• You need one for residential use or to cover a small to the medium-sized area.
• You’d rather not break the bank.
• You’re looking for a reliable and easy-to-operate tool.

Buy a 3-stage snowblower if:

• You’re going to be clearing snow regularly.
• You need a snow blower for commercial use.
• You reside in an area that gets heavy snowfall.
• You have a bigger budget.

I hope you found my mini-review of snow blowers – 2-stage vs 3-stage helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or queries in the comments below!