Snow rakes have a long pole and a wide head to make clearing snow easy. They’re most commonly used to remove snow on roofs, but some snow rakes are small enough to work on cars or sidewalks.
Keep reading to learn about the best snow rakes, as well as important factors to consider before choosing a model.
Top 3 Snow Rakes
- Donkey Auto Products Professional Heavy Duty Snow Rake: Best Non-Abrasive Head
- SNOWPEELER Aluminum Roof Shovel: Best Slide
- Extreme Max 5600.3207 Shingle-Saver 21-Foot Roof Snow Rake: Best Wheels
Best Non-Abrasive Head
Donkey Auto Products Professional Heavy Duty Snow Rake
The head on this rake has a vinyl coating along its edges to prevent the blade from damaging any surfaces. It’s most commonly used on cars because its coating prevents the head from scratching a vehicle’s paint job.
What People Are Saying About The Donkey Auto Products Professional Heavy Duty Snow Rake
Most customers used this rake on their cars instead of on their roofs because of its short handle and light-duty head. However, they said it performed well and didn’t leave any scratches on their car’s paint. While there aren’t many negative reviews, one customer was unsatisfied with the rake’s small handle.
Best Slide
SNOWPEELER Aluminum Roof Shovel
This SNOWPEELER rake has a plastic sheet called a slide that hangs from the blade, forcing the raked snow to move down this sheet and providing you with more control of where the snow lands. Additionally, this rake is designed with protective glide pads to prevent you from damaging your roof.
What People Are Saying About The SNOWPEELER Aluminum Roof Shovel
Customers were pleased with the efficiency of this product. Several customers said they were able to clear their roofs of several feet of snow in less than half an hour thanks to the product’s open head. However, some customers said the rake was too heavy and required them to have a decent amount of upper body strength to remove any snow.
Best Wheels
Extreme Max 5600.3207 Shingle-Saver 21-Foot Roof Snow Rake
The angled blade on this snow rake has small rollers on its sides, preventing the edges from touching the roof and making it less likely for you to damage shingles. Additionally, the rake is made of lightweight aluminum, which is easy to maneuver and corrosion-resistant.
What People Are Saying About The Extreme Max 5600.3207 Shingle-Saver 21-Foot Roof Snow Rake
Customers said that this rake was easy to use even if they weren’t in the best shape. Because of the rake’s wheels, customers didn’t have to lift the blade on and off the roof, which decreased how much upper body strength they needed to have. However, several customers said that the rake wasn’t strong enough to handle heavy-duty jobs and remove several feet of snow.
Buying Guide
The This Old House Team researched the most important factors to consider before buying a snow rake.
Pole
When looking at a snow rake’s pole, consider its size, material, and ergonomics.
Pole Size
Snow rake poles are usually between 14 and 24 feet long. The longer the pole, the more roof you’ll be able to access and the less control you’ll have over the rake. To aid in storage and to ensure that you’re not handling an unwieldy pole, look for a snow rake that can be lengthened and shortened.
Some poles come with several segments, allowing you to shorten your pole by pulling out one of these segments. Other telescoping poles allow you to pull the pole out to the length you want.
Pole Material
The pole should be lightweight and resistant to corrosion. Aluminum fulfills both of these requirements, making it the most common material used in snow rake poles, but some rakes come with fiberglass poles.
Ergonomics
Look for a snow pole that has a rubber or foam grip for a comfortable gripping experience.
Blade/Head
Consider the size and material of your snow rake’s blade before making a purchase.
- Blade size—Snow rake blades range in depth from three inches to 10 inches and in width from 12 inches to 24 inches. Larger blades allow you to remove more snow at once, but a blade full of wet snow can be difficult to remove from your roof.
- Blade material—The best blade material is aluminum, but some snow rakes have plastic heads to make them more lightweight.
Weight
The weight of your snow rake is directly related to the size and material of its pole and blade. Snow rakes usually weigh between four and 14 pounds, with most of the weight being in the head. Balance how much snow you want to remove with how heavy of a rake you can handle.
Extra Features
Some snow rakes have wheels or snow slides to help with mobility.
Slides—Snow rakes like the SNOWPEELER Aluminum Roof Shovel have a plastic sheet that hangs from the blade. As you rake snow, the snow will run down this sheet and onto the ground, giving you more control of where the snow lands.
Wheels—Some rakes like the Extreme Max Shingle-Saver 21-Foot Roof Snow Rake have wheels on their blade to prevent the blade from touching the roof, reducing the possibility of roof damage.
Snow Rake FAQs
Will a snow rake damage my roof?
A roof rake is designed to cause minimal damage, but you should still be careful while using one. Try not to slam the rake on the roof or violently pull a chunk of snow off the roof. Consider buying a rake with wheels, as this will prevent the rake’s blade from ever touching the roof.
Does my snow rake require maintenance?
Not really. Consider storing your snow rake inside or in a shed while it’s not in use, and inspect the rake before using it to ensure its bolts are secure and no pieces are broken.
What are ice dams?
Ice dams form when ice builds along the edge of your roof. This buildup prevents any snow that’s higher on the roof from sliding to the ground. Once an ice dam has formed, it can be difficult to remove and be potentially harmful to your roof because it requires some force to break the ice. To prevent ice dams from forming, clear the edge of your roof of snow.
How can I remove snow from other areas of my property?
You can use snow shovels or snow blowers to remove snow from your lawn, driveway, and walkways. You can also take a preventative approach and apply snowmelt to your driveways and sidewalks ahead of a storm. This will melt the snow as it falls, preventing it from accumulating.
Our Methodology
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, including power tools, outdoor equipment, major appliances, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and more that focus on product quality and helpfulness to our readers.
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of products with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we compared each model’s feature set to create a final shortlist, selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.