Most cordless snow shovels clear 10 to 13 inches at a time. Earthwise's SN74016 clears 16, rolls on two 6-inch rear wheels and runs on a 40V 4.0Ah battery that holds more energy than the battery in any shovel kit in our best cordless snow shovels guide. It's sold under the Earthwise Power Tools brand by American Lawn Mower Company, which says it was established in 1895.
On November 3, 2026 the SN74016 had 2,220 ratings on Amazon.com, which makes it one of the most-rated battery snow shovels there. We read Earthwise's owner's manual for the SN74016, compared its listings on Amazon.com and the American Lawn Mower store, and recorded the ratings. As with every guide on this site, we didn't test it ourselves. Here's how we research.
Image: American Lawn Mower Co.Earthwise SN74016 16-inch 40V Cordless Snow Shovel
- Path16 in wide, 8 in deep
- ThrowUp to 32 ft (manual)
- Battery40V 4.0Ah, ≈160 Wh, included
- Run time25–40 min (manual)
- Weight19.4 lb (manual)
- Warranty2 years, limited
Why we like it
- 16-inch path: 25–60% wider than most cordless shovels
- 8-inch depth, deeper than most rivals
- 6-inch rear wheels take the weight off your arms
- Biggest battery of any shovel kit we've covered
- Run time in minutes, stated in the manual
Keep in mind
- Heavier than handheld shovels at about 19 lb
- Not for gravel, per the manual
- 2.5-hour charge with one battery in the box
- Small 40V platform; no EGO or Greenworks crossover
- Warranty excludes damage caused by cold
Which Earthwise is this? SN74016 vs SN70016
Before anything else, check the model number. Earthwise sells two 16-inch snow shovels that look almost the same, and Amazon.com shows them as separate products with the same title:
| Model | Power | Clearing rate | Throw | Amazon rating (Nov 3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 SN74016 | Cordless, 40V 4.0Ah battery | 300 lb/min | Up to 32 ft | 4.1★ from 2,220 |
| SN70016 | Corded, 12-amp, 120V | 430 lb/min | Up to 30 ft | 3.9★ from 2,734 |
This review covers the cordless SN74016. The corded SN70016 moves snow faster and never runs out of battery, but you drag an extension cord around with it, and its ratings are a separate pool. If you see a rating or a review that mentions a cord, it belongs to the SN70016.
Earthwise has also sold larger 40V snow throwers on the same battery, an 18-inch SN74018 and a 22-inch model, according to the American Lawn Mower store. They're snow blowers rather than shovels, and they weren't among the best-selling battery snow tools on Amazon.com when we checked.
Specs from the manual
Here's the SN74016 as described in Earthwise's owner's manual:
| Spec | Earthwise SN74016 (manual) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 40V 4.0Ah lithium-ion | About 160 Wh by our arithmetic |
| Battery run time | 25–40 minutes | A rare manufacturer figure in minutes |
| Charging time | About 2.5 hours | Charger model CHL80040 |
| Clearing width | 16 in (406 mm) | Wider than any shovel in our guide |
| Clearing depth | 8 in (200 mm) | Deeper in one pass than most power shovels |
| Throw distance | Up to 32 ft | Amazon's spec table says 30 ft |
| Clearing capacity | 300 lb per minute | A best-case rate in ideal snow |
| Speed | 2,000 rpm | Auger speed, driven by a belt |
| Weight | 19.4 lb | Amazon lists 19 lb |
| Wheels | 6-in rear wheels | Roll it instead of carrying it |
| Battery storage | Fully charged, down to −4°F for up to a month | Charge between 32°F and 100°F |
| Protection | Overcurrent protection | Slows the motor under heavy load, then recovers |
Earthwise's store and Amazon listing both describe the motor as brushless. The snow direction is set with an adjusting knob: the manual says to pull it up and turn it to send the snow left or right, and the store describes three throwing directions. Amazon's bullet list calls it a 180-degree chute, which overstates it. It's a shovel-style deflector, not a crank-turned blower chute.
What it does well
A wider, deeper path than a typical shovel
At 16 inches wide and 8 inches deep, the SN74016 sits between a cordless snow shovel and a small snow blower. Most battery shovels clear 10 to 13 inches wide and 6 inches deep. Every extra inch of width means fewer passes: a 4-foot walk takes three passes with the Earthwise and four or five with a 10- or 12-inch shovel. Our pass math shows how quickly that adds up on a driveway.
Wheels do the carrying
Handheld battery shovels are light, but you hold their weight the whole time. The Earthwise rolls on two 6-inch rear wheels, and the manual's technique is to tilt it forward until the scraper blade touches the ground and push it at a walking pace. At around 19 lb, it's heavier than handheld shovels, but you carry very little of that weight while you work. It also has an adjustable auxiliary handle for your front hand.
A real number for run time
Most manufacturers avoid run times. Earthwise's manual states 25 to 40 minutes per charge, which is useful for planning. With 300 lb per minute as the best-case rate, that's roughly 3.75 to 6 tons of snow per charge in good conditions, by our arithmetic.
More battery than its rivals
A 40V 4.0Ah pack holds about 160 Wh. That's more than the 140 Wh battery in EGO's SNS1201 kit and well over the 96 Wh in VOLTASK's and Snow Joe's 24V 4.0Ah shovels. More battery means more snow moved before you stop. We compare them below.
It protects itself
The manual describes overcurrent protection: when the load gets too high, the shovel slows down automatically until the current drops, then resumes. That's gentler on the motor and belt than a hard stall, and it tells you to slow down or take a narrower bite.
Where it falls short
- One battery, slow charge. The kit has one 4.0Ah battery, and the manual's typical charge time is 2.5 hours. When it runs out, you wait, unless you buy a second pack.
- Not for gravel. The manual limits it to hard, flat surfaces free of sand and stones. See below.
- A small battery platform. Earthwise's 40V batteries run a handful of Earthwise tools, not a large yard line like EGO's or Greenworks'. See below.
- Belt drive and wear parts. The auger is driven by a belt, and the manual lists the belt, scraper blade and auger as parts that wear and need replacing.
- Assembly required. The handle, wheels, wheel bracket, adjusting knob and auxiliary handle go on with screws and bolts out of the box.
- Cold damage isn't covered. The warranty excludes damage caused by cold, heat, rain or humidity. VOLTASK's warranty has a similar clause.
What one charge really clears
Earthwise gives us two numbers to work with: up to 300 lb of snow per minute and 25 to 40 minutes per charge. Combined:
300 lb/min × 40 min = 12,000 lb = 6 tons
Fresh snow often weighs about 5 to 20 lb per cubic foot. At a middling 10 lb per cubic foot, 4 inches of snow weighs about 3.3 lb per square foot, so 3.75 to 6 tons would be roughly 2,250 to 3,600 square feet. That's the best case, at full rate the whole time in fairly light snow. In practice, turning, backing up and pausing all use battery without moving snow.
A more conservative way is to work from battery energy, as we do for every shovel on this site. Our battery snow calculator uses a clearing rate calibrated against EGO's own coverage claims. For a 160 Wh shovel, it gives roughly:
| Snow | 2 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep | 8 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light, fluffy | ≈1,320 sq ft | ≈660 sq ft | ≈440 sq ft | ≈330 sq ft |
| Typical | ≈880 sq ft | ≈440 sq ft | ≈290 sq ft | ≈220 sq ft |
| Wet, heavy | ≈580 sq ft | ≈290 sq ft | ≈190 sq ft | ≈145 sq ft |
These are our cautious estimates, not measurements, and the real figure probably falls somewhere between the two methods. The pattern is what matters: depth is everything. Halve the depth and you roughly double the area.
What that means for you: a 4-foot walk 50 feet long is 200 square feet, and a set of steps and a deck add a little more. That's comfortably one charge in most snow. A two-car driveway of about 800 square feet in 2 inches of typical snow is about one charge by our estimate. In 6 inches, plan on clearing in rounds during the storm, or a second battery. The manual's own advice matches: clear often, before the snow gets deep.
Against other cordless snow shovels
Here's how the SN74016 lines up against the shovels in our best cordless snow shovels guide. Their figures come from each listing and were recorded on October 28, 2026; the Earthwise figures are from its manual and the ratings from November 3.
| Model | Path (W × D) | Throw | Battery in kit | Weight | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthwise SN74016 | 16 × 8 in | 32 ft | 40V 4.0Ah, ≈160 Wh | 19.4 lb | 4.1★ (2,220) |
| EGO SNS1201 | 12 × 6 in | 25 ft | 56V 2.5Ah, ≈140 Wh | 16.7 lb with battery | 4.4★ (204) |
| VOLTASK 24V | 13 × 6.5 in | 20 ft | 24V 4.0Ah, ≈96 Wh | 9.3 lb | 4.4★ (2,141) |
| Snow Joe 24V-SS13 | 13 × 6 in | Not stated | 24V 4.0Ah, ≈96 Wh | 16.4 lb | 4.0★ (1,214) |
| Greenworks 80V 12-in | 12 × up to 8 in | Not stated | None (bare tool) | 15.9 lb | 3.8★ (61) |
On paper, the Earthwise is the biggest machine of the group: the widest path, the deepest cut, the longest throw and the most battery in the box. Two of the others beat it on owner ratings, though. The EGO and the VOLTASK both average 4.4 stars against the Earthwise's 4.1.
- Choose the Earthwise for a wider walk, a short driveway or a deck you clear often, if you'd rather roll than carry and don't already own a battery platform.
- Choose the EGO if you have EGO batteries, or want them for a mower and leaf blower later. It's the best-rated and has the strongest platform.
- Choose the VOLTASK if light weight matters most. At about 11 lb with its battery, it's easy to lift onto steps and decks.
- Consider a snow blower if your driveway is long or your storms deep. See our snow shovel vs snow blower guide.
Deep, wet and packed snow
The SN74016 can take 8 inches in one pass, more than most cordless shovels. Beyond that, the manual describes a specific technique: hold the shovel by the upper and lower handles, use a swinging or sweeping motion to shave off the top layer, and make multiple passes. It also advises clearing often, before the snow gets deep, and as soon as possible after it falls.
Wet snow is heavier for the same depth, so it drains the battery faster and shortens the throw. Packed or crusted snow, such as the ridge the street plow leaves, is harder still for a small auger. What helps:
- Don't force it. The manual's rule is to guide it at a walking pace and let it work at its designed rate. If it slows, overcurrent protection is telling you to ease off.
- Take narrower bites in wet or deep snow.
- Throw downwind and overlap each pass slightly, as the manual suggests.
- Leave a thin layer. The manual says scraping all the way down wears the scraper and auger, and suggests leaving an inch or two for salt or a shovel.
- Never clear a clog by hand. Turn it off, remove the battery and wait for the auger to stop. The manual warns that a blocked auger can spring back when it's freed, and recommends a wooden stick.
For a heavy plow ridge, break it up with a manual shovel first. If that's a regular job, a snow blower is the better tool. Our guide to wet snow, gravel and ice has more.
Cold weather
Earthwise's manual gives two cold-weather limits for the battery:
- Storage: a fully charged battery can be safely stored at temperatures down to −4°F for up to a month before it needs charging.
- Charging: the charger should be used between 32°F and 100°F. If its light alternates red and green, the battery is too hot or too cold to charge.
It also says to store the battery indoors in a controlled climate to improve its life, and to fully charge it every three months. In practice:
- Keep the battery in the house, not on the shovel in a cold garage. A warm battery delivers more of its energy.
- Insert it right before you start.
- Expect less in deep cold. Lithium-ion batteries deliver noticeably less at 0°F, so plan on the low end of the 25-to-40-minute range or below.
- Let a cold battery warm up before charging. The charger may refuse to start until it does.
After clearing, the manual says to keep the shovel running for a few minutes so ice doesn't freeze on the moving parts, then switch off, remove the battery and wipe it down. Because Earthwise's warranty excludes damage caused by cold, following these steps matters. Our full guide to batteries in cold weather compares what each brand's manual says.
Gravel
The SN74016 isn't for gravel. The manual is direct: use it only on hard, flat surfaces such as paved driveways, free of sand, stones, debris and wires. It also warns against using a snow thrower on a gravel surface unless it's adjusted for one, and it describes no such adjustment.
On a gravel drive, the auger can pick up stones and throw them up to 30 feet, which can hurt people and break windows. If your drive is gravel, use a manual shovel or a two-stage snow blower, which rides on skid shoes with its auger raised. Use the Earthwise on the paved walk, steps and patio instead.
What owners' ratings say
Here's how the SN74016's Amazon.com ratings broke down on November 3, 2026, next to the corded SN70016 and two cordless rivals from our guide:
| Listing | Average | Ratings | 5★ | 4★ | 3★ | 2★ | 1★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthwise SN74016 (cordless) | 4.1 | 2,220 | 57% | 20% | 9% | 4% | 10% |
| Earthwise SN70016 (corded) | 3.9 | 2,734 | 52% | 21% | 9% | 5% | 13% |
| VOLTASK SS-20B (Nov 1) | 4.4 | 2,143 | 71% | 13% | 7% | 2% | 7% |
About 77% of SN74016 owners gave four or five stars, and 10% gave one star. That's a solid result for a machine with this many ratings, but below the VOLTASK, the best-rated high-volume shovel we've covered. The SN74016 ranked number 15 in Amazon.com's snow blower category on November 3, a category that includes power shovels.
Amazon's review text doesn't come through in the page data we can read, so we rely on the distribution, not on quotes. A one-star share of about 10% is typical of battery snow tools, and usually reflects expectations as much as defects: a shovel bought for a long driveway in heavy snow, or a battery stored in a cold garage.
Reading low ratings: check the snow depth and type, the size of the area, where the battery was kept and whether the review is about the cordless SN74016 or the corded SN70016. A shovel that slows in 10 inches of wet snow is working as designed. A broken belt or auger in the first weeks, or a battery that won't take a charge indoors, is the kind of report that matters.
The Earthwise 40V battery
The SN74016 comes with one Earthwise 40V 4.0Ah lithium-ion battery and a charger. American Lawn Mower's store lists the replacement battery as the BL84040 and the charger as the CHL80040, the model the manual names.
According to the store, the BL84040 also fits Earthwise's 40V chainsaw, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, tiller, pole saw and 18- and 22-inch snow throwers. That's a useful little family if you own other Earthwise tools, but it's much smaller than the EGO, Greenworks or Ryobi lines, and Earthwise batteries don't fit any other brand's tools. If you'll want a mower, leaf blower and trimmer on one battery later, a larger platform is the better long-term buy. Our guide to battery platforms explains the trade-off.
The battery's charge gauge has three green lights, shown when you press its button. Three lights means charged, two means 25 to 80%, and one means 5 to 25%. The manual recommends charging when one light is left. New batteries may need two or three charge cycles to reach full run time. If the lights stop responding after a long press, the battery is in sleep mode: a minute or two on the charger wakes it up.
Two batteries ≈ 320 Wh, about double the area per session
Upkeep and warranty
After every use
- Keep it running for a few minutes so ice doesn't freeze on the moving parts.
- Switch off, wait for the auger to stop, remove the battery and wipe off snow and ice with a clean rag.
- Clean ice and debris from the vent slots, auger and housing.
- Bring the battery inside.
The manual says to clean it only with a cloth soaked in hot water and a soft brush, never to spray it with water, and not to use detergents or solvents, which can damage the plastic. Before each use, check that the screws, nuts and the auger are tight.
Parts that wear
The manual lists replacement kits for the auxiliary handle, adjusting knob, wheels, wheel bracket, drive belt, scraper blade and auger, and explains how to change the belt, auger and scraper blade. A worn scraper blade can cause strong vibration and damage the auger, so replace it when it wears down. If the shovel vibrates abnormally, the manual says to switch it off at once and find the cause.
Off-season
Store the shovel indoors in a clean, dry place, with the battery removed. The manual suggests lightly oiling the metal parts against corrosion for long storage, and fully charging the battery every three months. Our off-season battery guide covers the rest.
Warranty
The manual gives a two-year limited warranty on Earthwise 40V outdoor power equipment. It covers the original buyer from an authorized retailer, with a dated receipt, for personal or household use, and it isn't transferable. It excludes wear items, misuse, overloading, failure to follow the manual, and damage caused by cold, heat, rain, excessive humidity or corrosion. Shipping to and from the service center is at your cost.
Verdict
The Earthwise SN74016 is the cordless snow shovel to look at if you want more than a shovel without buying a snow blower. It clears a 16-inch path up to 8 inches deep, rolls on wheels, throws snow up to 32 feet and has the biggest battery of any shovel kit we've covered, with a run time of 25 to 40 minutes stated in the manual. More than 2,200 owners give it an average of 4.1 stars.
It's best for walks, steps, decks, patios and short paved driveways cleared often. Skip it for gravel, for long driveways in deep storms, or if you're buying into a battery platform for your whole yard, where the EGO is the better choice. A second battery is the upgrade worth budgeting for.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Earthwise SN74016 snow shovel good?
For walks, steps, decks, patios and short paved driveways in light-to-moderate snow, most owners say yes. On November 3, 2026 it averaged 4.1 stars from 2,220 Amazon.com ratings, with 77% four or five stars. It clears a 16-inch path up to 8 inches deep, wider than most cordless snow shovels, rolls on 6-inch rear wheels and comes with a 40V 4.0Ah battery and charger. Earthwise rates it at 25 to 40 minutes per charge.
How long does the Earthwise SN74016 battery last?
The owner's manual gives a battery run time of 25 to 40 minutes and a charging time of about 2.5 hours. The 40V 4.0Ah pack holds about 160 Wh. Run time depends on snow depth and weight and on the temperature: wet snow and deep cold sit at the bottom of that range or below it.
Is the Earthwise SN74016 cordless or corded?
The SN74016 is cordless. It runs on an Earthwise 40V lithium-ion battery, included with a charger. Earthwise also sells a corded 16-inch shovel, the SN70016, with a 12-amp motor. The two look similar and appear side by side on Amazon, so check the model number before you buy.
Can the Earthwise snow shovel be used on gravel?
No. The manual says to use it only on hard, flat surfaces such as paved driveways, free of sand, stones and debris, and describes no adjustment for gravel. On a gravel drive, its auger can pick up and throw stones.
How deep can the Earthwise SN74016 clear?
Up to 8 inches in one pass, over a 16-inch width. For deeper drifts, the manual says to hold the shovel by the upper and lower handles, shave off the top layer with a sweeping motion and make several passes. It also recommends clearing often, before snow gets deep.
What batteries fit the Earthwise SN74016?
Earthwise's 40V lithium-ion batteries. Its store lists the 40V 4Ah BL84040 for the SN74016, and the same battery runs Earthwise 40V tools such as its chainsaw, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, tiller and 18- and 22-inch snow throwers. Earthwise batteries don't fit EGO, Greenworks or other brands' tools.
Does the Earthwise snow shovel work in very cold weather?
Yes, with care for the battery. The manual says a fully charged battery can be stored at temperatures down to -4°F for up to a month, and that the charger works between 32°F and 100°F. Keep the battery indoors, charge it warm, and expect shorter run times in deep cold. Note that the warranty excludes damage caused by cold.
What warranty does the Earthwise SN74016 have?
A two-year limited warranty on Earthwise 40V outdoor power equipment, for the original purchaser from an authorized retailer, with a dated receipt. It covers household use only and excludes wear items, misuse, and damage caused by cold, heat, rain, humidity or corrosion.
Sources and notes
Specifications, run time, charging, battery gauge, cold-weather limits, operating technique, maintenance, wear parts and warranty terms come from Earthwise's owner's manual for the SN74016 16-inch snow thrower, linked from its Amazon.com listing. The brushless motor, three throwing directions, product history, compatible battery (BL84040), charger (CHL80040) and sibling models come from the American Lawn Mower Company store at americanlawnmower.com on November 3, 2026. Ratings, rankings, model numbers and the corded SN70016's specifications come from Amazon.com listings on November 3, 2026: SN74016 (B073V482GX) and SN70016 (B073V482GY). Figures for the other shovels come from our best cordless snow shovels guide (October 28, 2026) and the VOLTASK figures from our VOLTASK review (November 1, 2026). Watt-hour, tonnage and area figures and the snow weight assumption are our own estimates; the area table uses the same model as our calculator. We did not test these products ourselves.