How Much Is the Cost of Snow Removal?

Common Snow Removal Service Rates

While virtually all professionals charge seasonal or event prices from $50 to $450 or more, they almost always figure costs based on hourly rates. Pricing depends on how long it will take one person to move a certain amount of snow in an hour, the equipment, and overhead.

Your snow removal service rates depend on several factors, including the length of your driveway, if there are sidewalks bordering your property, and the amount of snowfall. Companies will also consider the layout of your property, any obstacles they will need to navigate, and the surface composition.

Average Snow Removal Costs

• Per hour: $25–$75

• Per season: $350–$450

• Per event: $30–$75

• Per visit: $30–$50

• Per inch: $60–$95

Per Hour

Snow removal prices range between $25 to $75 per hour for shoveling and blowers. Plowers can cost $180 per hour and the company usually bills in 15-minute increments.

You can expect to pay the lower end of the hourly rates if your house is in a regular residential neighborhood, whereas it can cost considerably more if you’re in a rural area.

Per Season

Paying for a seasonal contract costs $350 to $450. This can be the most cost-effective option if you live somewhere with heavy snowfall. The pricing differs depending on the services that you select. If you opt for the most comprehensive option, the company typically offers unlimited snow removal for your driveway, garage aprons, walkways, and sidewalks. It may also include a free visit the day after the city plow comes to your street, liquid de-icing application, and hauling snow from your property.

Each contract will spell out the trigger amount for service. Depending on your area, it could be as little as 1.5 to 2 inches of snow or as much as 4 to 6 inches of snow. The company should also tell you the timeframe in which they will provide the snow removal service, whether it’s within a certain number of hours or the day.

Prices can range as low as $280 for a driveway-only contract if the driveway is two cars wide and deep. If you have a driveway that is two to three cars wide and deep with short walkways, it can cost $600 to $750. If your home is a corner lot with long sidewalks bordering your property, it may cost $1,100 to $1,400.

Per Event

A big snowstorm is considered an event, and you can expect to pay $30 to $75. This is a good option for areas that experience only a handful of snowstorms per year. And it may be a better deal than paying per visit.

Per Visit

If you’d prefer to call in snow removal services only when you want it, you can opt to pay per visit. The cost could be as low as $15 per visit if you’re in an area with consistent, heavy snowfall, but the average is $30 to $50 per visit. Snowplow prices could be closer to $100 per visit depending on the length of your driveway. A heavy snowstorm could require multiple visits as a company will typically complete a visit every four to six inches of snowfall.

Additionally, roof snow removal services are billed per visit and cost $250 to $500.

Per Inch

Paying the snow removal company per inch of snowfall costs $60 to $95 for the first 6 inches of snow. You will need to add $30 for each additional 6 inches of snow.

Snow Removal Service Costs

Your price will vary depending on the service required to clear your driveway.

Average Cost of Snow Removal by Location

Costs range from $50 to $200 on average, depending on your need. A simple driveway is much less expensive than a drive plus sidewalk. Add in salting or sanding and you can easily hit $200.

Cost to Plow a Driveway

It’ll cost $30 to $50 to plow a 60-foot driveway that’s two-car stalls wide. This cost may or may not include sidewalks or snow removal.

• Optionally, heated driveways cost $12 to $21 per square foot. However, you’ll have to pay to remove and install new asphalt or concrete. Once installed, you'll never need to plow or shovel again; just turn on the heat and it all melts quickly.

• Heated pads for sidewalks and porches run $100 to $450. These lay directly on your sidewalk and walkways.

Snow Plowing Quotes for Parking Lots

Plowing a commercial parking lot costs $50 to $150 per hour. This cost usually includes liquid de-icing, salting, and sanding.

Roof Snow Removal Cost

The cost of snow removal from a roof ranges between $200 and $3,000. Generally, roofs can withstand 20 pounds per square foot. The actual weight of the snow varies depending on the type of accumulation.

Snow removal from roofs is recommended after:

• 6 inches of fresh or dry snowfall

• 3.5 inches of wet snow (wet snow weight 1.7 times more than dry snow)

• 1/2 inch of ice (an inch of ice is equal to a foot of fresh snow)

If you notice these danger signs, remove snow immediately from your roof:

• Strange creaking sounds

• Doors not fitting snugly in door frames

• Ice dams (water leaking through your ceiling)

Unfortunately, the cost of ice dam removal is considerably more than roof clearing costs, running from $400 to $4,000.

Never climb onto your roof to clear it because it is extremely dangerous. If you’d like to DIY the job, use a roof rake and keep both feet on the ground. A roof rake will run you $50 to $150.

Another option is to consider a roof heating system. Roof heating cable systems cost $400 to $1,200 or $20 or more per foot. The systems alone cost $200 to $1,000. These systems use heated cables attached directly to your roof to melt snow as it comes down and after it's settled. They replace the need to remove any buildup on your roof.

Charge for Sidewalk Plowing

Sidewalk plowing costs $25 to $75 per hour. Although sidewalks are technically public property, many cities require homeowners to clear walkways bordering their property. Failure to comply can cost you $50 to hundreds of dollars in fines. To avoid the hassle of keeping up with regulations, you may find it’s easier to hire someone to do the job.

Snow Removal Pricing Factors

Consider these variables to figure out what kind of snow removal services you need, and how much it may cost. Whatever you decide to do, consider calling a company before the snowy season hits to snag the best rates.

Removal vs. Snow Plowing

It will cost you more to have the snow plowed and removed, but it could be a great investment. Depending on the amount of snowfall you expect to get, you may be looking at a huge mountain of snow at the end of your driveway for months. It’s not unusual for large mounds of snow to not melt until late spring or early summer. Consider including removal in your seasonal contract.

Snow Blowing vs. Snow Plowing

The cost of blowing and plowing is usually the same, and depending on your needs, the snow removal company may do both. Plowing is quicker, but blowers are useful for tighter spaces.

Contract vs. Individual Visit

If your area gets a lot of snowfall, a contract will almost always be more cost-effective than paying per individual visit. It’s also easier because once you pay the bill, you know the company will handle all of the work. Companies that offer lawn services in the summer months will often offer annual contracts or roll over unused portions of winter contracts for summer use.

Some companies charge for a certain amount of clearings, and if you surpass that amount, the costs increase for the season. Just make sure to ask in advance how they charge for a full season of removal. Some may charge by the season versus per plow.

Individual visits are a good option if your area only experiences a few snow events a year. However, you may end up paying for multiple visits for the same snowstorm if it’s a big event.

Commercial Plowing Rates vs. Residential Snow Removal 

Commercial rates usually include clearing parking lots, walkways, and drive lanes. Sometimes, the rate will include de-icing liquids, salting, or sanding. The cost ranges from $50 to $150 per hour or $50 to $100+ per visit. De-icing can cost an extra $100 per cubic yard.

Commercial plowing rates are higher than residential rates because commercial properties are larger. Many businesses need to stay open year-round, and the only way to accommodate this is by signing a seasonal contract with a trusted snow removal company. Often, commercial contracts include agreements to visit the property multiple times during a snowstorm.

Residential rates usually include clearing driveways and sidewalks and cost $25 to $15 per hour or $30 to $50 per visit.

Size

Snow removal charges vary according to the size of your property. In particular, costs will vary according to the width and length of your driveway, if there are any walkways, and the length of sidewalks bordering your house.

Special Conditions

Snow removal services cost more depending on any special conditions. These include living in a rural area, steep or curvy driveways, or if your property has hard-to-navigate areas with many obstacles, it may cost more.

Response Time

If you sign a seasonal contract the response time should be outlined clearly. Some companies allow you to choose a trigger amount for service. If you choose 1.5 inches of snow as your trigger amount, you will pay more than if you choose 4 inches of snow as your trigger amount as the company will visit your property more frequently.

The most expensive snow removal services are emergency services— which often means that you failed to hire a company before snowfall. The company will review satellite imagery of your property to discern the shape of the property and to identify obstacles. They will usually only service your property if they have the time and resources after they take care of their main customers.

DIY vs. Hiring Snow Removal Contractors

A DIYer may be inclined to do the snow removal with the equipment they own or rent. Follow these safety tips for shoveling if you plan to do it yourself. Keep in mind that on average, 11,500 people go to the emergency room each year in the U.S. with shoveling-related injuries ranging from strains to heart attacks. Avoid any hassles or injuries by hiring a plowing professional.

DIY Plow Rental

One DIY option is to rent a plow. Plowing is hard on trucks and utility vehicles. It's tough on the suspension, brakes, engine, and transmission. Consider the price of repairs before committing to a rental.

• Truck Plow: $100 per day, $300 per week, or $650 per month: It's a feasible option for rural homeowners with long drives and a ¾- or 1-ton pickup they can devote to just plowing for 3 to 4 months.

• Utility Vehicle Plow: $20 per day, $65 per week, $129 per month: An option if you only experience one or two months of winter weather and want to put your ATV or UTV to use.

FAQs

How much is a snow blower?

For the avid DIYer who wants to do their own clearing without the backache, blowers and throwers run $100 to $2,300 for purchase or $75 per day for rental. In areas with frequent and heavy snowfall buying a blower might be a wise investment. In most areas with infrequent storms, a professional service is more cost-effective.

What is the price of a snow plow and installation?

The price of a plow depends on the type of vehicle you'll mount it to.

• Truck: $4,000+

• UTV: $800+

• ATV: $400+

You can opt to rent a snowplow instead, which costs:

• Truck: $100 per day, $300 per week, or $650 per month

• UTV: $20 per day, $65 per week, or $130 per month

Can a pro plow a gravel driveway?

Yes, a pro can plow a gravel driveway. It’s not as straightforward as plowing a concrete driveway, because you have to make sure you don’t clear the gravel or dirt with the snow. Pros will know how to handle the extra challenge, however.

What is the best home snow removal equipment?

The best home removal equipment is a blower. Though a shovel is cheap, running only $15 to $60, there are too many ways to injure yourself.

What is the cheapest way to remove snow?

The cheapest way to remove snow is with a shovel and hard work, but it's not always the most practical. If you consider your time to be money, hiring a snow removal contractor might be the most cost-effective solution for you.