26" vs 28" Snowblowers - Which Is Better?

The main reason I would choose a 28" over a 26" snowblower is that with a 28" you should be able to clear a standard width city sidewalk in two passes. With a 26" snowblower you will have to blow the full width of the auger housing on both passes. Unfortunately when you blow the full width of the auger housing some of the snow shoots out of the housing to the left and to the right meaning you either have to make a third pass or come back with a shovel to clean-up the overspray. Perhaps not a big deal for most people.

The larger the auger housing (the part in front that collects the snow) the more snow that needs to be processed. To process more snow you need a bigger engine. A 2" larger auger housing will make a snowblower slightly more awkward to maneuver but it's more likely the extra weight of a larger engine that will make a snowblower feel harder to handle.

However, it is fairly common for snowblowers with a 2" difference in auger housings to share the exact same engine. For example while snowblower shopping I had the option of purchasing a 26" or 28" snowblower both with the same engine. I chose the 26" model as it was $100 less. In retrospect, I think I would have enjoyed the extra 2" of clearing width.

Conclusion

Before you purchase a snowblower you should consider all factors -

• Your needs
• Your budget
• Your storage space
• Resale value