Tested: Best Ice Scrapers and Snow Brushes for 2025
Got snow or ice problems? Make sure your view is clear before you hit the road with these snow and ice removal tools designed to make car owners’ lives easier.
Gannon Burgett // Car and Driver
When it comes to winter gear for your vehicle, arguably the most important tool is an ice scraper or snow brush. They’re the tools of choice to defeat those early-morning snow-covered windshields (we see you, credit-card scrapers!). Store one in your trunk or under a seat, and you’re ready to roll. But which one should you buy?
We wish it were an easy answer—but like many things, there are a variety of types to choose from. In this test, we’ll get into why ice scrapers, snow brushes, and snow brooms all look different and help you decide which one you should buy.
Our Top Picks
Things to Consider
The most important aspect to consider before you purchase a snow removal tool is your expected use. How often will you use it? What kind of snow will you be removing? Do you need a large or small scraper? Will you need to purchase an extension pole, or does it come with the product?
Type of Snow Removal Tool You Need
There are three main types of snow-removal tools: snow brooms, snow brushes, and ice scrapers. Some include just one of these components, while others combine two or three tools into a snow-removing Frankenstein.
Snow Broom
If you live in a climate where endless fluffy snow is the norm, consider a snow broom. This strange-looking tool usually boasts a long reach and a distinctive foam squeegee at one end. It excels at removing large amounts of snow quickly. Simply drag or push it across the windshield and roof of your vehicle and the bulk of the snow will fall away.
The main downside to snow brooms is their lack of effectiveness against ice. Foam squeegees can easily get ripped up and compromised on frozen snow and hard or jagged ice, damaging their key feature.
Snow Brush
If you deal with consistently low to moderate snow totals throughout the winter, we recommend a snow brush for your winter kit. A snow brush is a midpoint between the strengths and weaknesses of a snow broom: It doesn’t remove as much snow as quickly but is far more compact.
Ice Scraper
When it comes down to it, an ice scraper is pretty darn close to essential. Sure, removing snow is nice, but there’s almost always a layer of ice underneath. Snow brooms and brushes can’t remove it on their own, which is why most feature a scraper attachment.
Reach
Reach is an important thing to factor into your snow removal tool purchase. Brooms have the longest reach, while scrapers have the shortest. If you have trouble reaching the top of your vehicle, consider picking up a snow removal tool that features an adjustable length.
Storability
Finally, storage is something to keep in mind as well. Decide where you’d want to store the tool inside your vehicle during the winter—and where you’re going to put it when the weather warms up.
Detailed Reviews
We were very impressed with the Eversprout SnowBuster. We love the wavy S design of the head, as it digs in and pushes and pulls snow efficiently. The 1.5- to 3.0-foot-long extension pole is adjustable thanks to snap locks, allowing you to set the length to whatever you need.
The broom head and scraper head are both quality attachments, but you do have to swap them out. Each attachment uses its entire surface to get the job done, so the design makes sense.
Overall, the SnowBuster is a fantastic snow broom option thanks to an intuitively shaped foam head and excellent adjustability.
| Total Length | 25.5 inches compressed, 46.3 inches extended |
|---|---|
| Broom Width | 16.0 inches |
| Scraper Width | 4.0 inches |
For a simple, easy-to-use snow brush that also incorporates an ice scraper, it’s hard to go wrong with the Mallory 532. It’s not a super-long snow remover, but we like the bristle strength and foam grip.
The plastic scraper isn’t the greatest, but the length of the tool allows you to apply some leverage to the blade, so it works fine. The whole tool is easy to store in both the vehicle and the garage, and with plenty of colors and styles to choose from, it’s super budget-friendly.
| Total Length | 25.0 inches |
|---|---|
| Scraper Width | 4.0 inches |
If you’re looking for a compact ice scraper, we really liked the SubZero 14125. At just 11 inches long, it’ll fit quite easily in a glovebox or door pocket.
The scraper side is slightly flexible, allowing it to conform to the curves of a windshield. Opposite the scraper is a toothed ice chipper for that extra-thick crusty stuff—we hit our windshield first with the chipper and followed up with the blade for the best results.
| Total Length | 11.0 inches |
|---|---|
| Scraper Width | 4.0 inches |
This strange-looking thingamabob may not be “magical,” but it is indeed an ice scraper—and a shockingly darned good one at that. On one end is a barbed, hardened ABS plastic chipper to loosen and remove thicker ice.
On the bottom, the softer, wider end is where the actual ice scraping happens. Simply apply pressure and slide the cone around your windshield. As long as we used the ice-chipping side first, this Magical Ice Scraper really opened our eyes.
| Total Length | 4.0 inches tall |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 5.5 inches |
How We Tested
We waited for a classic Michigan winter storm to roll through, and when one did, it was a doozy. A large amount of snow followed by frigid (double-digit negative!) temperatures created a snowy blanket that covered an icy crust on all our test vehicles.
Here are the testing parameters we evaluated:
- Build Quality
- Reach
- Total Length
- Blade Width
- Adjustability
- Performance
With warm hearts and frozen fingers, here are the results from our evaluation of the Best Ice Scrapers and Snow Brushes.
FAQs
What is the best kind of ice scraper?
This depends on what type of snow or ice you’ll want to remove from your vehicle. For an occasional light snow, you’ll be fine with a little handheld scraper that can fit in your glovebox. If you have to deal with heavy snow and ice, you’ll want to get a snow broom or brush with an ice scraper attached.
Where can I store my ice scraper or snow brush?
The best option is to keep it in your vehicle throughout winter and then store it in your garage when snow isn’t an issue. Some snow brooms come with a hole for easy hanging. Small ice scrapers can be stored in your glovebox, in a cabin cubby, or under a seat, while full-size snow brooms will probably need to be stored in the trunk.
Why can’t I just use my windshield wipers?
Technically, you can—it’s just not good for them. Wipers are made with rubber blades that quickly wear and tear if used on ice, and once that happens, they’ll never clear water off a windshield like they’re supposed to. Additionally, heavy snow and ice buildup can actually freeze the blades to your windshield.
Can I use an ice scraper on my whole car?
You should only use ice scrapers on glass, as even a plastic scraper can scratch your paint. If you want to minimize the risk of scratching your paint, a snow broom or brush is the way to go.