Best Ice Scrapers and Snow Brushes for 2025 - Gear Team Tested

Mar 07, 2025

Our car experts choose every product we feature. We may earn money from the links on this page.

Snow problems? S'no problem! Make sure your view is clear before hitting the road with these snow and ice removal tools.

This article was updated with new products and information in February 2025.

When winter hits, an ice scraper or snow brush is one of the most essential tools you can keep in your car. Sure, you could use a credit card in a pinch (we’ve all been there), but a proper scraper makes clearing off your windshield faster, easier, and far less frustrating. Keep one in your trunk or tucked under a seat, and you'll be ready when the snow starts falling.

But with so many options—scrapers, brushes, and even extendable snow brooms—choosing the right one isn’t always straightforward. That’s where we come in. We’ve tested a range of ice scrapers and snow brushes to help you find the best tool for the job.

Some of the most important points to consider prior to purchasing a snow removal tool are how you expect to use it, as well as how often. Additionally, what kind of snow (heavy or light) will you be removing? Do you need a large or small scraper? Will you need to have an extendable device, or do you only need a small one? To help answer these questions, let's get into each type of snow removal tool.

There are three main types of snow-removal tools: snow brooms, snow brushes, and ice scrapers. Some units are equipped with just one of these components, but others can have a combination of two or even all three tools like a snow-removing Frankenstein.

If you reside in a climate where you might regularly receive an abundance of fluffy flakes, consider a snow broom. This strange-looking contraption scores points for its long reach and distinctive foam squeegee at one end. It excels at rapidly clearing large amounts of snow. Simply drag or push it across your vehicle and the bulk of the snow will fall away. Just make sure it doesn't end up covering you instead.

The main downside of these is their lack of effectiveness against ice. Foam squeegees can easily get ripped up on frozen snow and hard or jagged ice, damaging their main feature. Thankfully, many snow brooms include an ice scraper on the handle end—which can be used to remove that scratchy ice. Another factor to keep in mind is storage, as these devices will take up more space in your vehicle than the other two types.

If you consistently endure low to moderate snowfalls throughout the winter, we advise adding a snow brush to your winter kit. A snow brush has a mix of the strengths and weaknesses of a snow broom: It won't remove as much snow as quickly but it's far more compact. These tools are great for clearing small to medium amounts of snow and can get into those cracks and crevices that snow brooms can't, like around the mirrors, headlights, and door handles.

The negative is that a snow brush can't quickly remove heaps of snow the way a snow broom can, and it may not be able to stretch all the way across the roof of your vehicle. That said, the smaller size makes it easier to stow away. If you receive an occasional snowstorm but generally deal with a few inches now and then, a snow brush is a good option.

When it comes down to it, an ice scraper is pretty darn close to essential during the winter months. Sure, removing snow is important, but there's almost always a layer of ice underneath, which brooms and brushes are unable remove on their own, hence the reason why most are equipped with a scraper attachment. However, if you don't experience severe winter weather, just the scraper will likely suffice.

A stand-alone ice scraper will typically fit in the palm of your hand, which makes storage a breeze. There are a few different styles too, which we explore during this test. The drawback for these is they won't do much in the way of snow removal. We also highly recommend wearing gloves while your using one: not just to keep your mitts warm in frigid temps but also to protect your fingers and hands from the cold shavings.

Reach is an important factor in your purchase as well. Brooms usually have the longest range, while scrapers have the shortest. If you have trouble reaching the top of your vehicle, consider picking up a snow removal tool (and/or an aftermarket extension pole) that features an adjustable length—something we found incredibly useful during our evaluations.

Finally, you should think about storage. Determine where in your vehicle you'd keep the tool during the winter—and where you're going to keep it during the sunny seasons. If you're lacking trunk space, opt for a smaller scraper; if you have room to spare, a longer snow removal tool won't hurt.

We patiently wait for a good ol' fashioned Michigan winter storm to roll through. Once we have a large amounts of snow and frigid (sometimes double-digit negative!) temperatures creating a thick sheet of ice, we plan out our test and get to work. Our test vehicles were more than ready every time we've updated this test, covered almost top to bottom with the thick ice and heavy lake effect snow we've come to expect here in Michigan. Here are the parameters we used during our evaluations:

With warm hearts and frozen fingers, here are the results from our evaluation of the Best Ice Scrapers and Snow Brushes.

OXO's Extendable Snow Brush with Ice Scraper impressed us immediately. Both the scraper and brush worked well, clearing away both snow and ice with just the right amount of stiffness across the brushes and rigidity in the scraper.

The six-way adjustability of the brush and extendable handle made it easier for our shorter Gear Team members to reach across a hood when needed, while still collapsing into a portable form factor that’s small enough to fit behind a seat or tuck away in the trunk.

In the end, this is the scraper we chose to keep in our Gear Team Hyundai Santa Cruz. Considering how many scrapers we now have stocked away in our garage, that’s quite a testament to how much we enjoyed using it, even in sub-zero, borderline-blizzard conditions.

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.

For a cheap, no-frills way to remove both ice and snow that you can keep in your vehicle all winter long, this snow brush is a solid choice.

If you’re looking for an extendable snow brush that adapts to your needs, the MOOver is worth a peek. We appreciated its thoughtful design, which includes a rotating bristle head with a squeegee on the opposite side, an adjustable-length handle, and foam padding for comfort. The detachable ice scraper clicks in and out easily and features a curved top to help deflect snowflakes away from your hands.

The MOOver's thick bristle head—more like a broom than a traditional snow brush—makes it highly effective for clearing heavy snow. Its ability to swivel in both directions adds versatility. The MOOver’s all-season functionality makes it a solid choice for keeping in your car well beyond winter.

There are a few minor drawbacks: reattaching the brush and scraper requires some care, as it’s possible to pinch your fingers. But, overall, this scraper delivers reliable performance for easily tackling ice and snow.

The Lismodz is a compact, palm-sized device that works like an electric shaver to remove ice from windows. With a 500 RPM rotating disc, it clears frost and light ice in minutes. Its ergonomic handle ensures a secure grip, even with gloves.

However, it has limitations. The ice we tested was light and overnight-settled, but we’re unsure how well it would handle thick, heavy ice. It also requires pre-charging, adding another device to keep track of in an already tech-filled world. Plus, it doesn’t remove snow; you'll first need to clear the snow off your windshield before you can use it.

If you like gimmicky gadgets, this works as advertised. But for practical, all-around winter car care, its usefulness is limited—especially since many people are unlikely to remember to keep their ice scraper charged.

This SubZero 80037 is the real "do it all" snow removal tool. Featuring a squeegee for big snow, a brush for hard-to-reach areas, and an ice scraper at the end of the device, this snow removal tool is built to handle it all.

However, it doesn't really excel in any particular area; it's good, but not great. For example, the squeegee is made of rubber rather than foam, so we're concerned about its durability over repeated uses in super-cold weather. The incorporated snow brush works fine—but it's kind of awkward to use with this handle. Finally, the foam hand grips kept our hands off the cold metal but had a tendency to slide up and down the pole during use.

This SubZero was fantastic in the adjustability category, though, boasting easy press-button locks and a tilt-able head. In the end, the fact that it integrates all three snow removal tools in one makes it worth considering—but don't expect miracles.

The Mallory 203 brush and scraper is a no-frills, lightweight tool with a simple wooden handle and medium-stiff bristles.

While the wood is slightly rough and the design isn't adjustable, it’s adequate for basic scraping and brushing needs. The foam bristles with anodized aluminum add a touch of durability. This Canadian-made scraper gets the job done if you prefer straightforward, natural materials.

This Snow Joe LED Snow Broom was really good at one thing: moving the most snow. Thanks to its extra-wide 18-inch foam blade, this tool swept snow off our test cars in mega chunks. Unfortunately, for us that's where the good stuff stopped.

The handle can only be set at either its shortest or longest length—there isn't a way to lock it at any point in between. The blade has a duller edge than some of the others we tested, and it struggled against the crusty ice underneath the snow. Additionally, we ordered the version with built-in LED lights. The one that arrived didn't have them.

If all you're concerned with is moving lots of snow fast, this is a good choice. But for overall performance, comfort, and effectiveness we preferred the other snow brooms we tested.

This distinctive wedge-shaped ice scraper from Better Stuff is an interesting concept, but in reality it didn't work great in our testing. With ice chippers on one side and a blade on the other, it's supposed to clear ice with a forward-backward sliding motion. It struggled. On the bright side, it is ergonomic and compact, and it feels great in the hand. By holding it like a computer mouse, you can really apply pressure, and the scraping part does work quickly. It's a small gadget to stash in your glovebox, but look elsewhere for efficient ice-scraping action.

On another note, it's interesting that the blade is made with a brass alloy, which Better Stuff claims is harder than ice and softer than glass. We didn't notice any scratches on our test car windows when we were finished, but it definitely gave us pause before using it. We're still not certain we'd scrape that sharp brass edge across the windshields of our personal vehicles.

No, this isn't an omelet flipper; this is actually an ice scraper from SCRUBIT. Another great idea in theory, but it fell flat in the real world. Inside the glove is a plastic handle you hold that does the scraping, rather than your fingertips. Sounds nice, right? Unfortunately, the handle inside is not comfortable and the clear plastic scraping edge is poor. But hey, you won't get snow on your hand.

Wielding one of these on each hand might make you unstoppable in the event of a zombie snowpocalypse. The morning after simply a cold snow, however, we recommend looking elsewhere for a tool to clear your windshield.

As you might expect, there's no shortage of cars we have access to on a regular basis, even throughout the chilly Michigan winters. Throughout our initial testing and subsequent updates, we've tested these scrapers on everything from a Mitsubishi Eclipse and a lifted Ford Bronco to our Gear Team Hyundai Santa Cruz and a long-term Toyota Grand Highlander. We're generally limited by access to snow, but when it eventually arrives, we wait for the perfect balance of ice and snow (something us Michiganders are intimately familiar with) and got to work with each of the scrapers, doing our best to clear away windshields and side windows across various vehicles.

Before we set to work clearing the cars, we measure each tool's total length as well as the width of the scraper or broom. Next, we take notes on the construction and overall build quality, evaluating things like foam stiffness and handle adjustability. Once each number is recorded, we venture out into the chilly winter air and got to work.

This meant testing performance: how the snow brooms acted on the top fluffy layer of snow, and their ability to brush away snow in hard-to-reach crevices. Finally, we scrape away the lower layer of ice with each ice scraper.

This depends on the type of snow or ice you'll be removing from your vehicle. For the occasional accumulation of flurries, you'll be fine with a basic handheld device. If you're consistently dealing with heavy snow and ice, you should have a snow broom or brush with an ice scraper attached.

It's best to keep your scraper or brush in an easily accessible place inside your vehicle especially during the winter. (Remember that trunks can be frozen shut too.) In warmer months, you can store it away if snow isn't an issue. Some snow brooms have a hole for easy hanging. Smaller ice scrapers can even be stored in your glovebox, in a cabin cubby, or under a seat. Full-size snow brooms and scrapers will probably need to be stored in the backseat area or the trunk.

For reference, the snow brooms shown in the picture above are adjusted to their shortest length to show how much room they take up in a typical trunk next to a basketball.

Technically, you can—it's just not very good for them. Windshield wipers have rubber blades that'll quickly get chewed up if used on ice. Once that happens, they won't be able to clear water off a windshield like they've been designed to, and you'll have to get new ones.

Also remember that heavy snow and ice buildup can actually freeze your wipers to the windshield. If you attempt to use the wipers while they're frozen, you could damage the wiper mechanism—which can be very expensive to fix.

Not if you like your paint. Ice scrapers should only be used on glass, and even plastic scrapers can damage your paint. To minimize the risk of scratches, use a snow brush or broom on all the non-glass surfaces of your vehicle.

The Gear Team has tested a wide variety of automotive products, parts, accessories, and gear, such as dash cams, tire inflators, and garage shelving. We get our hands on each and every product we test. Most are purchased; some are supplied by manufacturers.

The Gear Team doesn't need to game algorithms for traffic or promote lousy products for clicks. We're more concerned with our reputation and the trust that our readers have in Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road & Track to deliver honest opinions and expert evaluations.

Visit our Tested & Trusted page to see the very best in automotive gear. Read more about our product testing and evaluation process here.

Collin Morgan is a Commerce Editor at Hearst Autos, where the former Rust Belt mechanic and gadget enthusiast presents the best gear for your automotive endeavors.

Gannon Burgett loves cameras, cars, and coffee: a perfect combination for his Hearst Autos work. His byline has appeared in USA Today, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, the Detroit Free Press, and more.

Katherine Keeler is Associate Testing Editor at Hearst Autos. By day she evaluates tools for your enjoyment; by night, she Frankensteins her ever-changing fleet of rustbucket oddities back to repair. Her dream is to open a roadside attraction where the public can view, drive, and learn repairs at her emporium of curious cars.

The Best Motorcycle Jackets of 2025

Tested: Best Traction Boards of 2025

The Very Best Motorcycle Helmets of 2025

Best Floor Mats of 2025

Best Car GPS Trackers for 2025, Tested

The Best Hitch Cargo Carrier, According to Experts

Tested: Best Car Scratch Removers

Best Cordless Impact Wrenches for 2025, Tested

Car-Themed Books That Make Perfect Gifts

Gift Ideas for Your Car-Loving Dad

Best Foam Cannons for 2025, Tested

Best Pressure Washers for 2025, Tested