Buying a Replacement Snowblower Battery

Last updated: October 2026

Whether your snowblower has a battery depends on how it starts. Most gas snowblowers with "electric start" plug into a 120V household outlet and have no starting battery at all. Some gas models, such as Honda's HSS ATD and AWD track and wheel units, carry a 12V lead acid or AGM battery that the engine recharges. Cordless snowblowers run entirely on 40V to 82V lithium-ion packs, often two at a time. To replace a snowblower battery, identify which of these systems you have, then match the old battery's voltage, chemistry, terminals or connector, and size. This guide shows how to tell which battery your machine uses, where to find the right replacement, and how to keep it working through a cold winter.

Shop 12V lawn and garden batteries, shop cordless garden tool packs, or jump to the brand lookup table below.

Do Snowblowers Have Batteries?

Some do and some don't. The starting system is what decides it, not whether the machine runs on gas.

A quick way to check a gas machine: if your owner's manual tells you to plug an extension cord into the engine before pressing the start button, it uses a 120V starter and has no battery to replace. If it has a key switch and starts without a cord, look for a battery under a cover near the engine or control panel.

What Type of Battery Does a Gas Snowblower Use?

Gas snowblowers that carry a battery use one of three types. Each needs a different replacement, so identify yours before ordering.

12V lead acid and AGM starting batteries

Larger gas snowblowers with DC electric start, and some machines with headlights or heated grips, use a 12V sealed lead acid battery similar to a small lawn tractor battery. The engine's charging system tops it up while you run the machine. Two sizes are common in BatteryClerk's catalog for snowblowers: the BCI group U1, a 12V AGM battery rated around 300 cold cranking amps (CCA), and a smaller 12V 7 to 9Ah AGM battery with flat spade terminals. When you replace a starting battery, match the voltage, group size, terminal layout and CCA rating on the old label.

Lithium-ion push-button start packs

A few gas models replace the pull cord with a removable tool battery. The Craftsman CMGB223102, for example, uses a Craftsman V20 lithium-ion pack (20V maximum, 18V nominal) to spin the engine at the push of a button. Replace these with a pack from the same tool platform.

EFI system batteries

Some Ariens models with electronic fuel injection use a small 7.2V battery that powers the EFI system. It is not a 12V starting battery, and the two are not interchangeable. If your Ariens has EFI, check the part number on the old battery or in your manual before you order.

What Battery Does a Cordless Snowblower Use?

Cordless snowblowers use the same lithium-ion packs as the brand's other outdoor tools. Voltage is fixed by the platform, so a replacement must come from the same platform. Many models need two or more packs installed at once.

Two-pack machines usually work best when both packs are the same capacity and age. If one pack in a pair has worn out, replacing both at once keeps runtime even and avoids one pack running flat well before the other.

Snowblower Battery Lookup by Brand

These are the snowblower and snow shovel batteries BatteryClerk stocks. The 12V batteries are AJC® AGM batteries. The lithium packs are compatible replacement batteries (not made or sold by the original brand) with a 1-year warranty. Prices are at the time of writing.

Don't see your machine? Use one of the search methods in the next section, browse the lawn mower and tractor battery collection for 12V batteries or the garden tool battery collection for lithium packs, or call us at (888) 808-3520 for help matching a part number.

How Do You Find the Right Replacement Snowblower Battery?

General Search – type in “Snowblower battery” and see what comes up.

• Search by snowblower model. Find the model number on the machine's serial plate (often on the rear of the frame or under the control panel) and type it into the search bar, for example "Ariens Pro 1336" or "Snow Joe iON18SB."

• Search by battery part number. The original battery's label or casing lists a part number, such as iBAT40 for Snow Joe or KB2580-06 for Kobalt. Searching that number finds packs listed as direct replacements.

• Search by specs. If the label is worn, measure the battery and note its voltage, capacity and terminal type, then filter the collection by those specs.

Before you check out, confirm these five details against the old battery:

1. Voltage. It must match exactly. A 40V Snow Joe pack will not run a 24V-X2 machine, and a 56V EGO pack will not fit a Toro 60V tool.
2. Chemistry. Replace lead acid or AGM with lead acid or AGM, and lithium with lithium from the same platform.
3. Capacity (Ah or mAh). On cordless machines, a higher-capacity pack on the same platform gives longer runtime. On 12V starting batteries, match or exceed the original CCA rating.
4. Terminals or connector. 12V batteries come in several terminal styles, and a U1R has its terminals in the reverse position from a standard U1. Match the original so the cables reach.
5. Size. The battery has to fit the tray or battery bay. Compare length, width and height before upsizing.

What Are the Signs a Snowblower Battery Needs Replacing?

Most battery problems show up on the first cold morning of the season. Watch for these signs:

• Slow or no cranking on a 12V model. The starter turns sluggishly or just clicks, especially in the cold.
• Dim headlights or heated grips that barely warm up.
• A 12V battery that won't hold a charge. It reads well after charging but drops low again within days.
• Shorter runtime on a cordless pack, even when it shows full charge indoors.
• A pack that won't charge or shows a fault light on the charger after it has warmed to room temperature.
• Physical damage: a swollen, cracked or leaking case. Stop using the battery and replace it.

Before replacing a 12V battery, rule out the simple causes. Honda notes that leaving the engine switch on with the engine off will drain the battery on its HSS models, and a deeply drained battery may only need a slow recharge.

How Does Cold Weather Affect Snowblower Batteries?

Cold slows the chemical reaction inside every battery, so a snowblower battery always delivers less in January than it does on the shelf in September.

Lithium-ion packs

According to Battery University, a lithium-ion battery that delivers 100% of its capacity at 80°F typically delivers only about 50% at 0°F. That loss is temporary and returns once the pack warms up. In Consumer Reports testing, cold weather cut cordless snow blower runtime by about 5% to 20%. EGO warns that its snow blowers may not start properly when the battery itself is at -4°F or colder, so store packs indoors and install them right before you clear snow.

Charging is stricter than running. Battery University advises never charging lithium-ion below freezing, because it can plate metallic lithium on the anode and cause permanent damage. EGO and Toro both specify charging between 41°F and 104°F, so let a cold pack warm up indoors before you put it on the charger.

12V lead acid and AGM batteries

A charged lead acid battery resists freezing; a discharged one does not. Interstate Batteries says a fully charged battery won't freeze until about -76°F, while a fully discharged battery can freeze at around 32°F. Battery University puts the freezing points at about -67°F charged and about 5°F discharged. Either way, freezing cracks plates and cases and ruins the battery, so keeping it charged through the winter is the best protection.

How Do You Replace a 12V Snowblower Battery?

These steps apply to gas snowblowers with a 12V lead acid or AGM starting battery. Follow your owner's manual where it differs.

What you need: the replacement battery, a wrench or screwdriver for the terminals and hold-down, safety glasses, and optionally a multimeter.

1. Turn the engine off and remove the key. Let the engine cool and work in a dry, well-ventilated area.
2. Locate the battery and note the wiring. Remove the battery cover. The red cable connects to the positive (+) terminal and the black cable to the negative (−) terminal. Take a photo before you disconnect anything.
3. Disconnect the black (negative) cable first, then the red (positive) cable. Keep tools from touching both terminals or the frame at the same time to avoid a short circuit.
4. Remove the hold-down and lift out the old battery. Keep it upright.
5. Check the new battery. Confirm it has the same voltage, terminal layout and size. A charged 12V battery should read about 12.6V or higher on a multimeter.
6. Install the new battery and secure the hold-down. A loose battery can vibrate and damage its case or cables.
7. Connect the red (positive) cable first, then the black (negative) cable. Tighten both terminals and refit any terminal covers.
8. Start the engine to test, then recycle the old battery. If the new battery needs topping up first, Honda recommends an automatic charger at 2 amps or less for its HSS models.

Replacing a cordless snowblower pack

Cordless packs simply slide or click out of the battery bay. Turn the machine off, remove the safety key if it has one, press the release, and slide in the new pack until it latches. Charge new packs fully at room temperature before their first use.

How Should You Store a Snowblower Battery in the Off-Season?

Off-season storage decides whether your battery works next winter. The rules differ by chemistry.

Lithium-ion packs: Don't store a pack fully charged or fully empty. Toro's manual says to charge until 2 or 3 indicator lights are green before storage, and Battery University recommends about 40% to 50% charge. In its tests, a pack held at 40% kept 96% of its capacity after a year at 77°F, compared with 80% for a pack stored full. Keep packs indoors, away from heat, and off the charger. See our lithium-ion battery maintenance tips for more.

12V lead acid and AGM batteries: Charge the battery fully before storage, because a battery left low will sulfate and lose capacity. Honda recommends removing the battery for long storage, keeping it in a cool, dry place, and recharging it every 6 months or whenever it drops to 12.9V; a float charger is another option. Battery University advises recharging any lead acid battery that falls to about 70% charge, roughly 12.4V. Learn more in our guide to the dos and don'ts of charging lead acid batteries.

How Do You Recycle an Old Snowblower Battery?

Never put a snowblower battery in household trash. Lead batteries are the most recycled consumer product in the United States, with a recycling rate of about 99% according to Battery Council International. Take used 12V batteries to a battery retailer, auto parts store or local recycling center, or see our battery recycling page for mail-in options. Call2Recycle drop-off locations accept lithium-ion packs and small sealed lead acid batteries under 11 pounds; tape the terminals or bag each battery first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do gas snowblowers have a battery?

Most don't. Gas snowblowers with "electric start" usually use a 120V starter that plugs into a household outlet, so there is no battery. Some larger models, such as Honda's HSS ATD and AWD units, have a 12V battery, and a few, like the Craftsman CMGB223102, use a removable lithium-ion pack for push-button starting.

What battery does an electric start snowblower need?

It depends on the type of electric start. A 120V plug-in starter needs no battery, only a grounded extension cord. A 12V DC starter needs a 12V lead acid or AGM battery matched to the original's group size, terminal layout and cold cranking amps. A battery push-button start needs a pack from the same tool platform, such as Craftsman V20.

Can I use a higher-capacity battery in my cordless snowblower?

Yes, if it is the same voltage and platform and fits the battery bay. A higher-Ah pack gives longer runtime. Some machines also have a minimum: Toro's Power Max e24 needs at least 6Ah of combined battery capacity to start.

Can I charge a snowblower battery in a cold garage?

Not if it's lithium-ion and the garage is near freezing. EGO and Toro specify charging between 41°F and 104°F, and charging lithium-ion below 32°F can cause permanent damage. Bring the pack indoors and let it warm up first. A 12V lead acid battery can be charged in the cold, but never charge one that is frozen.

Why won't my cordless snowblower start in extreme cold?

Cold reduces how much power a lithium-ion pack can deliver. EGO notes its snow blowers may not start properly when the battery is at -4°F or colder. Store packs indoors and install them just before use.

Are BatteryClerk's lithium snowblower packs made by the original brand?

No. They are compatible replacement batteries built to match the original pack's voltage, fit and connector, and they carry a 1-year warranty. Each product page lists the original part numbers it replaces and the models it fits.

Find Your Replacement Snowblower Battery

BatteryClerk stocks 12V AJC® AGM batteries for snowblowers with electric start and lighting, plus compatible lithium packs for Snow Joe, Kobalt, Greenworks, EGO and other cordless snow blowers and shovels. Shop 12V batteries, shop garden tool packs, or call (888) 808-3520 for help matching your machine. Looking for a snowmobile battery instead? See our snowmobile battery guide.