We researched dozens of ice scrapers, including options with brooms, brushes, telescoping handles, and other features designed to handle various vehicle sizes and weather conditions. We then evaluated them on their length, blade, ease of use, effectiveness, and value. Our favorite is the Subzero Hopkins Pivoting Snowbroom and Squeegee, because it has soft foam grips, an extendable handle with a pivoting head, and tools to tackle both ice and snow. Our favorite ice scraper is the Hopkins Subzero Ice Crusher Dual Head Pivoting Snowbroom and Squeegee because it has all of the features you need when ice and snow cover your car. And since the handle extends from 25 to 51 inches with the push of a button, it can reach the roof of most vehicles while not taking up too much storage space. The snow broom is designed to quickly sweep snow from the roof or windshield, thanks to its soft yet stiff bristles and 8.5-inch-wide head. The broom head pivots up to enable you to reach all of the different angles around your car. Each end of the tool has soft foam grips, which allow you to get a good hold on the ice scraper or the broom/squeegee side. The plastic ice scraper is durable enough to remove ice and frost, but when necessary, the separated ice chippers at the end of the brush chop through the thicker ice, so you can easily scrape or sweep it away. The squeegee is also helpful in moving more frozen snow from your car, which comes in handy if you can’t get to it when it’s freshly fallen. The tool is also extremely lightweight, despite all of its features, weighing just over a pound. While there are other options with larger ice scrapers or brooms (or even ones with handles that extend even farther), we think that for most vehicles, the Ice Crusher gives you all of the features you need in one compact tool, at a reasonable price. Price at time of publish: $29 Although the broom is really the star feature (and perhaps the most fun to use!), the ice scraper is made of hard, durable plastic and comes in handy for tackling ice on your windshield. We also love the built-in bracket holder, so you can fold and store it neatly in your trunk when adjusted down to 33 inches. Although the handle lacks cushioned foam grips, the less-than-2-pound tool is easy to maneuver. (The Snow Joe SJBLZD comes with foam grips as well as helpful LED lights, if you don’t mind paying more.) Price at time of publish: $10 Short and lightweight (only 4 ounces), it has a foam grip and an oval spot to put your thumb, so you have better leverage when pushing it against your windshield. This tool is not intended for clearing off snow from your car roof, but if you are just looking for an effective, compact ice scraper, this is an excellent option. Price at time of publish: $14 Although this tool does not extend as long as other options on this list, the manufacturer offers a 54-inch version, which may be necessary if you have a larger vehicle. And while both products are pricey, the SnoShark is backed by a lifetime warranty, which may justify the cost. Price at time of publish: $55 The scraper is as practical and thoughtfully designed as the glove. It features a foam handle with an oval spot for your thumb, so you can grasp it securely while you scrape the ice. Made of plastic, it features a flat scraper, as well as a chipper for stubborn ice—both are designed to be effective without scratching your car. You can also remove the scraper if you don’t want to use the mitt or need to store it in a very small space. As with other small scrapers, this one isn’t intended for brushing snow far across the windshield or from the roof of your car, but it does make removing ice from your car a little cozier. Price at time of publish: $14 Both the ice scraper and foam head are designed not to scratch your windshield or other surfaces of your car. And despite its size and durability, it’s surprisingly lightweight and easy to hold, thanks to the foam grips on either side of the tool. When you need to store it, just push the button to decrease the length to 31 inches, and detach the ice scraper. Price at time of publish: $35
The scraper itself extends from 12.5 to 17.5 inches for help reaching across your windshield. And when the heating element and flat scraper aren’t enough (or could use more help), the built-in ice-breaking teeth can tackle thick ice. You still need another snow brush or broom to reach the top of a tall roof, but this ice scraper can come in handy anytime you want to clear your windshield. Price at time of publish: $50 At around 5 pounds, it’s heavier than other ice scrapers on this list, but that extra weight helps do the work as you chop the ice. It’s also 58 inches long and doesn’t fold or telescope, so you need to store it in a garage or shed. While the handle doesn’t have the foam cushioning like some of the ice scrapers on this list, it does have a rubber grip to help you get a good hold on it while you work. Price at time of publish: $46
Keep the length of the ice scraper in mind. A short ice scraper can be functional for cleaning ice off side mirrors and the car’s windows, but you likely need a two-handed ice scraper or an extendable one to remove the ice from the windshield or rear window of the vehicle.
Gentle to Cars
Tearing through ice is a laborious process, especially when you need to remove it from your car, and, unfortunately, ice scrapers are often to blame when the car gets scratched. To help prevent that from happening, we advise purchasing a strong, durable ice scraper made of hard plastic. It’s a good idea to start your car and turn on the defrost setting before attempting to clean the car. Give the vehicle some time to heat up and melt the ice, and then use the scraper to quickly and easily remove the ice from the windows. This process separates the ice from the glass, making it much easier to remove without accidentally scraping the car. If the ice scraper is equipped with a brush end for cleaning snow, the bristles need to be soft enough so they don’t scratch the surface of the car. Most products now feature these soft bristles, but it’s still a good idea to verify that the bristles are soft by checking the manufacturer’s information online or simply touching the bristles of the brush if you are in the store.
Features
Some ice scrapers also come with squeegees or brush accessories to help safely wipe away snow and other debris. If you live in an exceptionally snowy area, scrapers with brooms help you push or pull several inches of snow quickly from the roof of your car or windshield. Options with extendable handles are necessary for reaching hard-to-reach places, like the roof of a car. The versatility of your ice scraper should depend on how you plan to use this helpful winter tool. It’s also a good idea to have more than one scraper to keep as a backup in your glove box or trunk, in case your main one breaks or, better yet, you want to split up the work.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Jenica Currie is the associate commerce editor for outdoor, gardening, and home improvement at The Spruce. She has tested products at home and in the Lab, including garden hoses, solar lights, fans, and fire pits. For this article, Jenica researched dozens of ice scrapers and evaluated them on length (including whether they detach or adjust), blade, ease of use, effectiveness, and value. Jenica used her own experience clearing compact cars and SUVs from heavy, wet, or fluffy snow and thick ice. She’s also experienced too many brutal Nor’easters to count! Sometimes the cohesion between the glass and the ice is too strong, resulting in the scraper repeatedly chipping away at the edge of the ice. If you continue to chip away at the ice, you will eventually be successful. We advise simply using the vehicle’s heater and defrost setting to partially melt this connection before removing the ice with the scraper. If you don’t have time to wait, or if your car is notorious for warming up slowly, then you can attempt to prevent damage to the car by scraping from the edges of the window toward its center. Always keep the scraper blade away from the edges, so that even if you slip, the scraper won’t scratch the side of the car. Timothy Dale, a long-time home improvement expert specializing in several topics, ranging from plumbing to construction to product recommendations, contributed additional research to this article.
