Quick verdict
Stairs are cleared one tread at a time from the top, with a shovel short enough to swing in the stairway and light enough to lift fifty times. The True Temper folding shovel has the right length and lives by the door; the Wiker aluminum scoop cuts the packed snow steps collect; the Snow Joe assist handle lifts without the back. Clear steps before the snow is walked on and keep ice melt in a tub by the door.
True Temper 18-Inch Poly Folding Snow Shovel
Stairs are cleared from above, one tread at a time, with a short shovel that swings in the width of the stairway, and the True Temper folding shovel sets its handle from 37 to 41 inches depending on the D-grip, short enough to work a tread and long enough to push the landing. An 18-inch poly blade with a metal wear strip scoops a tread in one pass, and it folds to live by the door or in the car.
The best snow shovels for outdoor stairs: True Temper 18-inch folding poly shovel with a short handle, Wiker 45-inch aluminum scoop and Snow Joe 18-inch with spring-assisted handle, compared on length, weight and lifting.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| True Temper 18-Inch Poly Folding Snow Shovel | Best for Stairs | 8.8 | Check price |
| Wiker 45-Inch Aluminum Snow Shovel with Fiberglass D-Grip Handle | Best for Packed Snow and Slush on Steps | 8.5 | Check price |
| Snow Joe 18-Inch Snow Shovel with Spring-Assisted Handle | Best for Lifting Snow Off Steps Without Strain | 8.4 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
True Temper 18-Inch Poly Folding Snow Shovel
Stairs are cleared from above, one tread at a time, with a short shovel that swings in the width of the stairway, and the True Temper folding shovel sets its handle from 37 to 41 inches depending on the D-grip, short enough to work a tread and long enough to push the landing. An 18-inch poly blade with a metal wear strip scoops a tread in one pass, and it folds to live by the door or in the car.
Reasons to buy
- Short 37 to 41-inch handle suits stairs
- Folds to store by the door
- 18-inch poly blade, metal strip
- Quick-connect assembly
Reasons to avoid
- Folding joint is a wear point
- Poly flexes on ice
- Short for a long walk
Wiker 45-Inch Aluminum Snow Shovel with Fiberglass D-Grip Handle
Steps collect the trodden, packed snow that a poly blade bounces off, and the Wiker aluminum scoop with turned-up sides cuts into it and carries slush without spilling. At 3.5 pounds on a 45-inch fiberglass handle it is light enough to work from the top step down and tough enough to scrape the crust, and it moves mulch and wood chips in summer.
Reasons to buy
- Aluminum scoop cuts packed snow
- 3.5 pounds
- Fiberglass handle, D-grip
- Turned-up sides carry slush
Reasons to avoid
- Aluminum can mark wood steps
- 45 inches is long for a narrow stair
- Not a pusher
Snow Joe 18-Inch Snow Shovel with Spring-Assisted Handle
Clearing stairs is all lifting, and the Snow Joe spring-assisted second handle gives the lower hand leverage so each tread of snow is lifted and thrown with a straight back. The 18-inch impact-resistant blade matches a tread and the D-ring grip steers.
Reasons to buy
- Lever assist for lifting off steps
- 18-inch blade matches a tread
- Impact-resistant blade
- D-ring grip
Reasons to avoid
- Full length is long on a narrow stair
- Assist handle takes learning
- Heavier than a plain shovel
Why stairs want their own shovel
A flight of outdoor stairs is cleared from the top, one tread at a time, scooping sideways into the open and throwing clear, in a space a few feet wide with a rail on one side and a wall on the other. A 54-inch driveway shovel hits both. The stair shovel is short in the handle, matched to a tread in the blade, light enough to lift fifty times and stored by the door where it is grabbed before the first person treads the snow into ice. The three shovels here fit that, with one for packed snow and one for backs that lift badly.
This guide is built from the published specifications of each shovel and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these shovels ourselves.
How the three compare
| Shovel | Blade | Handle | Weight | Best on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Temper folding | 18 in poly, metal strip | 37 to 41 in, folds | Light | Wood and concrete stairs |
| Wiker aluminum | Aluminum scoop | 45 in fiberglass | 3.5 lb | Concrete, packed snow |
| Snow Joe assist | 18 in impact-resistant | Spring-assisted grip | Moderate | Any, for bad backs |
True Temper folding: the right length
The True Temper folding shovel sets its handle between 37 and 41 inches, which is the length that swings in a stairway, and its 18-inch poly blade with a metal wear strip matches a tread and is safe on wooden steps. It folds at a quick-connect joint to stand in the porch corner or ride in the car trunk, and it unfolds in seconds. The joint is the part to keep clean of ice.
Wiker aluminum scoop: for packed steps
Steps that have been walked on collect packed snow and slush, and the Wiker aluminum scoop with its turned-up sides cuts into the pack and carries the slush without it sliding off the blade. It weighs 3.5 pounds on a 45-inch fiberglass handle with a D-grip, which is a little long for a narrow stair and right for wide stone steps. The aluminum can mark painted wood, so it is the shovel for concrete and stone stairs, and it moves mulch in summer.
Snow Joe assist handle: lift without the back
Stairs are all lifting, and the Snow Joe second handle on a spring gives the lower hand the leverage to lift each tread of snow with a straight back. The 18-inch blade matches a tread. The full-length handle is long in a narrow stairway, so it suits wide steps and a stoop, and it is the stair shovel for anyone whose back objects to the fifty lifts.
Clearing stairs well
Clear before anyone walks the stairs, because trodden snow becomes ice. Start at the top landing so there is a cleared place to stand, then take each tread with a sideways scoop toward the open side and throw clear. Scrape the tread with the blade edge. Sprinkle calcium chloride from a tub kept by the door, and sweep off the grit in spring. Keep the shovel by the door, not in the shed.
Which one should you buy
Buy the True Temper folding shovel for the right length and a spot by the door. Buy the Wiker aluminum scoop for packed snow on concrete steps. Buy the Snow Joe assist shovel to lift tread after tread without the back.
How we research
This guide is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of each product and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these products ourselves; where a maker does not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Handle length
A 36 to 42-inch handle swings in a stairway. A 54-inch driveway shovel hits the rail.
Blade width
Eighteen inches matches a stair tread; wider blades catch the riser.
Weight
Every tread is a lift. Under four pounds.
Storage
The stair shovel lives by the door. A folding or short shovel does.
Our verdict
Stairs are cleared one tread at a time from the top, with a shovel short enough to swing in the stairway and light enough to lift fifty times. The True Temper folding shovel has the right length and lives by the door; the Wiker aluminum scoop cuts the packed snow steps collect; the Snow Joe assist handle lifts without the back. Clear steps before the snow is walked on and keep ice melt in a tub by the door.
FAQs
From the top down, one tread at a time, scooping toward the open side and throwing clear of the stairs. Clear the landing first so there is somewhere to stand.
Poly. Aluminum and steel can mark wood. On concrete or stone, aluminum is fine and cuts packed snow better.
Clear snow before it is walked on and refreezes, and sprinkle calcium chloride on the treads after clearing.
The 10 and 12-inch cordless power shovels clear a tread at a time well for anyone who cannot lift.