The best ATV snow plow for most machines is the Extreme Max 5500.5010 UniPlow One-Box 50 inch at about $313, the one kit three independent outlets name and the cheapest of our eight picks, with a universal mount its maker says "fits 90+% of current ATV models". On a mid to full size ATV buy the 60 inch Heavy-Duty version at $428.69 instead: same mount, welded rather than bolted blade, and one fewer pass down the driveway. We checked every price and every stock status on Amazon on September 19, 2026.
Before you buy anything, go and measure one thing. HitchDoc Outdoors states the rule that decides whether a plow fits your machine at all: "Measure outside-to-outside of your front tires, then choose a blade wider than that so the angled blade clears your tire path." That is your front tire stance, and it is the only number that settles fit. Get it now: the sizing table below is built to be entered with your measurement rather than with your engine size.
Width then decides speed. A plow does its real work angled to one side, and an angled blade clears less than its own width: at the 25 degrees these plows typically reach, a 48 inch blade cuts a 43.5 inch path and a 60 inch blade cuts 54.4. On a 12 foot driveway that is four passes against three, every storm, all winter. We compute it for every width below, and we compute what each plow actually costs once you add the parts it does not come with.
Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It does not change what we recommend or what you pay. Prices and availability were checked on September 19, 2026 and can change.
Best ATV snow plows at a glance
| Plow | Best for | Price | Blade width | Complete kit? | Lift | Named by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Extreme Max 5500.5010 UniPlow, 50 in
|
Best overall | $313.43 | 50 in | Yes, one box | Winch (ATV.com) | JD Power, Bob Vila, ATV.com |
 Extreme Max 5500.5094 Heavy-Duty UniPlow, 60 in
|
Best for a mid to full size ATV | $428.69 | 60 in | Yes, one box | Winch (ATV.com, on the 50 in twin) | Same system as the pick above |
 Kolpin ATV Switchblade 17-0000 |
Best if you have no winch | $449.99 | 48 or 60 in | Yes, one box | Winch or manual lift, separate | Bob Vila |
 WARN ProVantage II 54 in blade |
Best if you already run a Warn winch | $407.99 | 54 in | Blade only, add pushtube and mount | Winch or Warn actuator | Four outlets, previous generation |
 DENALI PLOWS 60 in ATV kit |
Thickest stated blade steel | $390.00 | 60 in | No mount plate | Not stated, assume a winch | Bob Vila, a different Denali kit |
 KFI 60 in ATV Pro-Poly half kit |
Best poly blade | $895.99 | 60 in | No, for all but CF-Moto CForce 600 | Not stated, assume a winch | ATV.com (the 60 in steel kits) |
 Kolpin UTV Switchblade 17-5000 |
Best UTV class blade | $549.99 | 60 or 72 in | Yes, one box | Winch required, separate | JD Power |
 Black Boar Camco 48 in kit |
Most adjustable blade | $620.12 | 48 in | Yes, one box | Winch required, separate | Bob Vila, ATV.com, JD Power |
Where neither the listing nor an outlet states a lift requirement we have written "Not stated, assume a winch": none of these blades lifts itself and only two on this page name an alternative. And only one pick reaches side-by-side width, so if you are on a UTV, start at the Kolpin UTV row and go to the sizing table.
How we chose these
We did not test any of these plows, and there is no independent lab test of ATV snow plows to lean on either. What exists is four outlets that compared models on paper and one outlet that describes running one. So we read all four, pulled the live Amazon listing for forty-five plows, mounts and winches, fetched the manufacturer page for every pick where one publishes specs, and built the list outward from the models more than one outlet names. Being precise about that: three of the eight are named by two or more outlets as the exact product, two more are named once each, two are the current kit in a line an outlet recommends without naming our version, and one is the wider sibling of our best overall pick, added on our own evidence rather than anyone else's. The glance table says which is which.
Two rules shaped the list. First, where a tester's exact model is discontinued we list the current generation and say so: ATV.com ran the Warn ProVantage on a Honda Rubicon and the blade you can buy today is the ProVantage II. The same rule applies to materials, and it costs us once: ATV.com's KFI recommendation describes the brand's "60" steel blade, push tubes and mount kit", and we list KFI's poly version at $183.14 more because ATV.com's own first buying criterion is composite over steel. Second, where a tester's pick never came back from any of our product searches with a price, it goes in the second tier by name rather than into the list, because we cannot tell you what it costs or whether it ships.
Prices and stock were pulled the same day the page was written. Where a listing and a manufacturer page disagree we use the manufacturer figure and say which one it is. Where neither states a number we leave the cell empty rather than fill it with an adjective: "heavy duty" appears on twelve of the forty-five listings we pulled and it is not a specification.
The best ATV and UTV snow plows, by job
1. Extreme Max 5500.5010 UniPlow One-Box ATV Plow System, 50 inch: best overall
$313.43. Three outlets name this exact product and it is still the cheapest of our eight picks. JD Power calls it Best Overall, Bob Vila calls it Best Universal, and ATV.com lists it third and quotes a price of "around $320", which is within seven dollars of what it costs today. The case for it is mounting rather than metal. Extreme Max states the UniMount "fits 90+% of current ATV models" and quick-releases "in literal seconds", and that the push tube "mounts to the ATV frame behind the wheels, not in the front or middle, transferring plow force to the ATV frame". JD Power singles out that geometry: "the best possible option is a kit that mounts behind the front wheels, underneath the main part of the ATV," because an ATV is light enough that a front-hung blade tips it forward. Blade, push tube and mount arrive in one box with a stated one year warranty. Before ordering, check which side of that 90 percent you are on: the listing points at its own "up-to-date UniMount Fit Chart", and Kolpin and KFI run machine-by-machine fitment tools on their sites that answer it in a minute.
Where it loses: Extreme Max calls the 50 inch blade a "bolt-together design for lighter duty or residential use", and JD Power's two stated complaints are that "Initial assembly can be complicated" and that the "Included bolts are flimsy (we recommend buying your own)". No steel thickness is published anywhere, though JD Power puts the blade at "50" by 16"". At 50 inches it is four passes rather than three, which is why the next pick exists.
2. Extreme Max 5500.5094 Heavy-Duty UniPlow One-Box, 60 inch: best for a mid to full size ATV
$428.69. The same UniMount, the same frame-mounted push tube and the same one box as our best overall, with the two differences that matter on a machine big enough to carry them. The blade is "fully welded and reinforced to withstand heavy-duty applications" where the 50 inch is "bolt-together design for lighter duty or residential use", and at 60 inches it clears a 12 foot driveway in three angled passes instead of four. It is also the cheapest complete 60 inch kit among the picks once you account for what is in the box: the DENALI below is $38.69 less on the sticker and $81.30 more once you add the mount it does not include. Only the VEVORs in our second tier undercut it, and no outlet has written about any of them.
Where it loses: no outlet has written about this specific kit, so unlike pick 1 it rests on Extreme Max's own description and on the fact that it is the same system. No steel thickness is stated for it either. And ATV Illustrated puts 60 inches at the ceiling for an ATV, warning that "when put behind a very wide plow the snow can actually begin to push the ATV", so this is a blade for a 450-class machine or bigger, not a 400.
3. Kolpin ATV Switchblade Plow 17-0000: best if you have no winch
$449.99. The only listing on this entire page that names a way to raise the blade without a winch: "Requires Winch or Manual Lift - sold separately". If your ATV came without a winch, that clause is the difference between one purchase and two, and it is worth more than any spec on this page to the buyer it applies to. Bob Vila makes it its Best for Large Driveways on the second reason: Kolpin's stamped steel "adjust to either 48" or 60" width", so one kit covers the whole ATV range ATV Illustrated recommends. Five blade angle positions, a square tube steel chassis, and a universal under-body mount that Kolpin says "Assembles in under 1 hour". Bob Vila puts it at 114 pounds, the heaviest of the three picks anyone has weighed.
Where it loses: neither the listing nor Kolpin's own product page states a steel gauge or a blade height, so two of the three specs that separate these plows are missing. The listing states no skid shoes either, which matters on gravel. And the manual lift is sold separately too, so this is a cheaper lift to buy rather than no lift to buy.
4. WARN ProVantage II Plow Blade, 54 inch: best if you already run a Warn winch
$407.99 for the blade. The previous generation of this plow is the most recommended in the category. ATV.com made it Editor's Choice and is the only outlet that describes running a plow on this list: "We tested this system on a Honda Rubicon and it was slick," adding that the finish took "several winters of hard use and still looking fresh and new". Bob Vila made two previous-generation ProVantage blades its Best Overall and Runner-Up, and Bob Vila, JD Power and ATV Illustrated all put that generation's ATV blade at 12 gauge steel. The II states six blade height positions, a reversible wear bar so that "when one side wears out, the wear bar can be flipped around for double the wear life", and rotating skid shoes; with Warn's pushtube it adds five angle positions, three pitch positions and a trip spring whose "tension is fully adjustable". That is more axes of adjustment than any other pick publishes, though pick 8 has more angle positions.
Where it loses: it is three purchases. The 54 inch blade is $407.99, the ATV Center Mount Pushtube is $347.99 and the Center Kit mount is $160.48. That is $916.46 for a working plow, or $16.97 an inch, the worst figure in the table below and nearly three times the Extreme Max. Warn publishes no steel thickness for the II; the 12 gauge belongs to the generation before it and comes from the testers, not from Warn.
5. DENALI PLOWS 60 inch ATV Snow Plow Kit with Push Tubes: thickest stated blade steel
$390.00, and $509.99 once you can mount it. MotoAlliance states a "Heavy duty 60" straight plow blade, made of 11 gauge steel", plus "Four 7 gauge ribs run the full height of the blade and 3 additional horizontal stabilizers support the deepest point of the blade". Eleven gauge is tied for the thickest blade steel stated anywhere on this page and this is the cheapest of the four that state it. Bob Vila independently lists 11 gauge on the Denali blade it picked, which is the only third-party corroboration of a gauge figure we have for this brand. The kit ships with a wearbar, adjustable skid feet and hardware, which makes it one of only five picks that state skids at all.
Where it loses: the contents are "plow blade, wearbar, push tubes, adjustable skid feet, installation hardware and instructions" and no mount plate, and MotoAlliance's machine-specific ATV mount plates are $119.99 for the two that returned a price, one cut for the 2005-2013 Kawasaki Brute Force 650 and one for the CF Moto C-Force 800, so budget about that for yours. That makes the real figure $509.99 for 60 inches, $81.30 more than the complete Extreme Max Heavy-Duty at pick 2, and it moves this plow from the second cheapest inch among the picks to the fifth. Buy it for the 11 gauge, not for the sticker. No blade height is stated.
6. KFI 60 inch ATV Pro-Poly Blade Half Plow Kit: best poly blade
$895.99. ATV.com's first buying criterion is the one this plow answers: "This is why we prefer to find a plow kit that uses a composite blade over a steel blade," because, as it puts it, "it helps to take some of the weight off of the ATV". KFI's poly is not a plastic blade bolted to nothing: the listing states a "Flexible Heavy Duty Black Poly face with 3/16" Grade 50 Steel Rib and Frame construction" and a "2-Sided 3/16" x 3.00" Grade 50 Steel Wear Bar", so the structure is steel and only the face that snow slides off is not. It is also one of only three listings among the seventeen plows here that state a blade face height, and all three are KFI: "Measures 21" Vertical blade face height with an approximate 27" height with snow flap", against 16 inches on the KFI Ranger kit and the same 21 on the KFI steel twin below. Blade, push tubes and mount come together, and KFI states the kit is manufactured domestically.
Where it loses: the mount in the box is cut for the CF-Moto CForce 600 for model years 2019 to 2023, so for almost every reader this is not the complete kit the contents line suggests. At $14.93 it is the dearest inch of any single product here. And the weight saving cannot be checked on this model: no weight exists for either KFI CForce kit, poly or steel. The closest published figure is Bob Vila's 92 lb for a 48 inch KFI steel blade, a narrower plow than this one.
7. Kolpin UTV Switchblade Plow 17-5000, 60 by 72 inch: best UTV class blade
$549.99. JD Power's heavy-duty pick by exact product and the only pick that reaches side-by-side width, at $7.64 an inch. The 72 inch VEVOR in our second tier is cheaper per inch and carries no coverage at all, which is the trade. The blade adjusts "to either 60" or 72" width", precisely the range ATV Illustrated says a side-by-side needs, and JD Power publishes what each setting clears: "A 60" blade cuts a width through the snow 54.3" wide, while the 72" blade cuts a width of 65.1"." Those two figures are why we trust our own pass table, because our arithmetic reproduces them to within a quarter of one percent. Universal under-body mount, five angle positions, assembly stated at "under 1 hour".
Where it loses: the manual-lift option that makes the ATV Switchblade special is gone. This listing says "Requires winch - sold separately" with no alternative. No steel gauge, no blade height and no skid shoes are stated, and JD Power's Con is that "Assembly can take up to an hour" against Kolpin's "under".
8. Black Boar Camco ATV Snow Plow Kit, 48 inch: most adjustable blade
$620.12. Three outlets name this plow, as many as any pick except the WARN, and all three name the adjustment: "Adjustable blade angles of 0, 7.5, 22.5, and 30 degrees in both the right & left direction plus adjustable skid pads for proper blade height setting", which JD Power counts as nine positions and which reaches further than the 25 degrees the rest of this page assumes. It is one of only two picks with a published blade thickness, 2 mm, and Bob Vila's spec block independently calls it "2 millimeter alloy steel" at 88 pounds, the lightest plow anyone has weighed here. Black Boar's own site adds the height the Amazon listing omits, "48 inches long by 20 inches in height". The blade comes off "via two quick pins" and the mount fits "most models of ATV with round or square tubular frames".
Where it loses, and why a three-outlet pick is ranked last: the price has left the recommendation behind. ATV.com called this the Best Budget Kit and JD Power filed it under plows under $300; it is $620.12 today, $12.92 an inch, and Black Boar sells the same kit on its own site at $448.99, $171.13 less. The adjustment is real, but 48 inches is the narrowest blade on the page, and a winch is required and not included.
Also considered: models that missed the list and why
VEVOR Snow Plow Kit, 60 in universal, $346.99. The cheapest complete 60 inch kit here, with "5 left-to-right angle positions" and a mounting plate offering three installation options. It missed on evidence: no outlet we read covers VEVOR, and the listing states no blade thickness.
VEVOR Snow Plow Kit, 48 in universal, $240.41. The same kit one size down and the cheapest complete plow in our whole search. It missed because it is below the $250 floor we set and because 48 inches adds a pass. If budget is the constraint, this is the honest cheap answer.
VEVOR Snow Plow Kit, 43 or 72 in universal, $342.90. At $4.76 an inch this is the lowest cost per inch anywhere in this guide, and the only other model here that reaches 72 inches. It has two width settings, 43 and 72 inches, with nothing in between. Same objection as its siblings: no outlet coverage and no stated blade thickness, which on a 72 inch blade is a bigger gap than it is at 48.
KFI UTV 60 inch Steel Snow Plow Kit (105255), $766.85. The most fully specified blade in our search, and the only one publishing a steel gauge, a wear bar size and grade, a blade face height and an angle limit together: 11 ga steel, a 2-sided 3/16 by 3 inch Grade 50 wear bar, a 16 inch face and 3 angle positions "up to 25 degrees". It missed because the mount fits the listed Polaris Rangers only.
KFI 60 inch ATV Steel Blade Half Plow Kit, $712.85. The kit ATV.com actually recommends when it names KFI, and the cheaper half of the comparison pick 6 rests on: same 11 ga blade, same "2-Sided 3/16" x 3.00" Grade 50 Steel Wear Bar", same 21 inch face, same CF-Moto CForce 600 mount, $183.14 less, and in stock where the poly is scarce. It missed only because we took ATV.com's composite-over-steel argument for the poly slot. If you do not buy that argument, this is the one to click.
SNOWSQUATCH Deluxe Aluminum ATV Snow Plow, 48 to 60 in, $649.95. The aluminium option, "lighter than steel but still durable and will not rust", and the only kit here shipping with markers, a rubber deflector, skid shoes and drift cutter side wings. It missed on what the listing itself admits: "Assembly and install time estimated 3-4+ hours" and "Some Model Applications May Require Minor Frame Modifications for Proper Fit".
MotoAlliance DENALI 60 inch ATV Plow for King Quad, $499.99. The same 11 gauge blade and four 7 gauge full-height ribs as pick 5, with a King Quad fitment list where pick 5 states no fitment at all, for $109.99 more. Its contents omit a mount too, so budget the same $119.99 on top.
Swisher 18750 60-Inch Plow Blade, $449.95. States "14 gauge steel construction" and includes skid shoes and a plow edge. It is a blade, not a kit: no push tubes and no mount appear in the listing, and neither returned a price in our searches, so $449.95 is the start of an unknown bill.
Kolpin ATV Expedition Plow in a Box, 52 in, $473.11. The only listing here stating "Dual trip springs and height adjustable HD skid shoes" on a "Rugged 52" 14 gauge steel blade with double layer of steel at center". It is showing a lead time rather than stock as of September 19, 2026.
Three names a shopper will have seen we could not price: BOSS, Can-Am ProMount and Extreme Metal Products are all in ATV Illustrated's roundup and all sell through dealers or direct, EMP quoting its own kit cost as "beginning at: $999.00". Massimo we could price, at $649.00 for a complete universal 60 inch kit, and it misses for the ordinary reason: no outlet covers it and it states no blade thickness, so at $10.82 an inch it has no argument against the VEVOR 60 at $5.78. Two tester picks are absent for the first reason, Bob Vila's Best Bang for the Buck, the KFI Sno-Devil, and its Best for Small Driveways, a MotoAlliance Denali ATV Universal kit: neither returned a price in any search, so we cannot say what they cost or whether they ship.
Every plow here, priced by the inch and by the true total
We read the four ranking pages on this search that carry any editorial text, and not one compares two plows on anything. So here is that comparison, on the number that actually leaves your account. True total is the sticker plus the parts the kit does not include, priced from the same Amazon pool; dollars per inch divides that true total by the widest blade width the model states. Both are our arithmetic. Blade weights are Bob Vila's published figures, the only weights anyone publishes in this category.
| Plow | Tier | Price | True total (computed) | Widest blade | $ per inch of true total (computed) | Weight, lb (Bob Vila) | lb per inch (computed) | Blade steel stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme Max UniPlow 50 in | Pick 1 | $313.43 | $313.43 | 50 in | $6.27 | 92 | 1.84 | Not stated |
| Extreme Max Heavy-Duty UniPlow 60 in | Pick 2 | $428.69 | $428.69 | 60 in | $7.14 | Not stated | ||
| Kolpin ATV Switchblade | Pick 3 | $449.99 | $449.99 | 60 in | $7.50 | 114 | 1.90 | Not stated |
| WARN ProVantage II 54 in, blade only | Pick 4 | $407.99 | blade alone | 54 in | Not stated | |||
| WARN ProVantage II 54 in, working system | Pick 4 | $407.99 | $916.46 | 54 in | $16.97 | Not stated | ||
| DENALI PLOWS 60 in ATV kit | Pick 5 | $390.00 | $509.99 with mount | 60 in | $8.50 | 11 gauge, 7 gauge ribs | ||
| KFI 60 in ATV Pro-Poly half kit | Pick 6 | $895.99 | $895.99 | 60 in | $14.93 | Poly on 3/16 in Grade 50 steel frame | ||
| Kolpin UTV Switchblade | Pick 7 | $549.99 | $549.99 | 72 in | $7.64 | Not stated | ||
| Black Boar Camco 48 in | Pick 8 | $620.12 | $620.12 | 48 in | $12.92 | 88 | 1.83 | 2 mm |
| VEVOR 60 in universal | Considered | $346.99 | $346.99 | 60 in | $5.78 | Not stated | ||
| VEVOR 48 in universal | Considered | $240.41 | $240.41 | 48 in | $5.01 | Not stated | ||
| VEVOR 43 or 72 in universal | Considered | $342.90 | $342.90 | 72 in | $4.76 | Not stated | ||
| KFI UTV 60 in steel (105255) | Considered | $766.85 | $766.85 | 60 in | $12.78 | 11 gauge, 16 in face | ||
| KFI 60 in ATV steel half kit | Considered | $712.85 | $712.85 | 60 in | $11.88 | 11 gauge, 21 in face | ||
| SNOWSQUATCH Deluxe Aluminum 48 to 60 in | Considered | $649.95 | $649.95 | 60 in | $10.83 | Aluminium, not stated | ||
| MotoAlliance DENALI 60 in, King Quad | Considered | $499.99 | $619.98 if its mount is also $119.99 | 60 in | $10.33 | 11 gauge, 7 gauge ribs | ||
| Swisher 18750 60 in blade | Considered | $449.95 | add mount and push tube, unpriced | 60 in | 14 gauge | |||
| Kolpin Expedition 52 in, lead time | Considered | $473.11 | $473.11 | 52 in | $9.10 | 14 gauge |
What the table says in one line: the true total reorders the page. The DENALI looks like the second cheapest inch among the picks at $6.50 on the sticker and lands at $8.50 once mounted, behind the complete Extreme Max Heavy-Duty at $7.14 for the same 60 inches. The three highest single-product figures are the KFI poly at $14.93, the Black Boar at $12.92 and the KFI Ranger kit at $12.78, and the WARN bought as a working plow tops them all at $16.97. The lowest figure on the page, $4.76, belongs to a 72 inch VEVOR that no outlet has ever written about, which is the trade this whole table exists to show you.
A winch is on top of every figure above, on every row except the Kolpin ATV Switchblade, which can be lifted by hand, and the WARN, which takes an actuator instead. The winch section below prices two.
The weight column is thin because no seller publishes a weight and only Bob Vila does, for five of its seven picks: 92 lb for the Extreme Max, 114 lb for the Kolpin ATV and 88 lb for the Black Boar here, plus 92 lb for a 48 inch KFI steel blade and 110 lb for a 50 inch Denali, with "Unlisted" against both Warn blades. The three we can put in the table cluster at 1.83 to 1.90 lb per inch, which is the useful part: twelve more inches of blade is about 22 more pounds at that rate, and 26 lb separates the lightest 48 inch plow here from the heaviest 60. Blade height is stated by three of the seventeen, all of them KFI, plus 20 inches for the Black Boar via its own site and JD Power's "50" by 16"" for the Extreme Max.
What size plow do I need for my ATV?
Measure your front tire stance, outside of one tire to the outside of the other, then pick a blade wider than that number. HitchDoc's reason is the same cosine that drives the pass table: angled, the blade narrows across your direction of travel, so one that only just covers your tires when straight leaves a strip uncleared where your wheels run. Its summary of the consequence: "Undersizing means re-plowing your own tire tracks, so size up rather than down."
ATV Illustrated puts numbers on the machine side: "For ATVs under 450cc, we generally recommend a 50 inch blade. Larger displacement ATVs can push blades up to 60 inches in most snow, but that's about as far as you want to go. Most UTVs are approximately 60 inches wide and will require a blade in the 60 to 72 inch range." Its warning about oversizing is worth repeating because it is counterintuitive: "when put behind a very wide plow the snow can actually begin to push the ATV." Polaris adds the power floor, recommending "at least 400cc" for light to moderate snow and "500cc to 700cc" for heavier snowfalls.
The rule the table grades on is the one the lede starts with, stated exactly: your stance must be under the cleared figure, not under the blade width. An angled blade clears less than it measures, so the third column carries what each blade actually cuts at 25 degrees, straight from the pass table below. Find your measured stance in the column headings and read down.
| Plow | Widest blade | Clears when angled | Stance under 42 in | Stance 42 to 48 in | Stance 48 to 56 in | Stance over 56 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme Max UniPlow 50 in | 50 in | 45.3 in | Fits | Only to a 45 in stance | Undersized | Undersized |
| Extreme Max Heavy-Duty UniPlow 60 in | 60 in | 54.4 in | Too wide for the machine | Fits | Only to a 54 in stance | Undersized |
| Kolpin ATV Switchblade | 48 or 60 in | 43.5 or 54.4 in | Fits at 48 in | Fits at 60 in | Only to a 54 in stance at 60 in | Undersized |
| WARN ProVantage II 54 in | 54 in | 48.9 in | Wider than recommended | Fits | Only to a 48 in stance | Undersized |
| DENALI PLOWS 60 in ATV kit | 60 in | 54.4 in | Too wide, snow can push the machine | Fits | Only to a 54 in stance | Undersized |
| KFI 60 in ATV Pro-Poly | 60 in | 54.4 in | CF-Moto CForce 600 only | CF-Moto CForce 600 only | CF-Moto CForce 600 only | CF-Moto CForce 600 only |
| Kolpin UTV Switchblade | 60 or 72 in | 54.4 or 65.3 in | Too wide even at 60 in | Too wide at 72 in | Fits at 72 in | Fits at 72 in, to a 65 in stance |
| Black Boar Camco 48 in | 48 in | 43.5 in | Fits | Only to a 43 in stance | Undersized | Undersized |
Two things fall out of grading on the cleared figure. The three rows here that are only 60 inches wide run out at the same place, a 54 inch stance, because they all clear 54.4 inches, so in the 48 to 56 band they are one answer and not three. And above a 54 inch stance only the Kolpin UTV at its 72 inch setting covers you, whatever the blade widths suggest. The KFI row answers on fitment rather than width, because its mount is cut for one machine range and no stance changes that. The bands are ours, from HitchDoc's rule and ATV Illustrated's machine-class widths.
How many passes does a 12 foot driveway take?
An angled blade clears its own width multiplied by the cosine of the angle. KFI's listing states its blades angle "up to 25 degrees" and Bob Vila reports the same 25 degree maximum for the KFI Sno-Devil, so 25 degrees is the working figure. Polaris says to "Slightly overlap each pass" without saying by how much, so the 6 inch overlap below is our stated assumption and has its own column: change it and you can redo the last column yourself.
The check that this is not invented: JD Power publishes the swath for two of these widths, "A 60" blade cuts a width through the snow 54.3" wide, while the 72" blade cuts a width of 65.1"." Our arithmetic gives 54.38 and 65.25 inches, within 0.14 and 0.24 percent.
| Blade width | Cleared width at 25 degrees (computed) | Net per pass after 6 in overlap (computed) | Passes on a 12 ft drive (computed) | 16 ft (computed) | 20 ft (computed) | Plows here at this width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 in | 43.5 in | 37.5 in | 4 | 6 | 7 | Black Boar, Kolpin ATV at its narrow setting, VEVOR 48 |
| 50 in | 45.3 in | 39.3 in | 4 | 5 | 7 | Extreme Max UniPlow 50 |
| 52 in | 47.1 in | 41.1 in | 4 | 5 | 6 | Kolpin Expedition |
| 54 in | 48.9 in | 42.9 in | 4 | 5 | 6 | WARN ProVantage II 54 |
| 60 in | 54.4 in | 48.4 in | 3 | 4 | 5 | Extreme Max HD 60, DENALI 60, both KFI 60s, Kolpin ATV at 60, VEVOR 60, SNOWSQUATCH, Swisher |
| 66 in | 59.8 in | 53.8 in | 3 | 4 | 5 | None here |
| 72 in | 65.3 in | 59.3 in | 3 | 4 | 5 | Kolpin UTV at its wide setting, VEVOR 43 or 72 |
The takeaway in one sentence: on a 12 foot driveway, 54 inches to 60 is the only step on this page that removes a pass, and 60 to 72 removes none. To put that in your own driveway, multiply passes by your length: on a 150 foot drive, four passes is 600 feet of driving every storm and three is 450, so the step from a 50 inch blade to a 60 saves you 150 feet each time it snows. The 16 and 20 foot columns run the same arithmetic for a wider drive.
Two caveats. Passes are rounded up, because three and a fraction passes is four trips down the driveway. And models that angle further clear less per pass: the Black Boar at its 30 degree setting clears 41.6 inches rather than 43.5. This counts driving only, so a real storm still adds the end-of-driveway windrow the town plough leaves you.
Do you need a winch for an ATV plow?
Usually yes, and a winch is almost never included: Black Boar's "Winch required for use (not included)" and SNOWSQUATCH's "Winch (not included) Required for Operation" are typical. Five of our picks state nothing about a lift in their own listing. ATV.com answers for the two Extreme Max kits, and the WARN is covered by its own Center Kit mount ("Plow base, plow blade and a plow blade-raising mechanism sold separately") and by ATV Illustrated's actuator note. That leaves the DENALI and the KFI, which the glance table marks "Not stated, assume a winch" rather than guessing for you.
Two we priced bracket the range. The X-BULL 3,000 lb is $119.90, and read its bracket line before you count it as included: the plate it ships is "for mounting on the rear of the machine, which will need to be modified to fit", where a plow lift pulls from the front. The Warn R25-S 2,500 lb is $283.62 and states plainly that its "Vehicle specific mounting plate and hand-held remote control are sold separately". ATV.com puts the decision plainly: a winch "increases your cost substantially" if you do not already have one, and writing about the Black Boar kit it notes the cost is kept out of the box because "with many units coming from the factory with a winch pre-installed, it avoids having un-needed parts".
There are two exceptions on this page and they are the only two. The Kolpin ATV Switchblade states "Requires Winch or Manual Lift - sold separately", so a hand lift will run it. And ATV Illustrated records that Warn's ATV plows use "Optional Linear Actuator or Winch", a purpose-built electric lift rather than a recovery winch. Both alternatives are still separate purchases. Polaris, on plow systems generally, suggests you "consider a powered lift system or winch" for ease of use, and adds the one habit that costs nothing: "Lower the plow to the ground when parking to reduce strain on the winch and suspension."
Steel, poly or aluminium: which plow blade material is best?
The outlets disagree, and the disagreement is more useful than a verdict. JD Power's position is that "Unless you need a plow blade specifically for commercial use, a steel blade is usually just as good for residential needs, and is often much cheaper", and it describes poly as "slicker than steel, so snow slides right off the blade" with "excellent resistance to rust, corrosion, and scratches" but "usually more expensive". ATV.com takes the other side and gives its reason: "This is why we prefer to find a plow kit that uses a composite blade over a steel blade," because "it helps to take some of the weight off of the ATV".
Our table prices the disagreement. The KFI steel version of the 60 inch ATV half kit is $712.85 and the poly version is $895.99, so the poly face costs $183.14, about 26 percent more, for the identical Grade 50 wear bar. Aluminium sits between the arguments: SNOWSQUATCH describes its blade as "lighter than steel but still durable and will not rust" at $649.95.
Where steel is decided on numbers, look for the gauge rather than the adjective, and remember that lower gauge numbers mean thicker steel. On Metal Supermarkets' published mild steel chart, 11 gauge is 0.1196 inches or 3.038 mm, 12 gauge is 0.1046 inches, and 14 gauge is 0.0747 inches or 1.897 mm, so an 11 gauge blade carries about 60 percent more metal in the face than a 14 gauge one, and Black Boar's 2 mm sits just above 14 gauge. Only seven of the seventeen plows here publish a thickness at all, and the spread among those seven runs from 14 gauge up to 11.
Whatever the face is made of, the part touching the ground is the wear bar, and it is the first thing you will replace. Five of the eight picks state a two-sided or reversible one, which WARN explains as the point: "when one side wears out, the wear bar can be flipped around for double the wear life".
Are ATVs good for plowing snow, and is one worth it for a big driveway?
For the right property, yes, and the people who say so are the ones who do it. ATV.com's writer, who has run one, puts it this way: "I've pushed wet, heavy snow with a Honda Rubicon 500 and was able to push more snow faster than a tractor doing the same task." Polaris frames the choice between machine types rather than for or against: "If you're looking to regularly clear a small walkway or driveway, a narrow ATV or 4-wheeler with a small plow might do just fine. For bigger driveways, access roads and other larger areas, a UTV capable of handling a heavier, wider snowplow is often the better choice."
On area, the pass table is the answer. Two limits sit around it. Depth: Polaris states that "a well-equipped UTV can handle 6 to 12 inches of snow", and an ATV with a narrower blade and half the weight is working below that figure, not above it. And traction: ATV Illustrated notes that "A little extra weight on the rear makes a big difference", and warns that "Much bigger tires and extremely aggressive tread patterns change your CVT gearing" and can damage axles and CV joints. Pushing snow is a traction problem before it is a horsepower problem, which is why a heavier side-by-side moves more snow than an ATV with the same engine.
Where a plow stops making sense is where the snow has nowhere to go. A plow pushes snow aside, so a long driveway with banks on both sides fills in by February however wide your blade is, and at that point a machine that throws snow beats one that pushes it: our snow blower guide covers that comparison, and the two stage guide covers the machines that sit in the same price bracket as these plows. For the strip by the door and the steps a plow is the wrong tool whatever your machine, which is what a good snow shovel and a bag of ice melt are still for.
Where the driveway ends and the garden starts
A plow blade is a winter tool for a surface, and it stops where the soil starts: it will not get near a bed edge, a frozen root or a post hole. Spear Head Spade makes double patented digging spades, and the spade finder says which size fits your soil.
Frequently asked questions
Does an ATV snow plow work on a gravel driveway?
Yes, with the skids set high, and the skid shoes are the part doing that job. Polaris puts the technique first: "Adjust your plow depth based on the snowpack's thickness. You want to avoid digging into bare earth or pavement," and "Keep it high early in the season or when the snowpack is light." Check the box before you buy: five of our eight picks state skids, adjustable skid pads on the two Extreme Max kits and the Black Boar, adjustable skid feet on the DENALI and rotating skid shoes on the WARN, while the Kolpin ATV, the Kolpin UTV and the KFI poly state none. One warning from the sources: JD Power lists "Not ideal for gravel driveways" as a stated downside of the previous-generation Warn ProVantage.
How much does a snow plow cost for an ATV?
Complete kits on this page run from $240.41 to $895.99, but the sticker is rarely the bill. Two things move it: a winch, at $119.90 to $283.62 unless your machine already has one, and a mount, where the kit does not include one. The worst case here is the WARN, which is a blade at $407.99 and a working plow at $916.46 across three purchases. Budget for the lift and check the contents line before you compare two prices.
Can you put an ATV plow on a side-by-side?
Yes, if the machine is set up for it, and the blade needs to be wider. Polaris says to "Check the owner's manual to determine if it is" and that side-by-sides are "particularly advantageous for snow plowing due to their large engine capacities and stability". ATV Illustrated puts most UTVs at "approximately 60 inches wide" and says they "will require a blade in the 60 to 72 inch range". Of the picks here only the Kolpin UTV Switchblade reaches 72 inches, and the 72 inch VEVOR in our second tier is the other model that does.
How long does it take to install an ATV snow plow?
Between about an hour and an afternoon, and the listings differ by more than you would expect. Both Kolpin Switchblade kits state a universal under-body mount that "Assembles in under 1 hour", and JD Power agrees on the UTV version at "about an hour" while calling it a Con. WARN states its blades are "Preassembled for fast and easy installation". At the other end, SNOWSQUATCH states "Assembly and install time estimated 3-4+ hours", ships in two boxes, and adds that "Some Model Applications May Require Minor Frame Modifications for Proper Fit". JD Power's stated complaint about our best overall pick is that "Initial assembly can be complicated".
Can one plow be used on two different ATVs?
On some systems, yes, and it is worth checking before you buy if there are two machines in the shed. Extreme Max is explicit about it: "To use your UniPlow with multiple ATVs, additional mounting kits are available," naming the universal UniMount kit and separate Polaris Sportsman and Can-Am Outlander mounts. ATV.com puts the same point plainly: "They even have extra mounts available to let you switch machines easier." The mount is the machine-specific part on almost every system here, so a second mount is usually all a second ATV needs.
Do you leave the plow mount on the ATV all year?
Usually the mount stays and the blade comes off. JD Power describes the normal arrangement: "While the mounting kit will generally stay on your ATV all year long, you want the ability to remove the blade when you want to ride the vehicle without plowing. The best mounting kits use a pin system that allows you to take the blade on and off in minutes." Extreme Max states its quick release detaches the plow "in literal seconds", Black Boar uses "two quick pins", and ATV Illustrated notes of the Warn mounts that there is "No ground clearance loss when plow removed".
The bottom line
Measure your front tire stance, then read the sizing table on the cleared figure, not the blade width. Under 42 inches of stance, buy the Extreme Max UniPlow 50 inch at $313.43, the kit three outlets name and the cheapest complete plow with any coverage behind it. From 42 up to about 54 inches, buy the Heavy-Duty 60 inch at $428.69, which is welded rather than bolted and comes in at $81.30 under the DENALI once the DENALI's $119.99 mount is in the basket. Above a 54 inch stance only the Kolpin UTV Switchblade at $549.99 covers you, at its 72 inch setting. Buy the Kolpin ATV Switchblade at $449.99 instead if there is no winch on your machine and you would rather not buy one, though its listing states no skid shoes, so on gravel set the blade high or plan on aftermarket skids. Take the DENALI only if 11 gauge steel is what you came for and you have priced its mount.
