I De-Iced My Driveway in Record Time With the Scott’s Elite Spreader

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Salt spreaders don’t get the attention they deserve. Though freshly fallen snow has a beautiful way of blanketing neighborhoods in a peaceful ambiance, it’s not long before cold concrete can turn that snow into slippery ice. Enter salt spreaders, which are simple tools that make it much easier and quicker to apply deicing salt to driveways, walkways, and other outdoor areas. 

Though I’m a firm believer in safety first, I also acknowledge that using too much salt to melt accumulated snow and ice can damage concrete, harm plants and animals, and contaminate water. Salt spreaders help mitigate this problem by keeping salt distribution even and confined to intended areas. 

To determine which salt spreaders are worth their price, we researched dozens of popular spreaders before testing six top options on our driveway and walkways as well as on our front steps and deck. Our favorite was the Scotts Elite Spreader for its even and easy application, convenience and control, and ability to accommodate both granular and rock salt. Read on to see our test results for this and the rest of the products we recommend before choosing one of the best salt spreaders for your property. 

Salt Spreaders Comparison Chart

Best Overall

Scotts Elite Spreader

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What We Like

• 10-inch never-flat tires move easily over icy snow
• Accommodates both granular and rock salt
• High capacity and ample spread width

What We Don’t Like

• Edge guard on one side only
• Too large for use on stairs

Specs 

• Type: Walk-behind
• Capacity: 80 pounds
• Spread width: 6 feet

Our Ratings: Assembly 5/5; Distribution 4.75/5; Durability 4.5/5; Value 5/5 

With a dual-rotor design, the Scotts Elite walk-behind salt spreader has an impressive 80-pound capacity and 6-foot spread width for quick salt application to driveways, sidewalks, and decks. It comes mostly assembled other than attaching its 10-inch never-flat tires and flipping up its ergonomic handle. In our tests, we found it stable and easy to maneuver, even when filled with all 35 pounds of ice melt we had on hand. 

The Scotts Elite salt dispenser for snow and ice features dial settings from two to 15, meaning it works with everything from fine lawn fertilizers to chunky rock salt. Since we’re careful to avoid unnecessarily applying ice melt for environmental and economic reasons, we wish this model featured its EdgeGuard technology next to both rotors instead of just one. Still, so long as we planned which direction we went when working next to our lawn, we found the application to be even and relatively easy to control. 

What our tester says: “If I could only choose one salt and fertilizer spreader, this would be it. It holds a ton of product, moves easily over uneven terrain, and makes quick work of large areas.” —Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Scotts Elite salt spreader at Amazon, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Co., Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, or Scotts. 

More Salt Spreaders Worth Your Money

While we were happy to melt ice and snow with the help of our top pick, we understand that it may not be right for everyone. The following five spreaders also passed our tests and might be better for those with differing capacity needs. 

1. Spot Spreader Hand Spreader Shaker for Seed and Salt, available at Amazon or Northern Tool + Equipment.
2. Scotts Whirl Hand-Powered Spreader, available at Amazon, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Co., Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, or Scotts.
3. Ryobi 18V One+ 1-Gallon Power Spreader, available at The Home Depot.
4. Chapin 8201A 80-Pound Broadcast Salt Spreader, available at Tractor Supply Co., Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot. 
5. Agri-Fab 130-lb. Ice Melt Push Spreader, available at Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Co., Northern Tool + Equipment, Blain’s Farm & Fleet, or Agri-Fab. 

How We Tested the Best Salt Spreaders

There are hundreds of salt spreaders on the market, so choosing just a few to test wasn’t easy. To make our decision, we researched various types of spreaders, including everything from salt spreaders for trucks to simple feed scoops. Once we selected six options, we put each through a series of tests, including assembly, using them with granular salt and rock salt, and evaluating any additional features. We rated each product according to a rubric and gave the highest overall scorer our award for the best salt spreader. 

What to Consider When Choosing a Salt Spreader

When choosing the right salt spreader, there are a few important factors to keep in mind. These include the size of the surfaces in need of salting, which type of spreader you prefer, and the quality of materials, among other things.

Types of Salt Spreaders

The snow salt spreaders we tested for home use are exclusively walk-behind and handheld models. However, larger commercial settings may require a truck salt spreader or a salt spreader for a tractor. 

Handheld

Many residential salt spreaders are designed as compact handheld units. Scoop-style models are sometimes fully open, and others have lids with various-size holes to accommodate both granular and rock salt while helping control the amount of product dispensed at once. 

A slightly more complex handheld salt spreader may feature a hopper up top and a mechanism that opens to allow salt to project from the front of the spreader. Open-top hopper-style units are available in hand-crank or battery-powered versions with dials to allow various sizes of ice through. These types of handheld units generally work best with granular salt and may clog with rock-style products.

Walk-Behind

Walk-behind salt spreaders are more substantial than handheld units, incorporating larger hoppers as well as wheels, handles, and a range of additional features. They’re better suited to larger surfaces where users want to cover a decent amount of square footage quickly. On the flip side, their size makes them tricky to use in tight spots and on stairs. 

Our top picks for walk-behind spreaders project salt in widths between 4 and 6 feet and feature at least one fin or deflector to help control spread width as desired. Most walk-behind spreaders have a wide range of opening settings to accommodate small materials like fertilizer, substantial pieces of rock salt, and everything in between. 

Towable

While we only tested handheld and walk-behind spreaders in this guide, towable and hitch-mount salt spreaders are also available for larger properties or commercial use. Towable electric salt spreaders can help users avoid having to rely on snow removal services for the job, although they do require mounting to a truck, ATV, or lawn tractor. 

Capacity and Job Size

Perhaps the biggest factor to consider when choosing the best salt spreader is the size of the area in need of treatment before or after a storm. Since handheld units often hold only 5 pounds of salt or less, they’re better for smaller spaces like stairs or detailed work alongside the edge of a driveway. 

Walk-behind units are helpful for driveways, sidewalks, and decks since they allow quick application over larger areas and often incorporate fins or deflectors to help increase accuracy. The walk-behind units we tested have a capacity of 80 to 130 pounds, though smaller and larger models are available. In our perfect world, we would own both a walk-behind and a handheld spreader for speed and precision. 

Towable salt spreaders can hold over 100 pounds of salt, making them ideal for deicing sizable surfaces quickly. Generally speaking, though, they aren’t as accurate as smaller units. 

Material and Durability

Most salt spreaders are made with plastic hoppers since the material is lightweight, relatively durable, and easy to maintain. Steel or stainless steel salt spreaders may be more durable over the years, but they generally weigh more and will require additional maintenance to prevent rust.

Salt spreader handles and broadcast plates may also be made of either metal or plastic. As with the hopper, the use of metal in these parts may make them more durable but also heavier and in need of additional maintenance. 

FAQs

While the above sections cover the most important features of salt spreaders, you may still have a few questions if you’ve never used one. Below, we answer a few of the most common queries about these devices. 

Q. Are salt spreaders worth it?

Salt spreaders are an efficient and affordable way to reduce the time and effort it takes to keep potentially slippery surfaces safe in winter. They can also help save on snow removal costs. We think they are worth it, especially if you live anywhere snowfall is a relatively common occurrence. 

Q. Do fertilizer spreaders work with salt?

Many fertilizer spreaders work with salt, provided the salt is small and granular. If the opening is big enough, your current fertilizer spreader may even accommodate rock salt. If you don’t have a salt spreader but need to melt ice, our guide on how to melt ice without salt provides a few additional methods.

Q. Should I spread salt before snow?

Yes, the best time to spread salt is before it snows. Salting an hour or more before a snowfall helps prevent snow from sticking. If you miss your window to salt before a storm, be sure to use a snow shovel to clear as much accumulation as possible before applying salt using a spreader. 

Q. Can you leave salt in a salt spreader?

There are two reasons why it’s far from ideal to leave salt in a salt spreader. First, salt is corrosive and can damage your spreader over time. Second, if moisture from the air or wayward rain or snow gets into your spreader and combines with the salt, you may end up with a frozen block of ice inside your machine. 

Meet the Tester

Having spent half her life in the Midwest and the rest in the mountains, Michelle Larson is no stranger to snow or the amount of time it takes to remove it. Because she’d rather spend a little more upfront than buy a tool or appliance twice, she strongly believes in the power of product testing for finding quality items that are meant to last. 

 

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