The Best Salt Spreaders

Buyers Products Grounds Keeper Salt Spreader

Melt Your Troubles Away

This salt spreader boasts impressive traction and volume that makes clearing treacherous pavement a breeze.

Best Overall

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Covering driveways to courtyards with salt and sand to subvert the snow can be difficult without the dispersing power of this salt spreader from Buyers Products. The Grounds Keeper edition of the device is made with reinforced steel and heavily treaded tires to deal with harsh conditions if you’re late to the game. When you need to spread in between breaks in the storm, don’t worry — the heavy nylon cover seals off your salt reserves from the outside elements and keeps the goods clump-free. With a max spread range of 24′,  the Grounds Keeper is built right and excels at keeping businesses and homes in operation during inclement weather.

Pros:

• Designed to be easy to push without undue fatigue
• Great for spreading seeds on uneven surfaces too
• Load up to 100 lbs of salt at once

Cons:

• The gearbox may not arrive pregreased

Chapin International Hand Salt Spreader

Secure Your Sidewalk

If you don't have a ton of ground to cover, this spreader shoots salt evenly and covers tight corners and angles with minimal effort.

Best Handheld

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If your patio or walkway is limited, Chapin International’s Hand Salt Spreader can make the all difference on snowy days. This device is a two-in-one scooper and salt disperser that’s perfect for keeping your hands clean and the ice at bay. The gearbox that controls the spreader is sealed, so you don’t need to worry about operating on the unit after a season or two. When you’re ready to thaw out your property, grab your salt, pull the trigger, and spread from sidewalk to doorway evenly and conveniently.

Pros:

• Durable, corrosion-proof plastic
• Top-notch technical support team
• No assembly required

Cons:

• The feeder is prone to jamming with larger salt chunks

Agri-Fab Commercial Push Spreader

Cover Every Corner

If you need to tackle some serious square footage with little time to spare, this spreader can power through uneven terrain with unrivaled speed and control.

Highest Capacity

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Agri-Fab takes the cake for spread radius and ease of use as far as push spreaders are concerned. The tub on this colossus can manage 130 pounds with ease, thanks to bulky tires that won’t crack under pressure. The hopper will take care of debris or larger salt chunks with a built-in metal grate, making it ideal for spreading finer mulch and seeds when the time comes. If your outdoor space is on the small side, be warned: the Commerical Push Spreader is big. If you use your garage for vehicle storage or don’t have an appropriate shed, storing this out in the open will lead to corrosion slowly over time.

Pros:

• Half-acre coverage per fill
• Made in the USA
• Includes cover and deflector shield for unwanted areas

Cons:

• Requires quite a bit of assembly, and the parts are not clearly labeled

Buyers Products All-Purpose Broadcast Spreader

Clear the Roads

This device is the perfect accessory for clearing access roads, preparing driveways, or helping out the whole neighborhood before the blizzard strikes.

Best for Sports Utility Vehicles

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When your maintenance projects require mammoth coverage in short windows of time, fire up your sports utility vehicle and grab Buyers Products’ All-Purpose Broadcast Spreader. Unless you have large driveways or tiny municipalities to take care of, the Broadcast Spreader may seem like overkill. And its size is certainly no joke. The 100 lb capacity hopper is assisted by a built-in motor that automatically fires salt, sand, or seed for feet in every direction. While an ATV would be the go-to choice for this spreader, all manner of utility or full-sized vehicle should have the power requirements to operate this snow slaying machine.

Pros:

• Surprisingly easy to assemble
• It can be mounted on ATVs, truck tailgates, and more
• Frame bars and wiring harness included with purchase

Cons:

• No deflector for the 360° spread

Harris Earth Spreader

The Walkway Wonder

This nifty salt shaker is the perfect cold-weather accessory for securing compact porches and short walks outside with the grip you need.

Best Value

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Walkways, stairs, and doorways are no match for Harris’ Earth Spreader. This hand-held hero includes generously-sized spreading holes for standard-sized rock salt and a scoop with which to load the device. The heart of the Earth Spreader’s appeal is its simplicity and ease of use. If you live in an apartment and already have to deal with the rigors of vehicle commutes during adverse weather, inexpensively controlling your commute to the car is a great start. This shaker can fill up to two liters of salt, which should be plenty for short walkways to ensure that delivery workers, pets, friends, and family — as well as any passersby — are protected.

Pros:

• Excellent value for the price
• Hole size can be adjusted with a simple turn
• USA-based company

Cons:

• Will not spread salt very far

Frequently Asked Questions

Is salt safe to use for melting ice?

Salt is generally regarded as safe for melting small batches of ice. But it should be noted that salt is naturally corrosive, and over time it can cause serious repercussions for the environment in concentrated uses. Rock salt can seep into the ground and absorb into ground aquifers, underground water reservoirs. While your walkway spreading won’t cause a catastrophe, increased sodium in water can fatally dehydrate amphibians. Aside from long-term effects, rock salt can cause respiratory distress and skin irritation, so always wear protective equipment while handling.

When is it appropriate to salt for ice?

Salting is called for whenever you feel as though the ground is unsafe to walk on. Specifically, black ice can be cause for breaking out the spreader in heavily-trafficked areas. This particularly perilous phenomenon occurs when melted water later freezes, creating an imperceptibly thin layer of ice that can be treacherous. If you’re concerned about oversalting in minor precipitation events, consider using a bag of sand. While this method is messier, sand is environmentally conscious and is much less likely to clog your spreader with larger chunks.