STIHL has introduced the SFA 120, its first battery-powered snow thrower, ahead of the winter season. According to STIHL USA, it is a 22 inch single-stage machine that uses the same AP battery system as the company’s yard tools. Popular Science reported on October 8, 2026 that STIHL plans to put it on sale on November 1.

What STIHL says it does

The SFA 120 has a brushless motor and a single steel auger fitted with rubber paddles. Popular Science notes that the rubber absorbs the knocks a driveway delivers, which takes stress off the auger. The chute rotates 180 degrees from a handlebar control, and the vertical angle is set by hand with a quick-release lever. Two LED lights are fitted for early starts and late finishes.

It has two battery bays. A single pack works in either slot, and Popular Science says the machine moves to the second pack on its own when the first runs flat. STIHL’s page rates the machine with two AP 300.0 P batteries: a 7-car driveway in wet, heavy snow, or a 10-car driveway in 2.75 inches of fresh snow. These are the maker’s own ratings, and no independent test results had been published in the sources we read.

Price and availability

Canada first: STIHL has not published Canadian pricing in the sources we read. One Canadian dealer, IHL Canada, lists the SFA 120 at CAD $1,199.99 and shows it as sold out, with in-store pickup or oversized truck delivery. The listing gives no kit contents, so it is unclear whether a battery or charger is included. Check with your local STIHL dealer for the Canadian price, kit and arrival date.

In the US, STIHL USA lists a suggested retail price of $699.99 for the bare tool and $899.99 with an AP 300.0 P battery and a charger. STIHL USA lists the release as Q4 2026 and says pricing and availability can change without notice.

Where the sources agree and differ

STIHL and Popular Science agree on the 22 inch width, the 180 degree chute, the two LED lights and the driveway ratings. They differ slightly on timing: STIHL’s page says Q4 2026, while Popular Science gives November 1. Neither source lists voltage, intake height, throw distance, weight or runtime per charge, so those numbers are still open.

Who it suits

  • Homeowner with a typical driveway: a single-stage machine with a 22 inch width and no fuel to store fits light to moderate snowfalls. Check the ratings against your driveway, since STIHL’s figures assume two batteries. * Someone already on STIHL AP batteries: existing packs may work in the machine, so the bare tool at the US price could be enough. Confirm compatibility with your dealer. * First-time buyer: the kit includes one battery and a charger, but a second battery is what the 7-car and 10-car ratings are based on, so budget for it. * Buyer in a very cold region: Popular Science quotes a STIHL engineer saying cold-weather battery performance was the main design challenge. Ask about operating temperatures before you buy. * Large or gravel driveway: a single-stage design scrapes close to the surface, so check how it handles your surface and the heaviest snow you usually see.

What it means for readers

For Canadian buyers the key unknowns are price and stock. Until STIHL or a Canadian retailer confirms them, treat the US figures as a guide only and ask your dealer before planning around a November arrival.