What Is a Power Broom? | Outdoor Cleanup Machine

A power broom is a motorized outdoor sweeper that clears snow, dirt, gravel, and debris from pavement and turf.

If you’ve ever spent an afternoon pushing a stiff-bristled broom across a parking lot or a long driveway, you already know why the powered version exists. A power broom is a machine that does that same sweeping work with a rotating brush driven by an engine, so you walk behind it instead of pushing a broom by hand. These machines are common on farms, construction sites, and sports fields, and they’re showing up on more residential driveways and patios. Understanding what a power broom is — and what it isn’t — comes down to its design, its engine, and the jobs it’s built to handle.

Types of Power Brooms and How They Work

A power broom uses a rotating cylindrical brush that spins at high speed to push material sideways, off the surface you’re cleaning. The brush is powered by a gas engine, and the machine is designed to be walked behind, similar to a self-propelled lawn mower. Unlike a standard push broom, this is a heavy, powerful piece of equipment.

The most common forms you’ll see in the US market are:

• Walk-behind gas-powered units for driveways, sidewalks, patios, and small parking areas.
• Tractor-mounted sweepers that attach to a tractor’s three-point hitch or use its PTO, built for larger areas.
• Skid-steer attachments for construction and landscaping work.
• Multi-tool attachments that fit onto a compatible power head for lighter residential tasks.

The key distinction is that a power broom is always motorized — calling a regular household broom a “power broom” misses the point entirely.

What Can a Power Broom Be Used For?

These machines are workhorses for outdoor cleanup because the spinning brush handles materials a standard broom cannot. The most common uses include clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways, sweeping dirt and debris off pavement, and moving gravel back into place after it’s been spread. On turf, a power broom can also be used to loosen and collect thatch.

The Toro Walk Behind Power Broom, for example, is marketed as a “Snow Broom” on its US product page, while the same machine is described as a walk-behind power broom in other markets. The US version is powered by a 208 cc Kohler Command Pro Multi Season engine, which shows how much power is packed into a walk-behind unit.

Key Specs of the Toro Walk Behind Power Broom

For a concrete sense of what a power broom entails, the Toro models 38700 and 38701 offer a useful baseline. These are walk-behind units with a 208 cc Kohler Command Pro Multi Season engine. The machine moves on six forward speeds and two reverse speeds, with a friction disk transmission that handles the drive. The broom itself spins at 200 rpm, measures 63.5 cm (about 25 inches) in diameter, and covers a 91.4 cm (roughly 36-inch) wide sweep, which makes quick work of most driveways. The broom angle adjusts 20 degrees to the left or right using an easy thumb latch.

While the official US product page doesn’t list a public price, the machine is a serious investment built for years of heavy use. The 1-year warranty is standard for this class of equipment. A quick comparison of some key specs:

If a gas-powered machine feels like more than you need, battery-powered broom options are becoming a popular alternative for lighter jobs. Our roundup of the best battery-powered brooms covers cordless models that handle patios and small driveways without the maintenance of a gas engine.

Power Broom vs. Snow Broom: What’s the Difference?

There’s no strict industry line between a power broom and a snow broom. Toro’s own US listings classify the 38701 as a “Snow Broom,” while the same machine appears as a “Walk Behind Power Broom” on Toro’s Australia site. The distinction is mostly about marketing and intended use rather than hardware. A machine marketed as a snow broom is built to handle snow, but a power broom with the same brush and engine will do the job just as well.

Before you buy, check the operator’s manual for safety guidance on PPE, fuel handling, slope limits, and bystander warnings. A machine this powerful throws debris and snow with real force, so treating it with respect matters as much as knowing how to run it.