Seasonal Contract vs Per-Push Snow Plowing: Which Saves More in the Quad Cities?

By Wade’s Property Services, Sherrard, IL · Updated November 11, 2026 · 7 min read

Seasonal or per-push is the last decision most people make before they book a plow service. It is also easy to get wrong, because you are betting on how much it will snow. This guide shows the math, explains what each plan includes at Wade’s Property Services, and lists the questions to ask any company before you sign.

How each plan works

Per-storm (per push). You pay each time the crew plows. Typical residential driveways run about $35 to $75 per push, depending on size, access and snow depth. You pay only when we plow, so it suits light winters and occasional use. You can join the per-storm list with no commitment. One-time requests are not guaranteed, because in heavy storms we serve seasonal and existing per-storm customers first. If the city plow pushes snow back into your driveway, that is a separate visit at standard per-storm pricing.

Seasonal contract. One flat price for the winter, typically about $350 to $750 for a residential property. Seasonal customers are prioritized during heavy storms, and snow pushed back by the city plow is cleared at no extra charge. You pay the same whether the winter is light or heavy.

The break-even math

Wade’s typical seasonal price is about ten times the typical per-push price. That makes the break-even easy to remember: about 10 visits. Below 10 visits per-storm costs less. Above it, seasonal costs less.

This table uses the low end, the middle and the high end of Wade’s typical ranges. The seasonal price is shown first, then the per-storm total for the number of visits.

These are examples built from typical ranges, not a quote. Your price depends on your driveway, access and what is included, so confirm it with a written quote.

Two things the table leaves out make seasonal look better:

• Snow pushed back by the city plow. On a per-storm plan each return is a separate visit. On a seasonal plan it is included.
• Priority. In a heavy storm, seasonal customers are served first, so you are cleared sooner.

How do you estimate your visits?

Nobody can promise how many times it will snow. You can still make an informed guess:

1. Count how many times your driveway needed plowing last winter, using your own notes or the National Weather Service’s Quad Cities climate data.
2. Remember that total snowfall is not the same as visits. In a normal January the Quad Cities airport gets about 10.8 inches (KWQC), and that could be three big storms or many small ones.
3. Only snowfalls at or above the trigger depth count. Ours is typically 2 to 3 inches for homes.
4. Ask how a long storm is counted. Some buyers worry that a low trigger can mean several billed visits in one storm. In heavy storms we make multiple passes and finish with a cleanup, so ask how your plan treats them.

How these prices compare with national figures

National cost guides give similar ballparks. Angi lists roughly $40 to $100 per visit for a driveway and walkway and $300 to $700 for a seasonal contract, and Lawn Love lists $35 to $95 per visit for plowing (Angi, Lawn Love). These are national averages, so local prices can differ. For more detail, see our Quad Cities snow removal cost guide.

Which one should you choose?

Choose a seasonal contract if:

• You expect more than about 10 visits, or you want a predictable winter budget.
• You want priority in heavy storms.
• Your driveway gets snow pushed back by the city plow.
• You do not want to think about it all winter.

Choose per-storm if:

• Your winters are usually light, or the property is a second home or rarely used.
• You want no commitment.
• You are comfortable being served after seasonal customers in a heavy storm.

If you are not sure, start on the per-storm list. You can compare it with a seasonal quote once you know how your winter is going.

Questions to ask any plow company before you sign

These come from what buyers say they worry about, plus basic contract sense:

1. What snow depth starts a visit, and can it be lower for my driveway?
2. How does a long storm count: one visit or several?
3. Is there a cap on the number of visits, or a surcharge for heavy storms or after-hours work?
4. When do crews usually arrive, and what do I need to do, such as keep cars off the driveway?
5. Are walkways, steps and salting included or extra?
6. What happens to snow the city plow pushes back?
7. Where will the snow be pushed, and is that written down?
8. Can I see proof of insurance and recent reviews?
9. What are the start and end dates of the contract?
10. If I can only afford one, what happens if the crew cannot make it during a major storm?

For help choosing a company, read local snow plow company or snow removal app.

How to get a price from Wade’s

Call us or request a free quote and tell us about your driveway and walkways. We start plowing automatically at trigger depth, so you do not need to call each storm. Most plowing happens between 3 AM and 7 AM, so your driveway is clear before work. We need clear access with no parked cars in the way, and we set up where the snow goes when you sign up.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Angi: how much does snow removal cost
2. Lawn Love: how much does snow removal cost
3. KWQC: January snowfall normals for the Quad Cities, 1991 to 2020
4. National Weather Service Quad Cities office