Along with cooler weather, leaves falling, and sweaters, fall also brings morning frosts, and snow is not far behind. It doesn’t matter how many fall seasons I live through, every October I’m caught off guard when I walk out to go to work and see my windshield covered in frost. Unless you have a remote-start vehicle (only in my dreams), you’re going to have a tough time warming your car up in time to melt the frost without being late.
When I got my first car, my dad made sure it was well-stocked with a few things, and an ice scraper was one of them. While my ice scraper doesn’t always get me to work on time if I don’t plan ahead, it does keep me from being embarrassingly late or missing a meeting. In just five minutes, I’ll be on the road and on my way to the office. Keeping in mind my many years of experience with morning frost emergencies, I’ve reviewed the most effective ice scrapers of 2025!
If you’re looking for an efficient window scraper, then the BETTER STUFF Ice Scraper is all you need. Its unique shape allows the brass frost blade to conform to the shape of your window’s glass and doesn’t leave any marks. The brass alloy is not as hard as glass but is strong enough to break through the ice. Even better, its serrated edge lets you chip away the ice, while the flat blade is perfect for clearing. With its efficient design, you can easily scrape away ice without having to apply too much pressure. Plus, the convenient size and shape make it easy to stick in the backseat of your car. We’ve chosen it as the best overall scraper on our list due to its innovative design and anti-scratch technology.
When it comes to dual-sided scrapers, the Subzero Ice Scraper is just what you need. With a chipper on one side and a clearing tool on the other, this design could have saved my windshield wiper that fateful winter afternoon during my junior year in college. There’s also a padded foam grip, which will be your saving grace during those cold mornings. I wish my scraper had more padding like this so I wouldn’t have to grab the metal part of it at points. A 4-inch wide blade is what I have on my scraper, and it gets the job done pretty efficiently. With a small keyhole cut out of the scraper, you can easily hang it on a nail if you don’t want to leave it in your car. Although, I recommend keeping it in the car so that you have it if you need it while you’re out and about.
If you’ve driven a car in subzero temperatures, you know how stubborn ice on the windshield can be the next day. In cases like these, the Zecval Ice Scraper comes in handy. This scraper is about 10 inches, which is on the shorter side but compact enough to easily store in your car. Similar to the other pick, the foam handle has grooves for a better, more comfortable grip that protects your hand at least a little from the cold. The scraper’s blade is 4-inches and rounded, which helps you get under stubborn blocks of ice. Right at the head of the scraper, there’s a leverage point to exert more pressure if stubborn areas don’t clear out. Overall, it’s a great scraper to keep in the car or garage.
The L & P Car Design ice Scraper will surely live up to your expectations for a 2-in-1 scraper and windshield cleaner. Its flat, fan-like structure makes it perfect for scraping away larger areas in one clean stroke. On one side there’s a wide brass alloy scraper for frost removal, and on the other side, there’s a squeegee for cleaning bug splats and other things that stick to your windshield. I’ve never used one of these before, but I often wish I had a squeegee on hand for when a bird poops on my windshield. You can get it in many color options, too, making it just a bit more fun.
Scraping the ice off of a window in freezing cold temperatures isn’t fun — I get it. I started counting the days until summer would come and I wouldn’t have to scrape anymore in December. I can’t promise that this scraper will make scraping “fun” but it might keep you from counting the days until summer in October. Meet the RevHeads Ice Scraper. With a scraper and built-in chipper that breaks through thick ice, cleaning your windshield won’t take longer than necessary. The curved design of the scraper’s head prevents shards of ice from breaking off toward you, which is welcome on cold days when there is a lot of ice that might be flying your way. Like the other options, it also has a hole for convenient hanging and a small size for convenient storage. I recommend this option for anyone that lives in cold temperatures but doesn’t want a scraper sitting in their back seat or on the floor of their car.
Speaking from experience, ice scrapers are necessary for anyone who deals with temperatures cold enough to manufacture overnight frost or snow and ice that will freeze to your windshield. I can’t tell you how many times mine has saved me from being terribly late for something important. What are all the ways it will come in handy? Let’s talk about that.
I personally use mine primarily to clear the frost from my car windshield while temperatures drop low at night during the colder seasons. It’s also super useful when I walk outside to see there’s been an overnight snowstorm, and snow is covering my windshield. Other times, I’ve used it to break up and clear my windshield of ice. I did end with a broken windshield wiper after clearing the windshield, so I advise caution in using your scraper for this purpose, but it’s still the quickest way to get yourself back on the road.
You probably wouldn’t have guessed there’s a lot of variety among ice scrapers, but it’s 2025, and there’s no such thing as just one type of any product. Here are some of the types of ice scrapers you can buy:
This lightweight and inexpensive type is perfect for defrosting car windshields quickly — and it’s the type I personally use. They usually come with a brush on one side and a scraping edge on the other. They’re usually fairly inexpensive but also durable enough to clear your car very quickly. I’ve been using mine for almost seven years now, and I think my dad used it for up to five years before I started using it.
If you’re looking for something that can tackle tough ice, this is the type of scraper you need. They’re usually made from hardened steel, brass alloy, or aluminum, making them strong enough to break through even the thickest layers of ice. We don’t get enough ice where I live for me to need one like this, but if I were to move farther north, I’d definitely consider it.
I’ll be honest: I hadn’t considered getting one like this prior to writing this guide, but now I’m seriously thinking about it. There are a lot of mornings I wish I could reach all the way across my windshield instead of walking from side to side, and this would make it possible. If I get a taller car, I’ll definitely need one in order to even reach the windshield. If you’re a tall person with long arms, you may not need one as much, but for those like me who are average height or on the shorter side, this may be your ideal companion.
So you’ve got your eye on a particular type of ice scraper, but how do you know if it’s the right one for you? Here are some tips to help you pick out the perfect tool for winter:
What type of surfaces will the scraper be used on? This will determine what material you want to have on your ice scraper. Do you need one with a handle or just a straightforward design?
Many ice scrapers come with ergonomic handles, which make it easier and more comfortable to hold while scraping away snow and ice. The handle also ensures that the tool won’t accidentally slip from your hands and cause any damage to the window or car. Take it from me: a slipping ice scraper can cause significant damage to your windshield wipers.
Some models have special features, like a built-in brush or extendable handle. These can be great if you’re looking for added convenience and versatility. One popular add-on is a squeegee because it helps wipe away melting ice and also acts as a window cleaner.
An ice scraper is a tool to rid frost and snow from windows. It usually consists of a wide plastic or metal blade attached to an ergonomic handle, allowing you to scrape surfaces easily. Some models may also feature a brush for cleaning away large chunks of accumulated snow and ice. Ice scrapers are a must-have item during winter months to maximize visibility and safety while driving!
Ice scrapers will damage your paint, especially if you have a scraper made out of metal. You don't have paint on your windows, so an ice scraper is great for windows, but it's not meant to be used on the body of your car. If you need something for the body of your car, the brush end still might scratch the paint, so look for other safe snow removal tools. You can also use your sleeve, which is what I do most of the time.
Like any other tool, an ice scraper should have an ergonomic handle. A good handle helps add more force while scraping, making the job easier and faster. Additionally, look for handles made from materials that are easy to hold. After all, you can’t work on getting rid of frost if your hands tire out from the cold and effort you’re putting in.
An ice scraper will always work, regardless of temperature, but it may require more effort from you depending on how much is on your windshield. I remember one below 20-degree day in college when I had to leave early in the morning, and scraping my windshield was significantly more difficult. It did work, however!
Although ice scrapers have durable blades, they tend to get blunt or chip with repeated use. If you feel your ice breaker is no longer splitting accumulated frost as well as it used to, it is time to get a new one. Most people change ice scrapers after every two winters, depending on how much they have used them.