Best Rear Blades for Tractors in 2026: 3-Point Blades for Snow, Gravel, and Ditches

A rear blade is the simplest implement on a three-point hitch: a curved steel moldboard you can angle to push snow or gravel to one side, back-drag to level, or tilt to cut a ditch. It is the tractor owner's snow plow for winters that do not justify a front blower. MechMaxx specifications below are from its official product pages; YINTATECH specifications are from its Amazon listing.

Rear Blades Compared

How to Size a Rear Blade

The same three checks that size a box blade apply here:

• Width vs your rear tires. Measure across the outside of your rear tires. When the blade is angled to push snow or gravel sideways, its effective width shrinks, so a blade at or above your tire width is the practical minimum.
• Hitch category. The YINTATECH fits Cat 0 and Cat 1; the MechMaxx RB-S blades are Cat 1; the heavy-duty RB-SE blades fit Cat 1 and Cat 2, per their listings. Your operator's manual lists yours.
• Lift capacity. The MechMaxx blades run from 291 to 604 pounds per MechMaxx, and the YINTATECH listing does not state a weight. Check your three-point lift capacity before you buy the heavy-duty versions.

MechMaxx lists a horsepower range for each blade, which helps: the RB-S line is listed for 20-45 HP and the heavier RB-SE line for 25-70 HP.

What "6-Way" Means

A basic rear blade angles left and right. A 6-way blade adds tilt - lowering one end to cut a ditch or crown a lane - and offset, which slides the blade to one side so it reaches past the tractor's wheels along a fence line or ditch edge. The MechMaxx RB60S and RB72S list 25.6 inches of offset and plus or minus 45 degrees of angle.

The Picks

MechMaxx RB60S (60"): Our Pick for Compact Tractors

Per the listing: 60 inches wide, 6-way adjustable with 25.6 inches of offset and 45 degrees of angle each way, a 0.4-inch cutting edge and 0.24-inch moldboard, Category 1, and a 20-45 HP range. It weighs 291 pounds. The listing names driveways, gravel roads, landscaping, fields, and snow clearing. It is sold by MechMaxx's own Amazon store.

YINTATECH 52": For Sub-Compacts and Garden Tractors

Per the listing: 52 inches, adjustable angle so you can push material instead of only pulling it, and fits Category 0 and Category 1 hitches. The listing names gravel driveway repair, garden bed preparation, and light snow removal. It is the only blade here sold by Amazon itself. Its listing does not state the implement's weight, so confirm it against your lift capacity.

MechMaxx RB72S (72"): The 6-Foot Version

Per the listing: the same 6-way design and 20-45 HP Category 1 rating as the RB60S in a 72-inch width, at 315 pounds. Pick it if your rear tires are wider than 60 inches or you want fewer passes on a long driveway.

MechMaxx RB60SE and RB84SE: Heavy Duty for Bigger Tractors

Per the listings: a thicker 0.32-inch moldboard, Category 1 and 2 hitch fit, and a 25-70 HP range. The 60-inch RB60SE weighs 531 pounds and the 84-inch RB84SE weighs 604. MechMaxx also lists a 72-inch RB72SE at 571 pounds. These are for utility tractors with the lift capacity to carry them.

Rear Blade or Box Blade?

A rear blade moves material sideways and cuts ditches. A box blade carries material, rips hardpan with its shanks, and levels. Some owners run both - the box blade for building and repairing the driveway, the rear blade for plowing it in winter. If snow is the main job and you do not have a tractor, see our snow blower guide or ATV snow plows.

Common Questions

What size rear blade do I need for my tractor?

Start with the width of your rear tires as the minimum, then check the blade's listed horsepower range, hitch category, and weight against your tractor. MechMaxx, for example, lists its RB-S blades for 20-45 HP Category 1 tractors and its heavier RB-SE blades for 25-70 HP.

Can you plow snow with a rear blade?

Yes - the listings for both the MechMaxx RB60S and the YINTATECH 52-inch blade name snow clearing among their uses. Angle the blade to push snow off to one side as you drive, or back-drag to pull it away from doors and gates.

What is a 6-way rear blade?

One that adjusts angle, tilt, and offset. The MechMaxx RB60S and RB72S list 25.6 inches of offset and plus or minus 45 degrees of angle.

Does a Cat 0 tractor need a special rear blade?

It needs a blade that fits a Category 0 hitch. The YINTATECH 52-inch blade on this page lists both Cat 0 and Cat 1 fit.