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How many watts does a welder use?

A typical welder uses 2,500–4,600 watts when running and draws 10.4–19.2 amps at 240 volts.

Welder watts, amps and circuit

Typical power use of a welder
Running watts2,500–4,600 W
Voltage240 V
Running amps10.4–19.2 A
Circuit20 A, 240 V outlet circuit (draws more than 15 A)

Also called: mig welder, stick welder, 240v welder, 220 welder.

Welder watts by size and type

Running and starting watts of welder types
Size or typeRunning watts, WVolts, VAmps, AStarting watts, W
Welder2,500–4,60024010.4–19.2—
MIG or flux-core2,500–2,90012020.8–24.2—
MIG, 210 to 230 A4,000–4,60024016.7–19.2—
02,0004,0006,000Watts, WSize or typeWelderWelder, Running watts: 2,500–4,6002,500–4,600MIG or flux-coreMIG or flux-core, Running watts: 2,500–2,9002,500–2,900MIG, 210 to 230 AMIG, 210 to 230 A, Running watts: 4,000–4,6004,000–4,60001,0002,0003,0004,0005,000Watts, WSize or typeWelderWelder, Running watts: 2,500–4,6002,500–4,600MIG or flux-coreMIG or flux-core, Running watts: 2,500–2,9002,500–2,900MIG, 210 to 230 AMIG, 210 to 230 A, Running watts: 4,000–4,6004,000–4,600
Watts of welder types. The lighter part of a bar is the upper end of the typical range.

What size generator runs a welder?

A welder needs a generator that supplies at least 4,600 running watts. A 5,000 W generator covers it with its running rating alone; add the watts of anything else you run at the same time. The generator must have a 240 V outlet or be connected through a transfer switch or interlock.

What it costs to run a welder

Running a welder at 3,550 W, the middle of its 2,500–4,600 W range, for one hour a day uses 1,295.8 kWh a year. That costs about $233 a year at $0.18 per kWh, the US average residential price for August 2026.

W
h
$/kWh

Your bill's total ÷ kWh used. 0.18 is the US residential average.

Result
$19 / month
Per day
$0.64
Per year
$233
Energy per day
3.55 kWh
Energy per month
108 kWh

How it is calculated

  1. kWh per day = 3,550 W × 1 h ÷ 1,000 = 3.55
  2. Per month = 3.55 kWh × 30.4 days × $0.18 = $19

What affects welder power use

The watts are the input power at rated output that Miller and Hobart list; the draw rises with the welding output setting. Welders are rated by duty cycle, so they run at full draw only part of the time. Small 120 V welders draw about 20 A at rated output (Lincoln Easy-MIG 140, Hobart Handler 140EZ); for a 240 V machine the breaker comes from the nameplate.

How the amps are calculated

Amps = watts ÷ volts. For 4,600 W at 240 V that is 19.2 A. The 2,500–4,600 W range covers typical models; the nameplate on a welder gives the exact figure.

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