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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Welder (MIG or Stick)? (2026)
Welders draw heavy current while the arc is on, from 2 kW for a small MIG at low settings to 7 kW or more for a stick welder at full output. Arc-on time is a small fraction of shop time, so total energy is modest.
A typical welder (mig or stick) (4,000 W) costs $0.72 per hour, or about $5.40 per month at 0.25 hours a day in United States (average). Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (2,000 W) | $0.36 | $0.090 | $2.70 | $32.85 |
| Typical (4,000 W) | $0.72 | $0.18 | $5.40 | $65.70 |
| High (7,000 W) | $1.26 | $0.32 | $9.45 | $114.97 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.25 h/day ≈ 365 kWh per year.
How to lower the cost of running a welder (mig or stick)
- Turn the welder off between jobs. Transformer welders draw 10 to 30 watts idle.
- Use the lowest amperage that gives good penetration.
- Inverter welders are 20 to 30 percent more efficient than transformer types.
In standby it draws about 10 W, which adds roughly 88 kWh ($15.77) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a welder use per hour of welding?
About 4 kWh per hour of actual arc time on a typical machine. Real sessions have far less arc time.
Do welders use power when idle?
Transformer welders draw 10 to 30 watts idle; inverters use less.
Is a 240 V welder more expensive to run?
No. Voltage affects available power, not efficiency.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India