Coming into existence from the 19th century, mig welders are most preferable for welding activities. MIG welding is Metal Inert Gas welding, using wires as electrodes for welding. The principle of MIG welders is that to join two base materials, they are melted. The welder or gun along with electrode wire, feeds inert gas as well. This way the airborne contaminants cannot damage or contaminate the welding. Now, to save you from the confusion of narrowing down to the best MIG welder for the money or more so, even the best MIG welders for beginners, we have done our homework and curated a list of 15 best welders.
Whether you are a DIYer or even an expert in welding, our list will simplify your work and save you from going through hit and trial way.
Top-Rated MIG Welders Comparison Table
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The Best MIG Welders In [month_year] Are
1. Goplus MIG 130 – Best MIG Welder for Beginners
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An automatic welding machine with a simplified engineering, this Mig Welder has all that those parts making welding an easy task for the beginners as well as for the experts. The body is of stainless steel, making it live long enough.
KEY FEATURES:
- Power: Power output absorbed is of 110V/60Hz.
- Heat settings: There are 4 settings of heat available in the welder for the user to choose from Min 1, Min 2, Max 1 and Max 2.
- Welding customization: The heat settings and wire speed settings combination can help achieve welding as per your requirement.
- Accessories backing: This welder has all useful accessories backed with it like welding gun, power cord, weld mask, welding wire, brush.
- Power cord: An adequate length of 72.5” cord is provided.
- Safety: Welding for too long will shut the machine itself to protect from being overloaded thermally.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Long cord for an appropriate reach. | 1. Not suitable for heavy duty tasks. |
| 2. Steel body giving the machine a long lifespan. | 2. Breaker in the machine might trip. |
| 3. Compact design and handle makes it portable. | |
| 4. Heat settings and wire feed speed makes welding customizable. | |
| 5. Dual circuit breakers keep risks at bay. |
2. Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG – Best Overall MIG Welder
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Whatever the work is, whether household or industrial work, this overall best Mig welder under 1000 is the one to go for. This machine allows the user to do both indoor and outdoor works easily.
KEY FEATURES:
- Power Input: It delivers output on supplying input of 115V and voltage regulator houses 5 settings to choose from.
- Stable Arc: 5 voltage settings enable the welder to give a stable arc even in low voltage.
- Three drive rolls: For setting up the wires of the welder, three grooves are provided. Two are for a solid wire of varied size while third is for flux cored wire.
- Drive system: Drive system of aluminum is provided for increasing the efficiency.
- Strong build and light weight: The durable steel makes the body strong weighing only 63.5 lbs.
- Polarity change: Flipping between solid or tubular wire is easy with a control panel for enhanced user interface.
- Safety: Welder resets itself to avoid short circuits due to thermal overload on transformers.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Welder is ready-to-use only requiring assembling of some small parts. | 1. Safety gears need to be purchased separately. |
| 2. It is an easy to use machine even for beginners. | 2. No gas power or generator backup. Relies on electricity. |
| 3. Penetrates deep ensuring smoother weld. | 3. Heavy industrial repair work is a limitation. |
| 4. Gas cylinder is not required. | |
| 5. Steady arc is achieved at each operation. |
3. Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG – Best Flux Core Welder for The Money
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This welder is one of the best 110V Mig Welders. Being flux cored, a range of welding tasks can be carried out creating less hassle. From the varieties available, this is the best welder making outdoor welding easy.
KEY FEATURES:
- Metal handling: The metals between 3/8” thicknesses of 16 gauges can be handled well. Aluminium sheets of the same range can also be welded.
- Welding current: It requires a current of 50-120Amps for welding.
- Weight and power: The welder weighs 38 pounds running on 110 Volts, easily welding through stainless steel.
- Wire feed speed: Adjustable between minimum and maximum switches to allow customization in welding.
- Design and Stature: The frame of the welder is compact enough making the welder consume less storage space.
- Torch: 2.5M torch is inbuilt with a switch to putting it on or off coming with a metal tip.
- Accessories backup: Accessories like tips and chipping wire brush, spool wire and welding mask assists in the process.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Light weighted and shift-friendly frame. | 1. Heavy duty work cannot be sustained. |
| 2. Duty cycle makes the welder efficient. | 2. The flux core wire can be thin. |
| 3. Oxidation of parts can be avoided due to flux cored wire. | |
| 4. Wire feed speed is adjustable. | |
| 5. Able to work well with standard power outlet. |
4. Forney Easy Weld 261 – Best Portable 110V MIG Welder
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To make choosing the best Mig Welder for home use a cakewalk for you, we have mentioned this product here. Don’t let the small body and compact design fool you for compromised welding output. This welder from Forney is surely one of the best MIG welders under $500.
KEY FEATURES:
- Current cycle and voltage: Works on a power input of 110V/115V/120V with the current range of 32-140Amps.
- Duty cycle: It allows welding for three minutes on 90 Amp with output being 30%.
- Customized welding output: This welder enables the user to set the welding output on the dial giving varied options.
- Metals handled: Can weld metals like mild steel between 24 gauges to 3/16th thickness of an inch.
- Spool wires: Flux core wires of diameter 4”-8” and spools of 2-10 pounds.
- Accessories backup: 8’ hose welding gun and ground clamp of 8’. An inbuilt torch feature with an adapter of 15-20A is provided.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Power output is more based on the power input. | 1. Warranty period is short. |
| 2. The weight makes it easy to carry around. | 2. Being gasless, smoke and slag can be messy to deal with. |
| 3. Range of welding outputs available for a customized welding experience. | |
| 4. Gas cylinder is not required. | |
| 5. It can also be used on 4000 watt or higher generator. |
5. Lincoln Electric K2185-1 | Best MIG Welder for Home Use
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Coming from a company existing in the market for over 120 years, it is a welder for a high quality user experience. The brand offers good quality products at an affordable price.
KEY FEATURES:
- Power input: 115 Volt plug is capable to supply power to the welder. Maximum power- 88 amps, minimum power setting is 35 amps with a duty cycle of 20% at 70 amps.
- Adjustable settings: 4 voltage settings allow working precisely on different thicknesses.
- Safety feature: To make the machine long running, fan cooling feature is in-built to prevent overheating of the welder. The feature of cold contractor ensures the wire to be cold electrically until the trigger is pulled.
- Application: Light repair jobs can be done like welding mild steel with thickness from 24 gauge to 1/8th inch.
- Compact body: Light weight of only 46 pounds and compact design makes the welder highly portable.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Sturdy construction and strong build makes the welder durable. | 1. Not suitable for heavy duty jobs. |
| 2. Both MIG and flux cored enabled welder. | 2. Gas backup is not available. |
| 3. User interface allows choosing from varied settings. | |
| 4. Portability and safety of user is ensured. |
6. Hobart Handler 210 MVP – Best Small Size Welder
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A perfect mix of top quality components, amperage, power and price is this welder for people to take use of. It is surely one of the best Mig welders for the money.
KEY FEATURES:
- Voltage input and output: 115/230 MVP dual voltage inputs ensuring high quality welding.
- Voltage settings: 7 voltage settings to tune into for a customized welding experience.
- Application: Welding of 24 gauge steel of 3/8th inch thickness is possible.
- Weight and portability: Weighing 79 lbs., moving it around can be a tedious task.
- Safety features: Thermal overload protection feature automatically shuts down the welder in sensing overheat.
- Spool guns and spool: It boasts of a 10 ft long spool gun and 4/8th” spools in a built-in hub.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Flexible to switch between dual voltage input. | 1. Not easy to carry around due to heavy weight. |
| 2. Setting up of welder is a matter of few minutes. | 2. Cannot sustain large scale projects. |
| 3. Varied welding projects can be taken up. | |
| 4. Simple user interface for better understanding of operation. |
7. LOTOS MIG175 175AMP – Best Diverse MIG Welder
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This welder from Lotos is recommended for diverse welding purposes. It is one of the best Mig welders under 500 available for usage at home bundled with all the features one wants.
KEY FEATURES:
- Aluminum spool gun: Welder is capable to weld aluminum.
- Arc: The welder heats the metals giving a steady arc.
- Voltage input and output: 220-240 Volts. Output of 175 Amps is achieved @ 50/60Hz.
- Weight: Easy to shift around due to a weight of only 85 lbs.
- Usage: Metals like stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum and other alloys.
- Accessories backup: Wire feed spool gun with varied sized reels, argon regulators, mask and torch with 8ft reach and gas hose with cleaning brushes.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Can weld aluminum without separate spool gun. | 1. Cannot sustain heavy duty jobs. |
| 2. Neat welds are created. | 2. Drive motor is loud. |
| 3. Adjustable wire feed speed. | |
| 4. Durable and portable welder. |
8. LOTOS MIG140 – Best User Friendly MIG Welder
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Lotos Mig welder has many good qualities. This welder is functional for small home projects and repairs. Its quality accessories and features make it an apt choice for beginners as well. Coming in 2 attractive colors like black and red, this welder is also washable with water.
KEY FEATURES:
- Voltage input: 110/120V input with an output of 140amps.
- Flexibility: User can choose to work either on flux cored wire or with a shielding gas on solid wire.
- Digital display: 2T/4T switch adjusts the welder voltage system.
- Wire feed: Solid wire sizes of 0.025-0.30 inch, 0.30-0.35 inch flux core wire, 0.023-0.035 inch of spool wire are capable to be used on aluminum wire feed.
- Safety feature: Thermal overload sensitive welder with 30A of circuit breaker to keep the user safe from short circuits. Digital display notifies for overload.
- Usability: It can weld mild steel (24 gauge to 3/16th inch thick), stainless steel (24 gauge to 3/16th inch) and aluminum of 1/8th inch (by using a compatible spool gun).
- Accessories backup: Welding mask, Gas regulator torch, 2 spool feed wires and a gas hose is provided.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Digital display enhance performance and user control. | 1. Gas cylinder is a separate purchase. |
| 2. Setting up the welder for operation not takes long. | 2. Generator backup is not supported. |
| 3. Versatile application and portable tool. | |
| 4. Switching polarity between positive and negative is a quick action. |
9. SUNGOLDPOWER MIG 150A – Best Gasless MIG Welder
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This welder is packed with features making it an excellent choice for outdoor usage. A gasless welder, it is easy to set up and operate with the help of a clear user manual.
KEY FEATURES:
- Power input and output: 110V for operation.
- Safety feature: Thermal overload protection shuts the machine off if overheating is detected. Torch allows safety control.
- Application: Can weld stainless steel.
- Gasless: The model does not require gas for operation.
- Weight and portability: Weight of 39.5 lbs makes it shift-friendly.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Thermal overload safety ensures protection of users. | 1. Cannot sustain heavy duty jobs. |
| 2. Operation for beginners is easy. | 2. Aluminum welding not possible. |
| 3. Gasless model. |
10. VIVOHOME MIG 130 – Best Portable 110V Flux Core Welder
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Another best Mig Welder for beginners, this welder does not support gas backup and is packed with numerous user friendly features making it a correct choice for amateurs.
KEY FEATURES:
- Power input and output: 110V input with 50-120 amps current at 50-60 Hz frequency.
- Oxidation of parts: Flux cored wire of good quality material is used self releasing the inert gas keeping oxidation of parts at bay.
- Process: Stainless steel and mild steel working.
- Current settings: Flipping from 4 settings is possible from minimum to maximum with 10 feed speed settings to choose from.
- Portability: Compact design with firm grip and portable.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Customized welding experience due to varied settings. | 1. Only supports DC welding. |
| 2. Works on standard power outlet. | 2. Thicker metals cannot be welded. |
| 3. Light weight and easy to carry around. | |
| 4. Many feed speeds available to choose from. |
11. Hobart 500554001 Handler 190 – Best Professional MIG Welder
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The Hobart welder has enough power to deliver the output. This tool can be an essential one for your collection fulfilling all your welding goals.
KEY FEATURES:
- Power input and output: Input of 230 V can also weld nonferrous aluminum.
- Purpose: Stainless steel, aluminum, mild steel can be welded.
- Gas valve: Apart from a power source, gas connection is also supported.
- Versatile usage: Aluminum repair, steel work, trailer repair, marine repair, sign manufacturing, etc is done.
- Reel: 4” and 8” reels are supported and switching between them is easy.
- Weight and wires: Weighing only 5 pounds, wire handled is of 0.23-0.35 inch.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Intuitive controls make operation easy. | 1. 230 V might be higher for homes. |
| 2. Provides a neat arc giving a professional finish. | 2. Voltage setting knob might annoy. |
| 3. Compact build with versatile application. | |
| 4. Drive system selection makes working powerful. |
12. ARKSEN MIG 130 – Best Outdoor MIG Welder
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This Arksen welding machine is easy to store and carry. One can meddle with a variety of metals like stainless steel, mild steel and iron. This one out there is among the best professional MIG welders.
KEY FEATURES:
- Voltage: Power input of 115Volts is used with a duty cycle of 10% at 105 Amps and 35% at 60 Amps.
- Wire feed speed: This welder houses 10 options of wire feeding speeds.
- Operation: A no gas operation is featured but regulators are required.
- Safety features: Thermal overload protection feature is present which shuts down the welder automatically to prevent overheating. A torch is also included with on/off button for safety.
- Setup: Engineered with gasless setup, so no gas functionalities are included.
- Portability: The body has an easy to hold handle for transportation to work spaces.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Outdoor usage is possible. | 1. Might lack clear instructions on the manual. |
| 2. Setting up and operation is easy. | 2. Cannot sustain heavy duty industrial jobs. |
| 3. Portable welder due to the handle and light weight. | |
| 4. Varied wire feed speeds are available to pick from. |
13. ZENY MIG130 – Gasless MIG Welder For Entry-level Projects
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Zeny also offers a range of best 110V Mig welders for entry-level welding projects. It helps build quality products and is an efficient and performance oriented tool. It also falls under the category of best MIG welders under 500. Many people says that it is also good for professionals but we have seen only a few customer reviews saying that it is good for large projects. So, it’s better to choose any other from the above list, if you are a professional.
KEY FEATURES:
- Power input: 110V power input is supported with a 10% duty cycle at 105 Amp and 35% duty cycle at 60 Amp. It is a gasless welder.
- Anti-stick feature: It helps avoid thermal overload so removing electrode is easy. Automatic thermal safety feature is present.
- Heat settings: 4 settings are available to choose from.
- Torch: Torch is available with on/off button for safety.
- Current flow: Current flow is between 50 and 120 amps.
- Application: Can weld metals like stainless steel and mild steel.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Less amount of slag is produced. | 1. Cannot sustain heavy duty industrial projects. |
| 2. Thermal overload protection feature saves from short circuit. | 2. Need to purchase helmet for full coverage separately. |
| 3. Portability of the equipment is worth appreciation. | |
| 4. Provides a high quality finishing on the projects. |
14. Display4top Portable MIG 130 – Good For welding Under 1/4 Steel
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As the name specifies, the main purpose of this welder is to assist the user in carrying out the welding process for long distant users. This is a highly portable option to choose making working in smaller areas also flexible. It is a NO GAS Welder with not having to carry the gas cylinder along.
KEY FEATURES:
- Power input and duty cycle: Power input of 110 Volt is supplied delivering a duty cycle of 35%.
- Output: A high amperage output of 130 Amps is received.
- Frame and life-span: The welder is made of stainless steel with a long life preventing corrosion or spoilage from rust.
- Application: Can handle aluminum, stainless steel and carbon steel.
- Safety features: The welder has thermal overload protection which shuts down the frame on sensing thermal overload. A cooling fan is also installed internally to keep the welder cool.
- Accessories backup: A face mask, cleaning for brush, ground clamp and other small parts also come along with the equipment to assist the users.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Easy to carry around due to light weight, handle and compact yet sturdy build. | 1. Not suitable for heavy duty industrial projects. |
| 2. Setting it up for operation is not at all tough. | |
| 3. Welding can be done even at long distances. | |
| 4. No gas. |
15. SUNGOLDPOWER MIG Welder 140A – Both Gas & Gasless Welding Machine
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This Mig welder from Sungoldpower is both gas and gasless welding machine also supported by inverter power source. This is another best 220V Mig welder machine.
KEY FEATURES:
- Dual Power input: Dual power optimization of 110V/220V is input. Inverter power source is also supported.
- Output: An output of 140 amps is achieved on sipping the power input.
- Operation: Both gas-shielded and gasless welding is possible.
- Wire feed speed: Customized welding is possible by setting the wire feed speed and current to suit yourself.
- Application: Mild steel, stainless steel and different metals of varied thicknesses can be welded.
- Noise: This welder works within the limits of audio frequencies borne by man creating less noise.
PROS & CONS :
| PROS | CONS |
| 1. Protection from thermal overheating. | 1. Weight of the welder might be an issue. |
| 2. Keeps the environment noise-free. | |
| 3. Can work on aluminum and steel as well. | |
| 4. Essential accessories are provided for better welding experience. |
MIG Welders – Buyer’s Guide 2024
With an abundance of products and information available at your disposal, it becomes more complicated for an amateur to narrow down their search to the best MIG welder for home use or for experts to lay their hands on the best professional MIG welder.
There are many flux cored or gas shielded welders available, the selection from which becomes really complicated. The drawback that lies with flux cored ones is that it leaves a coating of slag that needs to be removed from the weld. This happens due to the absence of shielding gas. And that is an advantage for the gas backed ones as they leave a better appearance on the weld.
So here we are going to spill some tips guiding you through the buying process.
Power Input:
Always choose a welder as per your welding requirements. Longer duration, non-stop welding at higher amperage can be handled well by a welder having a high duty cycle. For those wondering what amperage and duty cycle is, the heat produced by the welder is amperage while the amount of time a welder can function during a 10 minute time period without being overheated at given amperage.
Talking about voltage, 110 Volts is appropriate for using as it is the standard outlet installed at homes. However, if metals of thickness up to ½” need to be welded, then a 220 Volt welder will be appropriate.
So if you want to weld continuously on thicker metals, then a welder with a high duty cycle is apt.
Spool Guns:
One answer that you need to be clear of is to the question that do you require a spool gun capable welder or you can do without it?
You need to know that having this ability implies that aluminum can be welded with that welder. Not many welders have this extension, but, if you can do without it, always go for one not having this capability. Instead, just purchase the spool gun separately to be able to weld aluminum.
Flux cored or Shielded gas:
Mig welding needs oxygen to be kept at bay from the weld for which a gas shield is required in which oxygen is replaced by an inert gas mixture resting in a cylinder. For Flux cored one, a covering produced by a compound in the wire is put on the weld.
As mentioned above, a gasless one creates a slag coating that requires to be removed before painting, but the quality of the weld is good. Conversely, a gas one gives a neater finish and spatters less. The drawback is the cost and inability to work outdoors or a need to have a shed for working outside to prevent the gas from flowing off.
Safety features:
Dealing with molten metal can be dangerous. Safety gears are of prime importance like heat resistant gloves, face mask/helmet, torch, and even features in the power tool like circuit breakers and thermal overload protection to avoid short circuits and other risks to users.
Ensure that the welder should have additional safety features.
Operation Controls and Portability:
You always have an upper hand if the functioning of the welder is easy to understand. Comprehensive manuals and charts assisting the welder to help the user to get a grasp of the operations.
For some, portability is a priority so that the welder is flexible enough to carry around. On the other hand, heavy weighed ones depict a robust and sturdy frame.
Whatever are your requirements, you can take a decision accordingly.
Wish you Happy Welding!