Starting settings for MIG, flux-cored, TIG and stick welding by material thickness: amps, volts, wire size, wire feed speed, electrode or tungsten size and gas flow, in mm and inches.
MIG / GMAW amperage chart for carbon / mild steel
THICKNESS
AMPS
VOLTS
WIRE
WIRE FEED
GAS FLOW
1 mm / 0.040″ (19 ga)
34-46 A
16 V
0.6 mm / 0.024″
2.2 m/min / 87 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
1.5 mm / 1/16″
51-69 A
17 V
0.6 mm / 0.024″
3.3 m/min / 131 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
2 mm / 5/64″
68-92 A
18 V
0.6 mm / 0.024″
4.4 m/min / 175 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
3 mm / 1/8″
102-138 A
20 V
0.8 mm / 0.031″
5.0 m/min / 197 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
4 mm / 5/32″
136-184 A
22 V
0.8 mm / 0.031″
6.7 m/min / 262 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
5 mm / 3/16″
170-230 A
24 V
0.9 mm / 0.035″
6.7 m/min / 262 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
6 mm / 1/4″
204-276 A
26 V
1 mm / 0.039″
7.1 m/min / 278 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
8 mm / 5/16″
272-368 A
30 V
1.2 mm / 0.047″
7.6 m/min / 300 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
10 mm / 3/8″
340-460 A
34 V
1.6 mm / 0.063″
5.7 m/min / 225 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
12 mm / 1/2″
408-552 A
38 V
1.6 mm / 0.063″
6.9 m/min / 270 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
Gas: 75% Ar / 25% CO₂ (C25) or 100% CO₂
MIG / GMAW amperage chart for stainless steel
THICKNESS
AMPS
VOLTS
WIRE
WIRE FEED
GAS FLOW
1 mm / 0.040″ (19 ga)
32-44 A
15.9 V
0.6 mm / 0.024″
2.2 m/min / 87 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
1.5 mm / 1/16″
48-66 A
16.9 V
0.6 mm / 0.024″
3.3 m/min / 131 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
2 mm / 5/64″
65-87 A
17.8 V
0.6 mm / 0.024″
4.4 m/min / 175 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
3 mm / 1/8″
97-131 A
19.7 V
0.8 mm / 0.031″
5.0 m/min / 197 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
4 mm / 5/32″
129-175 A
21.6 V
0.8 mm / 0.031″
6.7 m/min / 262 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
5 mm / 3/16″
162-218 A
23.5 V
0.9 mm / 0.035″
6.7 m/min / 262 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
6 mm / 1/4″
194-262 A
25.4 V
1 mm / 0.039″
7.1 m/min / 278 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
8 mm / 5/16″
258-350 A
29.2 V
1.2 mm / 0.047″
7.6 m/min / 300 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
10 mm / 3/8″
323-437 A
33 V
1.6 mm / 0.063″
5.7 m/min / 225 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
12 mm / 1/2″
388-524 A
36.8 V
1.6 mm / 0.063″
6.9 m/min / 270 ipm
12-18 L/min (25-38 CFH)
Gas: 98% Ar / 2% CO₂ (or tri-mix)
MIG / GMAW amperage chart for aluminum
THICKNESS
AMPS
VOLTS
WIRE
WIRE FEED
GAS FLOW
1 mm / 0.040″ (19 ga)
38-52 A
16.3 V
0.6 mm / 0.024″
5.6 m/min / 219 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
1.5 mm / 1/16″
57-78 A
17.4 V
0.6 mm / 0.024″
8.3 m/min / 328 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
2 mm / 5/64″
77-103 A
18.5 V
0.6 mm / 0.024″
11.1 m/min / 437 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
3 mm / 1/8″
115-155 A
20.8 V
0.8 mm / 0.031″
12.5 m/min / 492 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
4 mm / 5/32″
153-207 A
23 V
0.9 mm / 0.035″
13.3 m/min / 525 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
5 mm / 3/16″
191-259 A
25.3 V
1 mm / 0.039″
14.7 m/min / 579 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
6 mm / 1/4″
230-311 A
27.5 V
1.2 mm / 0.047″
14.3 m/min / 562 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
8 mm / 5/16″
306-414 A
32 V
1.6 mm / 0.063″
11.4 m/min / 450 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
10 mm / 3/8″
383-518 A
36.5 V
1.6 mm / 0.063″
14.3 m/min / 562 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
12 mm / 1/2″
459-621 A
41 V
1.6 mm / 0.063″
17.1 m/min / 675 ipm
15-25 L/min (32-53 CFH)
Gas: 100% Argon
Flux-cored / FCAW amperage chart for carbon / mild steel
THICKNESS
AMPS
VOLTS
WIRE
WIRE FEED
GAS FLOW
1 mm / 0.040″ (19 ga)
34-46 A
18 V
0.9 mm / 0.035″
1.7 m/min / 66 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
1.5 mm / 1/16″
51-69 A
19 V
0.9 mm / 0.035″
2.5 m/min / 98 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
2 mm / 5/64″
68-92 A
20 V
0.9 mm / 0.035″
3.3 m/min / 131 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
3 mm / 1/8″
102-138 A
22 V
0.9 mm / 0.035″
5.0 m/min / 197 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
4 mm / 5/32″
136-184 A
24 V
0.9 mm / 0.035″
6.7 m/min / 262 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
5 mm / 3/16″
170-230 A
26 V
0.9 mm / 0.035″
8.3 m/min / 328 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
6 mm / 1/4″
204-276 A
28 V
1 mm / 0.039″
8.8 m/min / 347 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
8 mm / 5/16″
272-368 A
32 V
1.2 mm / 0.047″
9.5 m/min / 375 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
10 mm / 3/8″
340-460 A
36 V
1.6 mm / 0.063″
7.1 m/min / 281 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
12 mm / 1/2″
408-552 A
40 V
1.6 mm / 0.063″
8.6 m/min / 337 ipm
14-20 L/min (30-42 CFH)
Gas: 100% CO₂ or 75/25 Ar/CO₂ (gas-shielded) / none (self-shielded)
TIG / GTAW amperage chart for carbon / mild steel
THICKNESS
AMPS
VOLTS
TUNGSTEN
FILLER ROD
GAS FLOW
1 mm / 0.040″ (19 ga)
30-40 A
11.4 V
1 mm
1.6 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
1.5 mm / 1/16″
45-60 A
12.1 V
1 mm
1.6 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
2 mm / 5/64″
60-81 A
12.8 V
1 mm
1.6 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
3 mm / 1/8″
89-121 A
14.2 V
1.6 mm
2.4 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
4 mm / 5/32″
119-161 A
15.6 V
1.6 mm
2.4 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
5 mm / 3/16″
149-201 A
17 V
2.4 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
6 mm / 1/4″
179-241 A
18.4 V
2.4 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
8 mm / 5/16″
238-322 A
21.2 V
3.2 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
10 mm / 3/8″
298-402 A
24 V
3.2 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
12 mm / 1/2″
357-483 A
26.8 V
3.2 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
Gas: 100% Argon
TIG / GTAW amperage chart for aluminum
THICKNESS
AMPS
VOLTS
TUNGSTEN
FILLER ROD
GAS FLOW
1 mm / 0.040″ (19 ga)
38-52 A
11.8 V
1 mm
1.6 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
1.5 mm / 1/16″
57-78 A
12.7 V
1 mm
1.6 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
2 mm / 5/64″
77-103 A
13.6 V
1.6 mm
1.6 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
3 mm / 1/8″
115-155 A
15.4 V
1.6 mm
2.4 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
4 mm / 5/32″
153-207 A
17.2 V
2.4 mm
2.4 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
5 mm / 3/16″
191-259 A
19 V
2.4 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
6 mm / 1/4″
230-311 A
20.8 V
3.2 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
8 mm / 5/16″
306-414 A
24.4 V
3.2 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
10 mm / 3/8″
383-518 A
28 V
3.2 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
12 mm / 1/2″
459-621 A
31.6 V
3.2 mm
3.2 mm
7-12 L/min (15-25 CFH)
Gas: 100% Argon
Stick / SMAW amperage chart for carbon / mild steel
THICKNESS
AMPS
VOLTS
ELECTRODE
1 mm / 0.040″ (19 ga)
43-57 A
22 V
2 mm / 0.079″
1.5 mm / 1/16″
43-57 A
22 V
2 mm / 0.079″
2 mm / 5/64″
64-86 A
23 V
2.5 mm / 0.098″
3 mm / 1/8″
64-86 A
23 V
2.5 mm / 0.098″
4 mm / 5/32″
94-126 A
24.4 V
3.2 mm / 0.126″
5 mm / 3/16″
94-126 A
24.4 V
3.2 mm / 0.126″
6 mm / 1/4″
94-126 A
24.4 V
3.2 mm / 0.126″
8 mm / 5/16″
128-173 A
26 V
4 mm / 0.157″
10 mm / 3/8″
128-173 A
26 V
4 mm / 0.157″
12 mm / 1/2″
170-230 A
28 V
5 mm / 0.197″
Gas: None (flux-shielded)
How to use these welding charts
Find your process and material, read across from the thickness, and set the amperage range. Begin in the middle of the range, then adjust to your machine. For a custom thickness or imperial units, use the welding calculator.
Vertical and overhead welding need 10-20% less current to control the pool. Joint type, root gap, preheat, and wire or rod brand all shift the ideal setting. Thick material over 6 mm is welded in multiple passes, and the table shows the per-pass setting.
Frequently asked questions
What amperage should I use to weld 1/8 inch steel?
About 110-140 A for MIG with 0.8 mm (0.030″) or 0.9 mm (0.035″) wire at roughly 20 V, around 100-140 A for TIG, and 90-140 A for a 3.2 mm (1/8″) stick electrode.
How do I convert amps to wire feed speed?
On a constant-voltage MIG machine the wire feed speed sets the current. A 0.9 mm steel wire delivers about 30 amps per metre per minute, so 5 m/min gives roughly 150 A. The charts show the corresponding wire feed speed for each thickness.
What is the 1 amp per 0.001 inch rule?
It is a rule of thumb: use about 1 amp for every 0.001 inch of material thickness, which equals roughly 40 A per millimetre. It works well for MIG and TIG on steel.
Why does aluminum need more amperage?
Aluminum conducts heat about five times faster than steel, so it needs higher current or faster travel to reach the same weld pool temperature.
Are these settings exact?
No. They are starting points for a flat-position, single-pass weld. Adjust for position, joint type, machine, wire brand and shielding gas, and follow your WPS for code work.
More welding tools
Welding Calculator - Settings, heat input, filler weight, cost, carbon equivalent, duty cycle and unit converter.
