How much does a welder cost?

In addition to a welder's wage (they typically charge hourly), the total cost of your welding project will also depend on any additional materials your contractor needs to buy, as well as the type of metal they're working with.

Materials

A welder will need flux (gas), wire, grinding wheels, sanding stones, and UV and high-heat resistant paint, for welding. Most professionals already have the necessary equipment for any welder job, but all of these contribute to a shop's overhead. It will be reflected in the price you pay.

Here's a breakdown of material costs from a Thumbtack pro and welder in Frisco, Texas:

• Sanding paper: $64 per week ($16 for a 25 pack and 100 pieces used per week)
• 30-pound roll of wire: $40 every one and a half to two weeks
• Three bottles of flux/gas: $120–$150 every one and a half to two weeks

The type of metal used for a project also affects the final cost. According to the Texas-based welder mentioned above, steel is the most affordable. Aluminum and stainless steel cost 1.5-2x more than standard steel.

Additionally, every time the cost of steel fluctuates, the overall cost of welding does as well. For example, the Texas-based welder typically charges $44–$50 for one 25-foot stick of 2x6 14-gauge steel. However, that price has fluctuated as high as $125 per stick during a recession and, as a result, he had to charge more.

Like any home improvement project, small jobs, such as fixing a post on a fence, will cost less than more intensive projects. Some welders charge an average minimum of $60 for any welding work no matter how small the job. Others base their rates on how much they need to weld.

Here are a few example prices for small jobs from the Texas-based welding company:

• Tack welds on a patio chair: $25–$30
• Larger (but still minimal) repair job to weld metal furniture: $35–$100

This particular welding company includes paint touchups in their prices, which is not generally a service included in welding work.

Minor repairs such as cracks or broken parts can often be done either at the client's location or in the welding shop.

Mobile welders who must bring equipment to a client's home often charge a travel fee or minimum service fee to cover their extra time, transportation expenses, and salary. Customers can save money by bringing smaller items, such as chairs, to the welding shop.

Hourly rates

The national average hourly rate for welding services ranges from $65–$125, often with a minimum service fee to cover overhead and transportation. Most welding shops charge an hourly rate for services, particularly if they're doing straightforward jobs or pipeline work.

However, some professionals charge by the square foot. For example, the Texas-based welder charges $125 per square foot for front entry doors made out of steel.

Type of welding project

The type of welding project also impacts the overall price. For larger projects, as a welder will give you an estimate upfront based on the specifics of the job, type of metal to be used, wages, and other considerations.

Here are a few example prices for common interior welding jobs:

• Baby gate for top of stairs: $550–$750 for one full day of cutting, one full day of welding and construction, one to one and a half full days of grinding and painting, and a few hours of installation.
• Room temperature wine cellar gates: $1,200–$1,800, depends on how much scroll work or vines and grapes are requested—grape clusters are $10–$15 each.
• Chilled room wine cellar gate: $2,200–$2,800, including wages for three people for five to seven full days of grinding, painting, finishing, cutting, design or CAD work, welding, ordering materials, and other tasks.

Pipe repair is another common reason to hire a welding specialist. Pipe repairs cost an average of $120-$160, nationwide.

There are several different types of welding methods your welder may use:

• Stick welding, or shielded metal arc welding, melts two separate metals together by applying extreme heat at the seam, which bond together after they cool down.
• Metal inert gas (MIG) welding, or gas metal arc welding, uses a tool to feed a wire over an electrical arc (vs. heat) to melt wire onto a base metal. Once cool, they fuse together.
• Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. Similar to MIG, TIG or gas tungsten arc welding, also uses an electrical arc. However, the welder must hold and manually feed the stick instead of using a tool.
• Gas welding: Metal is heated to a melting point using a mix of flammable gas and oxygen.
• Forge welding: Forging metal is an ancient art that involves heating two pieces of metal until they are molten, then hammering them together.