Start with the machine input rating, not a full electrical worksheet
Most people only need to know what the machine costs to run per hour or for the job. This calculator keeps that default route short.
Free Fabora Tool
Welding Electricity Cost Calculator
Estimate how much a MIG, TIG or MMA welding machine costs to run per hour, per job, or across a shift.
InputsInput kW / kVA, supply amps, or rough machine preset
SupportsUK and US pricing, single-phase and three-phase supplies
OutputskWh used, cost per hour, job cost, and shift estimate
Free Fabora tool
Quick run-cost estimate for welding machines
Built for welders, fabricators, workshop teams, and site welders who need a practical answer on what the machine costs to run.
- Default route stays quick and simple
- Clear warning on output amps vs input amps
- No login, storage, or backend saving
Use note
Planning and estimating only
This is a practical electricity cost estimator, not electrical design, circuit sizing, or safety approval.
Use the machine input rating where possible. Welding output amps are not the same as mains input amps.
Use the tool
How do I calculate welding electricity cost?
Start with the machine input power if you know it. If not, switch to supply voltage and input amps, or use a rough machine preset for a faster ballpark figure. The default route keeps the form short, while duty factor, repeat-use estimates, and other assumptions stay in Advanced options.
Quick estimator
Estimate the run cost fast
What it helps with
How much electricity does a welding machine use?
The practical question is usually not a full electrical study. It is whether this machine costs about £1 an hour, £3 an hour, or more once the real input power and electricity price are taken into account.
Good fit for
Quotes
Sense-check welding run cost before pricing a job.
Planning
Check the cost across a job, shift, or repeated workshop use.
Useful for workshop, site, quoting, and job checks
Estimate run cost before a quote goes out, sense-check a job pack, or compare what a smaller or larger welder may cost across a shift.
Single-phase and three-phase support in one place
Use the input kW or kVA rating when you have it, or work from supply voltage and input amps where that is the clearer rating-plate data.
Built for practical estimating, not fake certainty
The page is positioned as a practical electricity cost estimator only. It does not claim electrical design approval, circuit sizing, or safety approval.
Input warning
Do I use welding amps or input amps?
Use the machine input rating where possible. Output amps at the torch are not the same as the current drawn from the supply, so they should not be used as the mains input figure in this calculator.
Do I use welding output amps or input amps?
Use the machine input rating where possible. Welding output amps on the welder are not the same as the current drawn from the mains supply.
Does this work for MIG, TIG and MMA welding?
Yes. The tool is suitable for MIG / MAG, TIG, MMA / stick, and similar welding machines where the goal is a practical electricity cost estimate.
Why does power factor matter?
If you are working from kVA or supply voltage and amps, power factor affects the real input power in kW. That changes the cost result.
Practical limitation
Actual electricity use can vary with settings, duty cycle, arc-on time, machine efficiency, and how the machine is used through the day.
Fabora RAMS
Working on welding jobs?
Fabora RAMS helps you create editable welding RAMS with hot works, electrical risks, PPE, fire controls and site-specific method statements already structured.
Tool FAQ
Short answers on kW, kVA, amps, and calculator data
These are the main points people usually want to check before using a quick electricity cost estimator on a live welding job.
Related tools
Need another practical trade check? Try the Welding Gas Calculator, the Steel Weight Calculator, the Stock Cutting Optimiser, or go back to the full Fabora Tools page.
How do I calculate the electricity cost of welding?
Start with the machine input power in kW if you have it. Multiply that by the time used in hours to get kWh, then multiply by your electricity price per kWh to get the cost. This calculator handles those steps for you and can also work from kVA or supply voltage and input amps.
Do I use welding output amps or input amps?
Use machine input amps from the rating plate or manual, not the welding output amps shown on the welder. Output amps at the torch and input amps from the supply are different things.
What if I only know the machine kW or kVA rating?
That is usually the best place to start. If you know the input kW rating, enter it directly. If you only know kVA, the calculator can estimate the input kW using power factor.
Does this work for single-phase and three-phase welders?
Yes. It supports both single-phase and three-phase supplies. For three-phase, enter the line-to-line voltage, such as 400V in the UK or 480V in the US.
Why does power factor matter?
Power factor affects the real input power when you start from kVA or from voltage and amps. A lower power factor means fewer real kilowatts than the apparent power figure alone would suggest.
Does Fabora save my electricity cost data?
No. This calculator runs on the page only. Fabora does not save your entries to a backend, account, or database here.
Is this an electrical design calculator?
No. This is a practical electricity cost estimator. It is not electrical design, circuit sizing, safety approval, or legal compliance approval.