Reference chart
Welding Electrode Amperage Chart
Amperage ranges for every electrode in this database, by diameter. As a starting rule for carbon steel stick electrodes, run about one amp per thousandth of an inch of rod diameter — roughly 125 A for a 1/8 in rod — then adjust by arc sound and bead profile.
Type at least two characters. Press slash to focus this field.
Start in the middle of the range and adjust by arc sound and bead profile. Drop 10–15% for vertical and overhead work, and raise it for flat fill passes on thick plate. These are typical published ranges, not a substitute for the data sheet for the exact product you are running.
Carbon & Mild Steel
| Electrode | Diameter | Amperage | Typical | Polarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E6010 AWS A5.1/A5.1M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 40–80 A | 60 A | DCEP |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 70–130 A | 100 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 110–165 A | 138 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 140–215 A | 178 A | ||
| 7/32 in (5.6 mm) | 170–250 A | 210 A | ||
| E6011 AWS A5.1/A5.1M | 1/16 in (1.6 mm) | 20–40 A | 30 A | AC, DCEP |
| 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 40–85 A | 62 A | ||
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 75–125 A | 100 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 110–160 A | 135 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 140–190 A | 165 A | ||
| E6013 AWS A5.1/A5.1M | 1/16 in (1.6 mm) | 20–45 A | 32 A | AC, DCEP, DCEN |
| 5/64 in (2.0 mm) | 25–60 A | 42 A | ||
| 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 45–90 A | 68 A | ||
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 80–130 A | 105 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 105–180 A | 142 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 150–230 A | 190 A | ||
| E7014 AWS A5.1/A5.1M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 80–125 A | 102 A | AC, DCEP, DCEN |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 110–160 A | 135 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 150–210 A | 180 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 200–275 A | 238 A | ||
| 7/32 in (5.6 mm) | 260–340 A | 300 A | ||
| E7018 AWS A5.1/A5.1M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 70–120 A | 95 A | DCEP, AC |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 110–165 A | 138 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 150–220 A | 185 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 200–275 A | 238 A | ||
| 7/32 in (5.6 mm) | 260–340 A | 300 A | ||
| E7024 AWS A5.1/A5.1M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 100–145 A | 122 A | AC, DCEP, DCEN |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 140–190 A | 165 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 180–250 A | 215 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 230–305 A | 268 A | ||
| 7/32 in (5.6 mm) | 285–375 A | 330 A | ||
| ER70S-6 AWS A5.18/A5.18M | 0.023 in (0.6 mm) | 30–90 A | 60 A | DCEP |
| 0.030 in (0.8 mm) | 50–180 A | 115 A | ||
| 0.035 in (0.9 mm) | 70–220 A | 145 A | ||
| 0.045 in (1.2 mm) | 120–320 A | 220 A |
Stainless Steel
| Electrode | Diameter | Amperage | Typical | Polarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E308L AWS A5.4/A5.4M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 40–80 A | 60 A | DCEP, AC |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 65–110 A | 88 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 95–150 A | 122 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 130–190 A | 160 A | ||
| E309L AWS A5.4/A5.4M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 40–80 A | 60 A | DCEP, AC |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 65–110 A | 88 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 95–150 A | 122 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 130–190 A | 160 A | ||
| E316L AWS A5.4/A5.4M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 40–80 A | 60 A | DCEP, AC |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 65–110 A | 88 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 95–150 A | 122 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 130–190 A | 160 A | ||
| E347 AWS A5.4/A5.4M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 40–80 A | 60 A | DCEP, AC |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 65–110 A | 88 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 95–150 A | 122 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 130–190 A | 160 A | ||
| E410 AWS A5.4/A5.4M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 40–80 A | 60 A | DCEP, AC |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 70–110 A | 90 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 100–150 A | 125 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 130–190 A | 160 A | ||
| ER308L AWS A5.9/A5.9M | 0.030 in (0.8 mm) MIG | 50–150 A | 100 A | DCEP (GMAW), DCEN (GTAW) |
| 0.035 in (0.9 mm) MIG | 70–180 A | 125 A | ||
| 0.045 in (1.2 mm) MIG | 100–250 A | 175 A | ||
| 1/16 in (1.6 mm) TIG | 40–90 A | 65 A | ||
| 3/32 in (2.4 mm) TIG | 70–130 A | 100 A | ||
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) TIG | 100–180 A | 140 A | ||
| ER309L AWS A5.9/A5.9M | 0.030 in (0.8 mm) MIG | 50–150 A | 100 A | DCEP (GMAW), DCEN (GTAW) |
| 0.035 in (0.9 mm) MIG | 70–180 A | 125 A | ||
| 0.045 in (1.2 mm) MIG | 100–250 A | 175 A | ||
| 1/16 in (1.6 mm) TIG | 40–90 A | 65 A | ||
| 3/32 in (2.4 mm) TIG | 70–130 A | 100 A | ||
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) TIG | 100–180 A | 140 A | ||
| ER316L AWS A5.9/A5.9M | 0.030 in (0.8 mm) MIG | 50–150 A | 100 A | DCEP (GMAW), DCEN (GTAW) |
| 0.035 in (0.9 mm) MIG | 70–180 A | 125 A | ||
| 0.045 in (1.2 mm) MIG | 100–250 A | 175 A | ||
| 1/16 in (1.6 mm) TIG | 40–90 A | 65 A | ||
| 3/32 in (2.4 mm) TIG | 70–130 A | 100 A | ||
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) TIG | 100–180 A | 140 A |
Aluminum
| Electrode | Diameter | Amperage | Typical | Polarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E4043 AWS A5.3/A5.3M | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 40–70 A | 55 A | DCEP |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 60–95 A | 78 A | ||
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 90–130 A | 110 A | ||
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 120–170 A | 145 A | ||
| ER4043 AWS A5.10/A5.10M | 0.030 in (0.8 mm) MIG | 60–175 A | 118 A | AC (GTAW), DCEP (GMAW) |
| 0.035 in (0.9 mm) MIG | 70–200 A | 135 A | ||
| 3/64 in (1.2 mm) MIG | 100–260 A | 180 A | ||
| 1/16 in (1.6 mm) TIG | 40–90 A | 65 A | ||
| 3/32 in (2.4 mm) TIG | 80–130 A | 105 A | ||
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) TIG | 120–190 A | 155 A | ||
| ER5356 AWS A5.10/A5.10M | 0.030 in (0.8 mm) MIG | 60–175 A | 118 A | AC (GTAW), DCEP (GMAW) |
| 0.035 in (0.9 mm) MIG | 70–200 A | 135 A | ||
| 3/64 in (1.2 mm) MIG | 100–260 A | 180 A | ||
| 1/16 in (1.6 mm) TIG | 40–90 A | 65 A | ||
| 3/32 in (2.4 mm) TIG | 80–130 A | 105 A | ||
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) TIG | 120–190 A | 155 A |
Flux-Cored
| Electrode | Diameter | Amperage | Typical | Polarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E71T-1 AWS A5.20/A5.20M | 0.035 in (0.9 mm) | 90–250 A | 170 A | DCEP |
| 0.045 in (1.2 mm) | 150–350 A | 250 A | ||
| 0.052 in (1.4 mm) | 180–400 A | 290 A | ||
| 1/16 in (1.6 mm) | 200–450 A | 325 A | ||
| E71T-11 AWS A5.20/A5.20M | 0.030 in (0.8 mm) | 50–150 A | 100 A | DCEN |
| 0.035 in (0.9 mm) | 70–200 A | 135 A | ||
| 0.045 in (1.2 mm) | 125–260 A | 192 A |
The one-amp-per-thousandth rule
For carbon steel stick electrodes, a rough starting point is one amp for each thousandth of an inch of electrode diameter. A 1/8 in rod measures 0.125 in, so roughly 125 A. A 5/32 in rod measures 0.156 in, so roughly 155 A. The rule breaks down at both ends — it runs hot for stainless and cold for high-deposition rods like E7024 — but it gets you close enough to start listening to the arc.
How to tell you are close
- Too cold: the arc pops and stutters, the bead piles up high and narrow, and the toes do not wet into the plate. The electrode sticks on restarts.
- Too hot: excessive spatter, undercut along the toes, a wide flat bead, and on stick the last few inches of the rod glow red and the coating breaks down.
- About right: a steady crackle or hiss, a bead roughly two to three times the electrode diameter wide, and slag that lifts without a fight.
Amperage questions
What amperage for a 1/8 inch welding rod?
Roughly 125 A for carbon steel, using the one-amp-per-thousandth rule. In practice: E6010 70–130 A, E6013 80–130 A, E7018 110–165 A, E7024 140–190 A. Stainless rods of the same diameter run lower, around 65–110 A.
How do I know if my amperage is too high?
Excessive spatter, undercut along the toes of the bead, a wide flat bead, and on stick welding the last inches of the rod glowing red while the coating breaks down.
Should I lower amperage for vertical welding?
Yes — drop 10 to 15% from your flat setting. A puddle that is fine flat will sag out of a vertical or overhead joint.
Why do stainless electrodes use lower amperage?
Stainless has roughly half the thermal conductivity of carbon steel and higher electrical resistance, so the rod itself heats up along its length and the heat does not run away into the plate. Running a stainless rod at carbon steel amperage overheats the coating.
Does polarity change the amperage?
The setting on the dial is the same, but where the heat goes is not. DCEP puts roughly two-thirds of the heat in the work for deeper penetration; DCEN puts more into the electrode, giving shallower penetration and a higher deposition rate at the same current.