Welding isn’t just for work and that’s why we’ve put together reviews of the best welders for home use in 2023. There are a surprising number of welding tools that are great for the average DIYer looking to perfect his or her welding skills at home.
After conducting an extensive search we were able to come up with 7 welders that are great choice for the for avid home welder. You can also check our recommendations for the best MIG welders and the best TIG welders on the market right now.
These are the Best Welders to Buy in 2023:
1. Smarter Tools INMIG-185iD
The best all-around welder
The Smarter Tools INMIG-185iD is a great welder for home use, but we would be more comfortable recommending it if they improved the warranty protection. It’s competitively priced and it has plenty of power with an available 185 amps. While we didn’t select it as the best choice overall, with an adjustable drive system and overload protection it deserves serious consideration.
When we set out to find the best welder for home use that’s also commercial capable, we were looking for 3 things – affordability, portability and of course, great features. There were tons of options, but the Smarter Tools INMIG-185iD stood out from the pack. This is a great machine at a competitive price that makes it an ideal choice for the homeowner.
Priced at just over $500 this MIG welder from Smarter Tools will fit most budgets. It has plenty of juice to tap into with access to 185 amps and it operates with an input voltage of 120 volts.
The extra features are what make this machine stand out though. It has an adjustable drive system that reduces the potential for wire tangling and thermal overload protection which makes it safer to use than many competing products.
This welder isn’t just for MIG welding either, it can also be used for Fluxed Core and Stick welding, making it a highly versatile machine.
The warranty is about average at 3-years, but some components are only covered for 90 days which is a bit of a red flag. There are also some issues when trying to use this machine at 220 volts that prevent it from performing consistently.
- Priced under $600.
- 185 amps.
- Adjustable drive system.
- Overload protection.
- Partial 90-day warranty on some components.
- Inconsistent voltage regulation.
2. Lincoln Electric Weld-Pak 125HD
The best Flux core welder for home use
Our biggest concern with this welder was the lack of consistent power that some purchasers experienced. It does still have a lot going for it though such as a fully adjustable drive system and a simple dual knob control system. We were also impressed with the fact that it doubles as a MIG and a Flux core welder that gives you greater versatility.
If you’re strictly looking for a welder for the home and your max budget is around $500 we suggest you give the Lincoln Electric Weld-Pak 125HD serious consideration. This is a highly portable machine with all of the tools you need to get started with some serious welding projects around the home.
This machine is a combination MIG and Flux core welder which gives you expanded freedom to switch between jobs without needing two different machines. In the box, you’ll find a 100L magnum gun and enough wire to get you through your first few projects.
It uses a 120-volt input source and all major functions are controlled by a simple 2-knob system for ease of use. There’s also a fully adjustable drive system that helps to prevent tangling and crushing of wire. It’s ideal for indoor or outdoor use depending on your application.
We were disappointed to discover that the manufacturer only offers a 90-day warranty on the gun and cable, although this is probably a more common issue than you might think. Another issue that some have found with this model is a lack of consistent and reliable power that can lead to problems while welding.
- Combination MIG and Flux core welder.
- Includes magnum gun.
- Simple double knob controls.
- Fully adjustable drive system.
- Limited 90-day warranty.
- Lacks consistent and reliable power.
3. Amico Power CTS-200
The best all-purpose welder
We felt the Amico Power CTS-200 was the best all-purpose welder because of its 3-in-1 capabilities. It’s easy to switch between Plasma cutter mode, TIG welding mode and Stick welding mode. The warranty is disappointing and the air leakage from the trigger in plasma mode is a concern, but overall we found this to be a reliable tool with tons of features for different applications.
The Amico Power Plasma CTS-200 is our choice as best all-purpose welder for 2023. This powerful little machine is one of the most reliable welding tools on the market today with a combination of features that makes it competitive with models that are more than twice its price. This Amico welder typically retails somewhere around the $500 mark.
One of the first things that caught our attention with this product was its versatility – it’s a combination plasma cutter, TIG welder and Stick arc welder making it useful for many different welding applications. With its synergic controls and IGBT technology it’s also one of the easiest to use welding tools you’ll find.
We should also mention that it has a lot of power, with 200 amps to draw on. Its perfect for all of your basic welding repair jobs around the house and it comes with a ton of extras – included with your purchase you get a 13 foot plasma torch assembly package, a TIG torch assembly, all of the clamps and hoses you need to get started and a 110/230 volt power adapter.
There were a couple of things that concerned us in our review. First, it’s only backed by a 1-year warranty and that certainly didn’t fill us with confidence in its durability. We also ran into issues with air blowing out of the trigger on the plasma torch and that led to some minor issues with the quality of the cut.
- 3-in-1 combo tool.
- Simple synergic controls.
- 200 amps.
- Includes plasma torch and TIG torch.
- Limited 1-year warranty.
- Air leakage from plasma torch trigger.
4. Metal Man MIG 180DVT
The best wire feed welder
While we do have some concerns with the build quality and warranty of this Metal Man welder, overall its a great tool for the price at well under $400. It has plenty of available power at 180 amps and you can adjust the voltage to suit the type of application you’re using it for. The fact that it doubles as a MIG welder and a Flux core welder is a nice option as well and one of the main reasons we recommend this welder for home use where versatility is a key consideration.
The Metal Man MIG 180DVT is one of the best wire feed welders on the market today that’s great for home use and it can more than hold its own in a shop setting as well. We also liked it for the competitive price – at well under $350 this welding tool is a great bargain for any homeowner that has some serious welding jobs to take care of around the home.
With 180 amps of consistent available power to call on this is a powerful tool that will keep going as long as you need it to. It has dual voltage capability as well allowing you to easily switch between 120 and 240 volts when needed.
The MIG 180DVT is a versatile machine offering the option to switch between a MIG welder and a Flux Core wire feed welder depending on the job you need it for. With a simple dual knob control system there isn’t much of a learning curve with this product either – it’s ready to go right out of the box. It also includes an inert gas regulator and gas hose for MIG welding mode.
Where we felt this machine fell a little short was in the quality of the build – there are many plastic parts on the outer casing which may have a tendency to wear. When you consider that they’ve only included a limited 2-year warranty with purchase that’s even more of a concern, but with a bit of care you should get several years of use out of it.
- 180 amps.
- Priced under $350.
- Dual voltage.
- Doubles as a MIG welder and a Flux core welder.
- Some plastic parts – may wear easily.
- Limited 2-year warranty.
5. Everlast PowerArc 200ST
The best TIG welder for home use
If Everlast would improve their customer service we’d give the 200ST a much higher rating. It’s still a great machine though at a great price. The fact that you can quickly switch between TIG welding and stick welding mode is nice and we appreciate the available power of this machine with 200 available amps. The dual voltage option is also handy.
If you’ve been searching for a great TIG welder for home use we believe the Everlast PowerArc 200ST is the machine you’ve been looking for. This is a well built welder that’s available at a great price. At the time of writing this model was retailing for around $400 at most major retailers that sell welding tools.
As a bonus with this machine, it can also be used as a stick welder and while you may be primarily looking for a TIG welder you’ll probably agree that versatility is always a nice option. The 200ST has impressive power as well operating at 200 amps, which is well above the industry average. This is also a dual voltage welder allowing you to alternate between 120 and 240 volts. Built into the machine is overheat and over current protection as well and that can come in handy if you’re in the middle of a long and tedious welding application.
One of the biggest complaints we have with this welder is the inconsistent customer service you can expect if something goes wrong – fortunately there is a 5-year warranty, you just have to be persistent which is a pain. There are also questions with the durability of this product.
- Retail price around $400.
- Combination TIG & stick welder.
- 200 amps.
- Dual voltage.
- Inconsistent customer service.
- Questionable durability.
6. Forney Easy Weld 100 ST
The best value home welder for the money
If it wasn’t for the short 6 month warranty that comes with the purchase of the Forney Easy Weld 298 we wouldn’t have had any second thoughts recommending it. At a price of well under $200 it’s a great bargain and it has a sturdy construction. With a simple 1 knob control system it isn’t hard to get up and running with this machine either.
If you’re looking for a welder without all the bells and whistles that simply gets the job done the Forney Easy Weld 100 ST (298) is a good choice. It’s priced around $200, making it the best value home welder you’ll find on the market in 2023. We’re a fan of the bright green color scheme as well although that’s more of a personal preference.
As we’ve already mentioned Forney has skipped all of the bells and whistles here and concentrated on a simplistic design focused on functionality. It has a 1 knob control system that doesn’t leave a lot of guesswork – you simply flip the switch, crank it to the desired setting and you’re ready to get started. It’s body features a surprisingly sturdy construction for the price as well. This is a highly portable machine at 9.65 pounds and that makes it great for using around the home.
This isn’t a tool for heavy duty applications though. It only operates off 90 amps of power and you’re restricted to 120 volt applications. The warranty also leaves something to be desired at just 6 months and that made us have some serious second thoughts even after considering the great price tag.
- Simple 1 knob control system.
- Priced around $200.
- Portable and light at 9.65 lbs.
- Sturdy construction.
- Only operates on 90 amps.
- Limited 6-month warranty.
- Restricted to 120-volt applications.
7. Speedway 7643
The best cheap welder for home use
The Speedway 7643 welder clearly has some limitations. It only operates on 90 amps and it’s limited to 110 volts. If you’re just looking for a machine you’ll use for minor welding repairs around the home it will do the job. It’s simple to use and it comes with the cables and clamps you need to get started. With a price tag under $150, it’s easily the best budget option for home use on the market today.
When you’re working on a tight budget, but you’re still hoping for a quality welder you can rely on there aren’t many options available to you. The Speedway 7643 is an exception though and at a price tag under $150, it’s hard to find a better deal on a welder in 2023. It’s a hidden gem that easily qualifies as the best budget welder for home use.
A budget of $150 does seriously limit your options, but the 7643 is a good choice if you’re looking for a Flux welder for light repair jobs around the house or minor jobs on the car. It works with steel or stainless steel and it’s simple control system makes it easy to use, with just 1 control knob. It operates at 110 volts and its equipped with a thermal protection warning light for safe operation. It also comes with the cables and clamps you need along with a welding torch to get you started.
There’s no getting around the fact that this is a no frills machine. It only works off 90 amps and it is limited to steel welding applications. The warranty on this Speedway welder is unimpressive as well at only 1-year. With this machine there’s no option to use it for other welding operations such as TIG welding or MIG welding jobs either.
- Priced under $150.
- Simple control system.
- Works on steel and stainless steel.
- Cables, clamps, and torch included.
- Only 90 amps.
- Limited 1-year warranty.
Conclusion
It’s great when there’s a lot of options to choose from when you’re making a purchase and there is a lot of welders for home use to choose from in 2023. We like all of the welders we’ve reviewed above, but the Smarter Tools INMIG-185iD is our choice for best overall welder based on available features, price and durability.
There are some great choices at either end of the price spectrum though, with the Forney Easy Weld being an ideal selection if you’re on a limited budget. No matter what you’re budget, you’ll find something that fits in these reviews – good look with your welding in 2023!
