Welding amps chart: what each rod, wire and tungsten needs, from the makers
Published amperage ranges for 6010, 6011, 6013 and 7018 rods, mig wire and tig tungsten, and how to check them against your welder's rated output.
Every welder is sold on the top of its amperage range. What decides whether it suits your work is whether it reaches the amps your rod, wire or tungsten needs, at its rated output.
Look up your filler in the maker’s own range, then check that your welder’s rated output reaches it. The worked example below shows why: Lincoln’s POWER MIG 140 MP stick mode tops out at 90 amps, and Lincoln’s 1/8 inch 7018 rod runs from 90 to 160.
Stick rods: amperage by rod and diameter
(Which rod to choose is in welding rods; storing 7018 is in 7018 welding rods.)
From Lincoln’s own data sheets, “typical operating procedures”, checked 2026-09-27. The first polarity listed is the preferred one.
| Rod (AWS class) | Polarity | 3/32 in | 1/8 in | 5/32 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleetweld 5P+ (E6010) | DC plus | 50 to 85 A | 75 to 135 A | 100 to 175 A |
| Fleetweld 180 (E6011) | AC | 40 to 90 A | 65 to 120 A | 115 to 150 A |
| DC | 40 to 80 A | 60 to 110 A | 105 to 135 A | |
| Fleetweld 37 (E6013) | AC | 75 to 115 A | 110 to 140 A | 160 to 200 A |
| DC | 70 to 105 A | 100 to 135 A | 145 to 180 A | |
| Excalibur 7018 MR (E7018) | DC plus | 70 to 110 A | 90 to 160 A | 130 to 210 A |
| AC | 80 to 120 A | 100 to 160 A | 140 to 210 A |
Sources: Lincoln Fleetweld 5P+ data sheet C2.10.13; Excalibur 7018 MR data sheet, Fleetweld 180 C2.10.16 and Fleetweld 37 C2.10.19, Lincoln documents hosted by retailers.
These are Lincoln’s figures for Lincoln rods. For any other brand, use the range printed on its own box or data sheet.
One worked check against a real machine
The Lincoln POWER MIG 140 MP manual (IMT10392) lists its stick output as 25 to 90 amps, “up to 3/32” rod, rated 80 amps at 60 percent duty cycle.
- 3/32 inch 7018 needs 70 to 110 A on DC plus. The machine covers the lower part of that range.
- 1/8 inch 7018 needs 90 to 160 A. The machine’s maximum is the very bottom of it.
So this is a mig machine that does light stick, not a stick welder for 1/8 inch rod. That is not a fault; Lincoln says as much by rating it for rod up to 3/32. The same check works for any machine: its rated output, from the comparison table, against the range above.
Mig: charts use voltage and wire speed
(Door charts from six machines are compared in the mig welder settings chart.)
On a mig welder you set voltage and wire feed speed, and the current follows the wire speed. Door charts reflect that. Lincoln’s POWER MIG 140 MP chart prints a voltage letter and a wire speed number for each thickness, and no amps:
| .035 in solid wire, 75/25 gas | 18 ga | 14 ga | 1/8 in | 3/16 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln setting (voltage letter / wire speed) | C / 3 | E / 5 | H / 7 | J / 8 |
| Mig volts for that letter, per the manual | 15 | 17 | 20 | 21.5 |
Miller’s Multimatic 215 manual gives amperage ranges by wire diameter instead: 0.023 inch runs 30 to 90 A, 0.030 inch 40 to 145 A, and 0.035 inch 50 to 180 A. It also publishes a rule of thumb: 0.001 inch of thickness equals 1 ampere, with its own example of 0.0625 inch working out to 62.5 A. Miller calls these guidelines only, and says to weld a new bead or layer for each 1/8 inch of thickness.
Sources: Lincoln operator’s manual IMT10392, page B-6; Miller Multimatic 215 manual OM-272989E, sections 9-2 and 9-7.
Tig: amperage by tungsten diameter
Miller’s table for ceriated, lanthanated or thoriated tungsten, which Miller notes is a composite of American Welding Society recommendations:
| Tungsten | DC electrode negative, argon | AC, argon |
|---|---|---|
| 0.040 in | 15 to 80 A | 15 to 80 A |
| 1/16 in | 70 to 150 A | 70 to 150 A |
| 3/32 in | 150 to 250 A | 140 to 235 A |
| 1/8 in | 250 to 400 A | 225 to 325 A |
Source: Miller OM-272989E, section 11-1. Which tungsten type to use is in tungsten electrodes. Tig amperage by material thickness is not published in any manual we read.
Reading these numbers honestly
A range is where the filler runs well, not a promise that a weld is sound. Settings shift with joint type, position and fit-up, which is why every maker calls its charts a starting point. Thickness ratings say what a machine can fuse, not what a joint will carry. Trailers, hitches and anything that lifts or holds pressure belong to a certified welder.
Before buying, check the rated output of the machine against the rod or wire you need, then check the circuit it asks for in what size breaker a welder needs.
Frequently asked questions
How many amps do I need for 1/8 inch 7018?
Lincoln's data sheet for Excalibur 7018 MR gives 90 to 160 amps on DC electrode positive and 100 to 160 on AC for 1/8 inch rod. Your welder has to reach the part of that range you will use, at a duty cycle you can live with. Check its rated stick output, not the top of its range.
Is there a rule for amps per thickness?
Miller publishes one in its Multimatic 215 manual: 0.001 inch of material thickness equals 1 ampere, with the example that 0.0625 inch works out to 62.5 amps. Miller calls its settings guidelines only, and the same manual says to weld a new bead or layer for each 1/8 inch of thickness.
Why does my mig chart show letters and numbers instead of amps?
Because on a mig welder you set voltage and wire feed speed, and the current follows from the wire speed. Lincoln's POWER MIG 140 MP door chart prints a voltage letter and a wire speed number for each thickness and prints no amps at all. Follow your own machine's chart rather than an amps figure from elsewhere.
Which way round is DC plus and DC minus?
DC plus, also written DCEP or reverse polarity, means the electrode is positive. DC minus, DCEN or straight polarity, means the electrode is negative. Each rod's data sheet lists its preferred polarity first; Lincoln's sheets say so in a footnote.