Whether you are a professional welder or not, safety always comes first. That’s why welders, especially the beginners, are taught the welding is done so that the chances of injuries can be diminished to the lower level and safety of the person can be guaranteed. There’s no human on earth that can weld without using a welding helmet because there is too much of radiation caused by the welding like ultraviolet (UV) and infrared rays (IR) which can be highly dangerous to your body and health. And, this isn’t only about the radiation, during welding materials, for example, hot sparks, metallic debris, etc.
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Best Budget Welding Helmet for the Money
Direct interaction with the light generated during the welding can also cause eye-sight problems which will decrease your eye power and you no longer be able to see clearly with those beautiful eyes. 99% people prefer using the budget welding helmet to not using at all (yes, you could buy a budget welding helmet if you cannot afford to buy a helmet that is rich in features). Thousands of cheap welding masks (hoods) are available in the market today to meet your requirements.
Is there a possibility of purchasing a cheap welding mask without breaking the bank? I mean can you actually get to buy a budget welding hood from a good company without spending too much money? Of course, there is an opportunity for you to try out the best budget welding helmets and cheap welding helmets that we have reviewed on this page just for your convenience.
Things to Consider When Buying the Budget Welding Helmet
A welding helmet doesn’t only protect your eyes but also your head, and beautiful face.
- Helmet Type: No doubt that firsts things first – safety, however, features of the helmet are also what you need to be paying attention to. For example, what type of helmet you need – a standard welding helmet or an auto-darkening helmet. The standard helmet is also known as ‘Passive’ helmet, so pay heed to this term at the time of being sure of the features of the helmet you’re planning to buy.
- Helmet Lenses: The lenses are also important in a welding helmet and this comes into play when you do not work in a specific environment. If you mostly work on-sites, then the variable lenses are the perfect choice for you, but if work takes place in the same environment from time to time, you may choose the ‘fixed’ lenses for your welding helmet.
- Helmet Weight: Is the helmet you are going to buy a lightweight helmet? This should also be your question during the purchase because you don’t want to strain your head or neck while you do your precise welds at the desired materials. You can think of it as “The more lightweight the helmet is, the more comfortable you fee”. If your budget welding helmet is lightweight, you will be able to work for long hours.
- Helmet Sensors: As a matter of the fact, you will see different types and no. of sensors in a welding helmet, you should choose a helmet that is having at least 3 to 4 top-quality sensors which will help you get the upper hands over other helmets and make you ahead of the welding game. The sensors are important because they allow you to sense the flash and will, therefore, provide you with more coverage. The high-quality sensors are installed on the auto-darkening helmets that are recommended unless, of course, you are running out of money.
- Helmet Rays: When you weld, you face different challenges because the job here is not same at all times – you may have to weld different materials which will cause numerous types of rays and there is no doubt that lenses protect you from those rays. But that’s only half the story if you buy the individual type of lenses for a specific job, whereas, on the contrary, if your job involves different types of welding, you will need to buy different pairs of lenses to meet your welding requirements.
- Helmet Shades: When you purchase an inexpensive or budget helmet, you will notice the description of the shades that come with it. The shades could be varying depending on the type of welding helmet you are buying – it could be 9 to 13 or 6 to 13 shades. A welding helmet with 9-13 shades is considered to be a good choice for performing simple welding tasks, however, if you don’t have any knowledge of it and buying welding helmets for the very first time, you can consider an auto-darkening helmet that will boost your performance via a variety of lenses it comes with.
- Viewing Area: The viewing area in a helmet adds an extra layer to the comfort that you seek. The larger viewing area there is in a welding helmet, the better view you will have while welding your materials. The viewing area is the window through which you see out of a welding helmet. If a welding helmet has the viewing area of 3.74” x 3.74”, you are likely to have a good (budget) helmet as per your requirements.
- Best Fit: Is the helmet that you are planning on to buy a best-fit (if not a perfect fit) for your head size? You will have a problem if a Welding Mask (Hood) doesn’t fit your head size. The size also matters because if a welding helmet doesn’t fit you well, your skin will be exposed which may cause a burn or heat. If you want to have a next-level experience in terms of safety, perhaps, you will consider wearing a welding bib.
- Switching Speed: The reaction time of a welding helmet also comes into play when the auto-darkening filters work. The quicker a helmet reacts to the light, the better it is for you. This works with the auto-on/off function that gets activated when you start welding your material and is turned automatically off when you stop the welding. So, if you buy a welding helmet with good switching speed, you will get comfort along with it.
- Power: The power source is also significant. There are usually three types of helmets: battery-powered helmets and solar-powered helmet and a helmet with the combination of both – battery and solar panel. If you buy a battery-powered helmet, you will have to replace the batteries every once in a while and the life will also not be good, whereas, if you a purchase a helmet that houses both solar panel and battery, odds are you will have a longer life.
Best Cheap Welding Masks (Hoods)
1. Miller Welding Helmet (251292), Shade 3 & 8-12, Auto-Darkening Helmet (Review)
(Our Rating)
(9.9 Out of 10 Ratings)
Miller presents an auto-darkening budget welding helmet for your needs. It is a helmet that comes with a large variety of features considering the price range. It is black in color and has adjustable side knobs for easy control. There will never be any stress on your head or neck as this one is one of the lightweight helmets out there as it only weighs 2.2 pounds. The TIG Amp rating of this helmet is 20A. It runs on both battery and solar panel which is a good thing (as we have discussed it above).
You don’t have to turn it off or on because it comes with the auto-darkening filter (ADF) which will take care of it. The lens speed of this Miller’s auto-darkening helmet is 1/10,000 (sec.) and insofar the delay and sensitivity matter, it is 0.10 to 1.0 sec. Since it has a very good reaction time, it is worth your shot. But don’t just take our word for it – see what other customers are saying about it and also pay attention to the fact that it is listed as ‘Amazon’s Choice’ which means it must provide great value to the customers.
Pros:
- Model/Part No.: 251292
- Auto-darkening helmet (with ADF)
- Viewing Area: 5-1/5 sq. inches
- TIG Amp Rating: 20A
- Plate Height: 1-2/5″
- No. of Arc Sensors: 2
- Switching Speed (Reaction Time): 1/10,000 sec.
- Battery Type: AAA
- Power Source: Both Battery and Solar Panel
- ADF Controls: Analog
- Material: Nylon
- Grind Mode Availability: No
- Color: Black
- Lens Shades: 3, 8 to 12
- Lightweight: Yes
- Value for Money: Yes
- Comfort: Yes
2. Miller Elite Welding Helmet, 281000, with ClearLight Lens (Review)
(Our Rating)
(9.9 Out of 10 Ratings)
If you are in search of a budget welding helmet under $500, don’t look further – this is a helmet that will meet your expectations. It is a lightweight helmet as it only weighs 2.95 pounds which increases the portability and you won’t have to stress your neck or head while working for long hours. What sets this helmet apart from others is its capability – it is a 4-in-1 helmet that can perform weld, cut, grind, along with an X-mode feature. The x-mode helps you get rid of the interference that you get while working in the sun.
The Miller Elite 281000 has four sensors unlike 282000 which only has 3 sensors which makes it an advanced welding helmet. Is it a value for money? Of course, it is. Not only that, it is comfortable and lightweight. It also features digital controls which gives you friendliness while using the helmet. A brand-new headgear (top-notch) is also covered with this budget helmet. It offers a wide range of shades for different tasks like grinding, cutting, or welding (see in the features to know more).
Pros:
- Amazon’s Choice
- Model No.: 281000
- Part No.: 257213
- Features Auto-darkening filter (ADF)
- Shades: Grind (Shade 3), Cut (Shade 5 to 8), and Weld (Shades 8 to 13)
- Color: Black
- Comes with ClearLight lens Technology
- Sensors: 4 Sensors
- Comes with 2 cr2450 batteries and also runs on Solar panel
- Adjusts shades and sensitivity
- Built-in Mag holder: Yes
- X-mode: Yes
- Accessories: Helmet Bag, Inside Lens (Two), Outside Lens (5)
- Backed by a 3-year warranty
- Includes headgear for high-level comfort
3. YesWelder TIG/MIG/Arc Auto-darkening Welding Helmet (Review)
(Our Rating)
(10 Out of 10 Ratings)
The YesWelder Auto-darkening Welding Helmet is one of the cheapest helmets listed here. Again, it is also ‘Amazon’s Choice’ and the highly rated budget welding helmet. It has sensitivity and delays knobs to have better control over your welds and preciseness. It features true colors and gives you ultimate eye protection and has the ability to respond to the light with the help of a quick darkening feature. It gives you easy outside control as you can use it with different applications.
The reaction time of this helmet is also surprising (considering the price) i.e. 0.1 to 0.8 second, featuring the darkening shades under the range of 9 to 13. With this helmet, you will have an improved clarity in your welds because it comes with the true color view – i.e. 1/1/1/2 Optical Clarity. Furthermore, you can install cheaper or magnifying lens in it. It is a 3-in-1 helmet that can be used for MIG, TIG, and Stick (MMA) easily.
Pros:
- Model: LYGL500A
- Viewing Area: 3.64″X1.67″
- Auto-darkening Sensors: 2
- Overall Weight: 2.15 lbs.
- Material: PA/PP
- Battery-powered: Yes (comes with 1 lithium-ion battery)
- Value for money: Yes
- Lightweight: Yes
- Coziness: Yes
- True-color Technology for better clarity, real color view
- Updated Headgear
- Material: PP/PA
- Battery Type: Lithium-Ion
4. Antra AH6-260-0000 Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet (Review)
(Our Rating)
(9.9 Out of 10 Ratings)
If you wish to have both auto-darkening filter and solar-powered system in the same welding helmet, you should pay attention to this Antra AH6-260-0000 welding helmet that can be used for all types of welding like TIG, MIG, MMA (Stick) and for Plasma as well. It also features a larger window which means the viewing area of this helmet will be huge to give you a wide view of the material that you want to operate on. It also houses the grinding feature.
As you start using this auto-dark welding helmet, you will be amazed by the astounding features of this Antra auto turn on/off helmet. This is an upgrade from goggles and fixed shade glass. It will react in a faster time as compared to the one just given above as it is having a total of 4 sensors that will increase the auto-darkening feature like a pro. The overall weight of this helmet is 1 pound and length is 9 inches with width as “9.0” inches. To know more about it, please read the features (pros) and cons below:
Pros:
- Part No.: AH6-260-0000
- Auto-darkening Filter (ADF)
- Comes with Step-less Delay and Sensitivity Knob (Adjustable)
- Compatible with Cheater Lenses/ Magnifying Lenses
- Shades: Various – 4/5-9/9-13
- Works with most Welding and Plasma applications
- Large Viewing Area: 3. 86″X1. 73″
- Weight: 1 pound
- Length/Width: 9 inches
- Color: Black
- Overall Sensors: 4
- Extremely responsive to electric arc from TIG, MMA, MIG or Plasma applications
- Interference Suppression
- Features Solar Cell+2 CR2032 batteries (replaceable)
- Battery Indicator: Yes
- Built-in passive filter – fully UV/IR protection
- Quick Grind Switch
- Highly Lightweight: only 1 pound
- Value for money: Yes
- Highly Comfortable
- Suggested for Beginners
- Next-level Stability for Precision
5. Lincoln 3350 Welding Helmet for Sale, Auto-darkening (Review)
(Our Rating)
(9.7 Out of 10 Ratings)
If you’re on the lookout for the best auto-darkening welding helmet from a most-renowned company like Lincoln, this is an ultimate choice for your expectations and requirements. Equipped with a total number of 4 sensors, it will provide you with improved reaction time. The switching speed of this helmet is 1/25, 000 sec. The TIG AMP rating of this helmet is 2A and there are knobs as far as the ADF controls matter.
The lens shades of this welding helmet range from 5 to 13 which could be a perfect choice for you. It comes with a universal size which is going to be a perfect fit for your head size. What makes this helmet special is that it is equipped with the 4C(TM) Lens Technology and provides with a wide-screen view. Still not surprised? Let’s wait till you see the specifications or features as shown underneath.
Pros (Features):
- Amazon’s Choice
- Model Number/Series: 3350
- Auto-darkening Helmet (Auto Turn on/off)
- Lens Shade: 5 to 13
- Viewing Area: 3.74″ x 3.34″
- Headgear: Ratchet
- Color: Black
- Highly Comfortable
- Improved Stability
- Value for Money
- Extremely Lightweight
- Battery: 1 Lithium Battery
- Material: Plastic
- Weight: 3.2 pounds
- Headgear: Ratchet
- ADF Controls: Knobs
- Total of Arc Sensors: 4
- Grind Mode: Yes
6. Jackson Safety W10 Welding Helmet (Review)
(Our Rating)
(9.7 Out of 10 Ratings)
This one of the best welding helmets if you are looking for a cheaper helmet, however, you should be mindful of the features because it doesn’t feature the auto-darkening feature. We’ve listed this helmet because some people prefer to have a helmet with the standard lenses (without auto-darkening filter). It features a narrow shell design which works perfectly in the tight areas. It comes with the extended front which increases throat protection when you wear it and decreases radiation reaching your throat, providing an extra guard.
With this helmet, you will have a larger view and float on the cloud nine due to the lightweight and durability. No matter whether you use it in MIG, TIG, or Arc welding, it will do a good job, keeping you at ease. It comes with a standard shade 10 filter plate and the best thing about it is the price – you may not able to get a cheaper welding helmet that Jackson Safety W10 has been a choice for thousands of students, professionals, inspectors, and hobbyists. To see if it is really worth your shot, please look up its features all the way through the subsequent section.
Features:
- Part No.: 14975
- Type: Fixed Shade Helmet
- Features a narrow shell design for tight spaces
- Comes with an extended front that covers not only eyes and face but also your throat for extra protection
- Durable and Cheaper
- Extremely Comfortable
- Meets ANSI Z87.1 and complies with CSA
- Material: Thermoplastic
7. Tanox Auto Darkening Solar Powered Welding Helmet ADF-206S (Review)
(Our Rating)
(9.6 Out of 10 Ratings)
Looking forward to buying the best welding helmet that doesn’t break the bank but still offers features like sensitivity adjuster, delay time adjuster, auto-darkening filter, solar-cells, shade adjuster? If that’s what you wish, it is time to pay heed to this Tanox welding helmet which offers exactly the same. As we’ve already talked about the safety – i.e. how important it is to keep your eyes, faces, throat safe during doing welds, but what about the hands, should they be left bare?
Your hands should also be protected while welding because they are as prone to be caused damage as face or eyes. That’s why Tanox has made it here on this page because it offers a pair of welding gloves so as to keep your hands safe while you weld. Apart from TIG, MIG, you will also have the ability to use this helmet with your grinding applications. It comes into colors: Dark Grey and USA flag. The viewing area offered by this helmet is also impressive – see it in the features below:
Advantages of Using Cheap Welding Helmets:
- Auto-darkening Helmet (with ADF)
- Best-in-the industry Headgear
- Multi-process Helmet: Used for MIG, TIG, MMA, Arc, DIY welding or Plasma project
- Optical Class Rating: 1/1/1/2
- Easy to Use (Even for Beginners)
- Satisfaction Guarantee
- Wider Viewing Size: 3.86” x 1.73”
- Superfast Reaction Time: Dark to Light in 1/25000 sec
- Lightweight: Only weighs 1.6 pounds
- Optic Class 1/1/1/2
- Extra Lens Cover
- Grind and Weld Modes
- Comes with replaceable batteries
- Low Amperage TIG: Less than 5A
- Material: PP
8. Jackson Safety 46129, Auto-darkening Welding Helmet (Review)
(Our Rating)
(9.8 Out of 10 Ratings)
The Jackson Safety 46129, is one of the best auto-darkening and cheaper masks (hoods) on the market today. It offers variable shades from 9 to 13 and not to mention the larger viewing area which you can verify in the feature segment of this page. There’re four (4) independent sensors installed on it that make the reaction time of this welding mask (hood) super-fast. Unlike another helmet reviewed above, this one keeps you satisfied as it comes with auto-darkening feature.
The high-performance auto-dark filters are going to make your day as you don’t have to adjust the filters every time you begin doing experiments with your welds. The high-quality features will give you superior experience because you will have a larger viewing area and more clarity on the material you are trying to weld or cut steel of any other material that your welder is compatible with. Since it is also an Amazon’s Choice product, it is highly rated, well-priced and will be delivered to the destination (where you want it to be) faster.
Features (Pros):
- Auto-darkening Helmet (with ADF)
- Shades: Variable (9 to 13)
- Wider viewing Area: 3.93″ x 2.36″
- Adjustments for sensitivity and delay
- Sensors: 4 auto-dimming sensors
- Features Digital Controls
- Multi-process Helmet (TIG, MIG, Arc Welding)
- Comes with Narrow Design
- Meets ANSI Z87.1+ and CSA standards
- Color: Black
- Height: 8.1 inches
- Weight: 2 Pounds (Lightweight)
- Length: 13.6 inches
- Value for Money: Yes
- Comfortable: Yes
9. Lincoln Electric K4134-1 Welding Helmet (Auto-darkening Helmet) with Grind Mode (Reviews)
(Our Rating)
(9.7 Out of 10 Ratings)
Again from Lincoln, comes “K4134-1” which is an auto-darkening helmet along with Grind Mode and is a cheap welding mask (hood) for you if you would like to buy it. The overall weight of this mask is 2 pounds which is a good thing as you don’t have to put stress on your head or shoulders while doing your welds. The material of this helmet is thermoplastic houses an adjustable ratchet band that will allow the helmet to fit your head perfectly. The viewing area of this helmet is 3.82 x 1.73 which is pretty impressive as this will give you the crystal clear view of the material you will be welding or cutting.
Not only that, but it also features a grind mode which is super easy to operate and it comes with the auto-darkening lenses with the shades of 9 to 13. The best thing about this helmet is that it doesn’t run on batteries which means you don’t have to insert and replace the batteries again and again, there is a solar panel embedded on it that will do the job for you. This helmet is highly recommended by most of the customers who bought and we do the same if you are looking for a cheaper and the Cheapest helmet to buy in 2020 as per your needs.
Pros:
- Model: K4134-1
- Auto-darkening Filter (ADF)
- Viewing Area: 3.82 x 1.73
- Comes with Grind Mode
- Weighs 2 Pounds (lightweight)
- Material: Thermoplastic
- Adjustable Ratchet Head Band
- Also comes with Oversize Sweatband for Comfort
- Eye-catching Design
- Variable Shades (9 to 13)
- Runs on Solar Cells
10. Antra AH7-360-0000, Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet (Review)
(Our Rating)
(9.7 Out of 10 Ratings)
Do you wish to protect both your face and neck simultaneously? If that is what you wish, it is time to make it come true by opting for this Antra AH7-360-0000 welding helmet that comes with the ADF feature. It’s been recommended by Amazon and protects you from those high radiations including ultraviolet and infrared rays. The performance of this helmet is ultimate and you will be amazed by the reliability, durability, or versatility once you bring this helmet home.
It is a great choice for tight spaces because it is a fully compact helmet and the reaction time of this helmet is so fast that you won’t even notice when the switching happened. Works perfectly with all types of welding, be it MIG, TIG, Stick (MMA), MAG, or others. If you are starting a DIY project in your school or college with this helmet, you are good to go. You would not have any problem handling it or taking it from one place to another one since it is a very lightweight helmet as it only weighs 1 pound. This helmet runs on 2 batteries (see specs below for more).
Features:
- Model No.: AH7-360-0000
- Features auto-darkening filter (ADF)
- Shades: Variable (4/5-9/9-13)
- Comes with 6+1 extra lens cover
- Highly Suitable for TIG, MIG, Stick, Plasma, and others
- Solar-Powered and Battery-Power helmet
- Viewing Area: 98 x 53 mm /3. 86″ x 2. 09″
- Optical Class: 1/1/1/2
- Reaction Time: 0. 00004(1/25, 000)
- Switching Time: 0.1 to 1 second
- DC TIG Amperage Rating: >2
- Color: Black
- Battery Cell Type: Lithium Metal
- Components: Helmet, 6 Extra Lenses, 1 Int. Lens Cover, User Manual
Best Budget Welding Helmet 2020
There you have it – the best budget welding helmets! What makes us apart from others is that we have only reviewed the highly-rated, experts’ recommended, Amazon’s Choice products, based on the user satisfaction, and great experience with the welding helmets that they had bought. Most of the helmets that we have reviewed above are having a rating of 4 or even more and many of them have 5 out of 5 (the perfect rating). I hope we have guided you with this list. If you still have any questions or suggestions on these cheaper welding hoods (masks), feel free to reach out to us without any delay.