8 Great Welding Helmets Under $100

Having trouble finding an affordable welding helmet?

Whether you are just learning or are an experienced welder, we all can relate to one issue that comes with the practice—cost. From welding machines, wire, gas, jackets, sleeves, gloves, and the list goes on, welding gets expensive. This is what makes investing in a quality welding hood difficult. A quality welding helmet may just be your most important piece of safety equipment, protecting your eyes from the harsh light of your arc and your head and neck from sparks and spatter. What if I told you that you could get a quality welding helmet for under $100 without cutting corners? In today’s post I am going to outline a few different welding hoods under $100 dollars that display quality design and craftsmanship.

Fibre Metal 110P White Pipeliner Welding Helmet

Whether you are a novice or experienced welder, if you are working out of your garage or working in a large shop, the Fibre Metal Pipeliner helmet fits your needs. Its rugged simplicity makes it a top choice for welders and its slim profile makes it ideal for welding along pipes. A simple design and high-quality build has let this helmet stand the test of time, perhaps making it the premiere welding helmet for a welder on a budget.

Jackson HSL100 Shade 10 Welding Helmet

The Jackson HSL100 Shade 10 Welding Helmet strips down to the bare essentials-- a hood that will protect your eyes, neck, and head from light and sparks. This is the cheapest quality helmet on the market today. This helmet does not feature auto-darkening but is certainly more than worth the $35-dollar price tag. If you weld infrequently, are a hobby welder, or are new to welding, this helmet could be for you.

Miller 238497 Black MP-10™ Welding Helmet

The Miller Black MP-10 Welding Helmet may just be the best budget welding helmet out there. Depending on what your needs are, this helmet could be the perfect fit for you. Featuring a high-quality nylon build that will protect you from sparks and spatter, along with a passive shade #10 lens to protect your eyes. This helmet is also compatible with Miller helmet accessories, which means that it can be upgraded as your welding needs change.

Pyramex WHAM 10

Now we come to our most affordable auto-darkening helmet! The Pyramex WHAM 10 features an auto darkening lens with four independent arc sensors in staggered design to deliver reliable arc detection, a high-speed design (1/30000 second), and a magnifying lens holder. The helmet is powered with solar cells and a replaceable lithium battery. It also features a high quality, impact-resistant nylon design. This is an excellent hood for the price and should be considered by a welder on a budget.

Norstar N2WHADF300SBLK 300S Black Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

The Norstar 300S Auto Darkening Welding Helmet is perfect for GMAW, SMAW, FCAW, and Plasma Arc welding. It features an auto darkening lens with a 6.67 square inch viewing area. Though it is not recommended for TIG welding, it has an auto-darkening feature and a large viewing area.

Norstar N212000 Series 2-220 Black Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

The Norstar Series 2-220 Black Auto Darkening Welding Helmet is a great mid-range, auto darkening helmet. It offers weld or grind modes and is TIG welding rated down to 5 amps. Variable shade #8 to #13 covers virtually every welding application in addition to variable sensitivity and delay adjusting. It includes a magnifying lens holder and replaceable batteries. In the grind mode the lens stays in light state shade #3 for clarity and protection without using a separate face shield. This helmet is a perfect budget option for welders who require a helmet with a little more functionality and versatility in the processes that their helmet can handle. This hood also comes with a 3-year warranty.

Miller 251292 Black Classic VS Series Welding Helmet

The Miller Classic Series auto darkening welding helmets are a great bang-for-your-buck helmet for a welder on a budget. With two independent arc sensors, variable shade controls, and adjustable sensitivity controls, this hood is one of the best auto-darkening helmets for under $100. You get the name-brand quality for a fraction of the price. Once again, this helmet is compatible with Miller accessories, so you can upgrade the helmet as your needs change. Another unique thing at this price point with this series is that for a few dollars more you can get a helmet with some style.

Lincoln K3282-2 1740 Matte Black Viking Welding Helmet

There's no shortage of features on the economically priced Lincoln 1740 series auto-darkening welding helmet. Available in matte black & graphic finish, the helmet has the highest optical rating available in the marketplace, has both a weld and grind mode and comes with a two year parts and labor warranty. Though this hood exceeds the $100 dollar threshold, it provide a high degree of quality for half the price of a comparable hood.