TIG vs MIG Welding
Verdict: MIG is faster and quicker to learn, so it suits most steel jobs. TIG is slower and costs more per hour, but it gives finer control on thin stainless, aluminum and other specialty metals.
The two processes both melt metal under a shielding gas, but they feed the weld differently. TIG uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and a separate filler rod held in your other hand. MIG feeds a continuous wire through the gun, so you hold one tool and pull a trigger. That single difference drives most of the speed, skill and price gap.
If you are hiring a welder, the gap shows up as a higher hourly rate and usually more hours for TIG. If you are learning, MIG lets a beginner lay usable beads within a week or two, while TIG takes much longer to do well. The calculator below prices a hired job for each process using published residential rate ranges.
TIG vs MIG Welding side by side
| Trait | TIG | MIG Welding |
|---|---|---|
| Electrode | Non-consumable tungsten, with filler rod added by hand | Continuous consumable wire fed through the gun |
| Hands needed | Two: torch in one hand, filler rod in the other | One on the gun, trigger controls the wire |
| Speed | Significantly slower than most welding processes | Fast, wire feeds at roughly 2 to 10 m/min on typical hand-held machines |
| Learning curve | Harder to master, needs precise arc length control | Basic technique in about a week or two |
| Typical shielding gas | Argon most common, helium for more penetration | Argon and CO2 mix for steel (75/25 to 90/10), pure argon for nonferrous |
| Best metals | Thin stainless, aluminum, magnesium, copper alloys | Steel is the everyday use, nonferrous with argon |
| Carbon steel | Possible but usually less economical than MIG | The common economical choice |
| Hired rate, residential | $75 to $125 per hour | $65 to $90 per hour |
Last verified October 2026. Typical values; individual animals, products and local prices vary.
Which one fits you
TIG
- You weld thin stainless or aluminum and need tight control over heat and the puddle.
- Appearance matters, such as visible joints on furniture, handrails or custom work.
- You are willing to practice longer and accept slower travel speed for better quality.
- Your project uses copper alloys or magnesium, where TIG is a common choice.
MIG Welding
- You are a beginner who wants usable welds on steel within a couple of weeks of practice.
- You have long seams or lots of parts and need to finish quickly.
- You mostly weld carbon steel, where MIG is the usual economical choice.
- You will weld indoors or in a sheltered spot, since drafts can blow the shielding gas away.
How this works
This page compares the two processes using published descriptions of how each works and residential hourly rates from a cost guide. It does not rank brands or machines, and it does not cover stick or flux-cored welding in depth. Sources are listed below so you can check each figure yourself.
The calculator prices hiring a welder, not buying equipment. Machine prices vary widely, so get quotes before choosing. Change the hours, TIG extra time and rates to match your quotes. Hourly rates differ by region, and many welders set a one to two hour minimum on small jobs, which the calculator does not apply.
Rates are the midpoints of HomeGuide's 2026 residential ranges ($65 to $90 per hour MIG, $75 to $125 TIG). The 50% extra TIG time is an adjustable assumption, not a published figure, because sources only say TIG is slower.
Where these numbers come from
The figures and defaults on this page are based on:
- HomeGuide: Welding Cost, Residential hourly rates for MIG ($65 to $90) and TIG ($75 to $125). (checked October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Gas tungsten arc welding, TIG skill demands, slower speed, metals, filler rod and argon shielding. (checked October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Gas metal arc welding, MIG learning time, wire feed rates, gas mixes and outdoor limits. (checked October 2026)
- OSHA: Welding, Cutting, and Brazing, Welding hazards including fume control and safety resources. (checked October 2026)
Planning estimates. Hourly rates vary by region and job, so confirm with local quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Is TIG or MIG easier for a beginner?
MIG. References describe basic MIG technique as learnable in roughly a week or two, while TIG requires coordinating both hands and holding a precise arc length, which takes longer to master.
Which welds aluminum better, TIG or MIG?
TIG is most commonly used for thin sections of aluminum and other nonferrous metals. MIG can weld aluminum with pure argon, but TIG gives the finer control that thin material needs.
Why does TIG cost more per hour when you hire a welder?
TIG needs more skill, a separate filler rod and slower travel. HomeGuide lists TIG at about $75 to $125 per hour for residential work against $65 to $90 for MIG.
Can I MIG weld outside?
Wind is the problem. Drafts can disperse the shielding gas and let contaminants into the weld, so MIG is hard to do well outdoors. Flux-cored wire is the usual choice for outdoor work.
Explore the whole Calcs family here.
Not happy with the answer or how it works? Let us know.
Have a suggestion for a comparison you don't see here? Let us know.
All VersusCalcs tools
Animals
American Crow vs Raven Anaconda vs Python Antelope vs Deer Ape vs Monkey Badger vs Wolverine Bald Eagle vs Golden Eagle Beagle vs Basset Hound Bernese Mountain Dog vs Saint Bernard Bison vs Yak Black Bear vs Grizzly Black Widow vs False Widow Bobcat vs Lynx Border Collie vs Australian Shepherd Boxer vs Bulldog Buffalo vs American Bison Butterfly vs Moth Camel vs Dromedary Carpenter Bee vs Bumble Bee Cavalier vs Cocker Spaniel Centipede vs Millipede Cheetah vs Jaguar Chihuahua vs Pomeranian Chimpanzee vs Gorilla Cicada vs Locust Copperhead vs Corn Snake Copperhead vs Water Snake Corgi vs Shiba Inu Cottonmouth vs Water Snake Coyote vs Fox Crocodile vs Alligator Crow vs Blackbird Deer vs Elk Doberman vs Rottweiler Dolphin vs Porpoise Donkey vs Mule Dragonfly vs Damselfly Duck vs Goose Eagle vs Hawk Elk vs Moose Flea vs Tick Fox vs Wolf Frog vs Toad Garter Snake vs Ribbon Snake Goat vs Sheep Goose vs Swan Gorilla vs Orangutan Grasshopper vs Locust Great Dane vs Mastiff Grizzly vs Brown Bear Groundhog vs Woodchuck Hamster vs Gerbil Hare vs Jackrabbit Hawk vs Falcon Heron vs Crane Heron vs Egret Honey Bee vs Bumble Bee Hornet vs Wasp Hornet vs Yellow Jacket Husky vs Malamute Iguana vs Lizard Jackal vs Hyena King Snake vs Coral Snake Labrador vs German Shepherd Leopard vs Jaguar Lion vs Leopard Lion vs Tiger Lizard vs Salamander Llama vs Alpaca Maltese vs Bichon Frise Manatee vs Dugong Mink vs Otter Monkey vs Lemur Mosquito vs Gnat Mouse vs Rat Orca vs Killer Whale Osprey vs Eagle Otter vs Beaver Owl vs Hawk Paper Wasp vs Mud Dauber Pigeon vs Dove Pitbull vs Rottweiler Poodle vs Labradoodle Praying Mantis vs Stick Bug Python vs Boa Rabbit vs Hare Reindeer vs Caribou Salamander vs Newt Shark vs Dolphin Spider vs Scorpion Squirrel vs Chipmunk Starling vs Blackbird Stingray vs Skate Stork vs Crane Tick vs Bed Bug Tiger vs Jaguar Tortoise vs Terrapin Turtle vs Tortoise Vole vs Mouse Vulture vs Buzzard Walrus vs Seal Wasp vs Bumble Bee Water Buffalo vs Bison Weasel vs Ferret Wolf vs Coyote Yellow Jacket vs WaspAuto & Tools
5W30 vs 5W20 AWD vs 4WD All-Season vs All-Weather Tires Brushless vs Brushed Drill EV vs Hybrid Gas vs Diesel Pickup Truck Impact Driver vs Impact Drill Premium vs Regular Gas TIG vs MIG WeldingHome
Brass vs Bronze Concrete vs Asphalt Driveway Cotton vs Polyester Gas vs Electric Dryer Granite vs Marble Hardwood Floors vs Carpet Hardwood vs Engineered Flooring Linen vs Cotton Mini-Split vs Central Air Nylon vs Polyester Oak vs Maple PVC vs CPVC Pine vs Cedar Portable vs Window Air Conditioner Quartz vs Granite Countertops Shingles Roof vs Metal Roof Silk vs Satin Spray Foam vs Fiberglass Insulation Stainless Steel vs Aluminum Tank vs Tankless Water Heater Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring Wool vs CashmereKitchen
Air Fryer vs Convection Oven Blender vs Food Processor Cast Iron vs Stainless Steel Catfish vs Bullhead Clam vs Oyster Gas vs Electric Stove Instant Pot vs Crock Pot Lobster vs Crawfish Octopus vs Squid Salmon vs Trout Shrimp vs Prawn Toaster Oven vs ToasterYard, Pool & Garden
Cedar vs Juniper Centipede Grass vs St Augustine Chlorine Pool vs Salt Water Composite vs Wood Decking Crabgrass vs Nutsedge Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes Maple vs Sycamore Mulch vs Rock Landscaping Pellet Grill vs Gas Grill Perennial vs Annual Pine vs Spruce Riding Mower vs Zero Turn Sod vs Seed Spruce vs Fir St Augustine vs Bermuda GrassTime Zones
AKST vs AKDT AKST vs PST BST vs GMT CST vs CDT CST vs MST CST vs PST Central vs Mountain Time Central vs Pacific Time EST vs CST EST vs EDT EST vs MST EST vs PST Eastern vs Central Time Eastern vs Mountain Time Eastern vs Pacific Time HST vs PST MST vs MDT MST vs PST Mountain vs Pacific Time PST vs PDT UTC vs GMTLanguage
Affect vs EffectNo tools match your search.