Welding Shade Number Chart: The Right Lens Shade for Every Process

This welding shade number chart gives the OSHA minimum and the ANSI/AWS suggested lens shade for each welding and cutting process by amperage. Most MIG and stick welding at home falls between shade 10 and 12, and low-amp TIG starts at shade 10.

Use the minimum as the floor, never go lighter, and start at the suggested shade. The numbers come from OSHA’s eye protection fact sheet for welding and cutting.

Welding Shade Number Chart for Arc Welding and Cutting

Process	Arc Current	OSHA Minimum Shade	Suggested Shade (Comfort)
Stick (SMAW), rod under 3/32 in	Under 60 A	7	Not listed
Stick (SMAW), 3/32 to 5/32 in rod	60 to 160 A	8	10
Stick (SMAW), 5/32 to 1/4 in rod	160 to 250 A	10	12
Stick (SMAW), rod over 1/4 in	250 to 550 A	11	14
MIG and flux core (GMAW, FCAW)	Under 60 A	7	Not listed
MIG and flux core (GMAW, FCAW)	60 to 160 A	10	11
MIG and flux core (GMAW, FCAW)	160 to 250 A	10	12
MIG and flux core (GMAW, FCAW)	250 to 500 A	10	14
TIG (GTAW)	Under 50 A	8	10
TIG (GTAW)	50 to 150 A	8	12
TIG (GTAW)	150 to 500 A	10	14
Plasma arc cutting, light	Under 300 A	8	9
Plasma arc cutting, medium	300 to 400 A	9	12
Plasma arc cutting, heavy	400 to 800 A	10	14
Air carbon arc cutting, light	Under 500 A	10	12
Air carbon arc cutting, heavy	500 to 1,000 A	11	14

Source: OSHA fact sheet “Eye Protection against Radiant Energy during Welding and Cutting” (minimum shades from 29 CFR 1910.133, suggested shades from ANSI/AWS).

Shade Chart for Gas Welding, Cutting, Brazing and Soldering

Operation	Plate Thickness	OSHA Minimum Shade	Suggested Shade
Gas welding	Under 1/8 in	4	5
Gas welding	1/8 to 1/2 in	5	6
Gas welding	Over 1/2 in	6	8
Oxygen cutting	Under 1 in	3	4
Oxygen cutting	1 to 6 in	4	5
Oxygen cutting	Over 6 in	5	6
Torch brazing	Any	3	3 or 4
Torch soldering	Any	2	2

OSHA also notes that for oxy-fuel work a lens that absorbs the yellow sodium flare from the flame is a good idea.

How to Read This Chart

1. Find your process (stick, MIG, TIG, plasma or gas).
2. Find the row that matches your amperage, or your plate thickness for gas work.
3. Never go below the OSHA minimum shade.
4. Start at the suggested shade. OSHA’s rule of thumb is to begin with a shade too dark to see the weld zone, then go lighter until you can see the puddle well.
5. Fine-tune by 1 shade at a time, and go darker if your eyes feel tired or you see afterimages.

Start with the chart inside your welder’s door or manual for settings, then use this chart for your lens.

What a Shade Number Means

Each shade number is a set amount of visible light the lens lets through. The scale is logarithmic: every step up in shade cuts the light by about 2.7 times. Shade 8 lets through about 0.1% of visible light, and shade 11 lets through about 0.005%.

Shade	Visible Light Let Through (About)	Roughly 1 in	Typical Use
3	13.9%	7	Light state of most auto-darkening lenses, torch brazing
5	1.9%	52	Light gas welding, oxygen cutting
8	0.1%	1,000	Low-amp stick and TIG minimum
10	0.014%	7,200	Most MIG, flux core and 1/8 in stick rods
12	0.0019%	52,000	Higher-amp MIG, stick and TIG
14	0.00027%	373,000	Heavy stick, carbon arc and heavy cutting

These values come from the standard shade formula used by ANSI and EN filter standards: shade = 1 + (7/3) x log10(1 / transmittance). Real lenses vary a little inside each shade’s allowed range.

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Shade Numbers by Welding Process

MIG Welding

For MIG welding between 60 and 160 amps, OSHA’s minimum is shade 10 and the suggested shade is 11. Most 120V and 240V hobby MIG welders run in this range. Step up to shade 12 above 160 amps, or when you run spray transfer on thicker steel.

Flux Core Welding

Flux core welding uses the same rows as MIG. The arc is just as bright, and the smoke can hide the puddle, so stay at shade 10 or 11 and improve the view with a clean cover lens.

TIG Welding

Low-amp TIG welding under 50 amps starts at a suggested shade 10, with a minimum of 8. From 50 to 150 amps the suggested shade is 12. Check that your auto-darkening helmet’s sensors pick up low-amp TIG arcs before relying on them.

Stick Welding

Stick shade depends on rod size. A 1/8 in rod at 90 to 140 amps falls in the 60 to 160 A row: minimum shade 8, suggested shade 10. For a rod-by-rod breakdown, see our guide to the best shade lens for stick welding.

Plasma Cutting

Most home plasma cutters run well under 300 amps, so the light cutting row applies: minimum shade 8, suggested shade 9. OSHA notes that these plasma values assume you can see the arc clearly; a lighter filter is allowed when the workpiece hides the arc.

Gas Welding and Brazing

Oxy-fuel flames are far dimmer than an arc, so they need much lighter shades: 4 to 8 for gas welding and 3 or 4 for torch brazing. A shade 10 arc helmet is too dark to see a gas puddle.

Auto-Darkening Helmet Shade Ranges

Most auto-darkening helmets rest at shade 3 or 4 and switch to a dark shade you choose, often 9 to 13. 3M’s Speedglas 100 series, for example, rests at shade 3 and offers dark shades 8 to 12 on its variable models.

Check your helmet’s dark range against this chart. 3M says the Speedglas 100 is not made for work that needs shade 13 or higher, so heavy stick, carbon arc and heavy plasma work may need a different filter.

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Common Mistakes When Picking a Shade

• Going lighter than the OSHA minimum to see the puddle better. Clean or replace the cover lens and add light to the work area instead.
• Using one shade for every job. A shade 10 that suits MIG at 120 amps is too light for heavy stick at 250 amps.
• Using an arc welding shade for gas welding. Shade 10 makes an oxy-acetylene puddle almost invisible.
• Ignoring eye strain. Tired, watery eyes or afterimages after a session are signs the shade is too light.
• Forgetting the people nearby. A helper or spectator needs eye protection or a welding screen too.

Safety Notes

A shade that is too light can burn the cornea within seconds, and the pain often starts hours later. Every filter lens should be marked ANSI Z87.1, and you should wear safety glasses under the helmet to catch chips and slag. See an eye doctor if your eyes hurt or feel gritty after welding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Shade Should I Use for MIG Welding?

Use shade 10 to 12 for most MIG welding. OSHA’s minimum for MIG between 60 and 160 amps is shade 10, and the suggested shade is 11. Above 160 amps the suggested shade rises to 12. Start darker, then go lighter until you can see the puddle clearly.

What Shade Is Best for TIG Welding?

For TIG welding under 50 amps, the suggested shade is 10 with a minimum of 8. From 50 to 150 amps the suggested shade is 12. Low-amp TIG arcs are dim, so some welders run shade 9 or 10 on thin sheet, but never go below shade 8.

What Shade Do You Use for Stick Welding With 1/8 Rod?

A 1/8 inch rod usually runs at 90 to 140 amps, in the 60 to 160 amp row of the chart. That row has an OSHA minimum of shade 8 and a suggested shade of 10. Shade 10 is a good start for 7018 and 6011 rods that size.

Is Shade 10 Dark Enough for Welding?

Shade 10 is dark enough for most MIG, flux core and stick welding up to about 160 amps. It meets the OSHA minimum for MIG at any current. For TIG above 50 amps, heavy stick above 160 amps or air carbon arc cutting, use shade 11 to 14.

What Shade Do You Need for Plasma Cutting?

For light plasma cutting under 300 amps, OSHA’s minimum is shade 8 and the suggested shade is 9. That covers almost every home plasma cutter. Medium cutting at 300 to 400 amps calls for shade 9 minimum and 12 suggested, and heavy cutting needs shade 10 to 14.

Final Words

Keep this welding shade number chart where you weld. Find your process and amps, stay at or above the OSHA minimum and start at the suggested shade. For most home MIG and stick work that means shade 10 to 12.

Then fine-tune one step at a time. If your eyes feel tired after a session, go one shade darker next time.