5 Best Budget Welding Helmets (Under $100)

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Most of us who pick up a torch and start burning metal aren’t professionals. The vast majority of welders don’t make their living on it and never will.

Sometimes it’s not worth 300+ bucks for a professional welding helmet when it will spend most of its life hanging on a peg.

However, eye damage and radiation burns are no joke, but these risks are easily controlled if you take your time and shop your equipment wisely.

Cheap doesn’t always mean crap. So I’ve put this list together to help you narrow down your choice for choosing the best budget welding helmet that will actually last.

While it wasn’t possible to test every cheap welding helmet on the market, I made my choices based on the following criteria:

  • Lens shade range and optical clarity
  • Brand reliability
  • My own experience with cheap welders
  • Feedback from other welders

Let’s dive in.


A Quick Comparison

Product
Image Product Details
Best budget helmet for most people
Yeswelder LYG-M800H
Yeswelder LYG-M800H

Huge viewport

True color technology

Highly rated & very popular

One of the cheapest models
Antra AH6-260
Antra AH6-260

A top-selling budget model

Adjustable sensitivity

Available in a range of designs

Deko Pro DX-800S
Deko Pro DX-800S

Good size viewport

Has a 1/1/1/2 rating

Excellent feedback from users

Tanox ADF-206S
Tanox ADF-206S

Great value for the money

Optical class rating of 1/1/1/2

Handy grinding mode

Popular option
Chicago Electric Standard
Chicago Electric Standard

Auto on/off

1/20,000 second reaction

Solar-powered

Best Budget Welding Helmet under $100

Here's a list of the best budget welding helmets I rated:

1. Yeswelder LYG-M800H Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

Yeswelder LYG-M800H Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
  • 13.4 square inch viewport
  • 1/1/1/2 optical clarity
  • Truecolor lens
  • External controls
  • Shade, sensitivity and delay settings

Pros

  • Shade levels 4-13
  • Solar rechargeable
  • Long battery life
  • Autodarken self-check
  • Auto power on/off
  • Best Budget Helmet for under $100

Cons

  • Cheap headgear
  • Doesn’t sense low amp DC TIG arc very well

Overview

The Yeswelder M800HP is my favorite budget model and one of the most popular. This helmet features a huge 13.4 square inch viewing area which is bigger than your average helmet. The Yeswelder M800HP Auto Darkening Welding Helmet with True View integrates true color technology for a display that’s much closer to real-life colors instead of the usual green color found in most welding helmets.

It offers outstanding clarity with a 1/1/1/2 optical rating. When I asked for some feedback from some welders who own this helmet, they reported that this lens doesn’t always darken consistently for DC TIG welding but does work for AC TIG.

Yeswelder LYG-M800H Demo

The Yeswelder M800HP Auto Darkening Welding Helmet darkens in 1/10,000th of a second, and Yeswelder designed this one with external settings controls for easy access with gloved hands. Sensitivity, reaction speed, and auto-darkening delay times feature stepless, continuous dial controls for easy use while wearing the hood. There are reports by owners that the headgear isn’t especially durable. This issue can be solved with affordable replacement headgear such as the Jackson 370 while still maintaining a reasonable cost.

We’ve got a coupon code for 10 percent off using the discount code WELDGURU10 during checkout, making this inexpensive option even more affordable.


2. Antra AH6-260 Cheap Auto Dark Welding Helmet

Antra AH6-260 Cheap Auto Dark Welding Helmet
  • Passive filter gives consistent performance with or without power
  • Easily adjustable delay and sensitivity controls
  • Designed for TIG, MIG, MAG, Flux Core, MMA and plasma cutting
  • Viewing size of 3.86" x 1.78"
  • Shade range within 4/5-9/9-13

Pros

  • Passive UV/IR filter works continuously
  • Light design weighs 1.01 pounds, easing neck strain
  • Low DC TIG amperage rating
  • Quick Grind switch
  • Solar power for longer battery life

Cons

  • Some complaints of the lens not darkening
  • Darkens prematurely on HF arc starts

Overview

With solar power to lengthen battery life, replaceable batteries and lightweight, the Antra AH6-260 is our choice for the best budget welding helmet. It’s got a battery indicator, something that’s often missing on helmets that cost twice as much. Another nice touch is a test button to check the auto-darkening before you actually strike an arc.

The filter works as a passive shade 13 lens when not powered, so you can work even if the batteries are down. Antra includes an automatic turn-on and shutoff feature, which is quite handy when you’re in a hurry to get to work. The ADF system includes a delay in the power-off function. It stays powered on for 10 minutes before going to sleep.

Four separate sensors make it less likely that you’ll block the arc flash from activating the ADF. The 1/25,000th-second reaction time of the auto-darkening feature is actually the standard for far more expensive helmets. To top it all off, the 1/1/1/2 optical clarity rating is outstanding for a helmet in this price range.


3. Deko Pro DX-800S Orange Solar Powered Welding Helmet

Deko Pro DX-800S Orange Solar Powered Welding Helmet
  • Auto darkening filter
  • 1/1/1/2 optical rating
  • Meets ANSI Z87.1-2010 and EN379 4/9-13 standards
  • Solar-assisted for longer battery life
  • Viewing size of 3.85’’ x 3.15’’
  • Shade Range: DIN 4, Variable 9-13

Pros

  • Light weight suitable for long work periods
  • Comfortable headgear
  • 12.1-square-inch viewing area
  • If batteries fail ADF goes to shade level 16
  • Manual shade and sensitivity settings

Cons

  • Some reports of shade level fluctuating during use
  • Headgear is non-standard

Overview

The Deko Pro Solar is another welding helmet with a 1/1/1/2 optical clarity rating at a great price. The rounded corners make it easier to get into and out of tight spaces. It extends downwards for good neck coverage. The bottom of the skirt curves outward, making this helmet easier to use than most when you need to lower your chin to see the work.

Deko DNS-800S Demo

Most users really liked the headgear in the Deko Pro, but many felt it was a little too cheap, suggesting the Jackson 370 headgear when it comes time for new headgear. A few owners mentioned fluctuating shade levels in the filter during long welds.

A huge 12.1-square-inch viewing area with manual shade level and sensitivity settings adds a lot of value at this price. Light weight, solar power and passive shade level 16 just add to a great buy. ANSI Z87.1-2010 and EN379 4/9-13 compliance combine with a bold, unique look to really put an exclamation point on our value pick.


4. Tanox ADF-206S Budget Welding Helmet

Tanox ADF-206S Budget Welding Helmet
  • Optical clarity rating of 1/1/1/2
  • 4 separate arc sensors
  • Shade level settings ftom 5-9 and 9-13

Pros

  • Large viewing area
  • Comes with a hard hat adapter
  • Includes 16-inch Welding Gloves
  • Sensitive to TIG arc down to 5 amps

Cons

  • Some complaints the hood won't stay up
  • Lens retainer is plastic

Overview

A helmet in the under-100-dollar range that includes a hard hat adapter and 16-inch welding gloves is pretty hard to ignore. These extras alone are potentially worth half the cost of the helmet itself. Tanox is really going the extra mile to take on the competition here.

Weld Guru pulled a clean sweep in this budget helmet review. Every helmet we looked at offers an optical clarity rating of 1/1/1/2. The Tanox ADF-206S stands with the rest in this regard. One minor complaint by several owners was that the helmet wouldn’t stay raised. Tanox needs to improve the tighteners on the swivel.

This helmet has a generous viewing area and auto-darkening sensitive enough for TIG welding down to 5 amps. Like several other helmets in this review, Tanox equipped this welding helmet with 4 separate arc sensors. When you take the included gear into account, relatively few complaints and optical specs that match the rest of the class, this helmet is hard to pass up.


5. Chicago Electric Standard Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

Chicago Electric Standard Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
  • 1/20,000th second switching
  • Dual arc sensors
  • 6 square inch viewport
  • Shade level 9-13
  • Adjustable delay time

Pros

  • Auto on/off
  • Lightweight 21.3 ounces
  • Ratcheting, cushioned headband
  • Solar cells last 6 years
  • External shade knob

Cons

  • Sensitive to bright sun
  • Batteries are not replaceable

Overview

The Chicago Electric Standard Welding Helmet is a good, basic helmet in an entry-level price range. It’s lightweight, only weighing a few ounces over a pound. This helmet features solar power with long-lived batteries that have a 6-year service life. Some buyers didn’t like that the batteries weren’t replaceable, but they are constantly charged by the solar cells. Six years is a long life for a welding helmet in this class.

Harbor Freight went with an external shade knob for the Chicago Electric Standard Welding Helmet, making it easy to adjust while wearing gloves. Some welders prefer internal adjustment, but that’s largely a matter of preference. This helmet has a resting shade level of 4, and the auto-darkening function can be set from levels 9 to 13. Some users reported their helmets were sensitive to bright sunlight, but the adjustable delay time might help cope with that.

The Chicago Electric Standard Welding Helmet has dual arc sensors to prevent missing the arc flash, auto-darkening within 1/20,000thof a second. That’s class-leading reaction time. It features an auto-on/off feature to save power. The reaction delay is adjustable, and it’s got 6 square inches of viewing area.


What to Look For in a Budget Welding Helmet

The feature list in this price range has continued to grow at a rapid rate. Technology is always trickling down from higher-priced helmets. Quality has continued to rise as well.

The most important things to check are how effective the filtering is and the coverage offered by the welding helmet. No matter how little it costs, it’s still a very serious piece of safety equipment. Even with a spending limit, it’s got a job to do, and this is no place to cut corners.

  • Coverage: Will this helmet completely cover your face, ears, and neck? IR and UV radiation will burn exposed skin.
  • Auto-darkening: 1/25,000th-second reaction time.
  • User-adjustable sensitivity and shade levels.
  • Lightweight: Even hobbyists can wear a helmet for several hours at a time.
  • Safety Standards: The helmet should meet safety standard ANSI Z87.1
  • Construction: Make sure the helmet protects from molten slag and sparks.

Narrow Your Choices

Durable materials and high quality should always take top priority over the feature list. Find out whether the headgear in the welding helmet is well padded and balances the weight of the helmet. Check what users are saying about whether a helmet is very slim. It might be too small to wear for larger people. This also applies in the other direction. If a helmet is too large for your head, it can let light in from behind, making it hard to see what you’re doing.

It’s a good idea to join some online welding forums. That lets you read what other welders are saying about helmets. Members who are professional welders will often answer questions from amateurs. This is free education for the taking.

Wrapping it up

With a little patience and some care, you can find a good helmet for part-time welding at an affordable price.

Check over the choices in this review again, ask friends and relatives, and join some online welding groups. You’ll find exactly what you’re looking for without compromising on either safety or your budget.

When we look over this selection of budget welding helmets under 100 bucks, the Yeswelder LYG-M800H is our favorite cheap pick.

The Chicago Electric Standard Auto Darkening Welding Helmet is also a great choice in this price range, with a very quick 1/20,000 second reaction time, solar power, auto on/off, and external shade level adjustment.

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