Fortunately, those of you looking for a new best MIG welder under 1000 dollars are in luck. In the following welder reviews, we’ll provide a detailed review for each of the top 9 welders for MIG. This includes videos, pictures, specs, pros & cons, and best uses.
Additionally, a quick “How to Pick a Welder for Mig” checklist and helpful buyer’s hints along the way are here to guide you to the best fit for you.
Table of Contents:
On the Quest for the Best Mig Welder Under 1000
- The 9 Best Mig Welder Reviews
- What to Look for When Buying a Mig Welder: Buyer’s Guide
- More on MIG Welding Basics: Is this really the best process for you?
The Top 9 Mig Welder Reviews
Without a doubt, there are a lot of MIG welders to choose from, each with its unique feature. Whether you’re still in welding school, a beginner, a home welder, or looking to do automotive welding, there’s something here for you.
#1. Hobart Handler 190 with Spool Runner
Best Budget Mig Welder for Beginners
Overall, this is great for industrial performance, and it’s the best budget aluminum welder for sale. The Hobart Handler 190 with Spool Runner manages to be both powerful and portable. In fact, while many features cater to beginners, many professionals also prefer it.
For a review complete with information about the Hobart Handler compared to other rigs, with owners manual, and more, check out Hobart Handler 190 Review: Best Welder for Beginners?
Welder Specs
- Processes: MIG (GMAW) welding and Flux Cored (FCAW) welding
- Welding Amperage Range: 25 to 190 A
- Duty Cycle: 130A at 21.5 VDC @ 30%
- Input Voltage: 230V
- Wire Feed Speed Range: 40 – 700 IPM and 50 – 740 IPM at no load
- Weld Thickness: 24 gauge up to 5/16-inch steel
- Weight: 68 lbs (31 kg)
- Height: 13.7 inches (315 mm)
- Length: 29.5 inches (495 mm)
- Width: 18.5 inches (270 mm)
- Best Price: Check Current Discounts on Amazon
- Warranty: Standard 5/3/1
Welding Machine Parts Included
- Gas valve that is built-in
- SpoolRunner 100
- 10-ft MIG gun
- Sample spool of .030 flux-cored wire
- Dual gauge regulator
- Gas hose
- 10 ft work cable and clamp
- 8-inch spool adapter
- 10-ft power cord
- .30 contact tips
- Set-up guide and owners’ manual
Hobart Parts Sold Separately
Although the Nozzle Gel and Multi-function welding pliers are sold separately, you can buy Hobart 190 Welder Kits to save money and get the accessories you need in one price.
Hobart 190 Review: Advantages
- Very easy to set up and use
- Has a set-up guide included
- Does not require any additional adapter or control box
- Powerful and versatile
- Has 7 voltage selections and superior magnetics
- Capable of both MIG and Flux Core
Video: Hobart Handler 190 MIG Welder with SpoolRunner 100 Spool Gun
Special Considerations for the Handler 190
- Not quite suitable for professional welding
- Has a short power cord
Overall Assessment of the Hobart Handler 190
The Hobart Handler, despite its few cons, is the best budget MIG welder under 1000. It offers exceptional value and a lot of convenient features and settings that will make welding safer and better.
#2. LOTOS MIG175 175AMP Mig Welder Kit
Best 220v Mig Welder on Sale
According to our research, this is the best 220V Mig Welder on sale. Considering its ultra-low price, it has a lot to offer. Overall,the versatility and reliability makes the Lotos Mig 175 great for multiple welding processes.
Lotos Mig Welder Specs
- Processes: MIG (GMAW) & Flux Core
- Welding Amperage Range: Maximum 175 A
- Input Voltage: 220 V
- Wire Feed Speed Range:
- Weld Thickness: 18 Gauge – 1/4″; capable of welding 3/8″ or thinner aluminum
- Weight: 85 lbs
- Height: 10.5 inches
- Length: 18 inches
- Width: 12.5 inches
- Best Price: Check Current Discounts
- Warranty: 1 year
Lotos Welding Machine Parts Included
When you purchase this Lotos Mig welding machine, you’ll receive:
- Spool gun
- Mask
- Solid wires
- Aluminum welding wires
- Argon regulator
- Standard Mig gun
Lotos Mig Welder Review: Advantages
- Very powerful
- Very easy to use
- Works great
- Affordable and reliable
- Lightweight
- Great customer service
Special Considerations for the Lotos Mig 175
- The drive motor is quite loud
- May be difficult to find replacement parts
Overall Assessment
Although it’s a bit loud, this welder has a lot to offer in terms of high performance and user-friendliness. With an included spool gun to weld your aluminum and killer durability, this is definitely a good welder for home use.
#3. Hobart Handler 210 MVP MIG Welder
Best Mig Welder for Home Use
Great for welding mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum, this portable welder is the best welder for home use. It also offers a lot of free parts and they all function perfectly.
For a full blog post review, see Hobart Handler 210 MVP Mig Welder Review.
Mig Welder Specs
- Processes: MIG
- Welding Amperage Range: 210 A
- Duty Cycle: 115V 20% at 90 A; 230V 30% at 150A
- Input Voltage: Dual – 115V and 230V
- Wire Feed Speed Range:
- Weld Thickness: 24 gauge up to 3/8-inch mild steel
- Weight: 87 lbs
- Height: 18.6 inches
- Length: 13.2 inches
- Width: 24 inches
- Best Price: Check Current Discounts
- Warranty: 3 years limited warranty
Mig Welding Machine Parts Included
- Gas valve
- 10-ft. H100S4-10 MIG Welding Gun
- Dual gauge regulator
- Gas hose
- 10-ft. Work Cable and Clamp
- Power Cord and Plug
- Sample Spool of .030 flux-cored welding wire
- .030 contact tips
- 8-inch wire spool adapter
- Owner’s manual
- (1) 115V and (1) 230V multi-voltage plug
Parts Sold Separately
Once you’ve decided the Hobart 210 is the machine for you, all you need is two small accessories. Add Hobart brand nozzle gel and multi-function welding pliers to your cart.
Hobart 210 MVP Review: Advantages
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- Welds smoothly
- Has multi-voltage ability
- User-friendly, with 3 simple controls
- Offers quality performance at an affordable price
- Nicely built with the dependability we’ve come to expect from Hobart
- Comes with a handy Mig welding chart
Video: New Welder & Building a Welding Cart – Hobart 210 MVP
For visuals, check out the video below.
Hobart Handler 210: Special Considerations
- Since it’s heavy, it may require a cart. (To save money, you can make one, as the video above shows!)
- Because of a limited duty cycle, this isn’t the welder for more heavy duty jobs.
Best Mig Welder Under 1000: Overall Assessment
One of the most unique features of this welder is the fact that you can easily switch between 115V and 230 V input power. Its arc performance is superior to that of most welders under 1000. It is most loved for its portability which makes it the best welder for home use.
#4. Lincoln Electric K2185-1 Handy MIG Welder
Best Cheap Mig Welder Under 2lbs
This handheld Mig welder is highly recommended in Lincoln Electric Welder reviews. It is commended for its outstanding performance, reliability and durability even when used everyday. It works effectively for Mig and Flux core processes.
Mig Welding Machine Specs
- Processes: MIG & Flux Core
- Welding Amperage Range: 35 – 88 A
- Duty Cycle: 70A/17V/20%
- Input Voltage: 120VAC
- Wire Feed Speed Range: 50-500 IPM
- Weld Thickness: 24 ga. to 3/16 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Height: 16 inches
- Length: 20 inches
- Width: 15 inches
- Best Price: Check Current Discounts
- Warranty: 1 year
Welder Parts Included
- Welding gun
- Cable assembly
- Work cable and clamp
- Gasless and gas nozzles
- Gas regulator
- Hose
- Chipping hammer and brush
- Welding hand shield with #10 filter plate
- Clear glass cover plate
- #3 .035″ and .025″ contact tip
- 1 lb. spool .035″ Innershield flux-cored wire
- 2 lb. spool .025″ SuperArc L56 solid MIG wire.
One separate item to add is quality nozzle gel.
Video: Basics of Welding with Lincoln Electric Handy Mig
Lincoln Electric Mig Welder: Advantages
- Offers good wire alignment
- Welds both gas and gasless wires excellently
- Easily adjustable and comfortable
- Hand-held
- Designed especially to reduce tangling
Lincoln Welder Review: Special Considerations
Here are just a couple of quirks to be aware of:
- Shuts down when used for long period of time on high setting
- Initially, it can be tedious to get the right wire feed setting.
Overall Assessment of this Best Mig Welder Review
This welder is an easy-to-use one suitable for beginners and professionals. You will love the way it welds – even without a spool. It is safe and guarantees efficiency.
#5. Forney 324 190-Amp 120V Mig Welder
Best Multi Process Welder
This welder is very suitable for Mig welding. A customer in Forney Welder Review describes this welder as “flawless, easy and fun to use”. It is well designed with metal mechanics and offers excellent value at a great price.
Multi Purpose Welder Specs:
- Processes: MIG (Gas), TIG, Flux Cored (No Gas), and Stick
- Welding Amperage Range: 190 A
- Input Voltage: 120V/230V
- Wire Feed Speed Range:
- Weld Thickness:
- Weight: 51.4 lbs
- Height: 16 inches
- Length: 20.25 inches
- Width: 10.25 inches
- Best Price: Check Current Discounts on Amazon
- Warranty: 5/3/1
Forney Welder Parts Included
- Flowmeter
- Gas hose
- Start-up guide
- Regulator
Welding Machine Parts Sold Separately
- Spool gun
- Foot pedal
- TIG torch
Forney Mig Welder for Sale: Advantages
- Suitable for different welding processes
- Has an inverter technology
- Suitable for use with multiple amperage or voltage inputs
- Can be easily changed to run stick electrodes
- Minimizes splatter
- Optimizes arc
- Very easy to use
- Accurately manages data and functions
- Displays output current and arc voltage digitally
- Offers a Euro-connect MIG gun for easy maintenance and repair
Special Considerations for the Forney 324
- The arc is not sustained for long
- The on/off switch is poorly located, away from the other controls
Forney Welder Review: Overall Assessment
This welder is well designed and well engineered to support all welding processes. It functions well and gets the job done. Definitely the best mig welder under 1000.
#6. Lotos Technology 3 in 1 Combo Welding Machine
Best Mig Welder Under $500 with Plasma Cutter
This portable welding machine is the best cheap all in one welder. As a great welder for most welding processes, it gives you a lot of value for your money and is totally reliable.
Welder Specs
- Processes: TIG Welding, MMA/Stick Welding, Plasma Cutter, Non-Touch Polit Arc
- Welding Amperage Range: 50Amp (Plasma cutter), 15-200Amp (TIG welder) and 15-200 Amp (Stick/MMA welder)
- Duty Cycle: 60% at max amps on all processes
- Input Voltage: Dual – 220V/110V
- Weld Thickness: 1/2-inch
- Weight: 38.5 pounds
- Height: 11 inches
- Length: 17 inches
- Width: 8 inches
- Best Price: Check Current Discounts
- Warranty: 1 year limited warranty
Welding Machine Parts Included
- Power supply
- Cutting torch
- Tig torch
- Stick/MMA welder torch
- Consumables
- Ground clamp, air filter and regulator, connections, and argon regulator.
The Pigtail converter is sold separately.
Lotos LTPDC 2000D: Advantages
- Cuts different types of metal
- Has dual voltage
- Very easy to switch from cutting to welding
- Units and components of this welder work perfectly well
- Lightweight
- Quiet while welding
- Designed for Do-It-Yourself users
- Utilizes Pulse Width Modulation and V-MOSFETs inverter technology
- Does a good enough job for the money
- Reliable and very portable
Lotos LTPDC 2000D: Special Considerations
- Not as durable as more pricey models
- Does not cut steel
Overall Assessment
As the best cheap all in one welder, Lotos Technology uses some of the best welding technologies to make your welding smooth and easy. Lightweight and portable, this welder does a good enough job for the money.
For more Mig welding machine reviews in this price range, check out How to Find the Best Cheap Mig Welders Under $500.
#7. SÜA ionMig 200 Multiprocess MIG/TIG/STICK Welder
Best Mig Welder for Aluminum
Specially designed to meet the needs of professional or trained welders, SÜA ionMig 200 is the highest quality Mig welder for sale. This multiprocess welder is great for MIG, TIG and Stick welding processes.
Welder Specs
- Processes: MIG/MAG, MMA and Lift TIG
- Welding Amperage Range: 200 A
- Duty Cycle: (40oC, 10 mins) MIG at 110V 30% at 140A, MMA at 110V 30% at 110A, TIG at 110V 40% at 150A, MIG at 220V 30% at 200A, MMA at 220V 25% at 200A, TIG at 220V 35% at 200A
- Input Voltage: 90 – 270 V
- Wire Feed Speed Range:
- Weld Thickness:
- Weight: 51.3 pounds
- Height: 10 inches
- Length: 17 inches
- Width: 5 inches
- Best Price: Check Current Discounts
Welding Rig Parts Included
- Power cord with a NEMA 6-50 plug
- MIG torch
- Electrode holder with a 9-ft welding cable
- Ground clamp with a 9-ft welding cable
- Argon regulator.
Optional accessories include the SUA spool gun and TIG torch.
Overall Best Welder for Mig: Highlights
- 3-in-1 multi-process welder
- Provides digital display for both current and voltage
- User-friendly
- Generator-friendly
- Very reliable with built-in protection circuit
- Saves a lot of energy
- Comes with high quality accessories
- High quality connections
Special Considerations
- There may be some issues with the power connection.
- When used with a generator, it draws it hard when it is striking up an arc.
Overall Assessment
This high quality welder gives you all-round welding solution. This is one outstanding product that is user-friendly, generator-friendly and spoon gun ready. SUA multipurpose welder sets the pace as the best highest quality welder.
#8. Tweco W1003141 Fabricator with 141I 3-in-1 MIG/Stick/TIG Welding System
Best Mig Welder for Beginner
This welder is an excellent compact multi-process one. Well designed and packaged, this welder is portable, reliable and efficient. It sure gets the job done and will far exceed your expectations as the best welder under 1000.
Tweco Welder Specs:
- Processes: MIG, TIG and Stick
- Welding Amperage Range: 10A – 140 A
- Duty Cycle (at 40oC): For MIG: 140A/19V at 15% and 90A/18.5V @ 20%; For Stick: 90A/23V at 15% and 80A/23.2V at 35%; For TIG: 140A/15.6V at 15% and 100A/14V at 20%.
- Input Voltage: 115 volts
- Wire Feed Speed Range: 100 – 600 IPM
- Weld Thickness: 3/16 inches (4.8 mm)
- Weight: 32.2 lbs (14.6 kg)
- Height: 16.14 inches
- Length: 8.27 inches
- Width: 17.72 inches
- Best Price: Check Current Discounts on Amazon
- Warranty: 5/3/1
Video: 5 Reasons to Choose a Tweco 3-in-1 Welding System
Welding Machine Parts Included
- Fabricator 141i power supply
- MIG gun
- Victor Argon Flowgauge regulator
- 12.5 ft hose
- Electrode holder
- Ground clamp
- 4 general purpose stick electrodes
- Owner’s manual and setup DVD
- Power cord
- NEMA plug
- Shoulder strap
- V drive rolls
- Contact tips
Why not add some pliers while you’re at it? (Amazon Link)
Parts Sold Separately: TIG Torch
Best Budget Mig Welder: Advantages
- Very flexible, portable and lightweight
- Very easy to use
- Utilizes trigger control
- Digitally displays current and voltage values
- Replaceable parts
- Utilizes a remote receptacle
- Has a well-detailed setup chart
- Offers quick change polarity
- Offers excellent quality and support
Special Considerations
- Has no pedal option
Tweco Fabricator Review: Overall Assessment
This high performance and well-built welder is one of the best welders under $1000. It is useful in most welding applications, and will get the job done easier, faster and with little or no spatter.
#9. Everlast PowerMIG 200 (Spool Gun Ready)
Overall Best Mig Welder for the Money
When it comes to excellent features and performance, Everlast PowerMig 200 is the Best 220V Mig Welder for the Money. There are a lot of quality features that make this welder stand out from other welders on sale.
Mig Welder Specs
- Processes: MIG, Stick
- Welding Amperage Range: 200 A
- Input Voltage: 240 V
- Wire Feed Speed Range:
- Weld Thickness: 24 gauge 120/240V
- Weight: 35 lbs
- Height: 15 inches
- Length: 16 inches
- Width: 7.5 inches
- Best Price: Check Current Discounts on Amazon
Everlast Welder Parts Included
- Spare consumable starter kit
- Euro style quick connector
- Ar/CO2 regulator
- 10 ft. series 15 MIG gun
- Work clamp with cable
Everlast Welder Parts Sold Separately
- Feed gun
- Nozzle gel
- Welding pliers
Everlast Welder Review: Advantages
- Minimal splatter arc performance provided by the digital IGBT inverter design
- Uses arc force control to adjust arc characteristics
- Flux core capable
- Utilizes a eurostyle quick couplet
- Offers excellent power and versality
- Has a dual voltage design
- Has dual digital display
- User-friendly
Everlast Mig Welder Review: Special Considerations
- Analog knobs
- Features may be a bit touchy some times
Overall Assessment
The Everlast PowerMig 200 is in a class by itself when it comes to modern and effective technologies, as well as features and performance. At such a fair price, this welder is an investment you will not regret.
The Best Mig Welder Under 1000:
Which Mig Welder Should I Buy?
Now, the fun part: shopping. But the ball is in your court, and we want to make sure you’re comfortable investing in such an important piece of welding equipment.
Again, the best MIG welders are great assets whether you’re a beginner or professional welder. Furthermore, the 9 reviews above offer a wide range of affordable welding rigs. Since the price range is roughly $500-1000, you’re getting better quality than the cheapest models. However, check out Reviews of the Best Mig Welder Under 500 if you’re really in a cash bind.
Selecting the Best Mig Welder to Buy: Shopper’s Checklist
First, here’s a quick cheat sheet.
- First, the best MIG welder should reduce splatter while giving a smooth weld.
- Also, they’re more valuable if they work for additional welding processes, like Flux Core welding. Making sure the machine has a spool gun is essential for Flux Core.
- In general, the reviewed rigs below are between $500-$1000. Unsurprisingly, the more expensive ones do offer better quality/durability. That being said, a cheaper MIG welder is just fine if you don’t plan on frequent projects.
- Another tip is to pay attention to special features. If you want the best MIG welder for a beginner, we recommend the rigs with the easiest-to-use controls.
- Taking a second to look at the amount of power you need for your projects is a must. For example, a 110v Mig welder is great for home use/hobby projects – but you’ll need something more powerful for bigger projects.
For more details, see How to Choose the Best Mig Welding Machine.
Everything You Need to Know About MIG Welding
For MIG welding tips, advantages/disadvantages, and plenty of information videos, check out The Ultimate Guide to Mig Welding for Beginners. Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about MIG, including its advantages and disadvantages.
Conclusion
Well, we’ve definitely covered a lot of ground in this post, haven’t we? In your search for the best budget welder, we invite you to take advantage of all of TFC’s welding machine reviews. The 9 welders above are just the beginning; don’t stop until you find the best machine for your purposes.
Thanks for stopping by!