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A Buying Guide on How to Choose a Welding Helmet

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Published December 12, 2024

Welding can be dangerous without appropriate safety precautions. A welding helmet is necessary to protect your eyes, face and head from intense heat and blinding lights. Learn more about them and understand how to choose the right welding helmet for your purpose.

The Importance of Welding Helmets

For anyone involved in welding or related activities, welding helmets are indispensable. They are an integral part of your personal protective equipment. They’re necessary to protect you against the harmful effects of welding arcs.

Eye Protection

The major reason for wearing welding helmets is the radiation emitted through welding arcs. Infrared and ultraviolet radiation can harm the eyes and may even lead to welder’s flash, a condition that leads to inflammation of the cornea. A welding helmet can protect your vision against these harmful effects. During welding, there is a possibility of hot sparks and molten metal flying around. This can damage the eyes if your welding helmet isn’t in place.

Skin and Head Protection

The risk of burns can make welding a dangerous activity. Wearing protective gear and making sure you’re fully covered is essential. Your welding helmet is a protective shield against the intense heat of welding arcs. The helmet protects your head, face and neck in case of accidents.

Visibility

While the major purpose of your welding helmet is to protect you, it can help you work comfortably with clear visibility. A feature in modern welding helmets called auto-darkening lenses allows you to adjust their intensity to match the welding arc. This feature ensures that your visibility isn’t compromised while protecting your vision. To provide maximum comfort, these helmets are also equipped with adjustable head straps and ventilation systems.

Welding Helmet Buying Guide

Whether you’re stick welding or plasma cutting, personal safety is of utmost importance. This includes wearing a welding helmet, gloves, welding jacket, safety glasses and steel-toed shoes. To know how to choose the best welding helmet for you, consider the following factors.

Auto-Darkening Technology

While regular welding hoods serve their purpose, they only protect your face and need to be lifted to inspect your work. Welding helmets with auto darkening features adjust the brightness based on the arc’s intensity. This feature allows you to control the darkness without having to pause in between. Some of these welding helmets are equipped with rechargeable lithium batteries. Others use a solar cell that recharges the light generated from welding.

Choose helmets that adjust the shade instantly to match the welder’s arc. This allows for maximum visibility. A wide range of welding helmet shades ensure that it can accommodate various welding conditions. Consider the delay time as well. It determines the amount of time your helmet takes to return to a lighter shade once the welding stops.

​Welding Helmet Shades
A welding helmet shade is essentially the level of darkness or light filtering that the welding lens provides. The unit to measure this level is called DIN (Deutsche Industrie Normen). The darker the shade is, the higher the DIN number is. It’s important to choose the right welding helmet shade level based on the type of welding process you’re using. The wrong shade can cause eye strain and discomfort.

Welding Helmet Shade Chart
You can refer to any welding helmet shade chart to understand what level of shade is required for the process you’re using. Typically, the levels will be as follows: 

  • MIG or MAG processes require a shade range of DIN 8–10. 
  • TIG welding requires welding helmet shade levels between DIN 7 to 10. 
  • Stick welding typically requires darker shades, falling between DIN 10 to 12. 
  • For plasma cutting, a shade range of DIN 8–10 is recommended. 
  • Lighter shades are required for grinding processes, like DIN 2–3, for higher visibility.

Tip

Individual preferences and lighting conditions might impact the ideal shade level.

Lens Quality

When choosing a welding helmet, look for high quality lenses to reduce eye strain and improve precision. Those with a low-distortion rating can provide clear visibility while welding. A scratch-resistant coating is preferable to retain lens clarity over time. Lenses with scratches can obstruct your vision, which may lead to accidents. To select the right lens for your particular welding job, refer to a welding helmet shade chart.

Comfort and Fit

While safety is essential while welding, comfort is necessary too. An adjustable head harness offers comfort for extended use. One that doesn’t fit well causes discomfort and headaches. Another important consideration is ventilation systems. This can  also consider the weight of the welding helmet. Lighter ones are preferable since they reduce strain for long welding sessions.

Safety

​Before you buy a welding helmet, ensure that it meets all safety standards for eye and face protection. This means the helmet has undergone testing and is in line with the safety requirements. An ANSI marking on the helmet prevents fogging and keeps you cool inside the helmet. This allows you to see better and work comfortably. A marking of ANSI Z87. 1 suggests that even if the helmet is turned off, it can still passively protect your eyes.

Budget

Make sure that the features you want fit into your budget when buying a welding helmet. The price for welding helmets can range from $18 to $659.

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