A welding shade chart maps process and amperage to the minimum lens shade — the number is the floor, not the sweet spot — pick your process and amperage, then step darker until the weld pool reads clearly. Helmets and fixed-shade eyewear live on welding helmets and welding goggles.
How do you read a welding shade chart?
Short answer: find your process (stick, MIG, TIG, plasma cutting, gouging or oxyfuel) and amperage band; the chart returns the OSHA / ANSI Z49.1 minimum protective shade — comfort usually sits one to two shades darker, and the selector above does the lookup for you.
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The right welding filter shade protects your eyes from the arc’s intense UV and IR while keeping the weld pool visible. Pick your process and current to see the minimum shade number (OSHA 1910.252 / ANSI Z49.1). A good rule: start too dark, then step lighter until you can see the puddle clearly.
Minimum filter shades — the welding lens shade chart (OSHA / ANSI Z49.1)
| Process | Current | Shade |
|---|---|---|
| SMAW (stick) | <60 / 60–160 / 160–250 / 250–550 A | 7 / 8 / 10 / 11 |
| GMAW & FCAW (MIG) | <60 / 60–500 A | 7 / 10 |
| GTAW (TIG) | <150 / 150–500 A | 8 / 10 |
| Plasma cutting | <300 / 300–400 / 400–800 A | 8 / 9 / 10 |
| Air carbon arc | <500 / 500–1000 A | 10 / 14 |
| Oxyfuel & brazing | light → heavy | 3 → 6 |
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FAQ
Auto-darkening or fixed shade?
Auto-darkening helmets switch from a light state to your set shade in milliseconds when the arc strikes, so you can position without flipping. Set the dark shade to the value above for your process and amperage.
Do I still need safety glasses under a helmet?
Yes. ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses protect against flying particles when the helmet is raised and from grinding/chipping slag.
Shade numbers summarize OSHA 29 CFR 1910.252(b) and ANSI/AWS Z49.1. These are minimum guidance; choose the darkest shade that still lets you see the weld zone clearly. Always protect skin from UV and provide adequate ventilation.
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Built and reviewed by Steven Eaton, WC Safety. We curate and review industrial PPE against ANSI, NIOSH and OSHA standards.
Which chart row applies to your gear?
This arc welding shade chart covers stick, MIG and TIG at the amperage bands Z49.1 uses; plasma cutting and gouging follow their own rows. For torch work, fixed-shade eyewear such as a shade 5 welding goggle covers the oxyfuel bands without helmet weight — see the welding safety glasses shelf for shade 3-5 spectacles. If you searched for a printable welding helmet shade chart, the minimum-shade table above is the same data the selector reads.
Our methodology
The selector and table restate the minimum protective shades of ANSI/AWS Z49.1 as referenced by OSHA 1910.252(b) and the filter-lens table at 1910.133(a)(5); the heavy-gouging row shows the suggested shade 14 rather than the bare minimum, and the combined oxyfuel rows use the gas-welding values — oxygen cutting proper allows one shade lighter (3/4/5). Authoritative duties live at OSHA regulations and exposure science at NIOSH. We hold no safety certification, and this tool is not a substitute for professional judgment.
Why trust this page
WC Safety is an independent review site with no products of its own — nothing here is stocked, warehoused or shipped by us. Purchase links go to Amazon and earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. This free tool is informational — it supports, and never replaces, a written program, a hazard assessment, or evaluation by a qualified safety professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the shade number a minimum or a recommendation?
A minimum. OSHA and ANSI Z49.1 publish floors; comfort typically sits one to two shades darker. Start dark and lighten until the puddle is clearly visible — never below the chart number.
What shade for MIG welding?
Minimum shade 10 under 250 A and 11 above; most MIG welders run 11-13 in practice. The selector returns the floor for your amperage band.
What shade for TIG welding?
Minimum 8 below 50 A and 10 from 50-500 A — TIG arcs are compact and bright, so many welders prefer 11-12 despite the lower floor.
Does oxyfuel cutting need the same shade as gas welding?
No — gas welding runs shade 4/5/6 by thickness, while oxygen cutting allows 3/4/5. The combined rows here show the darker welding values, which are safe but slightly conservative for cutting.
Are auto-darkening helmets OSHA-compliant?
Yes, when they meet ANSI Z87.1 and you set the shade to at least the chart minimum for your process; verify reaction time and shade range on the spec sheet.
What about helpers near the arc?
Arc flash reaches bystanders — Z49.1 expects screens or shade-rated eyewear for anyone inside the flash zone, not just the welder.
Researched and written by Steven Eaton, editor of WC Safety. Steven holds no safety certification and does not test products; this page compares what manufacturers publish, with the gaps in that record marked. Last reviewed July 2026.