QuotedPartCost guides · Updated 2026-10-30
How do I price welding per inch or per foot of weld?
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For a ten-piece batch with 24 weld inches per assembly, the flat-position MIG example sells for $2.19 per inch, or $26.33 per foot. The TIG example is $3.01 per inch under its slower stated travel assumption. These prices include fit-up, interruptions and workholding setup; multiplying arc-on time alone by an hourly rate would underquote them.
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Turn inches into occupied labor time
Assume ordinary 1/8-inch steel components that need 24 inches of accessible fillet weld. Each assembly receives twelve minutes of fit-up and tacking plus five minutes of separate repositioning. The example part takes thirty minutes once per lot. Wire, gas and abrasives are a $3 per-assembly input. Purchased components, cutting, paint, inspection testing and shipping are outside this welding-only estimate.
Divide length by assumed travel speed for arc time, then divide by arc-on share for the elapsed welding block. Add fit-up and repositioning once. The arc-on share covers interruptions inside that block; it must not cover the same tacking and handling a second time. All labor is valued at $90/hour, with 30% markup and no minimum line charge.
| Route | Arc min | Elapsed run min | Sell/assembly at 10 | Effective sell/in | Effective sell/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIG, flat | 2.00 | 22.00 | $52.65 | $2.19 | $26.33 |
| MIG, awkward access | 3.00 | 27.00 | $62.40 | $2.60 | $31.20 |
| TIG, flat | 6.00 | 32.00 | $72.15 | $3.01 | $36.08 |
| TIG, awkward access | 8.00 | 43.67 | $94.90 | $3.95 | $47.45 |
MIG and TIG are process choices, not price bands
The table's travel speeds and 30–40% arc-on shares are chosen scenarios. They are not published procedure limits or measured industry averages. Use proven travel for the actual joint, material, fillet size, access and position. A qualified production route may be much faster or slower than these allowances.
An awkward corner can require another reposition, more cleanup or shorter beads. A cosmetic TIG seam may require careful preparation and a finish operation that a simple MIG frame does not. Charge for that route rather than saying TIG always costs a fixed multiple of MIG. If the customer supplies a weld procedure, confirm it before substituting a faster process.
Show what the per-inch shorthand leaves out
A larger fillet deposits more metal even when weld length is unchanged. Intermittent welds add starts, while a continuous seam can introduce distortion control and leak testing. Record weld size and symbols beside length so an apparently identical number of inches is not mistaken for the same task.
Labor dominates these particular scenarios because consumables are deliberately a small allowance; this calculation does not establish an 85–90% labor share across welding work. The part material, cutting and coating can dominate a complete weldment instead. Keep the scope narrow when quoting a welding-only price to another fabricator.
For a customer quote, show the assembly price, batch quantity and weld scope first. Keep the effective per-inch figure as an estimating cross-check. After the job, compare fit-up and elapsed welding separately so a missed setup does not get 'fixed' by an incorrect travel speed.
Welding assumptions
- • 24 in weld/assembly; 12 min fit-up, 5 min positioning; 30 min workholding setup/lot; quantity 10.
- • Travel 12/8/4/3 in/min, arc-on share 40/30/40/30%; elapsed run = 17 + (24/travel)/share. These are entered process assumptions; pricing uses engine operations with no quantity learning.
- • $90/h, $3 consumables/assembly, 30% markup, no floor. No components, cut work, NDT, paint, tax or freight.
| Route | Arc min | Elapsed run min | Sell/assembly at 10 | Effective sell/in | Effective sell/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIG, flat | 2.00 | 22.00 | $52.65 | $2.19 | $26.33 |
| MIG, awkward access | 3.00 | 27.00 | $62.40 | $2.60 | $31.20 |
| TIG, flat | 6.00 | 32.00 | $72.15 | $3.01 | $36.08 |
| TIG, awkward access | 8.00 | 43.67 | $94.90 | $3.95 | $47.45 |
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