Welding Rod Amperage Chart — Stick Electrode Sizes & Current Ranges
Stick electrode amperage ranges by rod diameter for E6010, E6011, E6013, and E7018, cross-checked across manufacturer published data.
Updated August 20, 2026
An AWS A5.1 stick electrode number reads like a spec sheet: the first two digits are minimum tensile strength in ksi (E60xx = 60,000 psi, E70xx = 70,000 psi), the third digit is position (1 = all-position), and the last digit encodes the coating and usable current — E6010 is cellulosic and runs DCEP only, E6011 is its AC-capable twin, E6013 is a smooth rutile rod happy on any polarity, and E7018 is the low-hydrogen workhorse run DCEP or AC. What the AWS classification does NOT fix is amperage: current windows are manufacturer data published per product, and they genuinely differ between brands of the "same" rod.
That is why each cell below shows two independent manufacturer ranges side by side — Lincoln Electric against Hobart (Washington Alloy for E6013) — plus their computed overlap as the consensus setting. Start near the middle of the consensus range and adjust by arc behavior: too cold and the rod sticks and stovepipes, too hot and the coating burns back and the puddle sprays. Both manufacturers publish the same rule of thumb for position work: drop roughly 15% off the flat-position setting for vertical and overhead. A rough starting heuristic buried in these tables: about one amp per thousandth of rod diameter.
E6010 — DCEP only
| Diameter | mm (computed) | Lincoln range | Second source range | Consensus (overlap) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/32″ | 2.4 | 40–70 A | 40–70 A | 40–70 A |
| 1/8″ | 3.2 | 75–130 A | 80–120 A | 80–120 A |
| 5/32″ | 4.0 | 90–175 A | 100–160 A | 100–160 A |
Sources: Lincoln Fleetweld 5P (DC+) and Hobart 610 (DCEP). The consensus column is the computed overlap of the two published ranges — settings both manufacturers endorse. The 3/16″ diameter is omitted: Hobart 610 is not produced in 3/16″, so no second published range exists (Lincoln alone lists 140–225 A).
E6011 — AC or DCEP (ranges shown: AC)
| Diameter | mm (computed) | Lincoln range | Second source range | Consensus (overlap) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/32″ | 2.4 | 50–85 A | 60–90 A | 60–85 A |
| 1/8″ | 3.2 | 75–120 A | 80–125 A | 80–120 A |
| 5/32″ | 4.0 | 90–160 A | 130–160 A | 130–160 A |
| 3/16″ | 4.8 | 120–200 A | 160–190 A | 160–190 A |
Sources: Lincoln Fleetweld 35 (AC) and Hobart 335A (AC or DCEP). The consensus column is the computed overlap of the two published ranges — settings both manufacturers endorse.
E6013 — AC, DCEP, or DCEN (ranges shown: DCEP, flat)
| Diameter | mm (computed) | Lincoln range | Second source range | Consensus (overlap) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/32″ | 2.4 | 70–95 A | 50–100 A | 70–95 A |
| 1/8″ | 3.2 | 100–135 A | 80–130 A | 100–130 A |
| 5/32″ | 4.0 | 145–180 A | 140–180 A | 145–180 A |
| 3/16″ | 4.8 | 190–235 A | 180–230 A | 190–230 A |
Sources: Lincoln Fleetweld 37 (DC+) and Washington Alloy E6013 (DC+, flat). The consensus column is the computed overlap of the two published ranges — settings both manufacturers endorse. Hobart 447A publishes markedly lower windows (e.g. 130–160 A at 5/32″) — it is a low-amperage sheet-metal variant and was set aside per the tiebreaker rule, not averaged in.
E7018 — DCEP or AC (ranges shown: DCEP)
| Diameter | mm (computed) | Lincoln range | Second source range | Consensus (overlap) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/32″ | 2.4 | 70–110 A | 75–100 A | 75–100 A |
| 1/8″ | 3.2 | 90–160 A | 90–150 A | 90–150 A |
| 5/32″ | 4.0 | 130–210 A | 110–230 A | 130–210 A |
| 3/16″ | 4.8 | 180–300 A | 150–300 A | 180–300 A |
| 1/4″ | 6.3 | 300–400 A | 270–380 A | 300–380 A |
Sources: Lincoln Excalibur 7018 MR (DC+) and Hobart 418 (DCEP or AC). The consensus column is the computed overlap of the two published ranges — settings both manufacturers endorse.
Sources & Further Reading
- AWS A5.1 (Carbon Steel Electrodes for SMAW) — classification system only; amperage is not part of the standard
- Lincoln Electric C2.10 Stick Electrode Product Catalog — typical operating procedures for Fleetweld 5P (E6010), Fleetweld 35 (E6011), Fleetweld 37 (E6013), and Excalibur 7018 MR (E7018)
- Hobart Filler Metals data sheets — Hobart 610 (E6010), 335A (E6011), 418 (E7018); Washington Alloy published E6013 recommended currents (second source for E6013 after the Hobart 447A adjudication)
Frequently Asked Questions
What amperage should I run a 1/8 in 7018 at?
Both Lincoln (90–160 A for Excalibur 7018 MR) and Hobart (90–150 A for 418) agree on 90–150 A DCEP for 1/8 in — most welders settle around 120–130 A for flat work on 1/4 in and thicker steel. Drop about 15% for vertical-up or overhead. If the rod drags and sticks you are under 100 A; if the puddle gets fluid and the coating glows, back off.
Why do Lincoln and Hobart publish different ranges for the same rod class?
Because the AWS classification fixes the weld metal properties and coating family, not the recipe. Each maker's flux chemistry, iron powder content, and arc drive differ, so their usable current windows differ — Lincoln's 5/32 in E7018 is rated 130–210 A while Hobart's spans 110–230 A. The consensus column shows the overlap, which is a safe window on either brand; the full printed range is only guaranteed for that manufacturer's own rod.
What is the difference between E6010 and E6011?
Same deep-penetrating cellulosic family, different current: E6010's sodium-based coating needs the stable arc of DCEP and will not run properly on AC, while E6011's potassium-based coating keeps the arc lit through the AC zero crossings. On a DC machine they behave similarly; on a small AC buzz box, E6011 is the one that works. Both punch through rust, paint, and galvanizing better than any other class here.
Does rod diameter or metal thickness set the amperage?
Diameter sets the range; thickness picks where you sit inside it and which diameter you should hold. The old shop heuristic — one amp per thousandth of diameter — puts a 1/8 in (0.125 in) rod near 125 A, dead center of the E7018 consensus. As a rule, do not weld metal thinner than the rod diameter, and step up a rod size (not just amps) when the plate stops taking the heat.
Try the Calculators
Welding Rod Amperage Chart — Stick Electrode Sizes & Current Ranges — reuven.tools/reference/welding-rod-amperage — verified against: AWS A5.1 (Carbon Steel Electrodes for SMAW) — classification system only; amperage is not part of the standard; Lincoln Electric C2.10 Stick Electrode Product Catalog — typical operating procedures for Fleetweld 5P (E6010), Fleetweld 35 (E6011), Fleetweld 37 (E6013), and Excalibur 7018 MR (E7018); Hobart Filler Metals data sheets — Hobart 610 (E6010), 335A (E6011), 418 (E7018); Washington Alloy published E6013 recommended currents (second source for E6013 after the Hobart 447A adjudication)