Welder vs. bench grinder: running cost
A bench grinder is cheaper to run: about $1 a year versus $7 for a welder at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $6 difference.
| Welder | Bench grinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 2,400 W | 400 W |
| Watt range | 1,500–9,000 W | 250–900 W |
| Typical use | 1 hour a day, 1 days a week | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week |
| Energy per year | 38 kWh | 5 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 13¢ | 7.2¢ |
| Cost per day | 1.9¢ | 0.3¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.56 | $0.08 |
| Cost per year | $7 | $1 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $16 | $2 |
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What drives the difference
- Welder: MIG welders on 120 V draw up to 20 A while the arc is on; arc-on time is typically 20-40% of a session, so duty is lower.
- Bench grinder: Bench grinders draw about 2-6 A (250-700 W); they're used briefly so energy cost is small.
Ways to cut either cost
Wheel dresser
A dressed wheel cuts faster and runs cooler.
See options on Amazon Inverter MIG welder
Inverter welders waste less energy as heat than transformer welders.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a welder or a bench grinder?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a welder costs about $7 a year versus $1 for a bench grinder. That's $6 more, or 7.2× as much.
How many watts do welder and bench grinder use?
A welder typically draws 2,400 W (range 1,500–9,000 W). A bench grinder draws 400 W (range 250–900 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.