How we ranked these
We weighted five factors buyers care about: purchase price, reliability and uptime, dealer and parts network, performance for the size class, and resale value at five years.
The top brands
- Miller — the value benchmark: dependable, with the strongest resale in its class.
- Lincoln Electric — the widest dealer and parts network, so less downtime.
- Hobart — strong performance for the price.
New vs used
New buys warranty, financing incentives, and top resale. Used saves 25–45% — worth it if you can verify hours and service history.
Should you buy at all?
If utilization is below ~60% (under ~12–14 days a month), renting usually costs less. Check your numbers with a rent-vs-buy calculator before committing.