Mobile Welding Rates (2026): $75–$150 Per Hour
Mobile welding typically runs $75–$150 per hour, rising to $125–$200 for certified structural or pressure-pipe work in major markets. Add a service-call fee of $75–$150 and a one-hour minimum, plus materials and consumables at cost-plus. Day rates run $700 for a half day and $1,400 for a full day — and after-hours or emergency work should be 1.5x to 2x standard.
Rates by work type
| Work | Typical hourly |
|---|---|
| General mobile repair | $75–$125 |
| Certified structural (AWS D1.1) | $125–$175 |
| Pressure pipe (ASME) | $150–$200+ |
| Half day | ~$700 |
| Full day | ~$1,400 |
Worked example: trailer and gate repair
A farm customer 30 minutes out needs a cracked gooseneck trailer tongue reinforced and a broken pasture gate hinge rewelded. 2.5 hours on site.
| Line | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service call | 1 | $110 | $110 |
| Mobile welding labor | 2.5 hrs | $105/hr | $262.50 |
| Steel plate and flat bar | 1 | $68 | $68 |
| Consumables and gas | 1 | $25 | $25 |
| Total | $465.50 |
Materials and consumables are their own lines. Buried in the hourly rate they look like padding; itemized they’re obviously parts.
The service call is not optional
$75–$150 call-out plus a one-hour minimum. The rig, gas, consumables, insurance, and drive time are all spent before the first weld. Without a call-out fee, small jobs are charity.
Charge for after-hours
Weekend, evening, and emergency work should run 1.5x to 2x standard. The customer with a broken gate at 9pm on Saturday isn’t out there price shopping.
Materials at cost-plus
Steel, consumables, and gas are billed at cost plus a handling markup, itemized. Buried in an hourly rate they look like padding; on their own line they’re obviously materials.
Keep going
- Welding invoice template — service call, labor, and materials lines ready to copy
- Mobile welding business invoicing app
- How much to charge for after-hours emergency service calls
Frequently asked questions
Why charge a service call on top of the hourly rate?
Because the truck is the business. Fuel, the rig, gas, consumables, insurance, and drive time are spent before you strike an arc. A one-hour job with no call-out fee doesn't cover getting there and back.
What does certification add?
AWS D1.1 structural or ASME pressure certifications typically support $125–$200 per hour versus $75–$125 for general repair. You're pricing liability and qualification, not just skill.
Hourly or by the job?
Hourly for repair work where you can't see what's under the rust; by the job for fabrication you can scope from a drawing. Quoting a fixed price on unknown repair conditions is how welders end up working for free.
Is mobile welding more expensive than a shop?
Usually, yes — by $15–$40 per hour plus the call-out. The customer is paying for you to bring the rig to equipment that can't easily move, which saves them a tow, a trailer, or a day of downtime.
How much should a small weld repair cost?
Most small mobile repairs — a broken gate hinge, a trailer tongue, a cracked bracket — land at $150–$300 all in: the call-out, a one-hour minimum, and a few dollars of consumables.
How should I bill emergency farm or equipment repairs?
At 1.5×–2× standard with the call-out charged at the emergency rate, stated before you roll. A combine or loader down during harvest is costing the owner far more than your invoice.