Structural Welding Estimating
You know the problem: your estimate says 40 hours, the job takes 70. IronKit's Weld Cost Calculator uses real cost-per-inch math — not multipliers from a 2019 Excel sheet — so your structural bids cover the actual work.
Start Free Trial — Estimate Structural Welds Accurately 14-day free trial. No credit card required.Most structural estimates price by tonnage — a blunt instrument that buries weld costs. IronKit calculates cost per inch of weld for every joint type, so nothing gets lost.
Connection details, stiffener plates, gussets, backing bars — the items that aren't on the T&M sheet but show up in real life. IronKit's line-item structure captures them all before the job starts.
When the GC asks how you arrived at your number, IronKit's itemized breakdown gives you an answer. Not "we've always done it this way" — actual weld counts and hours.
When a structural steel estimator sees 50 tons of steel, the instinct is to multiply by a "weld factor" (typically 1–3% of material weight) and call it done. But this breaks down fast on complex connections.
IronKit prices by weld geometry — inches of weld, not pounds of steel. The result is an estimate that reflects what the welder actually does. Not what the takeoff sheet implied.
Works backwards from the actual weld geometry on your structural job. Set it up once, use it on every bid.
T/K/Y fillet, partial-penetration groove, complete-joint-penetration groove, flare groove. Each joint type has its own labor time model.
Flange size or plate thickness, weld leg size, length of weld per joint. IronKit calculates weld volume from geometry — not from a table someone typed in 2018.
SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW. Deposition rates and labor times differ by process — IronKit accounts for the difference automatically.
Shop labor rate, consumable prices, gas consumption rate. Saved per account — enter once, use on every job.
Both. Enter your field labor rate in the rate table — the calculator applies the same cost-per-inch logic whether the work is happening in your shop or on-site. Most structural shops use the calculator for both shop and field estimates.
IronKit Weld Cost Calculator supports: T/K/Y fillet welds (all sizes), complete-joint-penetration (CJP) groove welds (single and double bevel, V, U, J), partial-penetration (PJP) groove welds, and flare groove welds. Support for arc spot and plug welds is in development.
IronKit's labor time calculations apply a position factor — flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead — so estimates for overhead structural work reflect the actual productivity difference versus flat position. You can adjust position factors in your rate settings.
Yes. IronKit's Weld Cost Calculator is designed to complement existing workflows. Use it to get the weld cost right, then import the total into your main estimating tool or Excel spreadsheet for the full bid package.
14-day free trial. Accurate weld cost estimates in under 20 minutes. No credit card required.
Start Free Trial — Estimate Structural Welds Accurately $29/mo after trial. Cancel anytime via Stripe portal.