Welding glasses with a shade 5 lens are only for gas welding, cutting and brazing — never for arc welding; for MIG, TIG or stick, use an auto-darkening helmet. For torch work, the best welding glasses are the Miller Shade #5 Safety Glasses, shade 5 with ANSI Z87.1 per Miller.
Welding glasses are also worn under a helmet as impact protection, with a clear lens. The tinted ones below are for torch work and plasma cutting at low amps.
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| # | Pick | Why it's here | Price band | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miller Shade #5 Safety Glasses | Shade 5 with ANSI Z87.1 per Miller. | Under $60 | Check price |
| 2 | 3M Solus 2000 IR 5.0 | IR 5.0, Z87.1-2020 and W5 marking per 3M. | Under $60 | Check price |
| 3 | Hobart Shade 5 Mirrored Glasses | Foam-sealed shade 5; specs from the listing. | Under $60 | Check price |
| 4 | LANON IR 5.0 Welding Glasses | Cheap over-glasses IR 5.0; specs from the listing. | Under $60 | Check price |
Never use shade 5 glasses or goggles for arc welding. Shade 5 is for gas welding, torch cutting and brazing only. MIG, TIG and stick need shade 7–14 (see the shade chart) — use an auto-darkening welding helmet.
Ranked by our published method: manufacturer-verified safety specs first, then optical class, viewing area, sensors and switching speed, comfort and weight, buyer feedback and value.
Miller · 235658 · Under $60
Shade 5 with ANSI Z87.1 per Miller.
Miller's shade 5 reflective safety glasses, ANSI Z87.1 — for torch cutting and brazing, never arc welding.
Price band checked 2026-10-22.
3M · S2050AS-BLK · Under $60
IR 5.0, Z87.1-2020 and W5 marking per 3M.
3M's IR 5.0 safety glasses, ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020, marked W5.
Price band checked 2026-10-22.
Hobart · 770726 · Under $60
Foam-sealed shade 5; specs from the listing.
Hobart's shade 5 mirrored glasses with foam seals; specs from the listing.
Price band checked 2026-10-22.
LANON · listing only · Under $60
Cheap over-glasses IR 5.0; specs from the listing.
Budget IR 5.0 glasses that fit over prescription glasses; specs from the listing.
Price band checked 2026-10-22.
This list is part of our best welding helmets guide; every pick is checked against the same rules as our best auto-darkening helmets, and hood users should see welding hoods.
Safety glasses for welding under a helmet protect your eyes when you lift the hood to chip slag or grind. Any clear ANSI Z87.1+ pair works; the shaded glasses below are a different job.
OSHA's minimum is shade 4–6 for gas welding (by thickness) and 3–5 for oxygen cutting, so shade 5 welding glasses cover most torch work. The 3M Solus 2000 IR 5.0 carries 3M's W5 marking and Z87.1-2020; 3M's EU sheet says it's not for welding, which means arc welding.
Cutting torch glasses need shade 3–5 depending on plate thickness (OSHA: 3 under 1 in, 4 for 1–6 in, 5 over 6 in). Wraparound frames block side light.
Torch glasses are lighter; goggles seal better against sparks — see the best welding goggles.
Ordinary sunglasses block visible glare but aren't tested for infrared from a torch flame. “Welding sunglasses” only protect if they carry a W-shade marking under ANSI Z87.1, like the 3M W5.
Auto-darkening glasses and goggles exist, but they leave your face and neck exposed to UV, so they're not a substitute for a helmet when arc welding. We don't rank any because none had manufacturer documentation we could verify.
Green is the traditional IR-absorbing tint; the shade number, not the colour, sets the protection. The Hobart Shade 5 Mirrored Glasses uses a green lens with a mirror coating.
Our pick today: Miller Shade #5 Safety Glasses. Check price on Amazon
Changelog: Oct 2026: First published. Every pick checked against manufacturer specs and Amazon availability.