Shielding gas
How much does welding gas cost in Australia?
Quick answer
Refills of argon-CO2 mix cost roughly $100–$140 per D-size bottle and $150–$200 per G-size in Australian capitals, plus annual hire if you rent rather than swap-and-own. Straight CO2 is cheaper per refill; pure argon similar to mix. Budget by litres: mix works out around 2.5 cents per litre.
Hire vs own
Hire suits regular trade use (always full bottles, no test dates to manage); swap-and-own suits hobby use where annual hire exceeds refill spend. Buy-out bottles need periodic hydrostatic testing — most hobby welders swap instead and skip that admin.
The full annual maths by usage profile (monthly, quarterly, twice a year) is in our guide to welding gas cost in Australia; observed per-supplier refill and plan prices by bottle size are on welding gas bottle sizes and prices.
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