Welding Symbol Chart and Builder

Choose the weld type, side, size and extras to draw a welding symbol and read what it means; every basic weld symbol is charted below.

Open on WeldCutSource

Embed

Embed this tool

Copy this code into your website, blog or class page. The tool runs inside your page.

1. Embed code

<iframe src="https://weldcutsource.com/welding-symbol-chart/?embed=1&ref=embed" width="100%" height="640" style="border:0;max-width:100%" title="Welding Symbol Chart and Builder" loading="lazy" allow="fullscreen; autoplay"></iframe>
<p>Tool by <a href="https://weldcutsource.com/welding-symbol-chart/" rel="nofollow">Welding Symbol Chart and Builder – WeldCutSource</a></p>

2. Optional: resize the frame to fit the tool (add once per page)

<script>addEventListener('message',function(e){if(e.origin!=='https://weldcutsource.com')return;var h=e.data&&e.data.tkEmbedHeight;if(!h)return;document.querySelectorAll('iframe').forEach(function(f){if(f.contentWindow===e.source)f.style.height=h+'px'})})</script>

Please keep the credit link below the tool.

This page gives you a Welding Symbol Builder and a full reference chart of welding symbols. Our builder draws your weld symbol as an SVG and explains it in plain English, following the layout of the AWS A2.4 standard from the American Welding Society. Note that the drawing is our own and not an official AWS chart. Free to use, it runs in your browser, needs no sign-up, and uploads nothing. Pick a weld type, set the side and dimensions, and the result updates as you type. Below the builder, the chart lists every basic weld symbol with its name and the supplementary symbols, and highlights the weld type you have selected. If you need an AWS weld symbol chart or a weld symbol cheat sheet, this page covers both.

How to use the Welding Symbol Builder

Work down the controls in this order to build a complete symbol.

Choose the weld type: fillet, square groove, V-groove, bevel groove, U-groove, J-groove, flare-V, flare-bevel, plug/slot, spot/projection, seam, back/backing, surfacing or edge.
Set the side: arrow side (symbol below the reference line), other side (above the line) or both sides.
Enter the size on the left of the symbol. This is the fillet leg, groove depth or spot diameter.
Enter the length and pitch on the right, written as length-pitch, such as 2-6.
For grooves, enter the groove angle and root opening. Groove angle applies only to V, bevel, U and J grooves. Root opening applies only to grooves.
Add supplementary symbols if needed: weld all around, field weld, melt-through or finish contour (flush, convex or concave).
Type a tail note for the process or specification, such as GMAW.
Read the plain-English result and check the warnings. Spot welds have no length, and a pitch needs a length.

Results update as you type. Open “How it was calculated” to see the formula and each step with your numbers. Copy result copies the result lines with a link. Copy link copies the page address, which stores every input, so opening it later restores the same calculation. Print / save as PDF prints the inputs, results, calculation steps, date and symbol drawing. The builder also works on a phone.

How do you read a welding symbol?

Start at the reference line and work outward. This horizontal line carries an arrow at one end that points to the joint being welded. Every element sits in a fixed position, so each spot on the symbol carries its own meaning.

Drawn on the reference line, the weld symbol shows the weld type. A fillet weld is drawn as a triangle with its vertical leg on the left. Dimensions for size go on the left: the fillet leg, the groove depth or the spot diameter. Length and pitch appear on the right, written as length-pitch. Length is the length of each weld, and pitch is the centre-to-centre spacing between welds. At the far end, a tail note names the process or specification, such as GMAW.

What is the arrow side and other side of a welding symbol?

The arrow side is the side of the joint the arrow points to. The other side is the opposite face of the joint, and it is shown above the reference line. Information written below the reference line applies to the arrow side, and information above it applies to the other side.

When a weld goes on both faces, the symbol is shown on both sides of the line, and the reading says both sides. For example, a 0.25 in fillet weld on both sides, 2 in long at 6 in pitch, places the symbol on each side of the line with the same size and length-pitch.

Spot and seam welds are the exception. When these are set to both sides, the symbol is drawn centred on the line. It then has no arrow-side or other-side significance. A spot weld set this way with a 6 mm diameter and 40 mm spacing, centre to centre, is read as a spot weld with no side specified.

For a groove weld, the same rule applies to the groove details. A V-groove weld with a 10 mm groove depth on the arrow side, finished flush, with a 60° groove angle and a 2 mm root opening, is read as a single-side groove on the arrow side.

Sources

Checked October 2026:

The Ranger Station, Reading welding symbols: arrow side below the reference line, size to the left, length and pitch to the right, weld-all-around and field-weld marks
The symbol outlines are our own drawings following the layout of AWS A2.4; this is not an official AWS chart

For estimation; verify critical designs against the applicable standard.

Worked examples

Input	Result
Fillet, Arrow side (below the line), 6 mm	6 mm fillet weld on the arrow side, all around, field weld, 50 mm long at 150 mm pitch, tail note: GMAW
Fillet, Both sides, 0.25 in	0.25 in fillet weld on both sides (arrow side and other side), 2 in long at 6 in pitch
V-groove, Arrow side (below the line), 10 mm	V-groove weld with a 10 mm groove depth on the arrow side, finished flush, groove angle 60°, root opening 2 mm, tail note: GTAW
Bevel groove, Other side (above the line), 8 mm	Bevel-groove weld with a 8 mm groove depth on the other side, melt-through, groove angle 45°
Spot or projection, Both sides, 6 mm	Spot or projection weld, 6 mm in diameter with no arrow-side or other-side significance, spaced 40 mm apart, center to center, tail note: RSW

Calculated by the tool above with these values.

Frequently asked questions

What does the fillet weld symbol look like?

A fillet weld symbol is a triangle. Its vertical leg sits on the left, and the triangle is placed on the reference line. The fillet size goes on the left of the symbol.

What does 2-6 mean on a welding symbol?

The numbers written as 2-6 on the right of the symbol mean length-pitch. The weld is 2 in long, and each weld is spaced at 6 in pitch, centre to centre.

What does the flag on a welding symbol mean?

The flag marks a field weld, which is a weld made on site rather than in the shop. It is one of the supplementary symbols the builder can add.

What is the weld all around symbol?

The weld all around symbol is a circle placed where the arrow and the reference line meet. It means the weld goes completely around the joint.

Is this the official AWS welding symbol chart?

No. The chart on this page follows the layout of the AWS A2.4 standard, but the drawing is our own. Use it as a reference for the symbol names and positions.

Can I use the results in quotes or shop paperwork?

Yes. You can use the results in commercial work, such as quotes, welding procedure planning, shop paperwork and reports, without attribution.

Weld strength calculator: how strong is your weld? Enter its size and length to find out.
Stitch weld calculator: stitch welds rarely run continuously, so this works out their length and spacing.
Welding rod chart: compare electrode types against base metals and welding positions.
Welding cost calculator: before quoting a job, estimate what the welding will cost.
Welding cable size chart: cable size depends on welding current and cable length, so check it here.
All welding calculators: every calculator and chart on the site, in one place to browse.