According to the different situation, the welding rod has three kinds of classification methods: according to the welding rod use classification, according to the classification of main chemical components of coating, according to the drug skin melting slag characteristics classification.

In accordance with the use of electrodes, there are two forms of expression, the former Ministry of machinery industry developed, the welding electrode is divided into structure steel electrode, heat steel electrodes, stainless steel welding rod, welding electrodes, low temperature steel electrodes, cast iron electrode, nickel and nickel alloy electrodes, copper and copper alloy electrode, aluminum and aluminum alloy welding and special purpose electrode. The provisions of national standards, carbon steel welding rod, low alloy welding rod, stainless steel welding rod, welding electrodes, cast iron welding rod, copper and copper alloy rod, aluminum and aluminum alloy electrode. There is no difference between the two principles, the former with a commercial grade, said the latter with the model.

If classified according to the main chemical composition of the electrode, welding electrode is divided into: type titanium oxide electrode, titanium calcium type electrode, ilmenite type electrode, iron oxide type electrode, cellulose type electrode, low hydrogen type electrode, graphite electrode and base type electrode.

If the electrode is melted, the classification of the characteristics of slag, welding electrode can be divided into acidic and basic welding electrodes. Acidic oxide as the main component of acid coating, such as silica, titanium dioxide, ferric oxide etc.. The main components of the basic electrode medicine skin are alkaline oxide, such as marble, fluorite and so on.

Many classification methods of electrode, respectively according to the main component of use and slag basicity, electrode, electrode performance characteristics of different angles of electrode classification. According to the classification of the current use of the electrode classification method, is mainly based on the national standard of the electrode and the original machinery industry, the preparation of the "welding material product samples". According to the state standards, the type of electrode is divided into 8 categories, the electrode grades are divided into 10 categories according to their uses.