An arc welding method of a consumable electrode type performs welding while supplying a welding current I between a workpiece W and a welding wire 13 to generate an arc A and supplying a shielding gas S around the arc A. An arc length L represented by a relative position of a tip end 13a of the welding wire 13 with respect to a surface Wa of the workpiece W is within 2 mm. The shielding gas S is constituted of 100% argon. The welding current I is constituted of a pulse wave in which a base current IB and a peak current IP are periodically and alternately repeated. An average current IA per cycle of the welding current I is 250 A or more. The base current IB is 200 A or more. The peak current IP is 600 A or less.