The invention relates to a handheld air-cooled plasma torch, which effectively solves the problems of complex structure, difficult handheld operation and hazard to personal safety of the conventional plasma torch. The handheld air-cooled plasma torch adopts the following technical scheme that: the front end of a conductive pipe is provided with a conductive plate; the front part of the conductiveplate is provided with a graphite electrode holder; the front end of the graphite electrode holder is provided with a hollow graphite electrode; the conductive pipe is connected with one electrode ofa direct-current power supply; a clad metal workpiece is connected with the other electrode of the direct-current power supply; a powder feed pipe passes through the conductive tube and is communicated with a central hole on the conductive plate; the powder feed pipe is connected with a powder feeder; a cooling air pipe is communicated with the conductive plate and the graphite electrode holder through a gap between the conductive pipe and the powder feed pipe; and the cooling air pipe is connected with a cooling air supply. The handheld air-cooled plasma torch has small volume and light weight, and effectively solves the problems of complex structure, difficult mastery of handheld operation and high frequency and high voltage dangers in the conventional plasma torch so as to reduce the manufacturing cost and the operation difficulty, improve the clad efficiency and guarantee the operational and use safety.