Water model experiments and the numerical solution of a mathematical model with three dimensions have been conducted to investigate the flow pattern and mixing phenomena in argon-stirred ladles with six types of tuyere arrangement. It was found that the arrangement of tuyeres has a great effect on the flow patterns and mixing in the ladle, a placement of single tuyere at off-centric position gave the shortest mixing time whereas double tuyeres opposite placed at half radii was found to be the best arrangement considering the aspects of blowing, mixing, inclusion flotation and splashing. An empirical correlation for mixing time in the ladle considering the number of tuyeres was proposed. The predicted and measured results showed quantitatively good agreements.