How much should a tattoo cost?

This is one of the most common questions we get and often times the most difficult to answer. This is because tattoos are not products like a pair of shoes or a new electronic device. Each tattoo is unique just as each person it’s applied to is unique. Size, placement, color vs. black and grey all affect the price. As does the time the tattoos going to take to complete and the complexity of the design. Tattoos are generally priced one of two ways, either by the piece or by the hour. In my shop we use both of these methods, depending on the situation. For example a small flower on someone’s ankle will be priced by the piece while a full back dragon will likely be priced by the hour.

Tattoo shops usually have an hourly rate. Ask your local shop about theirs. A normal range of hourly rates is 100 to 200 dollars per hour. A shop that charges 150 dollars per hour is about average and generally what you can expect to pay for quality work at your chosen tattoo shop. All shops are different, however, and I do not claim to speak for all of them. Your artist may do things differently and that’s fine! As long as you trust them and love their work (and can afford them). Shops typically have minimum charges as well. This means, for example if a shop has a 75 dollar minimum, no tattoos will be done for less than that amount regardless of size or simplicity. This is done to cover the cost of setting up and for the artist’s time and is totally reasonable.

In the end, there is no easy answer to the question, “How much does a tattoo cost?” Hopefully these guidelines can give you a general idea of what you can expect to pay at a reputable tattoo shop. As far as tattoos are concerned, the old adage generally holds true…you get what you pay for.