Tattoo Artist BooksHow to price tattoos is a question that new and experienced artists alike keep coming back to. Prices that are too low undervalue your work and wear you out; prices that are too high can push clients away while you are still building a name. This guide gives you a simple method for tattoo pricing, the factors that affect the price and worked examples. The goal is to help you arrive at your own numbers in a consistent way.
Know your own costs first
The first step is knowing what an hour of work costs you. Look at your monthly costs:
- Studio split or rent
- Consumables: needles, cartridges, ink, gloves, film
- Equipment replacement and maintenance
- Marketing and subscriptions
- The monthly income you want to pay yourself
Divide that total by the number of hours you actually tattoo each month, and you get the floor for your hourly rate. Drawing designs, messaging clients and setting up also take time, so include those hours. If you do not track your costs yet, start with our guide to tattoo studio bookkeeping.
Example hourly rate calculation
These figures are only an example:
| Item | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Target personal income | $4,000 |
| Supplies | $600 |
| Marketing and subscriptions | $300 |
| Equipment replacement reserve | $100 |
| Total needed | $5,000 |
If you tattoo about 80 hours a month, $5,000 / 80 = $62.50 per hour is what you need. If you work in a studio on a 40% split, that is what has to remain after the studio share, so the hourly rate you charge the client is $62.50 / 0.60 ≈ $104. For the details of the split, read our tattoo artist commission split guide.
Factors that affect the price
Size
Bigger pieces take more time and supplies. The price does not always rise in a straight line with size, though; on small pieces, setup is a large share of the total time.
Level of detail
Two tattoos of the same size can be clean linework or dense shading with fine detail. The time difference is big, and the price should reflect it.
Color
Color work usually takes longer and uses more supplies.
Placement
Ribs, neck, hands and feet are technically harder and more sensitive for the client; sessions may need more breaks and move slower.
Design time
A custom drawing can take hours. Some artists build design time into the price, others charge a separate design fee.
Cover-ups
Covering an old tattoo takes more effort in both design and execution.
Three common pricing methods
| Method | How it works | Upside | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | Estimated time x hourly rate | Fair on large pieces | Clients want to know the total upfront |
| Flat per piece | A fixed price for each job | Clear for the client | If you misjudge the time, you lose out |
| Per session | A fixed rate for a session of set length | Practical for multi-session work | What a session includes must be clear |
Many artists use flat prices for small work and hourly or session rates for large pieces.
Set a minimum charge
However small the tattoo, there is setup, sterilization, supplies and time spent talking with the client. That is why a minimum charge makes sense: it makes sure even the smallest job covers these fixed costs. Base it on your own setup time and supply cost. If setup and cleanup take an hour in total, your minimum should be at least one hour's rate.
Worked example
A client wants a 6-inch black and grey forearm piece with medium shading. Your hourly rate is $100.
- Estimated tattooing time: 3 hours
- Design time: 1.5 hours (included in the price)
- Total: 4.5 hours x $100 = $450
- Range to quote, with some margin for uncertainty: $450 to $550
When you send this range, mention the deposit and the remaining balance too. For how to put the price to the client, see the templates in our article on replying to tattoo price inquiries.
Look at the market, but do not copy it
Knowing what artists around you charge is useful, but copying their prices without knowing your own costs is risky. Another artist's rent, split and speed can be very different from yours. Use local prices as a check, and do the actual math with your own numbers. As your experience, portfolio and demand grow, raising your prices is natural.
When to update your prices
- When you are booked out weeks in advance.
- When supply prices have gone up noticeably.
- When your net earnings keep landing below your target.
- When your style and quality have clearly moved up a level.
Announcing a price increase to current clients in advance, and honoring quotes already given at the old price, protects trust.
Sending quotes consistently
Once you have set the price, sending it consistently matters too. With the quote link in Tattoo Artist Books you send a price or price range together with your open slots. The client picks a time, the same slot cannot be booked twice, and the quote has an expiry, so an expired quote cannot be used to book at an old price. That helps when you are updating your prices as well.
Should you publish a price list?
Some artists publish a fixed price list, others only share a starting price. Since every tattoo is different, a full list is hard, but sharing a few things openly helps:
- Minimum charge: Clients know where even the smallest piece starts.
- Flash prices: Fixed prices for ready-made designs are easy to give and speed up decisions.
- Session rate: A day or half-day rate for large projects gives clients a budget idea.
- Deposit rule: Sharing the deposit and refund terms together with prices cuts down on questions later. See our tattoo deposit policy guide for this.
Be careful with discounts and promotions
A discount can be a good way to fill empty slots or reward loyal clients. Frequent, unplanned discounts, however, can train clients to wait for a promotion instead of booking at your normal price. If you discount, set the rule in advance: which work, which dates, how much. Agree upfront how a discount affects the studio split, or the whole discount may come out of your share. Recording every discount also shows you your real average price at month end.
After setting your prices, compare actual session times with your estimates for a few months. If sessions keep running longer than planned, update either your time estimates or your prices.
Wrapping up
To price tattoos, start with your costs and target income, work out your hourly rate from them, then price each piece by size, detail, color, placement and design time. Set a minimum charge, give clients a clear range and review your prices at regular intervals. Consistent pricing protects you and gives clients confidence.