Tattoo Cost Calculator

Most small tattoos (1-2 hours of work) cost $100-300, often limited by the shop minimum of $80-150. Exact cost depends on the artist's rate, the design's complexity, and your location. Simple geometric or script designs at the lower end; detailed miniature work at the higher end.

It is generally acceptable to ask an artist to work within a budget if you discuss it respectfully before booking. Most artists will suggest simplifying the design or reducing the size to fit a budget. Asking for a discount on a quoted price mid-appointment is considered rude. Shop minimums are not negotiable.

15-20% is standard in the US. For custom work (original designs drawn by the artist), 20%+ is appreciated. Cash tips directly to the artist are preferred over tips added to card payments, as the artist keeps more of a cash tip.

Tattooing is a skilled art form where experience, technique, and specialisation command very different prices. A tattoo by an artist with 5 years of experience in a specific style (like Japanese traditional or single-needle realism) is a different product than one by an apprentice, even if the physical result looks similar on day 1.