I’m Kayla. I’ve got nine tattoos, across four cities, from quick walk-ins to a long, slow sleeve. People ask me, “So… how much does a tattoo cost?” Short answer: it depends. Long answer: I brought receipts.
If you’d rather jump straight to the raw numbers, I’ve posted my complete bill-by-bill breakdown right here.
You know what? Let me lay it out like a friend would. With numbers. With the little fees most folks forget.
What Shops Usually Charge
- Shop minimum: I’ve seen $80–$150. Most of my shops land at $100–$120.
- Hourly rates: $150–$250 for solid artists. High-demand artists? $300–$400+.
- Day rate: Some use a flat day fee, like $1,200–$2,000.
- Deposit: $50–$300 to hold your spot. It often goes toward the final bill.
- Tipping: 15%–25% is normal. I do 20% unless something wild happened.
Prices jump by city and by style. Black and grey tends to be less than full color. Fine-line can be pricey because it’s slow and fussy. Also, hands, ribs, and sternum take longer. Ouch and wow, both.
If you want to sanity-check those ranges against a national average, Airtasker US put together an in-depth guide to tattoo costs in the US that breaks pricing down by size and factors like color, style, and artist experience.
For an even deeper dive into real-world tattoo pricing across different regions, check out this detailed breakdown from Tattoo Road Trip before you sit down in the chair.
My Real Bills (From My Notes)
I track this stuff like a little goblin with a spreadsheet. Here are a few real pulls from my phone.
The tiny wrist word in Portland
- One word, fine-line black, inside wrist
- Time: 30–40 minutes
- Shop min: $100
- Tip: $20
- Aftercare: Aquaphor $12
- Total: $132
- Worth it? Yep. Still crisp after 3 years.
Ankle flower, light shading (Portland)
- Size: about 2.5 inches
- Rate: $150/hour
- Time: 1.5 hours
- Base: $225
- Tip: $35 (about 15%)
- Total: $260
- Note: I wore a sock too soon once. Don’t do that. Let it breathe.
Earlier, I had a tiny dragonfly piece done on my shoulder; I dug into why I chose that symbol, how much it cost, and what the sting felt like in this separate story.
Half-sleeve, black and grey with a hint of color (Los Angeles)
- Artist with a waitlist
- Rate: $200/hour
- Time: 12 hours, over 3 sessions
- Base: $2,400
- Deposit: $200 (applied)
- Tips: $480 total (20% each session)
- Saniderm: $20
- Total paid: $2,700 (after deposit was applied)
- Feeling: The first two nights were spicy. The final healed like a dream. Still my favorite.
Fine-line sternum (Brooklyn)
- Delicate lines, tiny dots, very slow work
- Rate: $350/hour
- Time: 4 hours
- Base: $1,400
- Tip: $210
- Total: $1,610
- Note: This spot hurts. I brought a loose button-up and a soft blanket; it helped.
Still brainstorming chest placements? I broke down what worked (and what I’d skip) in my full chest-tattoo idea guide.
And if you’re curious about going a touch lower, I’ve also shared the unfiltered scoop on my below-the-boob tattoo over here.
Cover-up of an old star (Austin)
- Style: Peony over a dark, old star
- Rate: $180/hour
- Time: 5 hours
- Base: $900
- Design time: included, no extra fee
- Tip: $180
- Total: $1,080
- Surprise: Cover-ups need more passes and more ink. Plan for extra time.
Big narrative pieces are my jam, too; my multi-session Greek-mythology tattoos—with full cost, pain rankings, and lessons learned—are all logged in this write-up.
Finger flash (Austin walk-in)
- Shop min: $120
- Tip: $20
- Touch-up: Free at 6 weeks (I still tipped $20)
- Total: $160
- Note: Fingers fade fast. I knew that. I still did it because it’s cute.
Friday the 13th flash (Portland)
- Set price: $31
- Tip: $20 (line was long, artist was fast and kind)
- Total: $51
- Fun: Quick, loud, and happy. Bring snacks; the wait crawls.
What Changes the Price
Here’s the thing: size isn’t the only lever. Time is money.
- Size and detail: Big and complex takes hours. Tiny but detailed can take time too.
- Placement: Ribs, sternum, hands, and feet can slow everyone down.
- Color vs. black and grey: Color layering adds time.
- Artist demand: More popular, more money. Fair.
- City: My LA and Brooklyn pieces cost more than my Portland ones.
- Custom work: Heavy design work might raise the quote.
- Touch-ups: Many artists do one free touch-up within 3 months. Tips still matter.
Tip Talk (Quick and simple)
- I tip 20% if I’m happy, and more if they really saved my day.
- Cash is nice if you can swing it.
- If the shop comps a touch-up, I still tip like it was a small session.
Hidden Little Costs I Actually Paid
- Aftercare: Aquaphor ($12), Hustle Butter ($20), Saniderm ($20)
- Numbing cream (when allowed): $18
- Parking, ride-share, or a friend’s lunch as a thank-you
- Loose clothes that won’t rub the tattoo
- Extra pillow for long sessions (yes, really)
It adds up. I pad my budget by 20% now. Less panic, more calm.
A Quick Price Guide From My Notebook
- Tiny (1–2 inches): $100–$250
- Small (3–4 inches): $200–$400
- Medium (5–7 inches): $400–$800
- Large piece or half-sleeve: $1,200–$3,000+
- Back piece: $3,000–$7,000+ (many sessions, many snacks)
Curious how those figures compare across shops, artist levels, and even different states? I like to run my idea through Ink Studio AI’s free Tattoo Price Calculator first—it crunches the averages and keeps my expectations realistic.
Not a law—just what I’ve seen and paid.
How I Book Now (So I Don’t Overpay or Stress)
- I ask for an estimate and the hourly rate in writing.
- I send clear photos and a simple sketch with size in inches.
- I ask about the deposit, reschedule policy, and touch-up rules.
- I bring water, a light snack, and cash for the tip.
- I don’t haggle. It’s art on my body. I want my artist relaxed, not tense.
Fresh ink is also a killer conversation starter. If you ever feel like using your tattoos as an easy ice-breaker to meet open-minded adults who appreciate body art (and maybe some no-strings fun), swing by MeetNFuck — the platform connects you with nearby people who are into creative self-expression and looking to spark something spontaneous, so your new piece can lead to more than compliments.
Looking for a more local, classified-style option in the Atlanta metro? Browse the personal ads on Backpage Stockbridge to spot up-to-date listings for casual meet-ups and events where you can show off fresh ink and connect with people who dig creative skin art.
Final Thought
Cheap ink? You wear it for life. My most expensive piece still gets the most “Oh wow” comments, and honestly, I say the same thing in the mirror. If you’re saving, that’s fine. Book when you’re ready. Your skin, your story, your pace.
If you want a ballpark, here’s mine: for a solid, mid-size custom tattoo with a good artist in a big city, I plan