Tattoos generally hurt more on bony areas with less fat and muscle (like ribs, spine, ankles, wrists, sternum, hips) because the skin is thin, nerve endings are close, and the needle vibration resonates through the bone, creating intense, buzzing pain; areas with more fat and muscle, like the outer thigh or bicep, offer more cushioning and are less painful. So, bone usually equals more pain than fat.
If the bones are closer to the skin (meaning they don't have much padding), getting tattooed is likely to feel more painful there.
1--10 scale: many report 6--9 for the side of the neck. More painful than upper arm, forearm, or thigh; similar to or slightly less than inner arm, ribs, or sternum for some people. Tattoo size and duration: longer sessions increase cumulative discomfort.
Getting tattooed on the arm and upper back is only moderately painful compared to the head, armpit, and rib cage. While you should still expect to feel much discomfort, getting inked in these areas is tolerable for most people.
Among the rest of the Stories & Ink team, the most painful places to get a tattoo include:
If you are heavy-set, your skin may be more stretched out compared to others with a smaller frame. This ends up making your skin more sensitive which can increase the amount of pain that you experience. On the other hand, if you are very skinny, you may also experience a bit of discomfort when getting a tattoo.
Yes, a $50 tip on a $300 tattoo is a good tip, falling slightly below the standard 20% ($60) but representing a solid 16.7%, showing appreciation, especially if you had a good experience; however, tipping $60-$75 (20-25%) is generally considered excellent for great service, so $50 is a respectable amount.
You have a rash or bumpy skin around your tattoo
If you notice a rash or lumpy, bumpy skin around your new tattoo, this could be something to worry about. Any itching that seems extreme, or rashes and cracked skin, could indicate infection.
The Most Challenging Body Parts to Tattoo
For a $500 tattoo, a standard tip is $75 to $100 (15-20%), but you can tip more, even $125 or higher (25%+), for exceptional work, a long session, or custom design, with factors like artist's expertise and your satisfaction influencing the amount. Tipping 20% ($100) is generally considered great service, but tipping less is also okay if you're on a tight budget, while tipping more shows extra appreciation.
To test your tattoo pain tolerance, try pinching the area where you want your tattoo, the more it hurts, the more sensitive that location will be.
Yes, a tattoo can often be 100% removed, but it's not guaranteed and depends heavily on factors like ink color (black is easiest, yellow/white hardest), tattoo depth, skin type, immune system strength, and aftercare. While many people achieve complete clearance, some might be left with faint "whisps" or ghosting, though significant fading to near invisibility is common, even if 100% clearance isn't reached.
A $500 tattoo is typically a medium-sized piece, often around palm-sized or slightly larger (roughly 4-6 inches), but the actual size heavily depends on the artist's hourly rate (usually $100-$200/hour), design complexity, color, and location, allowing for 2-5 hours of work, potentially resulting in a detailed forearm piece or a smaller chest/back design, rather than a full sleeve.
The most painful tattoo spots are parts of your body where the skin is thin or close to your bones. Tattoo locations with delicate skin rank the highest on the tattoo pain scale, like around your eyelid. Your kneecaps and elbows rank close to the top of the tattoo pain chart for their bony surfaces.
Skin rejecting tattoo ink often shows as persistent itching, redness, swelling, and bumpy or scaly patches, sometimes with blisters or oozing, which can appear days, months, or even years later, often linked to certain colors like red ink. This reaction, known as allergic contact dermatitis or a photosensitivity reaction, signals your immune system is overreacting to the pigment, requiring a dermatologist's evaluation if it's severe or prolonged.
A $2000 tattoo can range from a detailed half-sleeve to a large, intricate thigh or chest piece, or even the beginning of a full back or sleeve, often taking multiple sessions and significant artist hours (8+ hours) for complex designs, but it depends heavily on the artist's skill, location, and the design's intricacy.
Here's a handful of bad habits that are top of the list of things tattoo artists hate.
No, $200 an hour is generally not considered a lot for a professional, experienced tattoo artist in 2025-2026, often falling into the standard or even lower-mid range, especially in major cities or for specialized styles like realism or fine-line work, though rates vary significantly by location, artist demand, and expertise. While some talented artists charge around $100-$150/hour, high-demand or highly specialized artists can easily charge $250-$300+ per hour.
DAY RATE / HALF-DAY RATE
Most of the time it will be a range, such as 6-10 hours, and the rate can vary anywhere from $1,000 to sometimes $5,000 or more. Artists that do a half day rate will sometimes charge a little more than half their full day rate, again, to offset the time and supply cost of smaller pieces.
Like any tattoo session, tattoo touch-up costs can differ based on the size of your tattoo, the complexity of the tattoo and touch-up, and the reliability of the tattoo studio. Some studios offer a complimentary service for the first touch-up, while others may charge a reduced rate.
If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, a weak immune system, or a bleeding problem, talk to your doctor before getting a tattoo. Also, if you get keloids (an overgrowth of scar tissue) you probably should not get a tattoo.
Firstly, when the body is hydrated, it will take to the ink more effectively, so overall it could be best for the final look. Moreover, staying hydrated can make the process less painful overall. From the day before to the day of, drink plenty of water, and remember to bring some for during the appointment.
Minor weight loss should have virtually no effect on your ink. If the body experiences a sudden and drastic loss in weight, there may be noticeable differences.