On average you can expect to charge $50-100 for a small tattoo, up to $200 for a medium tattoo and over $250 for a large tattoo. The sky is the limit though when it comes to very large pieces.
The Basics. Generally, all tattoo shops will begin at a minimum cost. This is to ensure the artist is compensated fairly for their time. So if you're looking for something super simple and tiny (like a heart outline) you can plan on spending, generally, $50-$200 (depending on where you live).
-Medium Tattoos
Medium-sized tattoos, including half-sleeves or designs covering a significant portion of a body part, can cost between $200 and $800, sometimes more.
The very basic running rate these days is at $160- $180 an hour. So for someone who has been denoted in a Tattoo magazine, a television show, has awards at shows etc. $200-$250 per hour is what we shall be looking at for those with exceptional skills or fame.
Small tattoo prices, with sizes no more than a few square centimetres, start at around $50. In comparison, pieces covering large body areas can cost upwards of $1,500 to $2,000, with an average professional tattoo artist's hourly rate at around $200. Custom designs and renowned artists may have higher price ranges.
As with tipping waitstaff, 20-25% percent is a good standard. An easy way to include tipping in your budget is to add it in when getting the estimated costs for having your work done. So, if your tattoo is expected to cost $200, with a 20-percent tip, that's $240.
A tattoo's cost depends on the size, complexity of the design, and demand for the artist who is creating it. Pricing for tattoos can vary widely, but $150 to $450 is a typical range.
However, the average tattoo tip in the U.S. is at least 15-20 percent. “A tip is a tip—we appreciate anything,” says Clifton. “But you can always follow the Golden Rule of tipping 20 percent of whatever your tattoo price was if you're not sure.”
But it is unethical to tip tattooers a few dollars as their service usually costs hundreds of dollars. It is generally accepted to tip 15-20% of total price to your tattoo artist. It means that from a $250 tattoo, you will tip $37.5-50.
On average you can expect to charge $50-100 for a small tattoo, up to $200 for a medium tattoo and over $250 for a large tattoo.
Smaller tattoos can involve a lot of intricate details, sometimes making them more expensive than a large tattoo of a simple image.
Expect about half an hour to an hour for a simple, small tattoo. Keep in mind, however, a small tattoo with lots of color, line work, details, or a tricky placement could take several hours. Small tattoos are great for people who don't want to go through a lengthy tattoo process, but still want some cool ink.
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
Areas that are more difficult to tattoo cost more, partly because they take longer to complete than a simple spot. If you want multiple colours of ink instead of just black, the pricing may change. More inks implies more supply expenses and more time the artist needs to commit in producing your tattoo!
Just as you would tip your waiter or hairdresser, it is polite to tip your tattoo artist for their time and skill. Of course, the amount you choose to tip is entirely up to you. A general guideline is to tip between 15-20% of the total cost of your tattoo.
But optimally, four to six hours is the limit. For one thing, you, as the person being tattooed, is going to run out of adrenaline and all those lovely chemicals the brain makes that are "natural opiates" which keep you from feeling pain clearly.
In short, yes, you should always strive to tip your tattoo artist. “Often, (tattoo artists) are renting a chair or space and give as much as 50% of their earnings to the shop owner,” Sinatra says.
Fine line tattoos are said to fade more aggressively than regular tattoos, though both tattoo styles will fade with time, and may need touch-ups. The longevity of your tattoo in either style relies on the location of the tattoo, how well you care for your skin, and the excellence of the tattoo artist you choose.
All tattoo ink migrates underneath our skin over time. If a tattoo is heavily detailed and is done too small, it will eventually turn into a black blob that is not recognizable. Please listen to your tattoo artist.
Color ink is not inherently more painful than black or grey ink. Getting a tattoo with color canbe more painful than a black or grey tattoo because some colors require more ink, which means thicker tattoo groupings and more passes over the same spot with the tattoo gun.
$50 tattoos are approximately one inch by one inch in black ink on arms or legs. Other areas of the body start at only $70.
Generally speaking, a well-cared for tattoo that has more fine lines will fade in fifteen years. Bigger, bolder lines can maintain their look for thirty to forty years plus if you got them when you were young and cared for them well.