“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.”
So, how much do you tip a tattoo artist? While there's no hard and fast rule, most people tip between 10% - 20% of the total cost of their tattoo. If you're unsure, you can always ask your artist for their opinion. It's important to remember that tipping is not mandatory, but it's always appreciated.
The general consensus in the tattoo community is that 20 percent is the typical amount to tip — just like at a restaurant or a hair salon.
How much do you tip for a $1,000 tattoo? You would tip around $200 - $300 for a $1,000 tattoo. So, the final price you'd expect to pay for the service is $1,200 - $1,300.
“Some tip less, and some are very generous." For instance, you might wonder how much to tip for a $500 tattoo. In this case, tipping anywhere from $75 to $125 would be appropriate. If you're getting smaller art done or maybe a touch-up for $100, tipping anywhere from $15 to $25 fits the bill.
Tattoo shops operate similarly to other service-oriented businesses, such as restaurants and salons. Just as you would tip your waiter or hairdresser, it is polite to tip your tattoo artist for their time and skill.
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.
“But you can always follow the Golden Rule of tipping 20 percent of whatever your tattoo price was if you're not sure.”
What percentage is usually a good amount to tip a tattoo artist? In the US a standard tip for a tattoo artist is 20% similar to other service industry jobs. That being said, if you feel an artists work is above and beyond it is more than ok to go over that!
When do you tip? If you are getting a multi-session piece you might pay for the entire tattoo at once but you should spread the tip out over each season. Think of it this way, each time your artist does some work they deserve a tip. Plus it's easier on the pocketbook to spread that out over a couple of sessions.
For anyone thinking about getting a tattoo, there's one important thing to remember: always have enough cash on hand to tip your artist. A good rule of thumb is to plan on tipping at least 20% of the total cost of your tattoo. So, if your tattoo costs $100, be sure to have at least $20 in cash ready to go.
Sit still!
If you might have trouble with pain, consider a numbing cream in advance of getting tattooed (ask your artist first). If you're jumpy, you're wasting tattooing time and risking mistakes. Generally though, you're stressing out the artist which can mean not getting their best work. Don't move unexpectedly.
A medium sized tattoo the size of your palm or hand could take from around 2-3 hours to more than 5 hours to tattoo. This once again depends on the complexity of the design, colors, and body placement. Tattoos that are about the size of your palm are a little bigger and take more time.
Sometimes your artist will be fine with you watching shows or movies to help kill time and keep you distracted from the pain. However, we ask that if that's the case, bring headphones and be cognizant of how loud the volume is.
Plus, many artists offer free touch-ups after the tattoo is completed. (Just make sure to tip your artist, even for a complementary touch-up session!)
If the tattoo costs around $400, tip between $80 and $100. If the tattoo costs around $500, tip between $100 and $125. If the tattoo costs around $800, tip between $160 and $200. If the tattoo costs upwards of $900, tip a minimum of $150 or higher.
Most artists will appreciate any tip, but on average, 10 to 20% is a good tip amount. Depending on you level of appreciation for the work, I've had tips run anywhere from 50% to 100% of the tattoo cost. Artists remember these individuals, and do their utmost to produce exceptional results for them in the future.
Half-Sleeve Tattoo Cost
The average cost for a half-sleeve tattoo is $500 to $1,500. It can span either the bicep or the forearm.
A full sleeve tattoo can cost anywhere from $1000 to $6000, depending on the hourly rate of the artist and how much time the art takes to complete. For a design in full color, expect to spend at least two full days sitting for the piece, or be prepared to sit for multiple sessions.
Explain that a tip is calculated by multiplying the total amount of the bill by the tip percentage expressed as a decimal. ° For instance: The total bill for a service is $27. The percentage to tip is typically 15% (0.15), 18% (0.18), or 20% (0.20).
Lighter inks like yellows, reds, oranges, whites, and any pastel tones tend to fade a bit more quickly than darker inks. Some white inks and pastel inks have trouble lasting longer than five years. Watercolor tattoos also tend to fade faster as the ink is lightly colored and very fine.
Tattoo artists hate when clients don't trust the process, schedule something immediately after their appointment, or go to the beach right away. Showing up intoxicated or not listening to your artist's suggestions will make the tattooing process unpleasant.