How much should a tattoo cost per hour?
Tattoo shops commonly charge by the hour, with quality artists generally charging between $100 and $250 per hour ($150 per hour is the industry standard). A full sleeve might take over 15 hours: At $150 per hour, that could end up costing $1500, not including the tip.
On average, tattoo artists charge $100 to $250 an hour, although in certain cases, high-profile tattoo artists charge more. Consider how in-demand your prospective artist is, based on factors such as their number of Instagram followers as well as awards given to the studio or artist, which can help determine rates.
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. It can be very expensive to get elaborate and large tattoos.
2 Hour Tattoo Size
At first glance, this roughly 6-7 inch tattoo (by our estimates) is quite detailed and looks like it would take hours to complete.
| Tattoo Artist | $ Hourly Rate | Full Sleeve |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice or Beginner (1-3 yrs) | $80 - $120 per hour | $800 - $1000 |
| Solo Tattoo Artist (3-5 yrs) | $120 - $150 per hour | $1200 - $1500 |
| Established Artist (5-10 yrs) | $150 - $180 per hour | $1500 - $1800 |
| Teaching Artist (10+ yrs) | $150 - $220 per hour | $2000+ |
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. However, consider this number a baseline, as some tattoos require more or less work than others.
Average tattoo prices range from $30 to $100 for sizes under 2x2, between $100 and $200 for a 3x3, and around $250 or more for a 4x4 tattoo. Prices depend on where you live, the experience level of the artist, their hourly rates, and if it's a custom tattoo.
Many artists find it extremely rude if you try to haggle the price of a tattoo. Though negotiating the price of some goods and services is normal, haggling with your artist over the cost of a tattoo is typically seen as unacceptable and insulting.
Small tattoos usually take under an hour to make. Palm-sized tattoo would take from one to three hours to make. Hand sized tattoo can take up to 5 hours to make. Full sleeve tattoo can take 6-10 hours to make.
Tattoo Artist Salary
Tattoo artists make $51,867 per year on average, or $24.94 per hour, in the United States. Tattoo artists on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $24,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $108,000.
How long can you sit for a tattoo?
When they were done, they both looked halfway dead. So, yeah, if you want to get tattooed by someone at a convention or when you're visiting somewhere far from home, the ordinary rules do get thrown out the window. But optimally, four to six hours is the limit.
Bring a phone charger, headphones, portable game device, book – whatever will keep you busy and help time go by faster for you. It's also a good idea to bring a water or beverage with you. Some shops will recommend a beverage with a good amount of sugar in it to help your body endure the tattoo.
A large tattoo might be 5 inches by 8 inches on your back, making it a 40 square inch tattoo. Full sleeves are often measured between 100 and 160 sq inches, while half sleeves are around 50 to 60 square inches. If you already have an area in mind, measure your body's location that you want the tattoo.
A full-sleeve tattoo will usually cost between $2,000 and $4,000. These tattoos are so expensive because they can take many days to complete depending on size and detail. If you're getting a sleeve tattoo containing many colors, expect to pay even more than this.
A tap out session is any tattoo regardless of size, subject or detail. It could consist of one large tattoo or multiple tattoos. This day is designed to get as many tattoos in a single session within STUDIO HOURS.
Tattooing is a unique, personal service, just like getting a piercing, having your nails done, etc. Such services almost always accept cash payment because they're related to body art, and paying for body art with a credit card is simply a bad idea.
It could be that the tattoo artist that you go to see is having a bad day or has been treated badly by another customer. There could be lots of reasons why they seem to be being rude towards you. However, it could just be their way and they don't mean anything by the abrupt way they speak to people.
Location and tattoo prices in the UK
In London, hourly rates tend to be around £150, however, in Leeds, you'd be looking to pay between £80 – £100 an hour for a good tattoo. The average daily rate in the north of England is around £500 and in the south, it can be anywhere between £600 – £800.
If you are getting your first tattoo, 3-5 hours is probably as long as you should go. Everybody has a different pain tolerance for tattoos, and on your first visit, you won't know how long you can handle. After the first session, you may decide you are able to handle longer tattoo sessions. If not, that's okay.
What Size Is 4×4 Tattoo? The 4×4 tattoo size chart is equivalent to 3.5″ x 3.5″ on a canvas. A key thing to note is that this ink does not fall into tiny or small categories. So you can enjoy high visibility when getting a 4×4 tattoo size.
What tattoos take an hour?
Small tattoos usually take under an hour to make. Palm-sized tattoo would take from one to three hours to make. Hand sized tattoo can take up to 5 hours to make. Full sleeve tattoo can take 6-10 hours to make.
