How to price your tattoo work

Pricing tattoos is notoriously difficult. Every piece is unique, clients have different pain tolerances (affecting session length), and the line between art and service is blurry. Here's how to price your work profitably and fairly.

Hourly vs. flat rate pricing

Both models have their place. Understand when to use each.

Hourly pricing

Best for:

• Sessions over 2 hours

• Complex, custom work

• Large pieces with uncertain completion time

• Clients you haven't worked with before

Typical hourly rates: | Experience Level | Rate Range | |-----------------|------------| | Apprentice | $80-120/hr | | Junior artist (1-3 years) | $120-180/hr | | Experienced (3-7 years) | $180-250/hr | | Senior/specialist | $250-400/hr | | Top-tier/celebrity | $400-600+/hr | Hourly pricing tips:

• Quote a time estimate, not a final price

• Under-promise, over-deliver on time

• Include breaks in your estimate

• Be transparent about your rate

Flat rate pricing

Best for:

• Flash designs

• Small pieces (under 2 hours)

• Walk-ins and simple work

• Repeat designs you know well

How to calculate flat rates: Estimated hours x Hourly rate + Design time + Profit margin Example:

• Estimated time: 1.5 hours

• Hourly rate: $180

• Design time: 30 min ($45)

• Total: $315, round to $325

The minimum charge

Every session has fixed costs regardless of size:

• Setup and breakdown time

• Supplies (needles, ink, barriers)

• Your chair time

Set a shop minimum:

• Small studios: $80-120

• Established studios: $100-150

• High-end studios: $150-200+

Never tattoo for less than your minimum—even for tiny pieces.

Pricing custom designs

Custom work deserves additional compensation.

Design fee structure

| Complexity | Design Fee | |------------|------------| | Simple (flash modification) | $0-50 | | Custom (single element) | $50-100 | | Complex (multiple elements) | $100-250 | | Large-scale (sleeve, back) | $250-500+ |

Design fee policies:

• Collect design fee before drawing

• Non-refundable if client cancels

• Applied to final tattoo price if booked

• Covers 1-2 revisions typically

Day rate pricing

For large pieces and collectors, day rates simplify everything.

Day rate calculation:

• Working hours per day: 6-8 hours

• Your hourly rate x hours

• Slight discount for commitment (10-15%)

Example:

• Hourly: $200/hr

• 7-hour day: $1,400

• Day rate: $1,200-1,300

Day rate benefits:

• Predictable income for artist

• Predictable cost for client

• No clock-watching during session

• Builds collector relationships

Specialty pricing

Some styles and techniques deserve premium rates.

Premium-priced specialties

• Fine line and micro-realism

• Geometric and mandala work

• Watercolor techniques

• Cover-up and rework

• Blackout/heavy saturation

• Hand-poke

Why premiums are justified:

• Higher skill requirement

• Longer execution time

• More prep work

• Limited artists who can do it

Geographic considerations

Location significantly impacts pricing.

Adjust for your market:

• Major cities (Sydney, Melbourne): Higher rates sustainable

• Suburban areas: Mid-range rates

• Regional/rural: Lower rates, adjust for travel

Tourist/destination studios:

• Can charge premium (traveling clients expect it)

• Flash collections move quickly

• Walk-in pricing can be higher

How to raise your prices

Your skills improve. Your costs increase. Your prices should too.

When to raise prices

• Fully booked 6+ weeks out

• Skills have demonstrably improved

• Costs have increased

• Annually, at minimum

How to raise prices

Decide new rate (10-25% typical increase)

Apply to new clients immediately

Honor deposits already collected at old rate

Announce professionally (optional)

Sample announcement: "Beginning [date], my hourly rate will increase to $[X] to reflect my continued growth and investment in my craft. Clients with existing deposits will honor their quoted rates."

Deposits and payment flow

A clear payment structure protects you and sets expectations.

Standard flow:

Consultation: Free or $25-50

Design deposit: $50-200 (for custom work)

Session deposit: 10-25% of estimate

Final payment: At end of session

Accepted payment methods:

• Cash (many artists prefer)

• Card (Square, Stripe, etc.)

• Venmo/PayPal (for deposits)

Clear policies on:

• Deposit refund windows

• Payment due at end of each session

• Splitting payments for large pieces

Handling price objections

Tattoo clients shop around. Here's how to handle pushback.

"That's more than I expected" "I understand—quality tattoos are an investment. My rate reflects my [experience/training/style]. For your budget, we could discuss a smaller piece or simpler design." "Another artist quoted less" "Rates vary in this industry. I'm confident in the quality and experience I provide. You're welcome to explore other options and come back if you'd like." "Can you do it for [lower price]?" "I don't negotiate on my rates—they're set to reflect the quality of my work. But I'm happy to adjust the design scope if budget is a concern."

Common pricing mistakes

Pricing based on other artists alone: Your value is unique

Not charging for design time: Your drawing is work

Underpricing to fill the chair: Attracts bargain hunters

No shop minimum: Tiny tattoos aren't worth the setup

Quoting exact prices for custom work: Always estimate

Not raising prices as you improve: Undervalues your growth

Discounting for friends excessively: Sets bad precedent

The confidence factor

Many artists struggle with pricing because:

• "I'm not as good as [other artist]"

• "My clients can't afford more"

• "I'm lucky to do this for a living"

Your art has value. Your skill has value. Your time has value. You literally put yourself into people's skin permanently.

Charge what you're worth. The right clients will find you.