How Much Do Tattoo Artist Charge Per Hour?
Tattoo Cost Per Hour – Tattoo artists typically charge $75 to $250 per hour , with hourly rates averaging $120 to $150 depending on their skill level, the complexity of the tattoo, and how long of a waiting list they have. 
| Artist & Experience | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Beginner (1-3 yrs) | $80 – $120 |
| Established Artist (5-10 yrs) | $120 – $180 |
| Experienced Artist (10+ yrs) | $150 – $250 |
| Famous Artist | $200 – $500 |
For example, Floating Lotus Tattoo Studio in Portland has a flat rate of $140 per hour , with 12 years’ experience. Clay Tattoos in Austin, Texas, has a flat rate of $4 per minute. Good Tattoos Aren’t Cheap and Cheap Tattoos Aren’t Good. If you want it fast or cheap, it is almost definitely not going to be high quality. Most artists work at different speeds. As a general rule of thumb, a more seasoned and talented artist with five or more years of professional experience could be faster than a less experienced artist.
Contents
- 1 How does tattoo pricing work?
- 2 How do you price a tattoo?
- 3 How much would a 5 inch tattoo cost?
- 4 Is it okay to ask a tattoo artist about pricing?
- 5 Do tattoo artists get paid an hour?
- 6 What should a tattoo apprentice charge?
How much do most tattoo artists charge per hour?
Hourly – 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.
How much do tattoos cost in one hour?
Size Considerations – A small, simple quarter-sized tattoo could take an hour, where a large back piece could take seven or 10. Size matters in this equation, and it’s important to remember that time is also money. The longer it takes to finish, the more your piece will cost.
How much do tattoos cost in 2 hours?
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.
How much is a full sleeve tattoo cost?
How Much Does a Sleeve Tattoo Cost? – 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.
Most tattoo artists charge for their services by the hour. The amount that they charge is based on how popular or experienced they are, as well as the city they work in. Popular and experienced artists tend to charge higher rates, as do artists based in busy cities.
The average rate that tattoo artists charge per hour can be anywhere from $50 to over $200, with the U. average being around $80. Depending on the overall design of your sleeve, as well as how big your arm is, you can work out an approximate cost. Intricate and detailed designs on bigger arms will take more hours of work to complete.
Generally speaking, it should take a minimum of ten to fifteen hours to complete a full sleeve. However, as the size and detail of a design go up, so does the time it takes to complete. Some sleeves may take up to eighty hours from start to finish.
Factoring in the hourly rate of your tattoo artist, sleeves could cost anywhere between $2000 and $16,000. The only way to get an accurate picture of what a sleeve will cost you is to speak to your tattoo artist. Discuss the design you have in mind with a few different artists and see if there is any major difference in price.
How does tattoo pricing work?
Tattoo Prices – Average tattoo prices range from $30 to $100 for sizes under 2×2, between $100 and $200 for a 3×3, and around $250 or more for a 4×4 tattoo. Prices depend on where you live, the experience level of the artist, their hourly rates, and if it’s a custom tattoo.
How do you price a tattoo?
Factors of Average Tattoo Prices – There is a lot that goes into figuring out the cost of your new tattoo. It isn’t a straight forward answer. Things like materials, size, location, and type of tattoo affect the price. 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.
How much is a 4 hour tattoo?
Example Tattoos and Their Costs (All Prices and Lengths Are Estimates) – 
This tattoo is not too detailed and has a fair amount of negative (blank) skin. It took approximately 3-5 hours. Average price for a quality tattoo of this size would be $350 to $500.
Is a 3 hour tattoo session long?
Session Length – Another determining factor in how long a tattoo will take is session length. Longer sessions can mean fewer visits to complete a tattoo. With an expected 3 weeks between sessions, this can mean a huge difference in how long your tattoo takes.
That being said, it is not necessarily the best idea to book a long session right out of the gate. 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. Your tattoo may take a little longer to complete. But it is more important to get it right, have it heal, and end up with a tattoo you love. The longest tattoo session ever was 52 hours and 56 minutes.
How much do you tip on a $100 tattoo?
How much do you tip a tattoo artist per hour? – You generally tip tattoo artists 20% – 30% for the price of the service you’re paying for. So a $100 tattoo would include a $20 – $30 tip at the end of the session.
Do you tip a tattoo artist?
How Much to Tip – If you decide to tip, the next step is to calculate exactly how much to add to the final tattoo price. 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;
- Just like there is no one tattoo experience or price, there’s no one-size-fits-all tipping option;
- “The more you spend on the tattoo, the more you should tip, as they are putting more work into the piece,” says Fiore;
Weed, however, notes that there is one thing that every tattoo experience needs to have to warrant a tip: It needs to be great. Your artist is putting time into the behind-the-scenes of your tattoo, but it’s also their responsibility to ensure you’re comfortable and having a good time while it’s happening.
How much would a 5 inch tattoo cost?
Then, the detail level is important too – The next step is the detail level. Here you can find 4 options here: The last part of the calculator maybe is the most important one: The experience of the tattoo artist. We put here 4 different options for you:
- Beginner tattoo artist: Is for apprentice artists, from a few months to 2 years of experience.
- Established: For tattoo artists with an experience usually between 2 and 7 years.
- Experienced: The classic ones, usually with more than 10 years in the industry.
- Super Pro: This kind of artists that have a thing. They usually are talented and experienced.
If you have some questions, our comments are open for you! It depends on the country and on the level of the tattoo artist, usually, in the US, from $80/hour to +$300/hour. A standard 5″ tattoo may be about a couple of hours so, in the US, between $150 and $600. From $25 to $100 per hour (US Dollars). In the US, from $350 to $1000 dollars. Is a nice question, usually between 5 and 10%..
What’s the most expensive tattoo?
The most expensive tattoo in the world costs $924,000, and while most tattoos are drawn with ink, this expensive tattoo was created with diamonds – 612 diamond stones to be exact — with each weighing in at half a carat. Putting diamonds on someone’s skin is definitely not an easy job, it took time and patience.
Minki, the model in the photo, had to endure over eight intense hours of diamond placement or “tattooing” as artists carefully placed each stone onto her skin with a water-based adhesive. 612 stones had to be attached to her skin one by one.
Water adhesive was chosen for the world’s most expensive tattoo to ensure that the diamonds didn’t fall off but also didn’t get permanently attached to her skin. She certainly wasn’t going for a jog or taking a shower before her photo shoot. You won’t find this tattoo in Loveland, Greeley, Fort Collins, Windsor, Longmont, Denver, Lakewood or Colorado Springs.
You’re more likely to see tattoos that range from $100 – $2000 depending on the artist and size. Sometimes these tattoos don’t come out as you had intended and that’s where LaserAll comes to your rescue.
Located in Centerra in Loveland, LaserAll Laser Tattoo Removal Clinic are locally owned and operated by a Northern Colorado family. Now offering Laser Hair Removal with Zen Laser!!!.
Can you negotiate tattoo prices?
Negotiating or Criticizing the Price – This one is at the top of the absolute worst tattoo shop etiquette. Don’t negotiate the price. Tattoo artists will always quote you beforehand based on their time and the size of the tattoo. They want to make sure they get the design just right, so it’s better to pay for an extra half hour or so than to walk out with something that looks rushed and sub-par. 
.
Is it okay to ask a tattoo artist about pricing?
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.
Do tattoo artists get paid an hour?
HOW TATTOO PRICES WORK. Ask a Tattoo Artist
The average hourly rate for Tattoo Artist ranges from $18 to $22 with the average hourly pay of $20. The total hourly cash compensation, which includes base and short-term incentives, can vary anywhere from $19 to $24 with the average total hourly cash compensation of $21.
Do tattoo artists make good money?
Tattoos are a great bargain when you consider how long they last. Take the example of Ötzi the Iceman; this dude sported 61 tattoos on his 5,300-year-old mummified body, which was discovered in the Alps. Tattoo artists can make good money because they do everything from infinity symbols on fingers to stunning full body designs.
What should a tattoo apprentice charge?
Legitimate and established tattoo artists charge what they’re worth, so you’ll never see a truly talented artist charging $200 for a full sleeve that would easily be worth $1000+. If you can’t afford the work you’re hoping to get, at the quality that you’re hoping to get, wait until you can. Shopping for discount tattoos will almost always guarantee that your next tattoo will be a cover-up. Asking shops and artists for discounts is insulting and will never get a positive result, so avoid going this route if you’re expecting a legitimate artist to work with you.
- There are a few exceptions for tattoo discounts, but it rarely applies to custom designs;
- Many tattoo shops will be flash sales for special occasions like Friday the 13th, so check artist and shop social media pages if you want some new ink, but aren’t looking for anything custom;
You can also seek out apprentices to do your next tattoo and get a discounted price. Tattoo apprentices typically don’t charge for work, as it’s considered practice to grow their portfolio and gain experience, but tips are always appreciated. Keep in mind that a lot of apprentices, depending on how long they’ve been apprenticing for, don’t take on custom designs right away, so you may be looking at flash designs for this as well.
It doesn’t hurt to ask if it’s possible to get custom work done if you come across a shop with apprentice work that you like. This would likely only apply to smaller pieces, and nothing like full sleeves or large tattoos.
As with any quality work of art, you’re going to get what you pay for, so doing research and saving up until you can afford the level of excellence that you want in a tattoo is always the best way to go. Expecting to walk into a reputable studio and get a talented artist to give you a tattoo for a discount is insulting, and never goes the way you want it to.
How do you know if a tattoo artist is ripping you off?
