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Tattoo Prices & Tattoo Pricing Info

Everything You Need To Know About How Tattoo Prices Work

Tattoo Prices

Tattoo prices are set in either of two ways; either a set price up-front, or an hourly rate. This brief article is going to go over some of the factors involved in tattoo pricing as well as some general information regarding tattoo prices.

In terms of hourly rate you can expect to pay between $80 - $100 an hour depending on where you go. However, you should also know that not all tattoo prices are set at hourly rates. It usually depends on the parlor owner and the relationship or arrangement they have with their artists.

You should also be aware that most parlors have a minimum price, usually somewhere around fifty bucks. This is because it's not worth it for them to do the work for any less, even if it's only a five minute job like a dot or a fill-in. For you to be totally informed it's best if you have some background information about tattoo prices.

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Tattoo Prices & Tattoo Pricing - How It Works

Here's a brief explanation of exactly how tattoo parlors and tattoo artists actually work. Generally, tattoo places work just like hairdressers. The owner of the parlor will do one of either three things when it comes to the tattoo artists under their roof. They'll either rent out space on a monthly basis, pay a set wage, or take a percentage or commission.

However they work will have a direct impact on the tattoo prices they will charge you. For example if a parlor has a set wage then you will most likely be given a set rate per hour quote, or for more honest places this information will be publicly visible. If the prices aren't written down anywhere or publicly displayed this should be a warning sign that they'll probably make up a price on the spot depending on how much of a sucker you look.

Just like any profession, the really good tattooists cost the most. This is because they're usually very busy and the demand for their time is great. The top guys usually charge a set fee which they will discuss with you first once you explain to them what you want. The pros work like this because they are normally free lancers. You won't find the best guys working for anyone. It's just like hairdressing really, the business owners want the best artists in their premises to bring in the punters and raise their profile.

Beware of tattoo sharks and pretenders who will try and charge you a high one-off fee. A lot of the places which don't have standard fees or hourly rates will usually try and extract as much money out of you as they can. You'll usually be able to get the vibe from the person you're dealing with whether they are trying you on or not. You can try to bargain with them if you smell desperation, a lot of these guys are living on the bones of their arses. However, if you get the feeling that they're desperate or unprofessional then it's best to move on elsewhere.

Tattoo Prices and Colors

It's a common misconception that tattoos which require more colors will cost more. However this isn't true because the colored ink is the same price. The only justification you should accept for a higher quote for colors is when it's likely that the job will take longer because of the color changes and / or design aspects due to colors. Tattoo prices should only increase if the job is going to take longer with more colors.

Tattoo Prices Pros and Cons

Set tattoo prices are a good choice because you know right away how much it's going to set you back. You can relax more and the tattoo artist can also relax more because they're not under and time pressure and won't feel rushed. However, the downside is that you might have got it done cheaper if you went for the hourly rate job. If the tattoo takes them a lot less time then they originally thought then you could lose out.

Conversely, if you agree on a set price and the job ends up taking them a lot longer than they thought, they could end up getting agitated and start to rush or get sloppy.

If the tattooist is on an hourly rate or a wage they will be more likely to not worry about the time so much and do a better job. However, you must be advised that the very best tattooists don't work on an hourly rate. The best artists generally prefer to work for themselves, usually at a few different parlors, and charge a set price.