tigtools

Tattoo Price Calculator

Get a realistic price range to budget for a tattoo. Every factor is an assumption you can change; only the artist can give you a real quote.

Runs in your browser No sign-up

Estimate from
Units
cm
cm
cm²/h

Area of simple black linework an artist covers per hour. This varies a lot between artists and styles.

Design area: 80 cm² (width × height of the bounding rectangle).

Most studios charge a minimum, even for very small tattoos.

0 if touch-ups are included.

%

Estimated total including tip

184 – 288

1.3 – 2.1
Tattooing time (h)
160 – 250
Artist's price
24 – 38
Tip
1
Sessions

Detail, colour and placement multiply the time by 1.25. The range runs from 80 % to 125 % of the resulting estimate.

This is a budgeting range, not a quote. Rates, minimums, deposits and how long a design takes differ between artists, cities and styles. Ask the artist for a quote before you book.

How to use it

  1. Choose whether to estimate from the design's size or from hours the artist has quoted.
  2. Enter the artist's hourly rate and minimum charge (check their website or ask the studio).
  3. Pick the level of detail, colour and placement.
  4. Add a touch-up fee if there is one and the tip you plan to give, then read the range.

How it works

In size mode the calculator turns the design's area (width × height) into hours using the working speed, an editable assumption about how much simple linework an artist covers in an hour. In hours mode you enter the time directly. The hours are then multiplied by the detail, colour and placement factors, because shading, packing colour and stretchy or bony areas take longer.

The low end of the range is 80 % and the high end 125 % of that time, multiplied by the hourly rate. If the result is below the minimum charge, the minimum is used. A flat touch-up fee and the tip percentage (applied to the artist's price) are added on top. The number of sessions divides the hours by the session length you enter.

The multipliers and the default speed are rough rules of thumb, not industry standards. Many artists price large pieces per session or per day, or give a flat price for a design, so the real price can be outside this range. Use it to decide on a budget, then get a quote.

Examples

Small forearm piece

A 10 × 8 cm design with some shading on the forearm, black and grey, at 120 per hour: about 1.3 to 2.1 hours, so roughly 160 to 250 before the tip.

Artist quoted six hours

In hours mode, 6 hours at 150 per hour for a full-colour rib piece gives a wide range, because the multipliers for colour and placement apply to the time. Enter 6 and set detail to simple if the artist's estimate already covers everything.

Frequently asked questions

How are tattoos usually priced?

Most artists charge by the hour or by the session, with a minimum for small pieces. Some give a flat price for a specific design. Deposits are common and are usually deducted from the final price.

Why is the result a range and not one price?

How long a tattoo takes depends on the artist, the skin, breaks and the final design. A range from 80 % to 125 % of the estimated time is more honest than a single number.

How much should I tip a tattoo artist?

Customs differ by country. In the United States 15–25 % is common; in many other countries tipping is optional. Set the tip field to what is usual where you are.

In hours mode, should I still choose detail and colour?

If the artist's time estimate already reflects the design, set detail to simple linework, colour to black and grey and placement to easy, so the multipliers stay at 1.

Privacy

All calculations run in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.