Edited illustration based on a photograph by Romain Noiry / RamOne Tattoo.
Four ways to price a tattoo
| How | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Shop minimum | A floor price for any piece, however small | Covering set-up, single-use supplies and the slot |
| Hourly rate | A price per hour in the chair, stated up front | Large pieces over several sessions |
| Price per piece | A set price for the project, after talking it through | Medium custom pieces |
| Flash | A fixed price per design, shown with the design | Flash days and small pieces |
Whichever you choose, work out what an hour of the studio costs before you sell it: rent, supplies, insurance, drawing time and the hours with no client. A rate that forgets the drawing or the set-up is paid for on the big pieces.
Talking about price before the session
- Give a range when the request comes in, and a firm price after the consultation.
- For a piece over several sessions, give the price per session and how many you expect.
- Take a deposit to hold the date, taken off the final price.
- Put it in writing: the message where the client accepted the price beats anyone’s memory.
- Show your minimum and your hourly rate where clients can see them, on your site and in the studio. Many places require prices to be displayed.
Frequently asked questions
Should I publish my prices?
Publishing your minimum and hourly rate saves the questions and filters requests. Custom pieces can stay “on quote”, with the range you usually work in.
Is a price calculator a good idea?
It gives clients a rough idea, but placement, detail and skin change the time a piece takes: keep the final price for after the consultation.
