Money & policy
How to Calculate Tattoo Artist Commissions
7 min read · Updated August 2026
Commission disputes are almost never about the percentage. They're about which sessions counted, what was deducted, and why this week's number looks different from last week's.
Choose the split and what it includes
Splits commonly land between 40% and 60% to the artist, driven mostly by who supplies what. An artist bringing their own machines, needles, ink and clients earns more of the ticket than one using studio equipment and studio bookings.
Define the base the percentage applies to
This is where disagreements start. Write down explicitly whether the split is calculated on the gross session price or after deductions.
- Card processing fees — studio absorbs, or shared proportionally
- Consumables — needles, ink, cartridges, aftercare products
- Aftercare or merch sold alongside the session
- Tips — almost always 100% to the artist; say so in writing
Handle deposits consistently
A deposit is part payment for a specific session. Count it toward that session on the day it's completed, not the day it was paid, or your weekly totals will never reconcile. For forfeited deposits, agree in advance whether the artist gets their share — many studios split them the same way, since the artist lost the slot too.
Pay on the same day, every time
Predictability matters more than frequency. Pick weekly or fortnightly, pick a day, and don't move it. Artists plan their lives around it.
Show the working
Give each artist a statement listing every completed session, the price, the split, the deductions and the total. Questions drop to almost nothing when the breakdown is visible, and payday stops costing you an evening in a spreadsheet.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is a typical tattoo commission split?
- Commonly 40–60% to the artist, varying with who supplies equipment and consumables, who brings the clients, and local norms. There's no universal standard, so write your terms down rather than assuming a default.
- Who keeps the tips?
- Almost always the artist. State it explicitly in the agreement so it never comes up.
- Should the split be calculated before or after card fees?
- Either works as long as it's agreed in writing and applied consistently. Sharing fees proportionally is common and feels fairest to most artists.
- How do I track commissions without a spreadsheet?
- Use the booking system as the source of truth: each completed session records its price and payment, so the commission report builds itself as the week runs.