Should I post my prices publicly?

Publishing a starting rate and a shop minimum filters out mismatched enquiries and saves everyone time. Keep exact quotes to the design brief.

How do I handle a client who says it's too expensive?

Offer a smaller design or a simpler approach at the same rate rather than discounting your hour. Discounting sets the price for every future booking with them.

Do I charge for touch-ups?

Many studios include one free touch-up within a stated window, provided aftercare was followed, and charge after that. Whatever you choose, put it in writing.

How do I price multi-session projects?

Quote per session with an estimated total number of sessions, and take a deposit for each date. It's more accurate than one large up-front quote and easier for the client to fund.

Money & policy

How to Price Tattoo Sessions

8 min read · Updated August 2026

Most artists underprice because they only count needle time. Your rate has to cover drawing, setup, cleanup, supplies, rent, no-shows, and the years it took to be worth booking.

Start from your costs, not the shop down the road

Add up monthly fixed costs — rent, insurance, software, utilities, supplies — then divide by the number of chargeable hours you realistically work in a month. That's your floor. Anything below it means you're paying to tattoo.

Pick the pricing model per type of work

Most studios use more than one, and that's fine as long as it's clear to the client up front.

Hourly: flexible, fair on unpredictable work, but penalises you for getting faster
Day rate: best for large custom pieces and travelling clients; simpler to quote
Per piece: right for flash and repeatable designs, and easiest for clients to say yes to
Shop minimum: covers setup, supplies and hygiene on the smallest jobs

Charge for what happens off the chair

Consults, references, drawing, and revisions are real hours. Build them into the deposit or the piece price and say so — clients accept it readily when they know what it's for.

Price the hard jobs as hard jobs

Cover-ups, reworks, scar work, ribs and hands, and heavy colour packing all take longer or carry more risk. Quote them above your base rate rather than absorbing the difference.

Quote a range, then confirm

Give a range at enquiry based on the intake form, then confirm the number after the design is finalised. That protects you from scope creep without scaring people off at the first message.

Know when to raise your rate

The clearest signals: booked out more than six weeks, almost nobody questioning your quotes, or your skill visibly ahead of your price. Raise for new bookings, honour existing quotes, and don't apologise for it.

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Frequently asked questions

Should I post my prices publicly?: Publishing a starting rate and a shop minimum filters out mismatched enquiries and saves everyone time. Keep exact quotes to the design brief.
How do I handle a client who says it's too expensive?: Offer a smaller design or a simpler approach at the same rate rather than discounting your hour. Discounting sets the price for every future booking with them.
Do I charge for touch-ups?: Many studios include one free touch-up within a stated window, provided aftercare was followed, and charge after that. Whatever you choose, put it in writing.
How do I price multi-session projects?: Quote per session with an estimated total number of sessions, and take a deposit for each date. It's more accurate than one large up-front quote and easier for the client to fund.

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