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Tattoo Deposit Calculator
How much deposit should you take to lock a tattoo appointment? Enter the total price, expected chair time, and how flaky the booking feels — we'll suggest a range that covers your design time without scaring the client off.
Suggested deposit
$125
Range: $75 – $200
- •Covers ~24% of expected chair value
- •Non-refundable to cover design time (48h reschedule window is standard)
- •Deducted from final invoice
How to set a fair deposit policy
A deposit does three things: it filters flaky bookings, it pays you for design time before the client sits down, and it psychologically locks the client into showing up. Under-price it and you'll still see 20% no-shows. Over-price it and you'll scare off first-timers.
Industry standard is 20–25% of total price, non-refundable, with a 48-hour reschedule window. For large pieces ($1,500+), a flat design fee of $150–$300 is often cleaner than a percentage.
Frequently asked questions
- How much should a tattoo deposit be?
- 20–25% of the total price is the industry standard, with a minimum around $50 for small pieces. For larger work ($1,500+), many studios take a flat design fee of $150–$300 instead. The deposit is non-refundable and comes off the final invoice.
- Are tattoo deposits refundable?
- Almost never. Deposits pay the artist for design time before you sit down and lock the slot on the calendar. Most studios allow one reschedule with 48 hours' notice, but a no-show or last-minute cancel forfeits the deposit.
- Why do tattoo artists take deposits?
- Two reasons: to filter flaky bookings (no-show rates drop from ~20% to under 5% with a deposit), and to pay the artist for the design hours that happen before the appointment.
- Do walk-in tattoos require a deposit?
- Usually no — the artist is already in the chair. For anything scheduled in advance, a deposit is standard.