How to Price Your Tattoo Work (Without Underselling Yourself)

Pricing is where a lot of talented artists quietly sabotage themselves. They charge what the artist down the street charges, or what they're afraid the client will accept, instead of what the work is actually worth. Then they wonder why they're exhausted and broke. Let's price like a business.

Hourly vs. by the piece

There are two main models, and good artists use both depending on the job.

Hourly

You charge a set rate per hour. Best for large, multi-session, or unpredictable work where you can't know the exact time up front. It protects you when a piece runs long, but it can penalize you as you get faster — the better you get, the less you make per tattoo, which is backwards.

By the piece

You quote a flat price for the whole tattoo. Best for flash, small-to-medium custom work, and anything you can estimate confidently. It rewards speed and skill, and clients love knowing the total up front. The risk is under-quoting a piece that turns into a marathon.

How to set your actual rate

Your hourly rate isn't a vibe — it's a calculation. Work out what you need to make, then price so a realistic week gets you there.

• Add up your real costs: booth rent or shop split, supplies, insurance, phone, software, taxes. This is your overhead before you've made a cent.
• Decide your target take-home. What do you actually need to earn per week to live and save?
• Count your realistic billable hours. Not 40 — nobody tattoos 40 hours. Maybe 20–25 of a working week is actually needle time.
• Do the math. (Overhead + target take-home) ÷ realistic billable hours = your floor rate. Never price below it.

If you're always booked out, you're too cheap. A waitlist is the market telling you to raise your rate.

Set a shop minimum

Small tattoos take more overhead than their size suggests — setup, stencil, cleanup, and paperwork cost the same for a tiny piece as a big one. A minimum (commonly $80–$150) makes sure a quick job still covers your time. State it clearly so nobody's shocked when a "tiny" tattoo isn't $20.

Don't forget the deposit

Your quote and your deposit work together. The deposit locks the appointment and comes off the total. If you're fuzzy on deposit amounts and policies, our deposit guide breaks it down — but the short version is 20–30% or a flat $50–$150, non-refundable.

How to raise your prices without losing clients

Raising rates feels scary and almost always goes fine. The trick is doing it with confidence and a little notice:

1. Give your regulars a heads-up. "Rates are going up on the 1st — anything booked before then is at the current price." This rewards loyalty and creates urgency.
2. Raise in steps. Small, regular increases are easier to absorb than one giant jump every three years.
3. Let your work justify it. Post your best pieces. Price increases land easily when your portfolio is clearly leveling up.
4. Don't apologize. State the new rate plainly. The clients worth keeping will pay it.

You will lose a few of the most price-sensitive clients. That's the point — they're replaced by clients who value the work, and you make more while working less.

The bottom line

Price from math, not fear. Know your floor rate, set a minimum, quote by the piece where you can, back it with a deposit, and raise your rates in steady steps as your work improves. Undercharging isn't humble — it's just working harder for less.

Frequently asked questions