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CostHelper.com > Health & Personal Care  > Tattoo

Tattoo Cost

How Much Does a Tattoo Cost?

low costMedium: $75-$150 per hour

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Typical costs:
  • Most tattoo artists charge an hourly rate that varies from about $75 to $150 an hour, according to Bill Johnson, executive office director of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists..
  • The length of time it takes to do a tattoo can vary from one to many hours, depending on the size and complexity of the design. Tattoo artists in large urban areas tend to charge on the higher end of that range, or even more, while those in small towns often charge the lower rates.
What should be included:
  • The tattoo artist will create a stencil of the client's chosen design - usually using a special machine - and will then disinfect the tattoo site and transfer the stencil onto the skin. Then, the tattooist will pour ink into the tattoo machine, which has tiny needles that inject the ink into the skin. Using the machine, the tattoo artist will first trace the outline of the tattoo, then add color and shading. Tattoo.About.com offers an overview of the process.
Additional costs:
  • Some tattooists charge 10 percent to 25 percent extra for work on a part of the body that is more difficult, such as the lower back. And some artists will charge extra for custom designs, but it is more common to ask for a deposit of about $50.
  • If you are unhappy with your tattoo, having it altered or tattooed over might cost hundreds of dollars and removal is even more expensive - up to $10,000 in some cases.
  • Your tattoo will fade over time, so you probably will have to get it touched up in the future.
Discounts:
  • Because tattoos can be difficult and expensive to remove, it is important to choose an artist based on quality, rather than on price. And for regular customers or someone who is getting a lot of work done, some artists will offer a lower hourly rate.
Shopping for a tattoo:
  • Tip: Keep an eye out for people who have tattoos that appeal to you, and ask where they got them done. Because tattooists are artists, your choice will be subjective and partly based on your taste and sense of aesthetics. The Alliance of Professional Tattooists provides an online pamphlet with advice on choosing a tattooist. When you find a tattooist, ask about qualifications and experience, and take a look at a portfolio.
  • Tip: To minimize health risks, make sure your tattoo artist has been certified by the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, a non-profit organization that uses a strict set of standards to make tattooing as safe as possible. Also, learn about the health risks, which are minimal, but still exist, in tattoo parlors that follow strict sanitation guidelines. The National Institutes for Health provides an overview of the possible risks, which include infection, allergic reaction to dyes, and exposure to bloodborne diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Also, check with your state and local health departments to see how tattoo parlors are regulated in your area.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
 
Article updated November 2006
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Recent Posts
Amount: $80.00 Total tattoo
Posted by: Kevin Chaison in riverdale, GA.Purchased: June, 2008
Tatto Description: skullTime Total: 45 mins
i want to remove it
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Amount: $80.00 Total Tattoo
Posted by: Taylor Ashley Dakers in Springfield, MA.Purchased: March, 2009
Tatto Description: AcornTime Total: 1/2 hour
I love it.
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Amount: $375.00 Total Recent tatto at Vintage tatto in L.A.
Posted by: ciretalu in Los Angeles, CA.Purchased: June, 2009
Tatto Description: Aztec SerpentTime Total: 2.5
I got a tattoo of an Aztec Serpent so that the tongue could go over an area of a chinese character I have and adding a square underneath the character to change the character from saying \"weed\" (which I obviously regret getting) and changing it to my last name, \"Tang\". I\'m half Chinese and Mexican that\'s why I have a chinese character and aztec serpent.
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Amount: $80.00 Total Tattoo
Posted by: Noelle in Waco, TX.Purchased: September, 2008
Tatto Description: Ambigram "faith and hope"Time Total: 1/2 hour
It was on my lower left hip. lower than my pants line. the only time I started to squirm is when they got close to the nerve endings on my backside. other than that love tattoo its my first of many!
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Amount: $500.00 Total Large Tattoo
Posted by: Tatiana in Phoenix, AZ.Purchased: July, 2009
Tatto Description: Large Peacock on RibTime Total: 5 hrs
Original piece drawn by tattoo artist. Beautiful, intricate, peackock and roses surrounding my Right ribs and lower back.
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Amount: $250.00 Total :)
Posted by: stash in miami, FL.Purchased: February, 2007
Tatto Description: smile now cry laterTime Total: 1 hour and a half
A nice orginal piece by the artist :]
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Amount: $120.00 Total Tattoo
Posted by: Kspice in Stillwater, MN.Purchased: February, 2010
Tatto Description: Mudvayne triangleTime Total: 2 Hours
From one of there CD covers
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Amount: $150.00 Total Just an outline
Posted by: Tokaloosa in Crestview, FL.Purchased: March, 2009
Tatto Description: Lord of the Flies Hog headTime Total: 20 or 30 min.
A little suspicious about the price, but I love the tattoo. Don\'t know If I should go to the same guy to get color.
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Amount: $500.00 Total Large Tattoo - First time
Posted by: ced in Atlanta, GA.Purchased: March, 2010
Tatto Description: Tribal ArtTime Total: 8.5 hours
This was my very first tatto. An orginal piece took some ideas from a popular tattoo website. The tattoo starts at my right shoulder and end at my lower ab... It was super painful, but totally worth it.
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Amount: $0.00 Total Selecting Now
Posted by: josette in ATL, GA.Purchased: 2010
Tatto Description: considering cherry blossoms on branchTime Total: 0
what should this cost in ATL? (about 8 in. curved with black, blue, red/pink ink) upper right breast-bone to shoulder)
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Amount: $480.00 Total Large portrait on leg
Posted by: Staci in Cary, NC.Purchased: 2010
Tatto Description: Mark Ryden's "Rose"Time Total: 4-5 hours
Fairly large, intricate portrait. Black and red ink.
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