What will your tattoo cost?
A price range built from how long the work takes, what the artist charges per hour, and the shop minimum, with every assumption shown underneath so you can argue with it. United States, 2026.
How the estimate is built
Most studios price one of two ways: a flat price for small or flash pieces, or an hourly rate for custom work, with a shop minimum that applies however small the design. The calculator estimates how many hours your size and detail usually take, multiplies by the hourly range for the artist level you picked, applies a city adjustment and a colour surcharge, and never goes below the shop minimum. Then it adds the tip.
| Input | Assumption |
|---|---|
| Hours by size | Tiny 0.5 to 1 · Small 1 to 2 · Medium 2 to 4 · Large 4 to 8 · Extra large 10 to 25 (several sessions) |
| Detail | Simple ×0.8 · Moderate ×1 · Complex ×1.4 on hours |
| Colour | ×1.3 on the hourly rate (colour is quoted at roughly $150 to $300 an hour against $100 to $200 for black and grey) |
| Hourly rate | Junior $50 to $100 · Established $100 to $150 · Senior $150 to $300 · Expert $300 to $500. After the city and colour adjustments the rate is capped at $600 an hour, the top of the published New York range. |
| Shop minimum | $80 to $150, scaled by city |
| City | Multipliers from published hourly ranges: New York ×1.5, San Francisco ×1.6, Chicago ×1.2, Miami and Seattle ×1.15, Los Angeles ×1.1, Houston ×0.9, small town ×0.8 |
| Flash | ×0.7 (flash is priced by the piece and is typically 30 to 50 percent cheaper than custom) |
| Tip | 15 to 25 percent, 20 percent benchmark |
The rate ranges, shop minimums, city figures and tipping norms are taken from Airtasker's US tattoo pricing guide, last updated 1 October 2026, which compiles industry and third-party rates. The hours-by-size table and the multipliers are this site's own simplification so the inputs can be combined; they are rounded and deliberately wide. Real quotes also depend on placement (ribs, hands and necks cost more because they are slow and painful), on how booked the artist is, and on the deposit and consultation fee, which are usually credited against the final price.
What is not in the number
- Aftercare, about $15 to $50 for ointment and wash.
- Touch-ups: many artists do one free within a few months; otherwise $50 to $200.
- Design time: some artists bill custom drawing separately at $25 to $100 an hour, most fold it into the first session.
- Cover-ups run at the higher end of hourly rates, typically $150 to $300 an hour, and take longer than a fresh piece of the same size.
- Cancellation: expect to lose half to all of the deposit if you cancel late.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a small tattoo cost?
Usually $70 to $200 in 2026 for something 2 to 3 inches across, more in a boutique studio in New York or San Francisco. The shop minimum, typically $80 to $150, is what you pay even for a tiny design, because setting up sterile equipment costs the same whatever the size.
How much do tattoo artists charge per hour?
About $50 to $100 for a junior artist, $100 to $150 for an established one, $150 to $300 for a senior artist and $300 to $500 or more for a well-known name. Big-city rates run higher: New York studios commonly quote $150 to $600 an hour.
Why is lettering cheaper than a picture the same size?
Clean lettering is line work with no shading, so it is quick: a forearm name is often done within the shop minimum or the first hour. That is also why the font generator on this site matters: the font and size you choose change the price far less than they change how the tattoo ages.
How much should I tip?
15 to 25 percent of the final price; 20 percent is the usual benchmark in the US. For a $300 piece that is $45 to $75.
Should I negotiate?
Not on the hourly rate. You can affect the price by simplifying the design, choosing black and grey, picking a flash design, or booking a less senior artist at the same studio.