It’s difficult to give an exact price of a tattoo until the artist had a chance to meet you in person and go over all the details, but a price estimate can be given based solely on the style and size of the tattoo, keeping in mind that other factors such as placement, level of detail, the artist’s skill level, etc… those will also influence the final cost of a tattoo.
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Each tattoo is unique and different and prices will vary depending on a number of criteria. If you want to get a good idea of how much your tattoo will cost, use this handy guide.
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Quality isn’t (always) more expensive
People are sometimes worried that getting a tattoo from a professional, quality tattoo artist will be very expensive, so they opt for a cheap, local shop, or worse, go to a home tattooist.
By going down that road, you are risking not only getting a bad tattoo, but also health-related risks are significantly higher. Unskilled tattooists also take longer time to complete a tattoo, so they might end up charging you even more than you’d pay in a professional setting. Eventually, a bad tattoo will cost more. As we often see, with time bad tattoos get even worse, and removal and cover up costs will be significantly higher than a good, solid tattoo would have been.
How Much Will The Tattoo Cost?
Pricing of a tattoo can get really complicated really fast. The best thing to do when talking to an artist about getting a tattoo, is to ask what their minimum charge and hourly rates are, followed by a rough estimate of the tattoo you’re looking to get depending on the style, size and placement. The prices below are rough estimates based on quotes given from tattoo artists in London. You should also consider other costs, such as a tip for the artist, tattoo after-care products, or even tattoo removal.
Tattoo Cost Based on Size
Size matters when it comes to tattoos, but it’s not the only factor when determining the cost of the tattoo. Anyhow, you can get a pretty accurate idea of what the price of the tattoo will be based on the expected size. Keep in mind, complex designs will increase the price, as will colour or any other additional elements.
The average cost of a tattoo in The UK is £130, and depends a lot on the size of the tattoo. A small tattoo, outline of a wave on your ankle or a paper plane on your wrist are usually priced in the £60 – £80 range. Go a bit larger, credit card sized tattoo, and you’re in the £100 – 150 range. Palm sized tattoos will usually be priced at around £150 – £250, while hand sized tattoos can go from £200 – £300.
A design covering your forearm will set you back anywhere from £300 to £500 if your design is very detailed, same goes for similarly sized areas. You can get a fairly detailed half-sleeve for about £500. A full sleeve? Start at £1500 and keep adding up, depending on the design, size of your arms, and other factors.
All the prices in this article are based on price quotes given by some of the best tattoo artists in London through our platform, January 2020.
| Tattoo Size | in | Tattoo Cost (range) |
|---|---|---|
| XS – Tiny Tattoos | 1”x1” | £60-£90 |
| S – Small Tattoos | 2”x2” | £90-£150 |
| M – Medium Sized Tattoos | 4”x4” | £150 – £300 |
| L – Large Tattoos | 6”x6” | £350 – £550 |
| XL+ – Extra Large Tattoos | 8”x8” | £700 + |
Let us help you with your tattoo. Get assistance from experts and a free consultation with tattoo artists in your area.
Minimum Charge for a Tattoo
The base cost of any tattoo is the minimum charge set by each tattoo artist. It ranges between £60 and £100 with most artists (depending on their hourly rate), and it covers the time it takes to set everything up for you, sometimes will also cover the cost of a small tattoo.
Hourly Rate of the Tattoo Artist
When you’re getting a tattoo, no matter how big or small it is, you are paying for the artist’s time. There’s no universal answer to “How much is it per hour for a tattoo?”
For large pieces, tattoo artists will charge you by the hour, in the United Kingdom a tattoo artist’s hourly rate is usually in the £60 – £150 range, depending on the artist’s skill level, experience, style they are doing and, of course, demand. Sought after artists, whose books are full months in advance, can afford to charge higher rates. Good news is, you can still get the same level quality from an artist with lower rates, but some research will be required on your part, or you can use Inkably to find a great artist in your price range.
Design of the Tattoo
Complexity of the design will greatly influence the final price of the tattoo. The more detail you want to include in your piece, the longer it will take for the tattoo to get done, increasing the cost. Pre-designed, or flash tattoos will cost less than a custom design.
Details will also influence the size of the tattoo, the more things you want to include, the larger the design needs to be to keep it all legible and to stand the test of time – ink will spread with time, and details can get blurry, depending on the style. To simplify, simpler tattoos = lower price, complex tattoo = higher price.
Placement of the Tattoo
Where on your body the tattoo will go also influences the pricing. There are areas that are more difficult to tattoo, where the skin is thicker, or where the skin is very delicate, it all affects the time needed to get the tattoo done. Placement is something the artist will consider when providing you with an estimate of the cost, but it’s not a significant factor that will greatly influence the final price.
FAQ
How much does a half sleeve cost?
Tattoo artists in London (UK) will charge about £500 for a fairly detailed half-sleeve tattoo.
What is the price of a full sleeve tattoo?
A full sleeve? Start at £1500 and keep adding up, depending on the design, size of your arms, and other factors.
What is the average cost of a tattoo in The UK?
The average cost of a tattoo in The UK is £130, and depends a lot on the size of the tattoo, level of details included, and the artist you are getting the tattoo from.
How much does a small wrist tattoo cost?
A tiny tattoo, outline of a wave on your ankle or a paper plane on your wrist are usually priced in the £60 – £80 range.
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