3 of 8

Write now Article Tools

As a proud wearer of eleven tattoos, which range from a "Holy Hell, why did I get that?" to, in my humble opinion, the greatest tattoo of all time, I have visited more than my share of tattoo shops all over the country. My brother is a tattoo artist, so I consulted with him to see if there was any good way to explain that there is no accurate "pricing guide" that people should go by when they're looking to get inked.

There are only three things you need to know so that you'll be sure you're getting the best tattoo for your money.

HOW DO TATTOO ARTISTS GET PAID?
Most shops operate under the "independent contractor" philosophy, which means that the artist isn't actually an employee of the shop. When they're at work, they pay the owner of the shop to use the room or chair that they're in - it's usually flat fee which the artist has to pay regardless of whether he or she does any tattoos or not.

Each artist is free to set their own price within a range of guidelines set by the shop owner. Artists first decide how much work they'll be putting into your tattoo, how much the supplies will cost them (they pay for their own ink, needles, machines, and sterilization equipment), and how long it will take.

GEOGRAPHY AFFECTS TATTOO PRICING.
Big city tattoo shops often charge more for the same work you'll get done at one on the outskirts of town, because they've got a large number of impulse buyers coming in. Shops in popular vacation hot spots charge an arm and a leg to do your ink, because vacationers love to be able to say, "Yeah, I got this one in Waikiki."

Prices vary greatly from state to state, too - a tattoo that costs $150 in Arkansas will be upwards of $300 in California, for example.

DO SOME COMPARISON SHOPPING.
Don't commit yourself to the first shop you find when you're ready to get inked.

Take your tattoo idea (unless you've got a picture - then bring that) to a few different shops and have the artists there give you an estimate. Don't only consider price, though - you'll need to see each artist's portfolio before you can make an informed decision.

It helps to get input from tattooed family and friends at this point. If your cousin Jim got his whole back done for a hundred dollars, but it's horrendous, don't take his recommendations.

Now that you've got as much information as you're going to get before you actually visit some shops, it's time to go get inked! Don't forget the basic rule of tattoo etiquette, either - if you're happy with their work, appreciate them with both words and cash. They're artists, so they like to hear praise; they're also moms and dads who have bills to pay (tattoo supplies are very expensive), so a little tip goes a long way the next time you want to get inked.

Learn more about this author, Angie Papple.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about A tattoo pricing guide?
We want to hear your view. Write now!