Tattoo Cost Calculator
Pick a size and style, set your artist's rate, get a range.
Estimated price · USD
About 1-2 hours of tattooing
Estimate, not a quote. Your artist sets the final price.
Shop minimum
A tattoo cost calculator helps you plan a budget using size, style, an artist’s hourly rate, and the shop minimum. The result is an estimated range, not a quote. Placement, detail, color, and the number of sessions can change the final price. Always ask your chosen artist for an individual estimate.
What changes the price?
Size and style influence how much time a design may take. An artist’s hourly rate and a shop’s minimum charge then shape the budget. Detailed shading, complex placement, and extra sessions can increase the total.
A range for planning, not a quote
The calculator shows its assumptions and source examples alongside the estimate. A public example is not a regional standard. Ask your artist about their rate, minimum, and likely session length before committing to a budget.
How we estimate
Hours = size baseline hours × style factor. Each endpoint is hours × hourly rate, rounded to the nearest $10, then compared with the shop minimum; the larger amount is used. All prices are in USD.
Hours by size
Model reviewed 2026-10-16. Each row is a planning assumption.
| Size | Hours / basis |
|---|---|
| Tiny, under 2 in | 0.5-1 Assumption |
| Small, 2-4 in | 1-2 Assumption |
| Medium, 4-6 in | 2-4 Assumption |
| Large, 6-10 in | 4-8 Assumption |
| Half sleeve | 10-20 Assumption |
| Full sleeve | 20-40 Assumption informed by Tattoos by Spade; actual time can exceed 40 hours |
Style factors
- Lettering: ×0.8 (assumption)
- Fine line: ×0.9 (assumption)
- Traditional: ×1.0 (assumption)
- Blackwork: ×1.1 (assumption)
- Black and grey realism: ×1.4 (assumption)
- Color realism: ×1.6 (assumption)
Assumptions and limits
- Size hours and style factors are planning assumptions, not measured averages. Dimensions refer to the longest side; sleeve presets refer to coverage.
- The starting $100-$200 hourly range and $100 minimum are editable examples, not a local or national standard. Use your artist’s actual rates.
- This model applies one shop minimum to the whole estimate. Placement, detail, session minimums, setup, drawing fees, tax and tips are not separately calculated.
- Complex designs may take longer than the displayed range. Your artist’s consultation determines the final price.
Public sources
Examples from individual US studios, not a representative price survey. Confirm current rates directly with your artist.
- Lunatic Tattoo: Frequently Asked Questions
Vancouver, WA, USA. Artists charge $150-$200 per hour of active tattooing, with a $100 shop minimum.
Accessed 2026-10-16. - Well Made: Your Questions, Answered
San Diego, CA, USA. Typical hourly pricing is $200-$250 with a $150 shop minimum; smaller tattoos may have a flat price.
Accessed 2026-10-16. - Artifacts Tattoo Gallery: FAQs
Huntsville, AL, USA. The minimum for small tattoos is $100; larger, more detailed tattoos are $200 per hour. Finger tattoos have a separate $200 minimum.
Accessed 2026-10-16. - Tattoos by Spade: How Long Does a Sleeve Tattoo Take?
Waikiki, HI, USA. Half sleeves are described as 8-15 hours and full sleeves as 20-40+ hours. This supports the scale of the full-sleeve estimate, not a guaranteed maximum.
Accessed 2026-10-16. - Victory Tattoo NYC: Frequently Asked Questions
New York, NY, USA. Listed artist rates are $200, $250 and $280 per hour. The general minimum is $150; specified placements have a $180 minimum.
Accessed 2026-10-16. - Snake Eyes Tattoo: FAQ
Austin, TX, USA. Small tattoos start at a $100 minimum; artists charge $200 per hour for larger tattoos.
Accessed 2026-10-16. - Logan Square Tattoo: Booking Policy
Chicago, IL, USA. The studio publishes a minimum hourly rate of $200. No upper hourly rate is stated, so this source is excluded from the bounded-rate median.
Accessed 2026-10-16. - Austin Tattoo Company: FAQ
Austin, TX, USA. The shop minimum is $80 for areas such as arms and legs. Size, placement and detail affect the quote; no hourly rate is published here.
Accessed 2026-10-16.
Design reference to discuss with your artist — not a final tattoo or healed result.