Why Tattoos Cost What They Cost
A closer look at what goes into the price of a professional tattoo and what you’re really paying for.
There’s a lot more behind the price of a tattoo than just the time spent tattooing. From years of experience and custom design work to professional equipment, quality materials and a safe studio environment, plenty goes into creating a tattoo that looks great and is made to last.
Here’s what you’re really paying for when you book with a professional tattoo artist.
Why can tattoo prices vary so much?
Tattoo pricing isn’t simply based on the size of a design or how long you’re sitting in the chair. Different artists have different levels of experience, styles, equipment and ways of working, all of which can affect the price.
When you book a professional tattoo, you’re paying for everything that goes into creating it safely and to a high standard, much of which happens before you even arrive for your appointment.
Am I just paying for the time spent tattooing?
No. The appointment itself is only one part of the work involved.
Years of practice, training and experience allow an artist to make informed decisions about your tattoo, from adapting the design to suit the placement and your skin, to choosing the right techniques, line weights and level of saturation so the tattoo heals well and continues to look good over time.
That knowledge is built over thousands of hours of tattooing and is a big part of what you’re paying for when choosing an experienced artist.
Does designing my tattoo affect the price?
Yes. Custom tattoos often involve work outside of your actual appointment.
Depending on the piece, this can include researching ideas, drawing, creating different elements, adjusting proportions and preparing the design so that it works with the size and placement on your body.
Larger or more complicated projects can require hours of preparation before any tattooing begins, and that design time forms part of the overall value of the tattoo.
Do tattoo materials really cost that much?
A professional studio uses a large amount of specialist equipment and single-use supplies for every appointment.
This includes professional tattoo inks, needles and cartridges, gloves, barriers, cleaning products, stencil products, razors, dressings and other disposable items needed to carry out the tattoo safely.
Using reliable, professional-quality products costs more, but they’re an essential part of producing consistent work in a professional environment.
Why does hygiene affect the cost of a tattoo?
Tattooing requires strict hygiene procedures and professional equipment to keep both the client and artist safe.
This includes single-use needles and cartridges, protective barriers, disinfectants, PPE and the correct disposal of clinical waste. Studios may also use specialist equipment such as an autoclave, an expensive piece of equipment used to sterilise reusable items using high-pressure steam.
There are also ongoing costs involved in maintaining, testing and using this equipment correctly.
These are expenses that clients rarely see, but they’re an essential part of providing tattooing in a safe and professional environment.
What studio costs are included in tattoo pricing?
Like any professional business, a tattoo studio has ongoing costs that need to be covered regardless of how many appointments are booked that week.
These can include rent, electricity, water, insurance, licences, equipment maintenance, booking and payment systems, website costs, clinical waste collections and the general day-to-day costs of keeping a professional studio running.
There’s also time spent outside of appointments answering enquiries, managing bookings, ordering supplies and keeping everything organised behind the scenes.
So when you pay for a tattoo, the price doesn’t simply represent the hours spent tattooing or go straight into the artist’s pocket. It helps cover everything required to provide a professional service from your initial enquiry through to your finished tattoo.
Why does an experienced tattoo artist usually cost more?
Experience isn’t only about being able to create a good-looking tattoo on the day.
An experienced artist has spent years learning how different techniques work in skin, how designs need to be adapted for different areas of the body and how tattoos change as they heal and age.
You’re paying for that accumulated knowledge as well as the artist’s technical ability and creative skill.
Is a more expensive tattoo automatically better?
Not necessarily. Price alone isn’t a guarantee of quality, just as a cheaper price doesn’t automatically mean someone is a bad artist.
Rather than choosing purely by price, look at the artist’s portfolio, experience, healed work, consistency, style and whether their work is actually suited to the tattoo you want.
The aim should be to find the right artist, not simply the cheapest or most expensive one.
Why should I think about the long-term value?
A tattoo isn’t something you use for a few years and replace. It’s artwork that becomes part of your body and, in most cases, you’ll be wearing it for the rest of your life.
Good tattooing considers not only how the piece looks when it’s freshly finished, but how the design, detail and placement are likely to work over time.
When you look at the cost in that context, you’re investing in something you’ll potentially see every day for decades.
Should I choose a tattoo artist based on price?
Price can understandably be part of your decision, but it shouldn’t be the only factor.
Take the time to find an artist whose work you genuinely like, look through their portfolio and healed tattoos, and make sure you feel confident in their experience and approach.
If you need to wait a little longer or save a little more to work with the artist you really want, that’s usually a much better option than compromising on something that’s going to be permanent.
Still Have Questions?
Hopefully this guide has helped explain what actually goes into the cost of a professional tattoo and why pricing can vary between different artists and studios.
A tattoo is much more than the time spent in the chair. Design work, experience, quality materials, hygiene, professional equipment and the costs of running a studio all contribute to the final price.
If you have an idea and would like to know roughly what it may cost, feel free to send us an enquiry with as much information as possible, including the design idea, approximate size and placement. We’ll be happy to give you an estimate before you book.
Custom tattoos designed around you.
Creating meaningful artwork with honesty,
creativity and attention to detail.
Contact Us
Last Horizon Tattoo
85 High Street
Polegate
BN26 6AE
Phone 01323 301411
Email lasthorizontattoo@gmail.com
Studio Hours
Tuesday – Saturday
9:00am – 4:00pm