Pricing

** Updated 2022 **

This pricing is for me and me alone. Every artist is different, and things like length of career, notoriety, and area can determine how one charges. Some artists charge by the piece, by the hour or half hour, or even a hybrid of both depending on the piece or the client. I personally do a hybrid. I’ll discuss these concepts here.

My Minimum: $200
The minimum is just that; the minimum. A tattoo shop/artist requires a certain amount of income in order to function and well, exist. The minimum is there to maintain the studio when someone gets a procedure done, so the shop will survive, and even thrive. Generally, the artist will receive anywhere between 50-60% from the overall cost. Most modern tattoo artists have to purchase all their own supplies. This includes; barriers like bottle bags, clip cord covers, machine bags, dental bibs and barrier film for power supplies, and ink caps, pigments, needles, rubber bands, machines and power supplies. Those are just a few things, but there’s so much more. As an independent contractor, which is what tattoo artists are, they are also usually required to maintain their own websites, business cards, and advertising as they are technically their own bosses, and their own professional entity. All these things, and much more, can add up considerably. Don’t forget that your artist still needs to have money to take home to their families, and pay all those expenses as well.

** Since the Fall of Covid, supply chains and production have been affected tremendously. Everything from suppliers who supply artists, to the companies supporting the supply company, all the way to the people making those products, and those who make the materials for those products. There’s a lot of steps to produce the things we use, and because Capitalism, we’re not going to see these products drop in price any time soon.

Small-Medium: $200-500
Anything hand or smaller is considered “small-medium.” These are everything from a name on a wrist, micro, all the way up a portrait or more. These types of designs are generally more “simple,” but I can also do dynamic stuff like New School or Realism as well.

Larger+: $600-800
Anything larger than a hand is considered “large” and then there’s projects like sleeves, backs, chests (torso), sides, etcetera.

Hourly: $200/hour ($100/ Half Hour) & Custom Work
Everything I do is custom. I draw every single tattoo, even the littlest, most basic design. My custom work is a $200 minimum and generally takes around an hour to do. If they go beyond an hour, the hourly rate kicks in. Most times I do an estimate, I consider the time it might take and either do a small or large block. Most smaller pieces won’t take more than one session, but it does happen sometimes. I specialize in personal, and unique designs, and this is where the “custom” aspect comes in and I do my best work. I design every tattoo, for every person. These designs can be based on, or influenced by other works, but ultimately, I’m going to be doing my art, as it’s my product I’m putting out. Larger projects do require more time, and they will require multiple sessions; half sleeves, sleeves, backs, chests. With that, I don’t sit anymore than 4 hours on a single session; that’s what’s called a “Half Day.” Larger projects will require at least 3 hours in order to accomplish the most work possible to save time, and money. I am willing to go as low as 2 hours, but that rate will extend the amount of sessions, heal times, and will also add to the overall cost. Basically, I can do more in the second hour than I can in the first hour, and I can do more in the third hour than I can in the second. After four hours, I find myself slow down a bit, and having that feeling that I need to do something else. ADHD basically.

I will do multiple tattoos on someone. If someone wants to book out an entire day and do multiple tattoos, that is totally fine as long as they are able to sit through them. Each tattoo will be quoted individually. Some feel that they’re paying for just the supplies being used, and as long as there is ink in the cap, they can get as much work as that cap allows. This is wrong. You’re not just paying for the supplies, but the labor. You’re not paying for the ink, and the needles, and the paper towels, but the years behind the machine, the ability to make wonderful art come through on your skin. Quite a few people don’t understand this concept. I always say this, “If you go to McDonald’s and order two cheeseburgers, they’re going to charge you for two burgers. Doesn’t matter how fast the cook can make them, or the fact there’s 8 buns in a bag. The burger is 1.99. You’re going to pay 1.99 for each one.”

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