BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Body Art pricing on tattoos?

I tried searching the forums and the body art site, bubt didn't see this anywhere - my apologies if I've missed it.

Is there any way to know an "average" price of tattoos. I've been saying for over a year I want one (got my design drawn and everything). I was just waiting until my weight loss had stabilized - so I know I'm not going to sag or stretch too much.

But, how much do these things cost? We're on a tight budget right now, so I'm probably going to have to save. I know I can't get an exact quote, but wondering what some other's had cost.

it just depends. if you know the artist they might not charge you the "average", if you are a newbie, they might charge you more. regulars they tend not to charge a lot.

Size, color, location, intricacy, time it takes, and geographic area play into them.

I have one that is about 2.5"x2" and it is only in two colors.. a triangle and an equal sign, and that one cost me 40 bucks. My dragon which is two tone red and black, intricate and is about 11"X 5" cost me (because I knew the artist and had other work done) only 350. Normally it would cost near 700. Mine have all ranged from 40-500. Total value of all twelve of my tats... about 1000 so far and still going.

hope that helps some. You can always shop around for a quote first then save. That is the simplest way to do it.

Ugh - I'm an ink "virgin" - guess that means I'll get raked.

Here's a rough draft of the design I drew out.

a phoenix carrying a lantern???

Yep! Both are aspects of my fighting depression.

Phoenix is pretty obvious - get torn down, start back over. But the lantern is a symbol of hope - which was the thing that was lacking the most when my depression was at its worst.

I have an angel carving called "Hope" and she carries a lantern - that's what geve me the idea.

That's why I want this tattoo - it's very personal. Not just going to get a rose inked on my ankle.

Very good significance. I want to do a phoenix as well to symbolize my rebirth from my problems as a child and a young adult. Conquering my Bi Polar, my OCD, suviving my lovers death, my parents, and my best friends.

They are quite powerful symbols.

There's no article on that because every single tattoo artist is a freelance artist who sets their own pricing.

I've got work on me that cost $40-$50 and I've got work that was $300-$400. Tattooists sometimes set a minimum to cover the equipment and set-up. Smaller tattoos are often priced by the piece and larger work that covers multiple session is most often priced by the hour. However there is no standard for what those rates are.

The only way to get any sort of accurate estimate is to go get a consultation from the artist you are thinking of having do your tattoo. They will let you know their pricing and variations.

From what I have been told, and I have a friend who owns a shop, is that no matter what the size is, it should never cost less than 40 dollars. His reasoning was this: to have clean needles (or new if they are disposable), fresh ink, etc. it costs about 40 dollars. So if they are charging less than that, they are either losing money ( i don't imagine most businesses are willing to do that) or they are not keeping their stuff clean.

Skeeter

Yea I have heard the 40 dollar rule before too. The best best is to shop around at a couple of different places. For my piercings when I had them done afew years back, I checked with everyone in the state I knew that had any work done there, checked all their prices, asked my friends every question I could think of. I think you should do the same, just with people with tatt's. Also, if you can (I know some will, some wont) during a consult, ask for references.

Hi Michelle,

I'm new here, too ... and I was an ink virgin until this summer.

I love your design and the significance of it. Very powerful!!

I got a small tat in the middle of my back ... also a symbol of my struggle with my depression. It's about 3" x 3" and it cost me $80. It was my design so I just brought it in to the artist I chose and he made a stencil of it. Now, I thought I had done my homework on the artist, but apparently not good enough. I had a lot of scabbing on part of it even following his aftercare suggestions to the letter. I ended up going to my husband's tattoo artist for a touch-up and paid another $40 for her to fix it. I could have gone back to the original artist for a free touch-up ... but I just didn't trust it. The second healing was totally problem-free.

My DH had a large tribal armband done around the same time by a different artist. He also was an "ink virgin." She drew up his design, so for the artwork and the tat it was $400 (that was for the consultation/placement discussion, the artwork, the tattoo itself and a touch-up 6 weeks later). He spent about 4 hours in her chair the first time and about an hour for the touch-up. Her minimum was $50. She's an "in-demand" artist and the wait for her work was about 2 months!!

Congrats on the weight-loss, too! That is a feat in-and-of-itself!

Take Care,
Dana