Upper arm piece, 10 × 8 cm
Input Simple shading on the upper arm, $150 hourly rate, $80 shop minimum, 20% deposit.
Result 12.4 in² → about 1.5 hours → $223 quote, $179–$268 range, $45 deposit.
Tattoo Price Calculator
Everyday LifeTurn tattoo size, placement and detail level into an hourly estimate, a price range and the deposit to expect.
Your inputs
Result
Estimated price
—
- Estimated hours — h
- Range low (−20%) —
- Range high (+20%) —
- Deposit to pay —
- Design area — cm²
Change any input and the result updates instantly.
Formula and rules
- Area = length × width
- Hours = max(0.5, area in in² × 0.12 × placement factor × detail factor)
- Price = max(shop minimum, hours × hourly rate)
- Range = price × 0.8 to price × 1.2
- Deposit = price × deposit percentage
- Placement factors: arm 1.00, forearm 0.95, back 1.15, chest 1.10, ribs 1.30, leg 1.00, hand/neck/foot 1.25
- Detail factors: line work 0.80, simple shading 1.00, detailed shading 1.25, realism 1.45
Worked examples
Back piece, 25 × 20 cm
Input Detailed shading, $180 hourly rate, $100 shop minimum, 25% deposit.
Result 77.5 in² → about 13.4 hours → $2,407 quote, $1,925–$2,888 range, $602 deposit.
Wrist lettering, 4 × 3 cm
Input Line work, $120 hourly rate, $80 shop minimum, 20% deposit.
Result The 0.5-hour minimum applies, so the shop minimum of $80 sets the price: $64–$96 range, $16 deposit.
FAQ
Why is a tattoo priced by the hour instead of by size?
Two designs of the same size can take very different amounts of time. Packed colour, fine linework and difficult placements all slow the artist down, so most studios quote hours plus a shop minimum.
How accurate is this tattoo estimate?
Treat it as a planning range, not a quote. Artists vary in speed, some charge by the piece, and a custom design may include drawing time. The ±20% range reflects that spread.
How much deposit should I expect?
Most studios ask for 10–30% or a fixed amount, and the deposit usually comes off the final price. Confirm the cancellation policy before paying, because deposits are often non-refundable.
Disclaimer: Results follow the formula shown on this page and are for reference only. Real-world quantities vary with materials, technique and conditions, so allow a margin before ordering.