CostGuide

Beauty & Personal Care

Tattoo cost in the US

Nationally, Tattoo runs about $180 per hour. In the lowest-cost cities in this guide it is closer to $140, and in the highest-cost cities about $256.

Typical cost

Most people pay about

$180

per hour

On the low end
$100
On the high end
$300

Estimated from national price data. Not a quote.

What moves the price

  1. Artist demand
  2. Size
  3. Color
  4. Shop minimum
  5. Touch-ups

Ways to pay less

  1. Start small
  2. Ask about day rates for large pieces
  3. Tip on the session
  4. Confirm touch-up policy
  5. Avoid impulsing on flash if you want custom

Lowest-cost cities for Tattoo

PlaceTypicalRange
National typical$180
$100 to $300
Brownsville, TX$140
$78 to $234
Jackson, MS$144
$80 to $240
Laredo, TX$144
$80 to $240
McAllen, TX$144
$80 to $240
Shreveport, LA$144
$80 to $240
Amarillo, TX$148
$82 to $246
El Paso, TX$148
$82 to $246
Lubbock, TX$148
$82 to $246

Highest-cost cities for Tattoo

PlaceTypicalRange
National typical$180
$100 to $300
Honolulu, HI$256
$142 to $426
San Francisco, CA$252
$140 to $420
New York, NY$252
$140 to $420
San Jose, CA$248
$138 to $414
Sunnyvale, CA$245
$136 to $408
Santa Barbara, CA$241
$134 to $402
Cambridge, MA$237
$132 to $395
Fremont, CA$238
$132 to $396

Tattoo in every city

Typical estimate for each city. Open one for the full range.

District of Columbia
Mississippi
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Dakota

Questions people ask

Tattoo: what does it cost?

Across the US, Tattoo typically costs about $180 per hour, with most prices between $100 and $300.

Where is Tattoo cheapest?

Among the 250 cities in this guide, the lowest estimates are in Brownsville, TX, Jackson, MS, Laredo, TX, at about $140.

Is this a quote?

No. These figures are estimates built from national price data and each city's cost of living. A local pro will price your actual job.