Tattoos, like anything worth having, don’t come for free! Getting a tattoo is an investment, and one worth putting your time and money towards, but that doesn’t mean the cost of getting a tattoo is always straightforward.

When considering the question “how much does a tattoo cost,” there are three perspectives to consider: the client perspective, the artist perspective, and the tattoo studio perspective. Each of these sides of the tattoo process affects what the ultimate price of your tattoo will be. Some other factors that go into determining the price of a tattoo include the size, detail, placement, and style of the tattoo

If you’re ready to book your next tattoo session but are wondering about the price, here are some things to do as you get started:

Have a Budget in Mind

If you don’t have a budget in mind before you start talking to your tattoo studio, it’s difficult to determine what the cost of a tattoo will be. It’s easiest to compare this process to calling around to different grocery stores and asking what a bag of groceries at their store will cost. There are numerous different grocery items you could use to fill a bag at the store and depending on what you choose the cost will be different. If you have a budget, though, that helps to determine what exactly you’ll be purchasing from the grocery store. Similarly, when you call up your tattoo studio, there are a lot of things that can go into your particular tattoo design and can factor into the cost of the tattoo. If you have a budget, however, that can help your tattoo artist determine what would work best for you.

Be Creative and Don’t Copy

The beauty of getting a tattoo is that it can be unique to you! Don’t go into the studio with a particular image or concept in mind. Instead, go into your consultation with a general idea of what you want and a few images for inspiration. Then, let the tattoo artist interpret what you’d like in their own way. Be sure to understand the tattoo artist’s style and techniques as you discuss your tattoo, but be open to suggestions.

Something to keep in mind is that many tattoo studios have different tiers of tattoo artists ranging from apprentices to master tattoo artists. Depending on the tattoo artist’s experience level, your tattoo can range in cost. For Certified Tattoo Studios, the cost varies depending on both the artist and the tattoo itself, but can range from $100 to over $250 per hour. This is why talking to your particular tattoo studio to get a good idea of pricing is so important before you schedule your session!

Invest in Yourself

You’re going to be looking at your tattoo every day for years to come, so think about how valuable that is to you. Getting a tattoo is an investment in yourself and your own skin, and for many people that means spending several thousands of dollars on a tattoo is worthwhile. Having incredible, museum-quality artwork on your skin is an investment that will keep giving for years to come, so go into the tattoo process with the mentality of making a long-term investment!

Tattoo pricing can be a little murky, and that’s because there are so many factors that go into the tattooing process. It’s best to go into your tattoo studio with a budget in mind, a flexible design idea, and the mentality that you’ll be making a worthwhile investment in yourself. If you go into the process with these things in mind, you’ll be on the right track to getting the perfect tattoo. If you’re ready to start the process, schedule a free consultation with our expert team at Certified Tattoo Studios today.