Tattoo artists give a quote before booking, usually after a consultation by message, email, or in person. Clients compare hourly rates, the total price, and the deposit, but they also weigh portfolio and style, so the estimate should be clear about what is included and how the price could change.
When to use estimates: Use estimates to provide project quotes and get client approval before starting work. Once approved, convert your estimate to an invoice with one click to collect payment.
Create an invoice for payment collection
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Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
Size and body placement drive time and difficulty. Written details keep the final tattoo matched to the quote.
Fine line, realism, color packing, and heavy blackwork all take different amounts of time. Naming the style sets expectations on cost.
States whether the price is flat, hourly, or by the day, and how many sessions you expect so the client knows the overall commitment.
Clarify whether design time, revisions, stencil, supplies, and aftercare products are included or billed separately.
Makes clear what the client pays up front, how it is applied, and what happens if they cancel or reschedule.
Unlimited changes to a design can take hours. Setting a limit (for example, one or two rounds) protects your time.
Tells the client when free touch-ups end and how long the quote holds before your rates or availability change.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Shop minimum (small simple tattoo) | flat fee | $80-150 |
| Flash tattoo (small to medium) | flat fee | $100-300 |
| Custom tattoo work | per hour | $120-250 |
| Custom design and drawing time | per hour | $50-100 |
| Cover-up tattoo | per hour | $150-275 |
| Full-day session (large piece, 5-6 hours) | per day | $700-1,500 |
| Consultation (often credited toward the tattoo) | flat fee | $0-50 |
| Touch-up after healing window | flat fee | $50-150 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
Time is hard to predict on detailed pieces. Give a range or an estimated hours figure, and say you will confirm the price once the design is final.
Cover-ups, scar tissue, difficult body areas, and dense color work take longer and are more demanding. Price for the actual difficulty, not the size alone.
A shop minimum covers setup and supplies for small tattoos. Show it in your quote so clients understand why a tiny design is not a few dollars.
Say the estimate applies to the design the client approves. If they ask for a larger or more complex version, the price is updated before you start.
Yes. Many artists offer free consultations, while others charge a fee, often credited toward the tattoo if the client books. Decide based on how many consultations you do and how much time each takes.
For flash and small pieces, a flat quote is usually firm. For large custom work, treat the quote as an estimate based on size and detail, and note that the final price can change if the design is enlarged or the scope grows.
If you quoted hourly, bill the actual time and update the client as you go. If you quoted a flat price, honor it unless the client changed the design or asked for additional work, and keep that rule in your written terms.
Thirty to ninety days is common. Include an expiry date because your rates, schedule, and the design itself may change, and a deposit usually locks in the price for the booked date.
Use the Tattoo Artist invoice template to bill the client, or convert this estimate once it's approved.
Tattoo Artist invoice template