Tattoo artists bill clients for custom and flash tattoos, cover-ups, touch-ups, and design time. Most work in a shop as a booth renter or commission artist, or run their own private studio, so the invoice often has to separate the artist's fee from deposits, shop fees, and tips.
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Tattoo pricing is usually either hourly or per piece. Most artists set a shop minimum (often $80-150) that covers setup, needles, ink, and sanitation supplies even for a tiny tattoo. Small flash designs are typically a flat price. Larger custom work is billed by the hour, or quoted as a flat fee for the whole piece, and big projects like sleeves and back pieces are often charged per session or by the day (a half-day or full-day rate). Custom design and drawing time may be built into the price or billed separately. A non-refundable deposit is nearly universal and is applied to the final total. Cover-ups and heavily detailed work such as realism or fine line often cost more per hour because they take more skill and time. Touch-ups are commonly free for a set window (such as 3-6 months) and billed after that. Tips are customary in the US and are usually handled separately from the invoice total.
| 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.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom forearm tattoo, black and grey botanical piece, session 2 of 2 | 3.5 hours | $175.00 | $612.50 |
| Custom design and drawing time | 1.5 hours | $75.00 | $112.50 |
| Studio supply fee (needles, ink, barrier film, aftercare) | 1 flat fee | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| Deposit received at booking (credited) | 1 credit | -$100.00 | -$100.00 |
| Total | $650.00 | ||
Notes: Balance due at end of session. Deposit was applied to the total. Free touch-up within 4 months of completion if needed. Cash, card, and Venmo accepted. Tips are appreciated and not included in this total.
Large pieces take multiple sittings, so the client and you both need a clear record of which session each charge covers.
Confirms what was done and where on the body, which protects against disputes and helps with future touch-ups or cover-ups.
Shows how the total was reached and matches the quote the client agreed to before you started.
Deposits are standard, and the invoice should show the credit so the client sees the correct balance due.
If you charge for custom artwork, listing it separately avoids confusion and makes clear that design time is distinct from needle time.
If you charge a setup or supply fee, or the shop takes a booth or commission fee, itemize any client-facing portion so it is not a surprise.
States the free touch-up window and the client's responsibility to follow aftercare, which limits disputes over healing issues.
Tattoo work is nearly always paid at the end of each session, with a non-refundable deposit taken at booking, commonly $50-200 or a percentage of the estimate for larger pieces. Deposits are applied to the final session or the total. Multi-session projects are usually billed session by session, with payment due the day of service rather than on net-30 terms. Cash, debit and credit cards, and mobile payment apps are all common. Many artists charge a rescheduling or no-show fee, or forfeit the deposit if the client cancels without notice (often 48-72 hours). State your policy in writing when booking. If you send a later invoice for design work or a completed piece, due on receipt is typical.
A deposit holds the date and protects your drawing time. Say clearly that it is non-refundable and that it is credited to the final price. Get the client to confirm the policy in writing before you take payment.
Either build it into the tattoo price or list it as its own line. If you draw a large custom piece and the client walks away, a design fee or a deposit that covers drawing time keeps that work from being free.
For sleeves and back pieces, a day rate or per-session price is easier for clients to budget than an open-ended hourly total. Note on each invoice how many sessions you expect remain.
Tips are income and, in the US, are generally reportable. Keep them separate from your fee in your records so your books and any split with the shop stay accurate.
Write the length of your free touch-up period on each invoice. It sets expectations and gives you a clear reason to charge when a client returns after the window or for changes that are not touch-ups.
Both are common. Flat prices work well for flash and small to medium designs where the time is predictable. Hourly or day-rate pricing works better for large, detailed, or cover-up work where the time is hard to predict. Whichever you use, tell the client before you start.
Most artists treat deposits as non-refundable and credit them toward the final price. Rules about this vary by state and shop policy, so state your terms in writing at booking and have the client agree before paying.
It depends on your state and locality. Some states tax tattoo services and others do not. Check with your state's tax agency or an accountant, and if tax applies, show it as a separate line.
Bill each session on its own invoice with the date, hours or session rate, and any deposit credit. Add a note on the number of sessions completed and what remains, so the running total is clear.
Keep tips off the service total and record them separately. Clients often tip in cash or through an app after the session. Keep a record for your own bookkeeping, since tips are generally taxable income.
Send a Tattoo Artist estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Tattoo Artist estimate template