How much should I tip a tattoo artist?
Tip 15 to 20 percent of the session price as a default. Tommy's Supplies, a tattoo supply retailer, calls 20 percent the most common standard in its tipping guide and puts 20 to 25 percent for exceptional work, long sessions and artists who accommodate changes. A Brooklyn artist quoted by InStyle in June 2023 gives a wider 15 to 25 percent.
The sources differ by a few points, so use the number as a guide and let the session decide where you land. Tipping is a thank-you. Both artists in the InStyle piece say a tip is not necessary, and the article says it should reflect the service, not the time spent or the style of the tattoo.
- Tommy's Supplies (May 2026): 15 to 20 percent of the session cost, 20 to 25 percent for exceptional work
- InStyle (June 2023): one Brooklyn artist says 15 to 25 percent of the total cost, another puts the average at 20 percent, especially in New York City
- Logan Square Tattoo, a Chicago studio (February 2024): 10 to 20 percent, more for exceptional results
What does a tattoo tip look like in dollars?
On a $300 tattoo, 20 percent is $60. The table below shows the tip at 15, 20 and 25 percent for the prices tattoos usually land at: small pieces of 2 to 4 inches run about $150 to $400 and medium pieces of 4 to 6 inches about $300 to $1,000 in the 2026 US price guide behind our tattoo cost calculator, with shop minimums running $80 to $200.
Work the percentage out on the price of the session, which is what Tommy's Supplies bases it on. Tommy's does not mention deposits. Our suggestion is to count a deposit as part of the price and tip on the full amount. Add the tip to your budget from the start, so the total is not a surprise on the day.
| Tattoo price | 15% | 20% | 25% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $80 | $12 | $16 | $20 |
| $150 | $23 | $30 | $38 |
| $300 | $45 | $60 | $75 |
| $500 | $75 | $100 | $125 |
| $1,000 | $150 | $200 | $250 |
| $2,000 | $300 | $400 | $500 |
When should I tip more, and when less?
Tip toward 25 percent when the artist went beyond the job, and toward 15 percent when the session was merely ordinary. Tommy's Supplies names three situations for tipping more: exceptional work or a complex custom piece, a long or demanding session of 4 hours or more, and an artist who made significant accommodations for you.
Tipping less is for a session that fell short, such as an artist who was dismissive or unprepared. Tommy's Supplies says that tipping less because the final price was higher than expected is not appropriate, since the price and the service are separate things. The Brooklyn artist in InStyle adds that a tip is not needed if you did not feel at ease or the result differs from what you discussed.
- More: exceptional work, a complex custom design, 4 hours or longer, significant accommodations made for you
- Standard: a good, professional session
- Less or none: you were not listened to, or the tattoo is not what was discussed
- Not a reason to tip less: the price turned out higher than you hoped
Should I tip a tattoo artist in cash or on a card?
Cash is the better choice when you can manage it. Tommy's Supplies says cash tips are strongly preferred in professional studios because card payments may carry processing fees that reduce the artist's share. If you have no cash, ask the shop whether it takes card tips and who receives them.
Tommy's Supplies adds that tips typically go directly to the artist rather than being shared with the studio. Bring the cash in the amount you worked out beforehand, in bills that make the rounding easy, and hand it over at the end of the session.
How do I tip on a piece that takes several sessions?
Tip at the end of each session, based on that session's price. Tommy's Supplies calls it the most appreciated approach, and Logan Square Tattoo calls it customary. You are thanking the artist for that day's work, and the tip does not depend on how the full piece ends up.
A $500 session tipped at 20 percent is $100. A piece with 6 sessions at $500 each comes to $100 per visit and $600 in tips over the whole project, which is worth planning for next to the $3,000 price. Our cost calculator sizes a half sleeve at $600 to $3,000 and a full sleeve at $1,500 to $6,000 or more.
Do I tip for a touch-up?
A touch-up you pay for is tipped like any other session, at the usual percentage of its price. For a free touch-up covered by the artist's guarantee, Tommy's Supplies suggests a tip of $20 to $50.
Do I tip a tattoo artist abroad?
Do not assume the US figure travels. Logan Square Tattoo, a Chicago studio, says tipping is much more common in the US than in other countries, and that in Japan it can be taken as an insult because it implies the price was not fair.
We did not find a source that gives a tipping norm for the UK, Australia or Europe, so we do not give one. Ask the studio when you book. If the answer is that tips are not expected, take that as the answer, and thank the artist in words instead.