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Tattoo Cost Calculator

A tattoo in the US usually costs the shop minimum of about $80–200 when it is under two inches, $150–400 at two to four inches, and $300–1,000 at four to six. Sleeves run from roughly $600 to $6,000 or more. Colour adds about 15–30%, and harder placements take longer.

Size
Detail
Ink
Design
Placement
Where you live
Estimated price (US)$190 – $280

About 1–2 hours at $150–250 an hour. Shop minimums run $80–200.

  • Size bands and the colour premium come from a 2026 US price guide.
  • Where a design sits inside its size band is our estimate from its detail level.

Tip not included. Your artist's quote is the real number — this is for budgeting.

Estimate what your tattoo will cost from its size, detail, colour and placement — with typical US shop rates and minimums, and every assumption shown.

How do you use the tattoo cost calculator?

  1. Choose the size

    From tiny (under two inches) to a full sleeve.

  2. Set detail, ink and placement

    Simple linework to realism, black and grey or colour, an easy or a harder spot.

  3. Read the range

    See a price range, rough hours and which parts of the estimate are assumptions.

How much does a tattoo cost? Typical US prices by size

SizeRoughlyTypical price
Tinyunder 2 in / 5 cm$80 – $200
Small2–4 in / 5–10 cm$150 – $400
Medium4–6 in / 10–15 cm$300 – $1,000
Large6 in+ / 15 cm+$500 – $2,000
Half sleeveshoulder to elbow$600 – $3,000
Full sleeveshoulder to wrist$1,500 – $6,000+

What actually sets the price

  • Time. Most of the price is the artist's time, so anything that adds time — size, detail, colour, a tricky placement — adds cost.
  • The artist. A sought-after artist can charge several times a newer one. You are paying for how the tattoo will look in twenty years, not just today.
  • The design work. A custom drawing usually adds a design fee or a higher deposit; picking flash from the wall, or bringing a clear reference, can save money.
  • Where you live. Big-city studios charge more and set higher minimums.

Ways to keep the cost down without regretting it

Bring a clear reference so the artist spends less time drawing — the AI tattoo generator is good at this. Choose black and grey if colour isn't essential to the design. Combine several small ideas into one session to pay the minimum once. What not to do: shop for the cheapest artist for something permanent. A cover-up later costs far more than paying for good work now.

Planning the full budget? Our guide on how much to tip a tattoo artist covers the tip, the tattoo size chart shows what each size looks like, and the tattoo removal cost calculator shows what undoing one can cost.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a small tattoo cost?

A tattoo under about two inches usually costs the shop minimum, which runs roughly $80 to $200 in most US markets and more in big cities. Two to four inches is typically $150 to $400, depending on detail, colour and the artist.

How much does a tattoo cost per hour?

A mid-level professional artist in the US commonly charges around $150 to $250 an hour, with in-demand artists charging more. Larger pieces are often priced by the hour or by the session; small ones by the piece.

Does colour cost more than black and grey?

Usually, yes — colour work tends to cost about 15 to 30 percent more than the same design in black and grey, because packing and blending colour takes longer.

How much does a sleeve cost?

A half sleeve commonly runs from about $600 to $3,000 and a full sleeve from about $1,500 to $6,000 or more, spread over several sessions. Realism and dense colour push it toward the top of those ranges.

Why do some placements cost more?

Ribs, hands, feet, the inner elbow, neck and face are harder to tattoo: the skin is thin or stretchy and the client moves more, so the same design takes longer. Since time is the main cost, the price goes up.

Is this calculator accurate?

It gives a realistic budget range from published 2026 US price guides, plus a few assumptions we label in the result. The only accurate price is your artist's quote, which depends on their rate, your design and how your skin takes ink.

Sources

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