What Is the Typical Price Range for Tattoos? Explaining the General Pricing System

Over the past few years, the popularity of tattoos in Japan has increased explosively. As a result, the number of tattoo artists has also grown, and there are many different styles and price ranges. Since prices vary greatly depending on the artist, tattoo studio, design, and size, it is difficult to give an average price, but I hope this will be helpful as a reference.

Tattoo Prices Are Usually Based on an Hourly Rate

Tattoo pricing is basically determined by the amount of time needed to complete the tattoo.

For example, if you ask an artist who charges 15,000 yen per hour to do a tattoo that requires 3 hours × 2 sessions, the total cost would be 90,000 yen.

Some tattoo artists set fixed designs and prices in advance for simple work. Also, most tattoo studios and artists set a minimum charge separate from the hourly rate. In many cases, this is around 5,000 to 15,000 yen.

The following is only a rough guide, but here is a table of hourly rates by experience level.

About the Deposit

Most studios require a deposit. This is basically like a deposit, where you pay part of the fee in advance at the time of consultation → booking. If you are getting tattooed on the same day, a deposit may not be necessary, but in general it is required.

The deposit will be deducted from the procedure fee on the day.

For example, if the tattoo price is 70,000 yen and the deposit is 10,000 yen, you will pay the remaining 60,000 yen on the day of the session.

Be aware that if you cancel, it will not be refunded.

Factors That Affect Tattoo Prices

The factors that affect tattoo prices include the following.

Tattoo Size

Tattoo prices are mainly determined by size. Fine and large tattoos take time and are more demanding. Therefore, the price also becomes higher.

Tattoo Design

The design can also change the price. Tattoos such as portrait tattoos (realistic human portraits), which require fine detail and accuracy, tend to be more expensive because they are difficult and take more time to tattoo. On the other hand, simple designs such as logos or lettering may be done relatively cheaply.

Tattoo Color

This may overlap with design, but the price may also vary somewhat depending on color. A colorful tattoo with vivid gradients takes more time than a monochrome tattoo.

Tattoo Placement

The price may also change depending on the placement of the tattoo. For example, areas that are generally more painful, such as the palm, side of the torso, or back of the head, may take more time than other places. For example, a session that would take 4 hours in a less painful area might need to be split into 3 hours × 2 days in a painful area because of the burden on the client.

For that reason, some artists set additional fees depending on placement as well as size.

The Tattoo Artist’s Popularity and Skill

Unless it is a large studio, tattoo pricing is basically set by the individual tattoo artist. For that reason, popular artists who are always booked, or artists with high skill, tend to have higher hourly rates.

On the other hand, less popular artists or up-and-coming artists may have lower prices.

Additional Charges

In other special situations, additional charges may apply. For example, in cases such as cover-ups, the design is more difficult than usual, so the price relative to the size is often higher than the general market rate.

Average Prices / Typical Price Range

As mentioned earlier, tattoo prices are determined based on procedure time, but here are a few examples as rough guides.

One-Point

A tattoo that fits within the size of a 500-yen coin is called a one-point tattoo. Many shops charge around 5,000–15,000 yen. If it is a really tiny design, some shops may do it for around 3,500 yen.

Ankle

The ankle is one of the popular placements. You can generally get one for around 10,000–40,000 yen.

Shoulder

Even when we simply say “shoulder,” the price varies depending on the size and design. For a design like the one in the image, it would probably be around 30,000–80,000 yen.

A Full Arm

If you completely fill one arm with tattoos, it will cost around 200,000–500,000 yen.

Tribal Tattoo

Because tribal tattoos often have intricate designs, they tend to cost more than other tattoos even at the same size. For a detailed design like the one in the image, tattooing one full round below both knees would cost around 500,000–1,000,000 yen.

Tips About Tattoo Pricing

Here are a few tips for getting a tattoo you will be satisfied with at a reasonable price.

Research the Tattoo Artist Properly

Unless you absolutely want this specific artist to tattoo you, check their past work, the designs they specialize in, and their pricing system. It may also be a good idea to contact them by phone or LINE before actually visiting the studio. This can help you learn the general price range for the design you want.

Don’t Be Lured Only by Low Prices

Don’t let cheap pricing lure you into asking an artist you don’t really like, or compromising on the design. In many cases, you will probably regret it. A tattoo is for life. Make sure you get a design you are satisfied with from an artist you truly like. If your current budget is too tight, I recommend saving money rather than compromising and getting it anyway.

Use Discounts

Some tattoo studios may run campaigns. Also, if a studio has apprentices, their rates are usually lower than the master’s. For simple designs such as lettering, there are often many cases where a non-professional eye cannot tell the difference between the master and the apprentice, so it may be worth asking.

Be Careful with Price Negotiation

When negotiating prices with a tattoo artist, do so politely. They are artists. They take pride in their work. Even if excessive negotiation gets the price lowered, the quality of the work may also go down. If it really doesn’t fit your budget, instead of asking for a lower hourly rate, ask them to adjust the design so it fits your budget.

Also, negotiating by booking together with a friend, or by making your next reservation at the same time, will likely leave a better impression.

Summary: First, Ask a Tattoo Artist

As explained above, tattoo prices vary greatly depending on the design you want, the size, and the artist. So first, ask a tattoo artist how much budget would be needed to make your design possible. They will surely be happy to answer. If you are not sure how to ask, please refer to the sample questions below.

• About how many hours do you think this design would take? How much do you charge per hour?
• Is a deposit required?
• I want to get a tattoo like this, but my budget is ○○ yen. Is there a good way to make that work?

A tattoo is for life. Make sure to research properly so that you can get something you are truly satisfied with.