Tattoo tipping rates in the United States can start as low as 10%, however 15-20% is considered the ideal amount for top quality work and professional service.

There’re a lot of things in life you’ll give friendly tips for. The ride share driver who takes you and your heavy luggage to the airport, or for the experiences you have at restaurants, bars, hotels and for countless other services. 

However, when it comes to tattoos, most newcomers – or those from cultures unaccustomed to tipping – aren’t really sure what a fair tip is. It can be hard to figure out what’s an accurate total, or over and above service for experiencing new ink. 

This guide will deal with scenarios relating to tipping and pricing in the US and abroad, while also addressing questions that you may have around tipping etiquette and expectations.

Tattoo Tipping Rates

An excellent tip for tattoo work is anywhere from 20-25% of the total price of the piece.

If your tattoo artist charges $150 hour and you spend five hours in the chair, it puts you at $750. A very generous tip for this piece would be $150 to $200.

On bigger and more time consuming pieces with prices over $2,000 for example, you could be looking at a $400 to $600 tip when all said and done at this rate. For some clients that’s a bit too high, which is understandable. Often, with high price tags you can go down to 10-15% with no hard feelings or the tip can even be ‘baked in’ as part of your pricing. 

At the opposite end of the scale, let’s say your tattoo is only $200, you might want to consider tipping at least 25%. In this case, it’s a fair $50 tip.

Also, if you’re the type get hyped for a Halloween or Friday the 13th flash day sale, and are lucky enough to get a cheeky $13 piece, it’s customary to take it up to $20. This tip is known as the lucky seven, and is never frowned upon by artists that are bashing out hundreds of pieces on a day when they would probably rather be partying.