How much is a tattoo in the UK?

If you’re eager to get a tattoo but are limited by your budget, don’t worry. If you’re looking to discover how much a tattoo is in the UK, read on.

There are still ways to achieve the tattoo of your dreams without breaking the bank. However, it’s important to keep in mind that a good tattoo is never cheap, and a cheap tattoo is never good. When you pay for a tattoo, you’re investing in the artist’s skill, quality supplies, and a safe and clean environment. Skimping on any of these factors may result in a poorly done tattoo or, worse, a risk to your health. So, it’s crucial to resist the urge to save money on a tattoo and instead, save up the funds required to get the work you deserve.

One great way to get an idea of the cost of your tattoo is to use Timebomb’s online consultation service. This tool allows you to submit your design ideas and size, and get a rough estimate of the cost of your tattoo. From there, you can consider the following factors to further tailor your tattoo within your budget:

Tattoo Placement

Some areas of the body, such as the hands, neck, and feet, are more challenging for artists to work on due to thinner skin. As a result, it requires more skill to create a design that will work well in those areas. The placement of ink on thinner skin is also a consideration. Areas such as upper arms, thighs, and shoulders are typically less challenging to work on for artists.

Tattoo Size

The larger the tattoo, the higher the cost. Traditional tattoos tend to be smaller than modern pierces such as full or half sleeves.
While your artist will advise on the minimum size required to make your tattoo look its best, it’s worth bearing in mind that a small design will cost less than a larger one.

Tattoo Detail

Intricate designs take longer to complete and require more time, therefore costing more than simple designs. Be sure to mention your budget upfront when discussing your design with your artist so they can design the finished product within your price range.

Colour vs. black and grey

Full-colour tattoos cost more than linework and shading. However, you can still achieve a full-colour tattoo on a budget by colouring only a small section or breaking up the work into multiple sittings.

It’s also worth visiting the tattoo studio and discussing your ideas with your artist. They are experienced in working within a budget and can advise you on how to achieve your desired tattoo without overspending. For example, you could break your tattoo into multiple sittings, working on different areas each time. This helps spread the cost over weeks or months and enables you to budget for each sitting. If you’re working on a more extensive project, such as a sleeve, you could complete each area individually and join the final pieces at the end.

Finally, if you’re looking to get multiple smaller tattoos, consider doing it in one sitting. This will cost you less overall since the studio has fixed costs for each tattoo, including supplies like needles, ink, sterilization, and tubes.