How Much Does a Sleeve Tattoo Cost in Melbourne?

If you've ever typed "how much does a sleeve tattoo cost in Melbourne" into Google, you're not alone. It’s one of the most common questions we get at Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio in Oakleigh, and for good reason. Tattoo sleeves are big investments of time, money, and trust.

In this article, we’ll break it all down so you can understand how sleeve tattoos are priced, how we quote them at Eleven Pillars, and what to expect from your sleeve journey.

Pictured above: Realism bng tattoo sleeve done by Chris Sinclair at Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio.

What Even Is a "Sleeve Tattoo"?

When someone says they want a sleeve tattoo, they usually mean a fully covered arm or leg. But that can vary a lot. Is it:

Full arm (shoulder to wrist)?
Half sleeve (shoulder to elbow)?
Quarter sleeve?
Full leg?

The term "sleeve" means different things to different people, which is why we always recommend including the below when reaching out to your local studio or artist:

A few inspiration images
A basic description of your idea (even one or two lines is helpful)
Whether it's for your arm or leg
If you want it in colour or black and grey

This helps your artist give you the most accurate quote and feedback from the start.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Every sleeve is different, but here's a general guide based on our studio's experience:

Arm sleeves usually take 4 full-day sessions

Leg sleeves generally take 5 full-day sessions

Why does a leg sleeve take longer? Legs have more surface area and denser muscle mass, which makes them a bit more time-consuming to tattoo.

Factors that can affect how many sessions you’ll need include:

How well you sit (some people can sit longer, others need shorter sessions)
How your skin reacts (some areas may take ink better or heal faster)
Level of detail in the design
Whether it's black and grey or full colour
Your choice of tattoo style (realism can take longer than fineline, for example)

How Much Does a Sleeve Tattoo Cost at Eleven Pillars?

We don’t price sleeves by the hour. We price by day session.

Here's a basic breakdown of what you can expect:

Artist Day Rates:

Chris Sinclair $1,400 per day

Hayley $1,000 per day

Toni $1,000 per day

Nado $1,200 per day

Luke (Apprentice Rate for Large Projects): $600 per day

Sleeve Packages:
If you book two or more full-day sessions at once (with a deposit), you’ll automatically receive our sleeve project discount:

Save $100 per session
Available across all artists excluding apprentices

So for example:

An arm sleeve over 4 days with Nado would normally be $4,000, but with the sleeve project discount it becomes $3,600 total
A leg sleeve over 5 days with Hayley would be discounted from $5,000 to $4,500
Luke offers a cost-effective option for sleeves at $600 per session, which can be ideal for large projects on a tighter budget without compromising quality or passion.

Pictured above: Black out sleeve done by Nado at Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio

What Styles Can I Get My Sleeve In?

Any style. That’s the best part about tattooing.

At Eleven Pillars, we’ve done sleeves in:

Realism
Fineline and dotwork
Neo-traditional
Traditional
Japanese
Illustrative
Ornamental
Black out
Geometric
Portraiture
Mixed-style hybrid pieces
Cybersiglism

Your sleeve can be soft and delicate, dark and bold, colourful or monochrome. The options are endless. What matters most is choosing an artist who aligns with your vision.

Final Tips Before You Start Your Sleeve

Book a consult: We offer free in-person consultations to help shape your idea and pair you with the right artist

Bring reference images: Even if they’re random screenshots or AI mockups, they help spark a visual direction

Be honest about your pain threshold and time availability

Think long-term: A sleeve is a process, not a one-session job. Find an artist and studio you feel comfortable in as you'll be spending a few days with them!

Ready to Start Your Sleeve?

You can submit a quote request here, or DM us on our social media pages with your idea and a few inspo pics. Whether you're planning a full sleeve or just want to ask some questions, we’re happy to help.

Our studio is located in Oakleigh, Melbourne, with easy parking and public transport access. We proudly serve clients from across southeast Melbourne, and we’d love to bring your sleeve idea to life.