Why Two Tattoos the Same Size Can Cost Completely Different Amounts

If two tattoos are both 10 cm, shouldn't they cost roughly the same?

Not necessarily.

Size is only one part of tattoo pricing. Two tattoos can take up exactly the same amount of skin but require completely different amounts of time, planning and technical work.

Here’s why.

Both tattoos by Toni. Left more intricate and time consuming thus would be quoted at a higher price.

Detail makes a big difference

Imagine two tattoos that are both roughly the size of your palm.

One is a simple fine line flower with minimal detail. The other is a realistic portrait with detailed eyes, hair, skin texture, highlights and shadows.

They might be the same physical size, but the amount of work involved is completely different.

Both tattoos by Toni. Left more intricate and time consuming thus would be quoted at a higher price.

Tattoo style affects the time involved

Different tattoo styles require different techniques.

Fine line, dot work, realism, traditional, ornamental and colour tattoos can all require different approaches to lining, shading, colour saturation and layering.

A detailed black and grey realism tattoo, for example, may require hours of careful shading and tonal work. A bold traditional tattoo may require strong linework followed by solid, consistent colour packing.

Neither is simply priced according to how many centimetres it covers.

Both tattoos by Hayley. The tattoo on the right is an 'illustrative style' and required more shading and time to complete. The left is a more simplistic fineline design and would be quoted at a lesser price because of this.  

Placement can change the difficulty

Where you're getting tattooed matters too.

A flat area of the body may be relatively straightforward to work with, while areas that curve, stretch or move can require more time and careful positioning.

Your artist isn't just trying to make the tattoo look good in a photograph. It needs to look right on your body.

Both tattoos by Chris. The left back piece took 5 day sessions where as the back piece on the right took 7 day sessions due to the solid black and intense intricay of the design. 

So, how do we quote a tattoo?

The best way is simple: show us what you're thinking.

Send through a brief description of what you're after, the approximate size and placement, plus any inspiration images you have.

We can then match the idea with the right artist and give you a much more accurate quote.

Eleven Pillars is a custom tattoo studio in Oakleigh, South East Melbourne, just minutes from Chadstone Shopping Centre. Our artists work across black and grey realism, fine line, ornamental, traditional, colour, anime, illustrative and other tattoo styles.

If you've got an idea but aren't sure what it will cost, send it through and ask us. There's no need to have every detail figured out before you enquire.