How Much Should You Tip Your Tattoo Artist? We are investigating

Like any industry, tattooing has its own set of etiquette, from getting inked while intoxicated to bringing friends to an appointment. Tipping is an important part of tattoo etiquette, but there are also a number of guidelines that sometimes make tipping seem confusing or unnecessary. While tipping isn’t mandatory, it’s necessary—especially if you want to develop a solid bond with your artists.

While exactly how much to tip is up for debate and quite dependent on your tattoo design and experience, it still plays an important role in the inking experience. Tipping is a component of almost all service-based careers, and it’s generally the same with tattoos.

Why you should tip your tattoo artist

“Tattoo is a service, and like any other service industry, clients should consider tipping their tattoo artists,” says Tyson Weed, owner and tattoo artist at Sentient Tattoo Collective in Tempe, AZ. “A lot of people don’t realize the amount of time and effort that goes into creating a tattoo.”

That’s especially true if you’re getting a custom design, says Weed. He finds that a lot of work goes into the artist process between the consultations with clients and the actual appointment. Artists spend several hours drawing, designing, choosing colors where necessary, looking for reference photos, drafting the design, and sometimes doing it all over again. Also, behind the scenes, most artists are responsible for a lot of finances, like buying their own supplies or paying the rent for their shop, which can add up quickly.

While tattoo artists always appreciate and encourage tips, Michaelle Fiore of Beaver Tattoo in Queens, NY says artists aren’t expected to. It’s more of a way of letting your artists know that you love your tattoo and appreciate their hard work. Not tipping is an option, but be aware that it will likely leave a sour taste in your artist’s mouth. At the very least, it won’t help you develop a solid bond with them.

“A tip is a courtesy that shows the tattoo artist that you appreciate the time, effort, and expertise they put into your tattoo,” says Fiore

how much tip

If you decide to tip, the next step is to calculate exactly how much to add to the final tattoo price. The general consensus in the tattoo community is that 20 percent is the typical tip amount — just like at a restaurant or hair salon. However, consider this number as a base as some tattoos require more or less work than others. Just as there is no such thing as a tattoo experience or price, there is no one-size-fits-all tipping option.

“The more you spend on the tattoo, the more you should tip since they put more work into the piece,” says Fiore.

However, Weed notes that there’s one thing every tattoo experience needs to have to warrant a tip: It has to be awesome. Your artist will invest time behind the scenes of your tattoo, but it’s also their responsibility to make sure you’re comfortable and having a good time while it’s happening.

“A great experience doesn’t just mean loving your new tattoo,” says Weed. “Your artist should listen to you, make you feel comfortable, explain tattoo aftercare, and provide a sterile environment.”

What if you don’t like your tattoo?

Finding yourself in a bad tattoo experience is never fun, but Weed suggests speaking to your artist to give them a chance to fix it; Nobody wants to leave the studio upset. If you can’t talk it through or it just doesn’t get better, you can skip the tip. However, a bad tattoo experience is pretty much the only reason not to tip your artist, so really make sure you and your artist have communicated as much as possible before forgoing the extra finances.

“When your artist takes the time to create a fully custom design for you, conducts multiple sessions to successfully execute the design, has an excellent bedside manner, walks you through what makes a good tattoo with your vision in mind, and openly answering any questions about safety or cleanliness, all things that would justify a tip,” says Fiore. “If they tattoo a pre-drawn design and you’ve had a pleasant experience, that’s worth tipping too.”

You’re on a budget but want to give something to your artist something can be a situation you find yourself in and Fiore suggests gifting your artist in that situation. This is a bit outside the norm, however, so check with your artist beforehand if a gift would be an acceptable tip. However, since many artists only accept financial tips, getting a tattoo if you can’t afford the tip is not recommended.

“If you were going out for dinner at a sit-down restaurant, would you not tip your waiter because you’re on a budget?” asks Unkraut. “Probably not.”

How to show appreciation to your tattoo artist (in addition to tipping)

In addition to all the money tips, tattoo artists also appreciate the tip of a social media shoutout and a good five-star rating, Weed says. If you enjoyed your experience, let the world know! So not only do people find out if an artist is good or not, but it also boosts their name in search engines. This, in turn, gives them much more attention.

take that away

Tipping may not be mandatory, but it’s a way to show that you appreciate all the hard work and effort—physical and financial—that your artist put into your new tattoo. Remember, tipping isn’t about you, it’s about the artist. If your artist made your tattoo experience good, great, or amazing, tipping is a sincere way of showing your gratitude. Plus, it helps their business in the long run. “Showing your artist that you’re grateful for their work helps them create more artwork and share it with the world — that’s really what it’s all about at the end of the day!” says Fiore. The best rule of thumb to follow is to tip at least 20 percent of the total cost of your service, and even more for custom, intricate designs. That’s the human.