How to Tip a Tattoo Artist

Co-authored by Grant Lubbock and PaJah Vang

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Tattoos are amazing pieces of art that require a careful and talented hand to bring the images to life. So how do you know if you're supposed to tip your tattoo artist, how much to tip, or when to do it? Getting a tattoo is a greatly appreciated service, just like a haircut or eating at a restaurant, so it’s important to properly tip your tattoo artist to show your appreciation for their intricate and time-consuming work. In this article, we break down all the dos and don’ts to help you avoid any uncertainty around tipping your tattoo artist.

Things You Should Know

Tip 15-20% of the price of the tattoo. If your tattoo is custom and/or extremely detailed, you may want to add an extra 5-10% for the extra work.
Tip at the end your appointment, and tip for every session.
Supplement your tip with a social media shoutout. This can be a great way to express extra appreciation in addition to tipping.

Section 1 of 4:

How Much to Tip

1
Tip 15-20%. Although there is no hard and fast rule for tipping within the tattoo community, many tattoo artists cite the Golden Rule, or tipping 15-20%, as a good guideline. However, if your tattoo is large and already quite expensive, tipping as low as 10% is still considered polite.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Add an extra 5-10% for detailed, difficult or custom tattoos. If you and your tattoo artist collaborated to create a design, you’ll want to tip more than if it was a premade design the artist already had ready. This is because outside of the inking session, your artist probably spent time advising you, drawing and tweaking the design to match your vision.^{[2]
X
Research source} Make sure to show your appreciation with a good tip.
- Even if your tattoo is small, if it’s very detailed, or in a difficult location it will require more time and precision from your tattoo artist.
Advertisement
3
Always tip in cash when you can. When you tip with a credit card, there are card fees included and your tattoo artist will have to pay taxes on it. This means they’ll only get a portion of your tip. Paying in cash ensures they get the full tip.

Section 2 of 4:

When to Tip

1
Give your tip at the end of your appointment. Just like a hair or nail appointment, tip after the service is finished. After your tattoo artist has wrapped up, pay your tip at the desk after they’ve checked you out.^{[3]
X
Research source}
2
Tip after every session. If your tattoo requires multiple sessions, it’s best to tip after each one. This not only shows your appreciation for your tattoo artist’s work each time, but it also makes it easier on your wallet by spreading out the tip over time.^{[4]
X
Research source} If you want to tip when your tattoo is completely finished, talk with your artist and see how they feel about it!

Section 3 of 4:

When is it okay to not tip?

1
You don’t have to tip if you had a bad experience. Tipping is a sign of gratitude and appreciation and if that isn’t what you feel during your session, don’t feel pressured to tip. Things such as a lack of kindness, or attitude from a tattoo artist can contribute to an uncomfortable session.
- It’s important to note a bad session is different from not liking your tattoo. If you don’t like your tattoo let your artist know immediately and they might offer to fix the tattoo free of charge.^{[5]
  X
  Research source} Even if you don’t like the end result, consider tipping if they kept you comfortable, walked you through aftercare, had a sanitized setup or created a custom design.
2
Don’t stress about tips if your tattoo artist declines them. Although the popular consensus in the tattooing community is to tip, there are some tattoo artists who feel differently and don’t accept them. They might return half of your tip to you, or reject it all together.
3
Avoid tipping if you’re in a country where tipping is viewed negatively. Tipping culture is big in the U.S., but in other parts of the world it can be seen as offensive or unnecessary. If you’re getting tattooed outside of the U.S. make sure to read up on the tipping culture and follow accordingly.
- In parts of Asia, tipping is seen as an insult. Some business owners will assume you think they’re not paying their employees well enough.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
- In European countries, it varies, but generally tips are still appreciated despite tipping not being customary.^{[7]
  X
  Research source}

Section 4 of 4:

How can I show my appreciation for my tattoo artist?

You can give a gift or social media shoutout in addition to a tip. Non-monetary gifts are a great way to show your appreciation, however they should always be given in addition to cash tipping. Unless you know your tattoo artist extremely well, or are doing it for a special occasion (maybe a nice wine during the holiday season), you should not use non-monetary gifts in place of a cash tip. It’s considered impolite to do so.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Before you come to your tattoo artist for the first time, do a little research on their social media. Show the artist that you actually took some time to look at their stuff, that you care about them, and know what they are into.
- Try gifting your own goods and services. If you have your own business, a great addition to a cash tip is a gift from your own service. Anything from a gift card, coupon or free item will be greatly appreciated.
- Give a social media shoutout. Take a nice picture of your tattoo and the tattoo parlor, and bring some new customers over to your artist as a show of appreciation.
- Leave a good review online. A 5-star review online is great exposure for your tattoo artist. Sharing your positive tattoo experience and what you loved will definitely make your artist feel loved and appreciated.