Tattoo FAQ — Pricing, Booking & More

TattooNOW is a network of professional tattoo studios and tattoo artists. Every studio on TattooNOW is a verified, working shop — not a directory of random listings. Browse tattoo portfolios, find a tattoo artist near you, and book a consultation directly with the studio.

Yes. Searching tattoo artists, browsing the tattoo gallery, voting on tattoos, and contacting studios is free. You pay the studio directly for your tattoo — TattooNOW never takes a cut of your tattoo appointment.

Start at Find a Tattoo Artist and filter by your state and city. From there you can narrow by tattoo style (traditional, realism, blackwork, fine line, Japanese, etc.) and view each artist's portfolio. Every artist on TattooNOW works at a verified studio.

Look at the studio's portfolio across multiple artists, check that the shop has a current health-department posting, and read the studio's booking and aftercare info. A good tattoo studio has consistent quality across its artists, clear pricing, and a clean, licensed environment.

Artists are individual practitioners with their own portfolios. Studios are the shops they work at. One studio usually has several artists, and one artist may work at more than one studio. You can browse either way — pick a studio you trust and choose an artist, or find a specific artist and see which studio they're at.

Click "Book" or "Contact" on any tattoo artist's profile to reach the studio directly. Most studios start with a consultation — either in person or via a booking form — to discuss your idea, sizing, placement, and timing before scheduling the actual tattoo session.

A consultation is a short meeting (in person, by phone, or via a form) where you and the tattoo artist talk through your idea, reference images, placement, and budget. The artist will quote you a price, discuss timeline, and usually collect a deposit to lock in your appointment.

It depends on the artist. Popular tattoo artists can be booked out three to twelve months. Smaller pieces or walk-in-friendly studios can often fit you in within a week or two. Check the artist's profile or contact the studio for current availability.

Tattoo pricing varies by artist, location, size, detail, and time required. Small simple tattoos often start around $100–$200 (shop minimum). Larger custom tattoos are usually quoted per hour or per session — typical hourly rates range from $150 to $400+ depending on the artist. Always confirm pricing with the studio at consultation.

Deposits hold your appointment and pay the artist for the design time they spend before your session. They're typically non-refundable and applied to the final cost of the tattoo. Most studios on TattooNOW require a deposit at booking — the amount is set by the studio.

A common range in the U.S. is 15–25% of the tattoo's total cost. Tipping isn't mandatory, but it's standard for good work. Tip the artist directly — not the shop.

A custom tattoo is designed for you, usually after a consultation, and is not repeated on anyone else. A flash tattoo is a pre-drawn design (often shown on a flash sheet) that the artist will tattoo as-is or with small tweaks. Flash is faster and usually cheaper; custom takes longer and costs more.

Most tattoo artists welcome references, but be careful about asking for an exact copy of someone else's tattoo. Artists prefer to use your reference as a starting point and redraw it in their own style. This protects you (a copy rarely fits your body the same way) and respects the original artist.

Every major tattoo style is represented on the network — traditional, neo-traditional, realism, black and grey, blackwork, fine line, Japanese, illustrative, watercolor, lettering, biomechanical, and more. Filter the tattoo gallery by style to see examples and find an artist who specializes in what you want.

Follow the aftercare instructions your tattoo artist gives you — they know their inks, technique, and your skin. General guidance: keep it clean, moisturized with a recommended ointment, avoid soaking (no swimming or long baths) for two to three weeks, and keep it out of direct sun until fully healed.

The surface usually heals in two to three weeks. The deeper layers of skin can take two to three months to fully settle, which is why your tattoo may look slightly different a month after you get it than the day you walked out of the studio.

Likes and votes help surface the best work on the network — top-voted pieces appear on the Best of TattooNOW leaderboard, and your votes shape your personalized recommendations. Voting is anonymous and free.

Swipe is a quick way to browse the tattoo gallery card-by-card and vote on what you like. It works like a card stack — swipe right to like, left to skip. Useful for discovering new tattoo artists and styles when you're not sure what you want yet.

Reach out via the contact form. TattooNOW only lists verified, professional tattoo studios — we don't accept open submissions or pay-to-list. The vetting process looks at portfolio quality, licensing, and reviews.

If you're a tattoo artist already listed on TattooNOW through a studio, contact the studio owner — they manage the artist roster for their shop. If you're an independent tattoo artist looking to join the network, get in touch through the contact form.