It's a beautiful afternoon here in Portland, a city that truly values its artists and craftspeople. When we commission a piece from a local artisan, we expect to pay a fair price for their skill and time. Yet, when it comes to tattooing, a strange misconception sometimes pops up—the idea that the quoted price is just a starting point for negotiation.
Let's be as clear and direct as possible: You should never, ever haggle on the price of a tattoo. In the tattoo world, it is widely considered one of the most disrespectful things you can do in a studio.
This isn't about artists being greedy; it's about respecting the fundamental nature of their profession. This guide will explain why haggling is a major faux pas and what you are truly paying for when you get a permanent piece of art put on your body.
It's a Professional Service, Not a Used Car
The number one thing to understand is that you are not buying a product off a shelf; you are commissioning a piece of custom, permanent art from a highly skilled professional.
You wouldn't walk into a dentist's office and try to talk them down on the price of a filling. You wouldn't haggle with your lawyer over their hourly rate. A professional tattoo artist's pricing is based on their skill, experience, and the high cost of running a safe, sterile business. Their price is their price, and it reflects their professional value.
The Red Flag of Bargain Hunting
Let's flip the script. If you find an artist who is willing to be haggled down on their price, it should be a major red flag for you as a client. It often signals a lack of confidence in their own work or a desperation for clients, which is not a quality you want in someone about to put a permanent needle to your skin.
Remember the industry's most important mantra: "Good tattoos aren't cheap, and cheap tattoos aren't good." When it comes to something permanent that involves needles and potential health risks, you do not want the cheapest option. You want the safest and most skilled.
What's Actually Included in the Price?
The price your artist quotes you reflects much more than just the time you're in the chair. It includes:
-
Drawing Time: The hours the artist spends researching, designing, and drawing your custom piece before you even arrive.
-
Sterile Supplies: Every single tattoo requires a new, sterile setup. This includes expensive, single-use needles, tubes, ink caps, high-quality ink, gloves, sanitation products, and more.
-
Studio Overhead: A huge chunk of the price you pay (often 40-60%) goes directly to the shop to cover rent, electricity, insurance, business licenses, and other costs of running a professional establishment.
-
Years of Experience: Most importantly, you are paying for the thousands of hours the artist has invested in apprenticeships, drawing classes, and honing their craft to become a skilled professional. You are paying for their expertise.
The Right Way to Approach Your Budget
So what do you do if your dream tattoo from your dream artist is more expensive than you were expecting? The answer is simple and respectful: you save up. A great tattoo is worth waiting for. Simply tell the artist you love their work and that you need a few months to save up for the piece. They will respect you immensely for this.
The Verdict: Haggling on a tattoo price is a fundamental misunderstanding of what you are purchasing. You are investing in permanent art and a professional procedure rolled into one. The best approach is to see the entire experience as an investment. This means investing in a great artist, investing the time to save up for their work, and investing in a quality experience from start to finish. Respect the artist, respect the craft, and pay the price for the quality you deserve. It's a decision you'll be happy with for a lifetime.