What’s a good size for a first tattoo?

A common sweet spot is 6–12 cm. It’s big enough to hold detail and age well, but small enough to place easily and price predictably.

Which tattoo placements hurt the most?

Areas close to bone or with thin skin tend to hurt more: ribs, sternum, spine, hands, feet, ankles, and inner bicep. Pain tolerance varies, but those spots usually feel sharper.

Which placements age best over time?

Placements with thicker skin and less friction tend to age best: outer upper arm, outer forearm, shoulder, calf, and upper back. Hands, fingers, and feet usually fade faster.

Does placement affect tattoo price?

Yes. Difficult placements can take longer because the artist has to work slower and more carefully. Time is the main driver of price.

How do I choose placement before contacting an artist?

Pick a placement based on visibility (work/life), pain tolerance, how it will age, and how the design fits body flow. If you have a reference, use Inkjin’s AI estimator to sanity-check price, then message an artist with exact placement and size in cm.

Inkjin Tattoo Guides

Tattoo Guides

These guides answer the questions people usually ask too late — before pricing surprises, bad placements, choosing the wrong artist, or ending up with regret.