The first thing most people want to know before a tattoo is how much it will hurt. The honest answer is that it does hurt, but usually less than people expect. How much depends on where the tattoo goes, how long the session is and your own pain tolerance. Knowing what to expect takes a lot of the fear away.
This guide has a pain chart by body part, explains what affects how much a tattoo hurts, and gives you simple ways to handle the discomfort before, during and after your session. It helps for a first small tattoo and for a tougher spot like the ribs or the knee. If this is your first tattoo, the first tattoo guide covers the rest of the process.
What does getting a tattoo feel like?
Most people describe it as a constant scratching or a hot, vibrating feeling. Many compare it to a cat scratch that keeps going over the same spot. Line work tends to feel sharper. Shading and color often feel more like a dull burn or a rough rub.
The feeling changes during the session. The first few minutes are often the most intense, because your body has not adjusted yet. After that, many people find the feeling settles into a steady buzz they can get used to. On long sessions the skin gets more tender, and the last part can feel harder than the start.
Tattoo pain chart: pain levels by body part
Everyone feels pain differently, so treat these levels as a rough guide on a scale of 1 to 10. In general, spots with thicker skin and more muscle or fat hurt less. Spots with thin skin over bone, or with a lot of nerve endings, hurt more.
- Low pain (about 1-3 out of 10). Outer upper arm, outer forearm, calf, outer thigh, shoulder and upper back. These have thicker skin and more padding. They are popular for first tattoos, and many people say the feeling is easy to breathe through.
- Moderate pain (about 4-6 out of 10). Inner forearm, chest, upper back near the spine and ankle. The skin is a little thinner or closer to bone, so you feel more of the vibration. Most people handle these well, especially in shorter sessions.
- High pain (about 7-8 out of 10). Ribs, sternum, inner upper arm, back of the knee and neck. The skin is thin, stretched over bone or full of nerve endings.
- Very high pain (about 9-10 out of 10). Kneecap, elbow, feet, hands and head. The skin is very thin and sits right on the bone. Many artists suggest these spots for people who already know how their body reacts to being tattooed.
If pain is a big worry, pick a low-pain spot for your first tattoo. The placement guide compares spots in more detail, and you can see how a design looks in different places with AR try-on.
What affects how much a tattoo hurts?
Placement matters most, but other things change how a tattoo feels on the day.
- Your skin. Skin thickness varies across the body and from person to person. Well-moisturized, healthy skin is usually easier to work on.
- Sleep. Being tired tends to make pain feel worse. A good night's sleep before your session helps.
- Food and water. An empty stomach can leave you lightheaded, which makes everything feel harder. Eat a proper meal before you go, and drink water in the days before.
- Alcohol. Do not drink alcohol in the 24 hours before your tattoo. It can make you bleed more and feel more sensitive, and reputable studios will not tattoo someone who is drunk.
- Stress and your body's cycles. Stress and anxiety make pain feel stronger. Some people also find they are more sensitive at certain times, for example during their period.
- Your state of mind. Being calm and focused helps a lot. Worrying about the pain in advance often makes it feel worse than it is.
If you have a health condition, take regular medication or are pregnant, talk to your doctor before you book a tattoo, and tell your artist.
How to prepare to make your tattoo hurt less
A little preparation makes a real difference.
- Sleep well the night before.
- Eat a proper meal an hour or two before your appointment, and bring a snack and a drink for longer sessions.
- Drink water in the days before, and skip alcohol for at least 24 hours.
- Wear comfortable clothes that give easy access to the spot being tattooed.
- Bring something to listen to, like music, a podcast or an audiobook, with headphones.
- Pick the right size and spot for a first tattoo. A smaller design in a low-pain spot means a shorter, easier session.
The consultation guide has more on what to sort out with your artist before the day.
How to manage pain during your tattoo session
Breathe slowly. Slow, deep breaths help you stay calm and relaxed. Many people breathe in for a count of four, hold for two and breathe out for six. Try not to hold your breath when the needle starts.
Distract yourself. Music, a podcast or a chat with your artist can take your mind off the needle. Let the artist focus when they are working on detailed parts.
Take breaks. On long sessions, it is completely normal to ask for a short break. Stand up, stretch, have a snack and a drink, then sit back down. Good artists check in with you and would much rather you take a break than move suddenly.
Numbing cream. Some people use a numbing cream before their session. Always ask your artist first. Some artists find numbed skin harder to work on and prefer not to use it. If your artist agrees, follow the product instructions exactly, and ask a pharmacist if you have sensitive skin, allergies or a skin condition. The effect wears off during a long session, so it helps most at the start.
Speak up. If something hurts much more than you expected, or you feel faint or dizzy, tell your artist straight away. They deal with this often and will stop and help you.
Which tattoo styles and techniques hurt more?
The style also changes how a tattoo feels.
- Fine line. Fine line work uses small needle groupings. It often feels like a sharp scratch, and many people find it one of the gentler styles.
- Bold lines. Traditional tattoos use thicker lines, which can sting more than fine line.
- Color packing and solid black. Filling large areas with color or solid black means going over the same skin many times. This builds up irritation, so heavy blackwork and solid color can feel more intense over time.
- Dotwork and stippling. Dotwork is made of many small dots. Some people find it easier than continuous lines, others do not. It can take longer, which adds up.
- Hand-poke. Some people say hand-poke feels duller and gentler than a machine, but it usually takes longer. It varies a lot from person to person.
- Whip shading. This light, sweeping shading is often one of the gentler techniques, because the needle moves quickly over the skin.
Outlining usually feels sharper than shading. Shading spreads the feeling over a wider area, but long shading sessions can still get uncomfortable as the skin gets tender.
How does a new tattoo feel after the session?
Right after the session, the area usually feels like a sunburn. It may be sore, warm to the touch and a bit swollen. This normally eases a lot over the first couple of days. Follow your artist's aftercare instructions and the aftercare guide to help it heal well, and go easy on hard workouts at first. The exercise after a tattoo guide explains when to get back to training.
Contact a doctor if the pain gets worse instead of better after a few days, or if you notice spreading redness, growing swelling, pus, a bad smell or a fever. These can be signs of an infection and need medical attention.
When you are ready, find a tattoo artist who can talk you through the placement and session length that suit you.
