Most tattoo price guides give you a range so wide it does not help. This one is built from the rates UK tattoo artists publish themselves. In October 2026 we looked at the booking pages of about 700 artists across England, Scotland and Wales and collected their hourly rates, minimums, half-day and day rates. The figures below are the middle of what they charge, so you know what is normal and what is unusually cheap or expensive.
Every artist sets their own price, and the artist always confirms the real one. Use this guide to plan your budget, then ask the artist for a quote for your idea. For how pricing works in general, see the tattoo cost guide.
What UK tattoo artists charge
| Most artists charge | Typical | |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | £70–£90 | £80 |
| Shop minimum | £50–£80 | £60 |
| Half day (about 3–4 hours) | £200–£300 | £250 |
| Full day (about 6–8 hours) | £380–£500 | £450 |
From the rates published by about 700 UK tattoo artists, October 2026. "Most artists" is the middle half of what they charge.
Day rates are very common in the UK. More than 8 in 10 of the artists we looked at publish one, and many larger pieces are booked as a half or full day rather than by the hour. A day booked in one go usually works out cheaper per hour than paying hourly.
The shop minimum is what you pay for even the smallest tattoo. It covers the needles, ink, gloves, setting up the station and cleaning it afterwards, so a tiny tattoo costs the same to set up as a bigger one.
How much does a tattoo cost in the UK by size?
Size has the biggest effect on the price, because a bigger tattoo takes longer. These estimates use the typical time each size takes and the UK rates above.
- Small tattoos (up to about 5 cm), like a symbol, a date or a small icon: usually 1–2 hours, so about £60–£180. Many small pieces cost the shop minimum.
- Medium tattoos (up to about 10 cm), like a detailed flower or a small animal: usually 2–3 hours, so about £140–£270.
- Large tattoos (up to about 15 cm), like a piece on the forearm or calf: usually 3–5 hours, so about £210–£450.
- Bigger pieces (up to about 30 cm in one sitting): often booked as a half or full day, so about £250–£500.
- Half sleeves, full sleeves and back pieces take several sessions. Budget per session: at a typical day rate of £450, three full days come to about £1,350.
Fine line work is usually quicker. Realism, Japanese, new school and handpoke usually take longer, so they cost more at the same size. Color takes longer than black and grey.
London compared to the rest of the UK
London is the most expensive place to get tattooed in the UK. Studio rent is higher, and many of the best-known artists work there.
| London | Rest of the UK | |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | about £100–£130 | £70–£90 |
| Shop minimum | about £100 | about £60 |
| Half day | about £350 | about £250 |
| Full day | £550–£700 | £380–£500 |
So in London, a small tattoo costs about £100–£260, a medium one about £200–£390 and a large one about £300–£650. A full day with a London artist usually costs £550–£700.
Day rates in UK cities
Outside London, prices are fairly even across the country. Day rates are the easiest way to compare, because most artists publish one.
| City | Typical day rate |
|---|---|
| London | £625 |
| Brighton | £600 |
| Glasgow | £500 |
| Nottingham | £450 |
| Manchester | £400 |
| Birmingham | £400 |
| Liverpool | £400 |
| Leeds | £400 |
| Sheffield | £350 |
The middle day rate of the artists in each city who publish one, October 2026. Cities with at least 10 artists.
Brighton and Glasgow sit closer to London. Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds sit around £400 a day. You can find tattoo artists in the UK by city and style.
What changes the price of a tattoo in the UK?
- The artist. Newer artists and apprentices charge less. Artists with a long waiting list and a strong portfolio charge more, and they are often worth it.
- Style and detail. Realism, portraits, Japanese and dense color take longer than linework or simple blackwork.
- Placement. Ribs, hands, feet, neck and other hard-to-tattoo spots can take longer, and some artists charge more for them.
- Custom or flash. A custom design takes drawing time before the session. Flash, the ready-drawn designs on an artist's sheet, is often a fixed price and usually cheaper.
- Location. London and Brighton cost more. Smaller towns often cost a little less.
Most UK artists ask for a deposit to book your date. It is usually taken off the final price, and you lose it if you cancel at short notice. The deposit guide explains how it works.
How to keep the cost down without cutting corners
- Ask for a quote first. Send the artist your idea, the size and the placement, and ask for a price before you book.
- Book a day. For a big piece, a half or full day is usually cheaper per hour than paying hourly.
- Choose flash. Many artists sell their ready-drawn designs at a fixed price.
- Do not chase the lowest price. A tattoo is for life, and fixing a bad one costs far more than doing it right. For more ideas, read how to save money on tattoos.
Not sure what your idea would cost? Ask Omi, Inkjin's AI tattoo assistant. Tell it what you want, the size and your city, and it gives you a price range from these same figures. The artist always confirms the real price.
