Tattoo Deposits: How Much to Pay and Why

A deposit for a tattoo, also known as a "tattoo retainer," serves to reserve a slot on your tattoo artist’s schedule and compensate the artist for their time spent creating your custom design.  Your custom tattoo will require time and energy (or, sometimes, the use of drafted stock imagery, but in any case, it is the property of the tattoo artist to create).  A tattoo deposit is required by the vast majority of tattoo artists.  However, it’s good to know that each tattoo studio may have its own policies for tattoo deposits, and also that rates in the States may be quite different from those in Canada, for example.

So whether you’re looking to get your first little number as a tattoo, or working toward your next main project sleeve, it’s only natural to navigate the tattoo deposit process as part of those considerations. So in this blog post I’ve outlined everything you need to know about tattoos with deposits: what you can expect, how much you can expect to pay, in some instances how much you can expect in return when you request an extension, and more importantly all of the other considerations beyond the cost of an artist to get the tattoo to pay for within the range of your overall budget. So whether you are booking your first small tattoo or planning a full sleeve that takes multiple sessions, the deposit conversation is one of the first things you will navigate.

What Is a Tattoo Deposit and Why Artists Require One

Basically, a tattoo deposit is paid up front when your appointment is booked. It’s non-refundable or, sometimes, conditionally refundable. It covers two things. First, the cost of custom design work the artist will do before your appointment. A good artist will spend hours drawing it up and you don’t want them losing time because the client is a flake. And two, your appointment time. Artists take you on by appointment and they will lose that income when you don’t show up.

Think of it like booking a reservation at a restaurant for a private experience. They are putting ingredients together that are specifically for you. If you don't show, their time was wasted. This is what happens when tattoo artists do custom work and block out time for you. The deposit serves both sides; you pay in order to save a spot with the tattoo artist who is dedicating resources to you, and if the tattoo artist isn't compensated for their time spent on the design, there's no guarantee they will continue working on your tattoo.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay

How much does a tattoo deposit cost? It depends on the tattoo's size and complexity, how famous the artist is, and the cost of living where the tattoo is being created. Small tattoos under two hours will often have deposits between 30 and 100 euros. Medium tattoos that take half a day to create typically have deposits ranging between 80 and 200 euros. Large, highly customizable tattoos (like sleeves, back pieces, or multi-session projects) can have deposits ranging from 200 to 500 euros or more. Some artists charge a specific deposit, no matter the size of the tattoo, with 50 and 100 euros being the most popular options. Others calculate their deposit as a percentage of the total cost, and usually charge anywhere from 10% to 30% of the total price of the tattoo. If you want to see how much your tattoo could cost before booking an appointment, our tattoo price estimator allows you to get an AI-generated estimate of the cost, depending on your tattoo design, size, and location.

Watch out if a deposit is a large percentage of the price, as a 50% deposit is rare for someone who is not in high demand, and you might have a question about that. Someone that requires no deposit for custom work may not be in a position to invest time designing before your appointment (or are simply less established).

When Deposits Are Refundable (and When They Are Not)

In general, you don’t get your deposit back if you book a date, though some artists will let you reschedule. If you don’t show up, or if you cancel within 24-48 hours, you lose your deposit. In most cases, however, if you let the artist know you won’t be coming on time, they can just use your deposit for another day. A few studios will give you credit to use toward your session on another date in the future, typically within 90 days to one year.

Before you hand over your cash, be sure to ask about their policy on refunds and rescheduling. Ask to have it in writing, whether that's in a printed document, a confirmation e-mail or even a text message within the booking platform. It protects you and protects them. Understanding the etiquette for cancellations will help maintain your relationship with your artist and increases your chances of the artist being willing to transfer your deposit if you have an emergency change of plans.

Deposits by Country: US, UK, and Greece Compared

There is a wide range in what is considered fair in terms of deposits. Usually in the U.S. you can expect it to be anywhere from $50-$200, though some popular artists will demand $300+ and you can find this out from their booking websites. I don’t know if that is the norm all over the country, as in each studio will have their own deposit policy. But, generally speaking in America a good amount of artists are used to getting a deposit in. Same thing with in the UK, where it ranges anywhere from 30 to 150 pounds. A lot of the artists I see are just like the American artists in the sense that they are used to receiving it, and it seems like everyone has their own policy in place. So, you will probably find yourself in more trouble if you say no, as both sides of the pond are very used to receiving deposit now and have no tolerance for people who don’t get it.

The deposit system is less strict across Southern Europe, including in Greece. In some smaller traditional tattooing studios in Greece, you don’t even need to pay a deposit, especially if you are a returning client. But with tattooing becoming increasingly more common as an art form and industry in Greece, the average deposit is now between 30 and 100 euros. In tourist areas, the deposit amount may be higher in order to discourage tourists from booking tattoos and leaving Greece. If you are planning on getting a tattoo in Greece this year, check out our tattoo cost guide for the most up-to-date pricing.

How to Budget Your Full Tattoo Cost Before the Deposit

The main mistake is often the first, and you shouldn't consider the deposit as your only expense. It is usually only 10%-30% of the total cost. Before making a deposit, estimate the full expense, including the remaining balance, touch-up costs, aftercare product expenses and tip. Tips are common in the US and the UK, but you are not expected to tip in Greece. For multi-session tattoos, the artist may want additional deposits or a scheduled payment plan.

So the best option is to calculate your final total before you go for the deposit. Upload your design idea to a price estimator, research what local artists charge per hour, and then get at least two or three quotes. Then when the artist asks for a deposit you'll know what the total is going to be, so there'll be no surprises come session day, and you can arrange your means of payment before the appointment, be it cash, card or both.