Planning a tattoo comes down to five decisions: what it is, how big, where on your body, in what style, and by when. Work through them here and leave with a plan you can hand to an artist.
Step 1
Describe the idea in your own words. One or two sentences is plenty.
Step 2
Size drives the price and the number of sittings more than anything else. The full table sits further down this page.
Step 3
Placement changes how much it hurts, how long it heals, and how well it ages.
Step 4
Detailed styles take longer and cost more. Pick the closest match.
Step 5
Give the date you want to be healed by, such as a wedding or a beach trip. The plan works backwards from it.
Estimated price range
Pick a size to see a range
An aggregate estimate across many shops. Your artist sets the final price once they see your design.
Your plan lands on its own page with the sessions, the healing window, the dates to book by, and a checklist for the appointment.
These baseline ranges are for a standard-style, black-and-grey piece in an easy-to-tattoo area. Detail, color, and placement raise the price from here.
| Size | Dimensions | Typical range | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra small | About 1 inch | $100 to $180 | A small symbol, a word, or a tiny fine-line piece. |
| Small | About 3 inches | $180 to $330 | Coin to playing-card size. A single flower or a short quote. |
| Medium | About 5 inches | $300 to $560 | About palm size. A detailed animal or a small portrait. |
| Large | About 7 inches | $490 to $910 | Fills much of a forearm or calf. A layered scene. |
| Extra large | 8 inches and up | $750 to $1390 | Sleeves, back pieces, and full panels, usually multi-session. |
What each spot is like to sit for and to live with afterwards.
Pain is a general guide drawn from what collectors commonly report, not a medical claim. Everyone sits differently.
| Placement | Pain (1 to 5) | Surface healing | Aging | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper arm / bicep | 2 | About 2 weeks | Ages well. Low friction and easy to keep out of the sun. | Covered by a t-shirt sleeve, so it hides for work without effort. |
| Thigh | 2 | About 3 weeks | Holds detail well. Watch friction from tight jeans while it heals. | Covered year round unless you choose otherwise. |
| Calf | 2 | About 3 weeks | Ages well, though swelling in the first days is common on the lower leg. | Shows in shorts, hides in pants. |
| Forearm | 2 | About 2 weeks | Very good, and easy to care for because you can see it. | Visible in short sleeves. Think about your workplace first. |
| Shoulder | 2 | About 3 weeks | Good. Bag straps rubbing during healing are the main risk. | Hidden by most shirts. |
| Back | 3 | About 3 weeks | Excellent, and there is room for large work. | Fully private, though you cannot see it or reach it to moisturize. |
| Chest | 3 | About 3 weeks | Good, though skin here changes more with weight than an arm does. | Private under a shirt. |
| Ribs | 5 | About 4 weeks | Good once healed, but the sitting is the barrier, not the healing. | Fully private. |
| Stomach | 4 | About 4 weeks | The placement most affected by weight change and pregnancy. | Fully private. |
| Knee / elbow | 4 | About 4 weeks | Needs touch-ups more often than most spots. The joint flexes constantly. | Shows in shorts or short sleeves. |
| Hand | 4 | About 3 weeks | Fades fastest of any placement. Constant washing, friction, and sun. | Always visible. Some employers still object, and some artists decline hands on a first tattoo. |
| Foot | 4 | About 4 weeks | Fades faster than average, and shoes rubbing during healing is the main cause. | Hidden by shoes. Plan it for a season when you can wear open footwear while it heals. |
| Neck | 4 | About 3 weeks | Reasonable, though sun exposure is constant. | Hard to cover. Many artists ask to see existing work before agreeing. |
| Fingers | 4 | About 3 weeks | The least durable placement on the body. Expect blowout, patchiness, and repeat touch-ups. | Always visible. |
| Head / face | 5 | About 3 weeks | Good on the scalp, and sun protection matters more here than anywhere. | Effectively permanent visibility. Most artists treat this as experienced-collector work. |
Browse tattoo shops and artists near you, compare portfolios, and request an appointment.