TATTOOS & TIPPING

Advice from an Artist.

Tipping has been a longtime practice in any service industry, and the tattoo industry is no different. Though tipping is never expected, it is always appreciated.

Why should you tip your tattoo artist?

Though getting a tattoo is a luxurious treat that can get pretty expensive, tipping your artist should be more than a courtesy. Many people do not realize what really goes into being a tattoo artist. It is very likely your artist will not take home what you paid for your piece. A tattoo artist isn’t a “traditional employee” by any means; but instead something like an “independent contractor,” that has a split with the shop, and usually pays a booth rent to service clients. So the artist can end up paying 40% to 50% of each tattoo as commission to the shop. Often tattoo artists also come out of pocket for tattoo needles, ink and other supplies. Usually, because tattoo artists are technically self-employed, they also have to consider things like health insurance and taxes— which are things that most traditional jobs take care of for you.

So when you tip your artist, they get 100% of what you give them.

Many times you might not even realize the amount of effort and creativity that goes into designing a custom tattoo piece from start to finish. Oftentimes it has to be done very quickly for walk-in clients, but can also take hours of prep work for larger pieces.

I personally never expect a client to tip, but it always means a lot when they do.

How much should you tip your tattoo artist?

Now that you know why you should tip your tattoo artist, you should decide how much you want to tip your artist. 20% is the magic number when it comes to the tipping standard in the service industry, but there’s no limit so you can always tip more. Below is a chart that you can use as a guide when trying to decide how much to tip.

Tattoo Price	15% Tip	18% Tip	20% Tip
$150	$22.50	$27	$30
$350	$52.50	$63	$70
$550	$82.50	$99	$110
$750	$112.50	$135	$150
$950	$142.50	$171	$190
$1150	$172.50	$207	$230

In closing, tipping etiquette is something that is practiced in the United States, more than other countries and may not always be encouraged. Nevertheless, always be mindful of the customs and cultures of where you’re at. And if your artist exceeds all expectations, be sure to show your artist some appreciation.

Hope this helps.

Lyric TheArtist