Tattoo Prices in Ireland

The figures above are the current starting prices at my private studio in Birr. Studio minimum is €50. Custom tattoo work starts from €150. They help you plan a budget, but size alone doesn't set the final price. I confirm the actual figure after seeing what you want, where it will sit and how much detail the finished tattoo needs.

Current tattoo prices and what “from” means

Studio minimum covers a short appointment for a simple design that is already agreed. Sterile setup and single-use materials are included, just as they are for a larger tattoo. It doesn't mean that every small tattoo costs €50. A simple small tattoo usually costs €50 to €70 and takes about one hour. New drawing, dense detail, a difficult placement or extra setup can make even a small tattoo cost more than that range.

Custom work starts from €150 because the price includes more than time with the machine. I check the references, draw for the chosen placement, prepare the stencil and make the tattoo in my Birr studio. Cover-Up work also starts from €150. I need clear photos before I can tell whether Cover-Up will work without lightening first.

I also have separate guides for common price questions. Read the small tattoo cost guide if the design is compact and simple. Use the half-sleeve cost guide for a project that wraps part of the arm. The full-day tattoo session cost guide explains the current long-session format and who it suits. The prices above cover other work at my studio.

What changes the final quote

Size is only half of it. Small pieces packed with detail can take longer than big, simple ones. Small lettering needs room to stay readable. So do fine texture, repeating patterns and layered shading. Making a tattoo smaller doesn't always make it quicker. Sometimes I remove a few secondary details so the tattoo still works at the chosen size and budget.

Placement changes how the stencil must be shaped and how steadily the area can be worked. Flat areas are easier to work on than ribs, hands, joints or skin that moves a lot. The same drawing may need a different layout or session plan when moved to another part of the body.

Style, colour and the condition of the skin also matter. Smooth Blackwork, detailed Realism and colour work take different amounts of drawing and tattooing time. Scars, old pigment and existing lines must be assessed rather than priced from a generic size chart. I split a large project into sessions when doing everything in one day would be too much for the design, the skin or the finish.

What the quoted price includes

My quote covers all the work agreed with you, not just the time with the machine. Before the appointment, I check the idea, plan the placement, draw the design if needed and prepare the stencil. The price also includes a sterile workstation, single-use needles and cartridges, protective covers, setup, the tattoo itself and an aftercare explanation before you leave.

Drawing time is not added as a surprise line on the day. If the idea changes after the quote, I explain the price difference before changing the design. Examples include increasing the size, adding another subject, changing a simple black design to detailed colour or turning one appointment into a multi-session project.

I normally quote the whole piece or the agreed session. This is clearer than guessing from an hourly rate. I still plan long projects session by session. We agree the format and starting price before I hold the date.

What I need for an exact tattoo price

Send me enough to work from. One line about the idea isn't enough for a price:

• the subject and the important elements that must stay in the design
• the exact body area, including the side of the body
• approximate width and height in centimetres
• two or three useful references, with a note about what you like in each one
• a clear photograph of the placement in normal light
• a clear photograph of any existing tattoo, scar or pigment in the area
• black and grey or colour tattoo
• your budget, if you need the design kept within a firm limit

The free tattoo project consultation is the right route when the idea is not settled, the placement is uncertain or the project may need several sessions. You don't need polished artwork before asking. Clear details and useful references are enough to begin.

Deposits and payment right now

Online card payment and Stripe deposits are not active on this website at present. The booking form sends the project for review, but it doesn't take payment or reserve a date by itself.

For tattoo bookings, the deposit is 50% of the agreed tattoo price. I request it only after we have agreed the brief and quote. It holds the session date and the design work for that project, and it comes off the final balance. I send the payment method and cancellation or rescheduling terms in writing before you pay. Do not send money through an unexpected link. Only use payment details that I have confirmed in a message to you.

Deposits and your consumer rights

This is a short signpost, not legal advice. The CCPC deposit guidance says that paying a deposit creates a contract. It recommends confirming the exact service, deposit, balance, date and refund conditions in writing and keeping the receipt. It also says a business generally doesn't have to return a deposit when a customer simply changes their mind, unless the agreed terms allow it. If the business cannot supply the agreed service, the customer can ask for the deposit back.

The CCPC also says a paid service must be provided with reasonable care and skill and match what was agreed. Use its current guidance, rather than this summary, if you need to understand or resolve a particular problem.

Cover-Up prices need a separate assessment

Cover-Up work needs different planning from a new tattoo. I look at how dark the old tattoo is, its colours, how close the old lines are, any scars, free skin around it and the new subject. Sometimes the new design must be larger to cover the edges and leave enough room for the main subject. Very dark pigment may need partial lightening before Cover-Up.

Send clear, well-lit photographs without filters. Include one close view and one wider view that shows the body area. My Cover-Up service explains the assessment and the information I need. The starting price is not a promise that every old tattoo can be covered directly or completed in one sitting.

How to use a budget without weakening the tattoo

Tell me the budget early. I can often change the size, remove some secondary details, keep the main part of your idea or split a larger tattoo into stages. I won't squeeze details into a size where they'll be hard to read or promise a complete project for a price that is too low for the work involved. If you're not sure how to put it, say, “I like the main idea, but I have a firm budget. What can we change without making it too cramped?” That gives me something useful to work with. It's different from asking for the same work at a lower price.

Use the portfolio of completed tattoos to see the finish and level of detail in my work, then send the idea for a quote with the placement, dimensions and references. If the details are clear, I'll send the price. If one choice is still open, I'll give you a small price range and explain what I need to confirm.