the short version
- $50is the typical shop minimum for los angeles artists on goodwork.
- $150an hour is where custom rates bunch up.
- 4simple steps turn what you spend into your prices.
these prices are what artists on goodwork actually set, from our state of tattoos report (los angeles, july 2026).
rate calculator
fill in your numbers. get your prices.
hourly
$130
minimum
$100
full day
$800
a full day is 6 hours in the chair.
what you keep on a $400 tattoo booked on goodwork
tips are always 100% yours. the client pays their own 6% booking fee. it never comes out of your price.
charge $130 an hour? put it on your free page.
your hourly and minimum carry over when you set up, so clients see them before they ask.
put your prices uphow it works
price your work in 4 steps
- 1add up what tattooing costs you a monthbooth rent or your shop cut, needles, ink, gloves, insurance, the apps you pay for.
- 2count the hours you actually tattooonly time with a client in the chair. drawing and texting clients don't count here.
- 3decide what you want to take homewhat you need to live on each month, before taxes.
- 4add a cushionslow weeks and no-shows happen. 15 to 25% on top covers them.
costs plus take-home, divided by your hours, plus the cushion. that's your hourly. the calculator above does the math for you.
minimums
the typical shop minimum is $50
typical shop minimum for los angeles artists on goodwork.
49 artists. nobody goes lower.
what the top quarter of artists charge.
the highest minimum is $200.
your minimum is the smallest price you'll tattoo for. it covers setting up, breaking down and a quick piece. a simple rule: make it about 45 minutes of your hourly.
flash
what flash costs, by size
typical flash prices on goodwork (los angeles)
middle price of 395 flash designs on goodwork, july 2026. real prices spread wide around these.
what to do with this
- price flash by size, not by design. it keeps a whole sheet simple.
- base each size on your hourly and how long that size usually takes you.
custom work
custom work is usually priced by the hour
is where hourly rates bunch up for los angeles artists on goodwork.
hourly fits custom pieces, where you can't know the time up front. flat prices fit flash. a day rate fits big pieces that take a whole session.
if the calculator gives you a lot less than $150, check your numbers before you settle on it. it's much easier to start at the right price than to raise it later.
deposits
most artists take about 30% up front
on goodwork, 28 of the 49 artists who set deposit terms take a percentage, usually 30%. the rest take a flat amount, usually $100. the deposit guide writes your policy for you.
goodwork
what goodwork costs you
clients pay their own 6% booking fee. it never comes out of your price.
on goodwork
set your prices on your free page
clients see your hourly, your minimum and your flash prices before they ask. 15% only on the first booking of a new client goodwork finds for you. repeats and your own link are 0%.
put your prices up