Tattoo Calculators

Session time, sizing, pricing, tipping and aftercare timing. 8 calculators for clients and artists. Clothing and body measurements sit under Fashion.

Session estimate works from surface area rather than length, which is the correction most people need. Doubling the width of a piece quadruples its area and roughly quadruples the needle time. A “small” four-inch tattoo is a two to three hour appointment once the consultation and stencil placement are counted, and that catches out nearly everyone booking a first piece. Style comes next, then placement, then colour, which adds about 25% over black and grey.

Ink dilution covers grey wash sets. The standard five-shade ladder runs 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100% ink. The three-shade practice set is not simply every other rung: it starts at 20% rather than 10, because with only three steps you want them evenly spaced instead of crowded at the light end.

Touch-up timing assumes the piece has fully healed. Judging that by how it looks is how people talk themselves into an early sitting.