A size alone is not enough to price a tattoo. A simple outline and a detailed portrait can occupy the same patch of skin but require very different drawing and tattooing time. Treat an online price list as a starting point, not a quote for your design.
What changes the quote?
- Detail: lettering, faces and tightly packed patterns need different preparation.
- Coverage: a single motif is different from a background wrapping around an arm.
- Placement: curved areas and existing tattoos affect the layout.
- Scope: ask whether the estimate covers one sitting or the complete project.
Send a brief that can be assessed
Include a clear placement photo, approximate height and width in centimetres, and two or three references. Explain which features you like rather than asking for an exact copy. Mention existing ink that will overlap the new work.
Compare like with like
Before paying a deposit, confirm the design scope, billing method, expected number of sittings, revision arrangements and what happens if the design becomes larger. Ask about touch-ups separately rather than assuming they are included.
A same-size comparison without invented prices
Consider two hypothetical 8 cm designs: an open crescent with a simple line, and a realistic eye with eyelashes, reflected highlights and a dark surround. Their outside dimensions match, but the area requiring work and the amount of tonal information do not. A photograph of the crescent is not a useful price benchmark for the eye.
The same problem appears with lettering. A short word in an open type style and a dense calligraphic treatment may share a width, yet have different preparation and layout demands. Adding a second line or decorative frame changes the brief even if the overall height barely moves.
If the quote exceeds your budget
State the budget boundary before asking for revisions. Ask whether the subject can be simplified, the background reduced or a large project staged. Do not assume the solution is to shrink every detail. Request the updated quote for the revised design, so you are not comparing an old price with a new scope.
Questions that reveal a scope mismatch
| Same stated size | Possible difference | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Two flower designs | One bloom versus overlapping petals and shaded leaves | Which elements and coverage are included? |
| Two short words | Open lettering versus textured calligraphy | How much drawing and spacing work is proposed? |
| Two portraits | Face crop versus a face with hands and background | Is the quoted size for the face or the entire composition? |
| Two arm tattoos | One visible panel versus a design turning around the limb | How much of the wraparound area is part of the scope? |
These are hypothetical comparisons, not price categories. Once the artist has answered, keep the agreed scope beside the quote. If you later add a frame, text or background, ask whether the estimate still applies before treating the earlier amount as final.
For a design-specific estimate, send your brief to Yuyi Tattoo in Singapore. This article is not a studio price list or a binding estimate.
