How to Book a Tattoo Appointment

How to book a tattoo, step by step: choosing an artist, what to write in your first message, whether consultations are free, and how deposits work.

To book a tattoo appointment, settle what you want, where it goes and what you can spend. Then find an artist whose portfolio already shows that kind of work. Check how they take bookings, and send one short message with your idea, size, placement, references and dates. Most artists reply with a quote, sometimes a consultation, and a deposit request to hold the date.

You don’t need a finished design before you contact an artist. You need an idea clear enough for them to tell whether it’s a job for them. That means the subject, a rough size, the spot on your body, and color or black and grey. Save a handful of images that show the look you’re after.

Decide whether you want custom work or flash. Custom means the artist draws something new for you, which takes time and often a deposit. Flash is a design the artist has already drawn, often at a set price. It’s the fastest way in for a first tattoo.

Work out the most you can spend before you ask for a quote. Many shops have a minimum charge, so even a tiny piece costs more than you might expect. Our guide to how much a tattoo costs covers what pushes a price up. Give yourself room on dates too. A popular custom artist may be booked for weeks or months.

Pick the style first, then the artist. Most tattooers specialize. Look through their portfolio for pieces close to your idea. Healed photos show whether their lines stay clean.

Then check the studio. Read reviews, and make sure it’s licensed if your city or state requires it. A good studio is clean, uses single-use needles, and doesn’t mind questions. If you’d rather not search on your own, Tattoodo’s artist finder can suggest artists from a short description of your idea.

Look for the artist’s booking instructions before you write anything. They’re usually in the Instagram bio, a pinned post or the studio website. Some use a form, some want email, some use a booking app, and some say “no DMs.” Do what they ask, even if you have their number.

If an artist’s books are closed, they aren’t taking new requests right now. Follow them to catch the reopening, or find someone with space.

It depends on the artist. A consultation is a short talk, in the studio or by message, to agree on the design, size, placement and price. Custom work often needs one, and flash usually skips it. Many artists don’t charge for it, while others charge a fee or take the deposit then, so ask.

Yes, if you walk in. Same-day tattoos come from shops that take walk-ins, not from appointment-only artists. Call that morning to ask whether they’re taking walk-ins, and go early. Keep the design small and simple, or pick from the flash on the wall. A custom piece almost never gets drawn and tattooed on the same day.

Bring photo ID, because the shop will check your age. In Great Britain it’s a criminal offence to tattoo anyone under 18 under the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969. In the US the rules vary by state.

Keep it short, polite and complete. Artists answer first the requests they can quote from a single read. Put these in your first message:

• What you want, in a sentence or two, plus two or three reference images.
• The size in inches or centimeters, and where on your body it goes.
• Color or black and grey, and anything the artist must include or avoid.
• Your budget, and the days or weeks you’re free.
• That it’s your first tattoo, if it is.

Here’s a message you can adapt:

“Hi, I’d love to book a tattoo with you. I’m after a single rose hanging upside down, in fine line black and grey. It’s about 4 inches (10 cm) long, on the back of my upper arm. I’ve attached two reference photos and a picture of the spot. It’s my first tattoo. My budget is [your budget] and I’m free most weekdays in March. Do you have space, and how does your deposit work? Thanks, Sam”

Not sure about size or placement? Say so, and send a photo of the area. What doesn’t work is a one-liner like “how much for a tattoo?” If you can’t find booking instructions, send a short note asking how they’d like you to book.

For more on describing a custom design, read how to talk art with your tattoo artist.

If the quote is more than you can spend, tell the artist your budget and ask what they can do for it. They may suggest a smaller or simpler design, or splitting a large piece over several sessions.

Once you agree on a date, many artists ask for a deposit to hold your slot. Ask whether it comes off the final price, whether it’s refundable, and how much notice they need if you cancel. Read the policy before you pay.

The balance is usually paid on the day, or per session for big projects.

Sleep well, skip the alcohol, and eat a proper meal a couple of hours before. Bring water, a snack and photo ID. Wear clothes that give easy access to the spot. Our guide on how to prepare for a tattoo appointment goes through the day itself.

Follow your artist’s aftercare instructions, and see our guide on tattoo aftercare for the first weeks. If the area gets hotter, more swollen or more painful after the first few days, or you get a fever, see a doctor.

Once you’ve picked an artist, send them the message from step 4.