"How much for this design?"
It's the most common question we receive online. And every time, we wish we could give a straight answer.
The truth is, tattoo pricing isn't like ordering from a menu. A design that looks simple might take twice as long as something that looks complex. A small piece on your ribs costs more to execute than the same design on your forearm. And a quote without context is almost always wrong — in either direction.
Here's how tattoo pricing in Bali actually works, and why an honest studio will always need a little more information before giving you a number.
Why We Can't Always Give an Exact Price Online
When someone sends us a reference photo and asks "how much?", we genuinely want to help. But without key information, any number we give is just a guess — and a guess that could shortchange you or overcharge you.
We believe tattoos aren't mass produced. Every piece is made for one specific person, on one specific body, on one specific day. That's what makes them worth having.
To give you a fair and accurate quote, we need to understand at least two or three of the four factors that determine your final price. Without them, we can only offer a price range — and the actual price could land higher, lower, or somewhere in between depending on what we discover together when you come in.
The 4 Factors That Determine Your Tattoo Price
1. Size
This is the most straightforward factor — but it's more nuanced than people expect.
Size isn't just about how big the design looks on your screen. It's about how much skin needs to be worked, how long the session runs, and how much detail can realistically be achieved at a given scale.
A design sent as a reference image can be tattooed at wildly different sizes — from a 3cm minimalist piece to a 20cm detailed artwork. The price difference between those two is significant, and only you can decide what feels right on your body.
This is why we print the design and place it on your skin in person before finalizing anything. Seeing it scaled to your body — not on a screen — is the only way to make a decision you'll be happy with for life.
2. Placement
Where on your body matters — a lot.
Some areas are harder to tattoo than others. Skin that sits over bone, folds naturally, stretches frequently, or is difficult to access requires more time, more precision, and more skill to execute well. Ribs, hands, feet, necks, and inner arms all fall into this category.
Placement also affects longevity. A tattoo on your hand or finger will fade faster than one on your upper arm, which may influence both the design and the investment you make.
When you come in for your appointment, we'll talk through placement together — not just for the price, but to make sure the design works with your body's natural lines and movement.
3. Level of Complexity
Two designs that look similar in size can take completely different amounts of time to execute — and time is a major part of what you're paying for.
Complexity includes:
Line density — fine detail work takes longer than bold lines
Shading and texture — realistic portraits or intricate geometric patterns require significantly more time than simple outlines
Style — blackwork, realism, watercolor, and traditional styles all have different time demands
Artist skill required — highly specialized styles carry a premium because not every artist can execute them
A simple wave outline and a hyper-realistic ocean scene might both fit in a 10cm space — but one could take 1 hour and the other 4. Complexity is why price-by-size alone is never the full picture.
4. Color in Use
Black and grey tattoos and full-color tattoos are priced differently — and for good reason.
Color work requires:
Multiple ink changes and needle setups during the session
Additional layering passes to achieve saturation
More time overall to blend and build depth
A design in full color will generally take longer than the same design in black and grey. If you're deciding between the two styles, this is worth factoring into your budget — not just aesthetically, but practically.
So What's the Price Range?
Because every tattoo is unique, we work with price ranges rather than fixed rates for online enquiries. These ranges exist to prevent two things: overpricing (charging more than the work warrants) and underpricing (quoting low and delivering less than you deserve).
When you reach out with a reference image, we'll ask a few questions and give you an honest range based on what we can see. The final price is confirmed in person — after we print the design, place it on your skin, and agree on the exact size, placement, and details together.
That conversation costs nothing. And it ensures that what you pay reflects exactly what you're getting.
How to Get the Most Accurate Quote
The more information you share upfront, the closer we can get to your actual price. When you contact us, try to include:
Your reference image or design idea
Where on your body you want it placed
Roughly how big you're imagining (a coin, a hand, a full forearm — anything helps)
Whether you want color or black and grey
Any complexity notes — "I want fine lines only" or "I'd love realistic shading"
Even two or three of these details allow us to give you a much more useful range than a photo alone.
What You're Really Paying For
A tattoo in Bali can range from suspiciously cheap to professionally priced — and that gap exists for a reason.
When you choose a studio that prices honestly, you're paying for:
Sterilized, single-use equipment
A skilled artist whose technique matches your chosen style
A clean, professional environment
Ink that lasts and heals well in tropical conditions
A piece designed specifically for your body — not copied and stamped
Cheap tattoos aren't a bargain. They're a risk you wear permanently.
The Bottom Line
We'd love to give everyone an instant exact price online — but doing so wouldn't be honest, and it wouldn't serve you well. What we can do is give you a fair range, ask the right questions, and finalize everything together in person where the design, the size, and your skin are all in the same room.
That's how a tattoo should be priced. And that's how you end up with something you're proud of.
Want a price estimate for your idea? Send us your reference image along with your preferred placement, size, and style — and we'll come back to you with an honest range.
