Typical tattoo prices around Salt Lake City
To plan realistically, here are the ranges you will see across Salt Lake City shops (market ranges, not a quote for a specific piece):
• Minimum charge: most established shops have one, typically $80-$120 — even a tiny tattoo needs a full sterile setup.
• Small tattoos: simple palm-size pieces commonly land between $100 and $250.
• Hourly work: experienced Utah artists typically sit in the $100-$250 an hour band; big custom pieces are priced by the hour or by the session.
• Large projects: half-sleeves, full sleeves, and back pieces run from several hundred into the thousands, spread across sessions.
The spread inside every range is the design itself. Read on for what moves a price up or down — then get the exact number the easy way.
The five things that set your price
Size — Bigger takes longer. This is the biggest single factor in almost every price.
Detail — Fine line, micro lettering, realism, and intricate shading are slow, exact work. Bold and simple reads clean and tattoos faster.
Color — A full-color piece generally takes longer than the same design in black and grey; solid, lasting color is packed in carefully.
Placement — Some spots are simply harder to tattoo well: ribs, hands, feet, necks. Harder placement means more time and more care.
Artist experience — You are paying for healed results. A specialist's rate reflects years of work in that style, and it shows a year later, not just day one.
Why small tattoos still have a minimum
A one-inch tattoo and a six-inch tattoo start exactly the same way: sterile station, single-use needles opened in front of you, fresh gloves and barriers, top-shelf ink, and an artist's full attention. Almost everything in the price is that setup and skill, not the square inches. So every quality shop sets a minimum — it is the floor for doing the job safely. Small pieces are welcome here; the minimum is just honest math.
Planning a big piece: think in sessions
Nobody pays for a sleeve all at once, because nobody tattoos one all at once. Large work is mapped in a free consultation, then tattooed in sessions of a few hours, priced per session or per hour — you pay as the piece grows. It is the friendliest way to budget big work, and it lets the design evolve with you between sittings.
Deposits, tips, and aftercare — the rest of the bill
Your deposit — Booking reserves your artist's chair time, and the deposit goes toward your tattoo's price. Standard everywhere serious.
Tipping your artist — Customary at 15-25% when you love the result (Utah norm). Optional, appreciated, and it goes to the artist.
Aftercare — A few dollars for the right moisturizer is money well spent, especially in Utah's dry air — good healing protects the money you spent on the tattoo itself.
Touch-ups — Ask at your session what your artist's touch-up policy covers.
Recent work from our artists
What clients say
"Cannot recommend highly enough! My entire experience was amazing from start to finish. My artist Rafael was professional and created the most gorgeous design. I will definitely be back!" — Natalie Waite
"Accommodating, clean and professional. I'm an older conservative guy with no tattoo experience and they made feel comfortable and gave me a great tattoo; exactly what I was looking for. Fabio was my artist and he was great; very concerned to give me exactly what I wanted." — Neil Hansen
Questions people type into Google (and us)
How much will my tattoo cost?
Send the idea through our estimate form — the artists who work in your style review it and give you a real price for that exact piece. It is free, and it beats any chart on the internet, including this page. https://slctattoo.zapier.app/quote
Can I get a price by text or phone?
We will always be straight with you: a blind guess helps nobody. Two "small flowers" can be twenty minutes or two hours apart. The form takes two minutes and the number you get back is one we stand behind.
Is a consultation really free?
Really. For anything beyond a small piece, it is the smartest first step: you get a plan, a time estimate, and a realistic price range before committing. Book here: https://slctattoos.as.me
Hourly or flat price — which is better?
Neither; they suit different work. Small pieces price flat, large custom work goes hourly or by the session. Your estimate tells you which applies to your piece and why.
How much do I tip a tattoo artist in Utah?
15-25% is the customary range when you are happy with the work. Never an obligation.
Do walk-ins cost more?
No — a walk-in piece is priced by the same factors as a booked one. See our Walk-In page for how same-day tattoos work: https://www.slctattoos.com/walk-in-tattoos-salt-lake-city
The fastest way to a real number
Get an exact estimate for your tattoo — send the idea, the placement, the size, and a reference photo or two. Our artists review every request and the ones who fit your style send back a real price and a booking link. Free, no obligation.
SLC Tattoos · The Manor Tattoo SLC · 145 South 400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 · (385) 645-4072 · slctattoos.com