How much should you tip your tattoo artisit?

sure, why not? 15 % sounds good!

I think you should tip...it shows that you're satisfied with the job the artist did and it establishes you as a good customer, someone the artist is going to want to see again. Unless if you really don't like your artist or the tattoo is really small and easy, I'd say tip 20 bucks. It seems like a lot, but if you go in expecting that extra 20 to be part of the cost, then it's not that bad.

Hey Rapunzel... I kinda look at it this way, I don't tip my doctor, I don't tip my dentist and my tattoo artists bill ALWAYS comes out to be more than either of their bills. A tip is an extra for someone who makes very little money and gives you great service.(Bartender, Waitress, Shampoo girl at the salon). A good tattoo artist makes enough money that I don't think a tip is warranted. In fact I had never thought about it until I saw the question posted last week.

(I mean really....do you tip your mechanic, the plumber, do you tip the checkout lady at the grocery store.) I am paying over $1,200 bucks for my next tattoo (8 hours work) I don't make that much in 8 hours......and NOBODY tips me.

just one tattooed wiseasses opinion

Why get the calculator out? Are you going to claim it on your taxes? I tip my guy after every tat. I drop an extra 20 or so bucks. Of course I have gotten a lot of work from the same guy, and have probably paid enough extra for a tat already. Anyhow, he has never mentioned it one way or the other.

on my most recent tattoo, i noticed that the artist "knocked off" $100 from the quoted price... i think that this was a friendly gesture. so, my new bill was $550. in recognition i paid him a tip of $100.

it worked out to 18% if i do the math, but i gave that amount because it felt right. plus, i sent him a seperate small thank-you gift.

ultimately, you may want to skip the gift and go with what feels right.

screw that- Unless s/he has done a phenomenal job AND you're going back for more there's no reason to tip. Tattoo people make some pretty good cash. TIpping is for restaurants where the waiters only make a few dollars an hour.

ive gotten all my tattoos done by the same artist...and i always tipped him 30 to 40 bucks...depending on how much my tat cost. he had to sit there for hours while i squirmed and cried...so he defentely deserves a good tip. and whenever i go back for a new one he always manages to fit me in right away!

I have gotten 4 tattoos and have never tipped. Oops!

If you like their work, then tip them well. Also if the tattoo is very intricate (difficult) then you should probably tip them a little more. I give my tattoo guy 20 bucks, at least.

Depends on how good he/she is and how much time he/she spent on the tatoo.If it took less than 30 minutes I say 15% is o.k. if he/she takes more than one hour than I say 20% Good luck.

depends....if your work is custom work, may be more? I ended up tipping 33% for my tattoo. Mine was a custom portrait....Some tip and some don't....