Data collection
The TatScout Tattoo Price Index is compiled from three primary sources:
- Direct artist surveys. Artists in our verified network receive a biannual survey asking for their current base rate per hour and common price ranges per size tier. Survey responses are voluntary and anonymous.
- Public rate cards. We scrape prices listed publicly on studio websites, booking platforms (e.g. Fresha, Booksy), and social media bios. Only prices with a visible date or context are included.
- Community data. Price threads in relevant Reddit communities and Facebook groups are monitored. Only posts with photo proof are included to reduce fabrication.
Cleaning and validation
Raw price observations are cleaned as follows:
- Outliers beyond 2.5× IQR are removed before computing statistics.
- Prices in non-EUR currencies are converted using the 90-day average exchange rate at the time of collection (Q1 2026).
- Studio-minimum prices (e.g. “min €80”) are excluded unless matched to a size tier.
- Celebrity or “famous artist” rates are excluded to avoid upward bias.
Statistics reported
We report three statistics per (city, style, size) combination:
- Median (
price_median): The 50th percentile of observed prices. Preferred over mean to reduce outlier influence. - Low (
price_low): Approximately the 20th percentile, what a budget-conscious client might expect to pay. - High (
price_high): Approximately the 80th percentile, what a premium specialist might charge. - Sample size (
sample_n):Number of individual price observations. Rows with n ≤ 4 should be treated with caution.
Geographic scope
The 2026 edition covers six cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. City assignment is based on the studio's primary location. Artists who travel internationally are only counted in their home city.
Limitations
- Prices reflect what studios advertise, not necessarily what clients pay after negotiation.
- Walk-in flash prices, convention prices, and charity rates are excluded, only custom commission prices are included.
- The dataset does not capture tip norms or deposit policies.
- Coverage is intentionally limited to major cities where we have sufficient sample sizes.
Update cadence
The Price Index is updated annually. The next edition is planned for May 2027. Cities and styles may be added or removed between editions based on data availability.
Questions or corrections
If you spot an error or have data to contribute, contact us. We will review and publish corrections with a change log.