It's not simple to give a single price for the cost of getting a tattoo. The final price you pay will depend on various factors including:

- The size of the tattoo

Big ones tend to be more expensive and they are usually charged on an hourly basis unless a price is agreed with the artist beforehand.

- The location/placement of the tattoo

It is more difficult to tattoo certain areas of the body, so expect to pay more for such areas.

- The tattoo design

It's usually cheaper if you bring your own design and also, you pay more for complex designs than for simple ones. Some artists charge for illustration time prior to starting tattoo work so be prepared.

- The number of colors

The more colors that your design has, the higher the cost of the tattoo.

- Who you are

If you are a celebrity or some big time film star, expect to pay more.

- The experience of the tattoo artist

Artists who are just starting out tend to charge less so that they can get more work and develop their skills.

- The times it takes to complete the tattoo

If your design takes a long time to complete, you can expect to be charged by the hour.

The tattoo artist will usually look at the work involved, how long it will take and then they will price it accordingly. When it comes to getting a tattoo, you really get what you pay for. It is better to wait and save up so that you can get a good quality tattoo than to use a cheap tattoo artist and get something that is of bad quality or that you are not happy with. Always shop around before choosing any particular artist and where possible ask for a recommendation from a trusted source such as a friend or relative. You can get a tattoo for as cheap as $30 or for as much as $1000! Shop around but don't do it only for price. Someone has said that good tattoos are not cheap and cheap tattoo are not good.

You can expect to pay for work either per tattoo or on an hourly basis. Many artists have pieces in their flash book that are priced per piece. The tattoo prices are listed next to the artwork or tattoo designs. So you'll pay a standard price unless you want it customised. It is common for an artist to have a minimum charge.

Negotiate the price before the work starts. If the artist says you'll be charged by the hour, ask how long it will take so that you can work out the price. If you find that the price is too high and you can't afford it, renegotiate the scope of the artwork and not the price.

Don't assume that they accept credit cards, ask about payment methods before work begins.

If you are happy with the work, it's a good idea to give the artist a tip.

It can be difficult to choose a tattoo design while negotiating a price with a tattoo artist. It is better to find a design first then shop around for an artist to do it.

Click here for a comprehensive list of tattoo design galleries and find your design and a professional tattoo artist.