How Much Does a Tattoo Cost in Colorado? 2025 Pricing Guide

Aimee Heckel
5 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 33 minutes ago

One of the most common questions people ask our shop is "How much does a tattoo cost?"

The answer to this isn’t as simple as scanning a cereal box at the grocery store. It's more like asking a grocery clerk, "How much does a bag of groceries cost?" Just like a bag of groceries, the price of a tattoo depends on what it is.

Let’s talk about how Solana Tattoo Company prices tattoos in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado; what information you need to provide when asking for a quote; and how other shops calculate prices.

How Solana Tattoo Company Prices Tattoos

Pricing the tattoo — Pricing a tattoo with the grid

Solana bases quotes on the average time a tattoo artist in our shop needs to complete a similar-sized tattoo with the same design and placement. We use a specific grid system laid over the design. This grid makes pricing consistent across artists and keeps things fair. It accounts for the fact that some artists work faster and some work slower, without penalizing or rewarding clients based on the artist's speed.

Key facts about Solana pricing:

• Hourly rate: $150 per hour

• Shop minimum: $80

• Quotes are based on the grid system, which reflects average completion times for tattoos of similar size, design, and placement.

• For large projects or complex pieces that are harder to predict, Solana may choose hourly pricing rather than a flat quote.

• Some larger or complex pieces that require significant pre-drawing may require a nonrefundable deposit. That deposit is credited toward the final cost when the tattoo is completed.

Important note about perceived value and artist speed:

If the final completion time falls a little above or below the studio average, that does not mean a client was overcharged or undercharged. It means the client’s tattoo was completed by an artist who worked slightly faster or slower than the studio's average in the grid. The grid ensures clients receive consistent pricing regardless of which artist completes the work.

Fort Collins tattoo artist tattooing — Aiden is typically a super-fast tattooer

What Affects the Price at Solana

Size: A bigger tattoo requires more time to complete and therefore costs more.

Placement: Placement matters because some body areas take longer to tattoo or are more difficult to tattoo. For example, the ribcage is more difficult to tattoo than a bicep.

Design Complexity: A highly detailed tattoo will take more time than a small, simple piece. For example, an intricate full back tattoo will obviously cost more than a small linework heart on the wrist.

Client Factors: How your skin accepts ink, how well you sit still, and how many breaks you need can also affect how long a session takes. Come to the appointment hydrated and rested whenever possible.

Color vs. Black and Grey: Color versus just black and grey does not automatically affect the price. Time needed, design, and technique (like stipple/dotwork shading) determine cost more reliably than whether color is used.

Flower tattoo with stipple shading — A flower tattoo with stipple shading

How Much Does a Tattoo Cost For Larger Pieces?

For large pieces or complex work that is hard to estimate precisely, Solana commonly uses hourly pricing. For projects that require extensive pre-drawing, a nonrefundable design deposit may be required. That deposit is applied to the final invoice.

How to Get an Accurate Tattoo Quote

Solana recommends a free consultation, in person or virtual, to provide the most accurate estimate. For a ballpark quote, you can also email solanatattoo@gmail.com, call 970-666-4842, or message the shop on Instagram @solanatattoo. The in-person quote (based on your unique body and specific design/size) will always be more accurate than an email guesstimate, so don’t take a ballpark quote as a guarantee.

When requesting a quote, have the following information ready:

• Design idea. If you have a drawing or pre-drawn design, include it. If not, provide photo references or examples of styles you like. Be specific about any details you want.

• Placement. Be precise, for example, upper outer arm or inner forearm. Placement affects time and price.

• Size. Give dimensions in inches, for example, about 4 by 6 inches. Avoid vague phrases like forearm size because body proportions vary. Also avoid saying “the size of the attachment,” because that changes based on the screen the image is opened on.

Providing clear details upfront helps the artist or front desk give the best estimate possible.

Typical Tattoo Rates in Colorado and Why Shops Differ

Around Colorado, typical hourly rates often fall in the $150-$200 per hour range. Some artists or studios charge more, sometimes $250-$300 per hour or higher. Shop minimums commonly range from $80-$120. These are general ranges. Shops may use hourly rates, flat quotes by piece, or a hybrid model.

Read more about how tattoos in Colorado are priced here.

Solana’s approach is to use our grid system so pricing is consistent across artists and predictable for clients. Other shops may price tattoos based on each individual artist’s experience, speed, or demand. Those systems can result in more variation from artist to artist, which is why it helps to ask a shop how they calculate quotes.

At Solana Tattoo, we want to keep pricing fair and transparent. Our grid system is used to estimate the average time for tattoos of similar size, design, and placement, so you get consistent prices from artist to artist. For large or complex projects, hourly pricing and deposits may apply. For a precise quote, schedule a free consultation. For a ballpark estimate, email the shop clear design, placement, and size information.